Section 215
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Philadelphia Sports: Section 215 top 25 Philadelphia athletes revealed

By Chuck Booth

Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) celebrates with center Joel Embiid (21) after his game winning shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) celebrates with center Joel Embiid (21) after his game winning shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Sports
Jul 31, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Union forward Chris Pontius (13) in action against Real Salt Lake at Talen Energy Stadium. Real Salt Lake won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Number 24: Chris Pontius – Left Wing, Philadelphia Union

While perhaps lower rated than he should be, as most Union players seem to be on this list. Chris Pontius has been one of the biggest reasons why the Philadelphia Union went from being a team in the cellar of MLS to a team competing in the middle of the pack. On the field, Pontius is a great example of the grit many expect from a Philadelphia sports team’s players. He works hard, he is not a fancy player and embodies the defensive spirit that the Philadelphia Union under Earnie Stewart seems to strive for.

Pontius had many injury laden seasons before he moved in 2016 to the Union and seems to have found his form with the team. He went from just another player to one of the league’s best wide midfielders in the span of one season. He also earned his way into a January call-up to the United States national team. He marked his first full season in MLS in years by also being the leading American goal-scorer in the league at the end of the season.

Pontius deserves to be on the list as he has worked hard to become one of the first 5 or so players on the Union starting XI each week, and has pushed himself to be one of the best players for the team and has helped them reach levels they had not seen in recent years or perhaps ever. With a young corps of players, he also serves as an example of veteran leadership and will be a big piece in the success of the Philadelphia Union moving forward.