Bryan Strohl calls it a “next-man-up mentality.”
Strohl, Cocalico’s head coach since 2020, has won two-thirds of his games and a pair of section championships, and now he wants his new crop of seniors to carry the ball, literally, in 2025.
“We’ve had a pretty good run the last few years,” he notes. “We’ve lost some good, quality kids, but we have some good, quality kids to replace them.”
Manheim Township girls volleyball players say they are super invested in this season, and senior Aidyn Lefever is particularly looking forward to one key night.
Players attending media day:
(from left)
Anna Krotky, senior, setter
Jessie Krieger, junior, middle blocker
Aidyn Lefever, senior, libero
After a trip deep into the District 3 playoffs, Ephrata football just missed the playoffs a year ago and Austin Bryant says the team has a remedy. "I think we build off of that by correcting those little things that we made last year," he says.
Players attending media day:
Dustin Hoover (top), senior, fullback, inside linebacker
Carson Martin (below left), junior, quarterback, linebacker
Austin Bryant (below right), senior, wide receiver, safety, cornerback
Hempfield field hockey players see plenty of positives in the team returning from last year's district playoff squad, but they see areas for improvement as well as they aim to challenge in the very competitive Section 1.
Players attending media day
Talia Leber (left), junior, center midfielder or attacking center midfielder
Nikholina Conrad, senior, defensive midfielder
Manheim Central's football team is finding plenty of motivation in last season's 3-7 record as they aim to return the program to its usual level of winning almost every week.
Players attending Media Day:
(from left)
Cooper Nied, senior, offensive and defensive lineman
Daniel Gertler, senior, offensive and defensive lineman
Jayvior Marales, senior, receiver, free safety
Cody Hess, senior, wide receiver, outside linebacker
Coach Anthony Hernandez has seen steady improvement in the Lancaster Mennonite girls volleyball team during the past two seasons, and he's confident the team will take it a step further this season.
Players attending media day:
(from left)
Sophie Rothwein, junior, libero
Ellen Binkley, senior, middle blocker, right side
Ava Williams, sophomore, middle blocker, outside hitter
Elizabethtown High quarterback Trent Kauffman has a few reasons he wants to do well this upcoming season.
First off, he’s entering his senior year, the last time he’ll suit up before graduating.
Conestoga Valley's field hockey team, with no seniors last year, definitely will have more experience when this season opens Aug. 22 against Central Dauphin. "We didn't lose anyone," says Ellen Buckwalter.
Players attending media day:
(from left in photo)
Emily Lapp, senior, forward or midfielder
Jane Younger, senior, goalie
Ellen Buckwalter, senior, defender
"We kind of had to pick up being leaders on the team a little earlier than our senior year, so we were captains as juniors," adds Lapp.
Despite its stellar legacy, McCaskey has found few wins recently on the football field, but that hasn't hindered the expectations of this year's team. With inspiration from a new coach, players say they're aiming to qualify for the District 3 playoffs.
McCaskey players attending media day:
Dieumel Gerard (left), senior, guard, defensive tackle
Johnzell Sibley (center), senior, wide receiver, outside linebacker
Khali Sloan (right), senior, running back, defensive end
The players have multiple reasons for their optimism.