conestoga valley

Conestoga Valley volleyball player Ashton Judy (center) thinks there’s something missing at his high school, and he wants to help bring it there this spring.

“I’d like to bring a (championship) banner to CV. Our last banner was in the 1900s, and that’s way too far away,” the senior says.

The Buckskins finished 9-7 last year, and Coach Hunter Davis and his players feel that even more success is possible this year, “as long as we believe,” Davis says.

Delaney Hartlaub, Conestoga Valley High School, senior, attack

Q: What’s your origin story with lacrosse?

Hartlaub: “My sister started playing her sophomore year when I was in eighth grade. We had just started our middle school program at CV. So I signed up. It was a low commitment spring sport. I’ve been playing since then. I had done track the year before, and I played soccer when I was younger.”

Layla Smith, Conestoga Valley, senior, third base, plans to attend Lancaster Bible College and play softball

Have you always played third base?

Sawyer Esbenshade, Conestoga Valley High School, senior

How did you first get a basketball in your hand and what has been your journey since then?

Esbenshade: “Probably my dad put a ball in my hands when I was three years old. Starting playing upward.”

How many siblings do you have and how has that impacted you as a player?

Geno Falduts competes as a junior on the Conestoga Valley swim team.  His specialties are the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley.  He swims 5 days a week for CV and one day at the Reading YMCA, where he encounters competition and friendships.

According to Geno, CV has a small team in members this year; however, with some promising freshmen swimmers, the outlook for the future is bright.

You can see the excitement, clear as a wide-open soccer field, on Kayleigh Brooks’ face as she says, “It’s good to be back.”

With only one graduating senior and 10 of 12 players returning, Conestoga Valley golfers are "anticipating an exciting season" after their solid 25-5 showing last year, says fourth-year coach Brandon Hershey.

Players attending media day:

(from left)

Cash Landis, junior

Tommy Figart, junior

Toby Schaub, senior

"I think we should be pretty dominant this year," says Figart. "Manheim Central (which finished above CV a year ago) I think lost a ton of seniors last year that were all starters." 

The new season means a new team at Conestoga Valley, but many of the skill players will be familiar as the team again expects to battle with an out-of-county opponent.

Players attending media day:

(from left)

Teagan Ruble, senior, running back, linebacker

Sawyer Esbenshade, senior, quarterback

Konner Fisher, receiver, safety

Josiah Garcia, senior, receiver, safety

The Buckskins were 11-0, having beaten Exeter in the league season when the Eagles toppled them to end their season.

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.