When you only have one returning player who has any varsity experience, you know it might be a tough season.
That’s what happened to Garden Spot’s boys volleyball team in 2025, finishinf 0-14, or in the last spot in Section 2, with a newcomer-laden lineup.
Now, veteran Coach Ben Rutt (left in photo) is hoping last year’s tough lessons translate into a winning record, maybe even a run for a playoff spot, in 2026.
Will Newport, a senior from Hempfield is hoping this spring track and field season is one that will vault him into the record books.
Newport is coming off a strong indoor season that saw him establish personal-best pole vaults on two occasions. On March 1, at the PTFCA Indoor State Championships at Ashenfelter Indoor Track at Penn State, Newport placed seventh with his best effort to that date at 14-0. Then two weeks later at the Nike Invitational at the Armory Track in New York City, he went 14-0½” to claim sixth in the Boy Emerging Elite Division.
Nolan Ruiz, Hempfield High School, senior, midfielder
Q: What’s origin story in terms of lacrosse?
Ruiz: “I was in second grade. My one friend invited me to a fall ball thing where coaches wanted players to invite friends in hopes to grow the sport. I’ve been playing ever since.”
Q: What are some team strengths?
This spring Frank Lucarino, Solanco senior, returns as the top performer in discus for the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Last year
he earned a Silver Medal in the L-L meet.
Frank competes in discus and shot. His personal records are 151 feet, inches in discus and 49 feet, 11¾ inches in shot. His goals, respectfully, are 180 feet and 55 feet.
For the Golden Mules, Frank says in all sports Lampeter-Strasburg is their rival, though Warwick, the reigning champ in Lancaster Lebanon League Section 2, looms as well.
A history-making season brought Manheim Central a state volleyball championship in 2025.
Now, as Coach Craig Dietrich begins a new season, he has a trophy to look back on – but only two key returnees to help him defend the Barons’ title.
But what a duo the returning players are – Section 2 second-team all-stars Blake Neiles and Caleb Groff, who were instrumental in last year’s championship.
Devin Wagstaff, a junior at Donegal, recalls with interest his attendance at a four-day conference in Indianapolis, stemming
from his Student-Athlete Leadership Program. The conference included high school athletes from throughout the United States. The theme focused on enhancing athletes’ group leadership skills and motivation, which Devin hopes to help him and others on his track team.
Brooke Hess, a senior, "roams” the field for Lampeter-Strasburg's
track and field team. Her specialties lie in discus, shot and
javelin.
She says this is her sixth year of competing in field events.
Brooke commends assistant field coaches, Jason McComsey and Jacob Long,
for helping her improve in her events. She also credits her
teammate, Ceci Ellis, for pushing her in practice and meets, as
they have a “friendly rivalry” on the team.
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.
Kinzley Miller, Lancaster Country Day School, senior, attack
Q: What’s your origin story in terms of lacrosse -- when did you start playing the sport and what got you started?
Brandon Way, Jr. comes from good stock.
His blood line includes a family tree of athletic success: a father (football, track and his track coach at Lancaster Catholic); a mother (basketball and track); a grandfather (football); and an uncle (football).
Brandon, a senior at Lancaster Catholic, already has earned a football scholarship to Villanova University after a successful
high school career on the gridiron.