State doubles champion Cooper Lehman graduated from Hempfield, but the Black Knights have plenty of firepower returning.
Will Keppel, who played linebacker on the football team, says as a captain he's ready to lead Hempfield to more titles, with his eye on the league and district championships.
"We want to build a culture and strong bonds among the team," said Keppel. The Black Knights are expected to be contenders.
Paige Hughes, Manheim Township, senior, catcher, third base, plans to attend Meredith College, Raleigh, North Carolina, and play softball
Do you expect to see action at both positions?
In his senior year, Ethan Transue competes as a three-year starter at shortstop. His Penn Manor team returns two starters from a year ago, and Ethan sees the younger players contributing by stepping up and getting the Comets off to a good start.
According to Ethan, Penn Manor’s off-season workouts are a key to this season -- practicing three days a week in the gym, including batting versus pitching machines that served up fastballs and curves.
Delaine Mast has been coaching tennis at McCaskey for 40 years.
"I see what tennis and sports does for kids. It changes people's lives and keeps them on a path to be healthy and active," Mast said.
Junior Hunter Nguyen says Mast inspires him.
"She helps motivate me to keep my head up during a match."
Nguyen, who played Number 3 singles last year, credits his father with getting him started in the game.
"Ever since I was little, my Dad would bring me to the tennis court and hit balls. I fell in love with it," Nguyen said.
Layla Smith, Conestoga Valley, senior, third base, plans to attend Lancaster Bible College and play softball
Have you always played third base?
Ben Patterson, a senior, has high expectations for this year’s Penn Manor wrestling team. Ben says we are “really solid” in the middle weights and at heavyweight. And individually he sees a competitive battle in his 160-172 weight class.
Last year Ben wrestled to 25 wins. His personal goals for this year are to lead his team by good example. He hopes to “stand on the podium” for Leagues and qualify for Districts.
Manheim Township and Hempfield are year in and year out tough team battles, but this year Ben sees Conestoga Valley as an
exceptionally tough team.
Henry Paterson competes as a senior in his first year of swimming for McCaskey. Sprints are his specialty — 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. His goal is to break 50 seconds in the 100-yard fly and qualify for states.
In Henry’s prior years, he was home schooled while swimming for York YMCA (with 5:30 a.m. practices) and the Lancaster Aquatic Club. He concurrently swims for Lancaster Aquatic Club during the McCaskey swim team season.
Even after years of coaching, Russ Kline (bottom right) says there’s something that keeps bringing him back out onto the field to work with high school athletes.
As a junior, Carson Spangler (top photo) was named to the all-state soccer team, the first striker ever from Lancaster Catholic to be so honored.
Linda Lee Hershey has coached soccer in college and at the club level and has watched many of her younger players go on to play collegiately.