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.
McCaskey
McCaskey's returning field hockey players still exude excitement when they describe reaching the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs last year even though eventual state-champion Warwick eliminated them in the first round.
Players attending media day:
(from left)
Maggie Olenik, senior, midfielder
Lydia Frey, junior, midfielder
Makayla Ressel, senior, forward
McCaskey has experienced its share of success in track and field and that has extended to the cross country course. The Red Tornado finished near the top of Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 last year. The teams are hoping to give Manheim Township a run the section title this year.
Coach Derek Jennings says the building blocks are in place for a "strong season and showing in the league and district meets."
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.
Arielle Breuninger is a senior at Lancaster Country Day School, but she keeps putting her name in the McCaskey Track & Field record book.
Running for the McCaskey team under a school co-op, she became its first girl to run under 5 minutes in the 1,600 meters at the 60th annual Cedar Cliff Relays in Camp Hill. Her time of 4:59.98 was the ninth fastest time ever for a Lancaster-Lebanon League girl, according to local sportswriter Pete Kauffman.