Annville-Cleona Dutchmen
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Sue Felty, 6th season
Key Returning Athletes: Dylan Clements (Sr., Sprints); Noah Gunderson (Sr., Jumps); Alex Long (Sr., Sprints/Javelin); Jahmar Gonzalez-Allie (Sr., Middle Distance), Phoenix Music (Sr., Sprints/Javelin); Ali Konneh (Jr., Jumps); Tim Montijo (Jr., Hurdles); Dominic Casciotti (So., Sprint)Matt Clemson (So., Distance); Landon Hostetter (So., Distance)
Key Losses: Chase Watson (Thomas Jefferson); Rogan Harter; Da’modric Green
Outlook: Last season, the Annville Boys finished 3rd in Section 3 and 6th in Districts. In doing so, they had 13 qualifiers for the District 3 AA Championships, with Noah Gunderson winning gold and moving onto States where he placed 5th in the high jump. Coach Felty would like to increase the number of individuals who qualify for Districts in 2023, while also increasing their overall standing in Section 3. The Dutchmen are already seeing an increased number of newcomers who will be added to an already strong core of athletes who value hard work. This mentality among a large number of athletes will help build a competitive nature in practice that should translate well for Annville-Cleona this season.
Cedar Crest Falcons
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1
Head Coach: Rob Bare, 29th season
Key Returning Athletes: Nick Garman (Sr., Sprints); Izaiah Gonzalez (Sr., Jumps); Gabe Lewis (Sr., Sprints); Kyle Rauchut (Sr., Sprints); J’veon Reyes-Vega (Sr., Jumps); Owen Sparks (Sr., Distance); Alex Abreu (Jr., Sprints); Ben Causak (Jr., Distance); Reed Fretz (Jr., Jumps); Nick Lambros (Jr., Throws); Jake Perhonitch (Jr., Distance); Leo Tirado (Jr., Sprints/Jumps); Christian Weaber (Jr., Throws)
Key Losses: Ryan Wolfe (Shippensburg); Luke Hinegardner (Shippensburg); Gavin Popejoy (Thaddeus Stevens); Donovan Adams (Cal U of PA); Joe Santiago; Connor Daubert
Outlook: The 2022 campaign was one of those seasons where Cedar Crest was dominant, going undefeated to win the Section 1 Championship and once again, the Lebanon County Championship. Unfortunately, they lost some of the talent that got them to those peaks last year. However, never count the Falcons out, as they are always in the process of reloading, especially given that fact that they have out seventy-three boys this season. Each one is hearing the same thing from Coach Bare: “Do The Work!” Keep in mind, the long tradition of success did not happen by accident. One athlete who will be putting in the work is speedster Gabe Lewis, who hopes to improve upon his 7th place finish in the 100m at States last season. While Lewis has the State medal, there are many others who will be worth watching this season as Crest hopes will work to remain on top.
ELCO Raiders
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Robert Miller, 15th season
Key Returning Athletes: Colin Daub (Sr., Throws); Harrison Kramer (Jr., Jumps/Sprints); Luke Macchione (Jr., Hurdles/Jumps); Alden Stickler (Jr., Jumps); Chad Keller (So., Distance)
Key Losses: Miccario Madden; Luke Williams; Cole Thomas; Nate Sanchez; Jason Whelan; James Henry (Alvernia)
Outlook: ELCO can never be overlooked with the level of talent that they often produce. This year, they are starting the season with decent numbers and a good base level of talent. Among those will be Colin Daub, who was a State qualifier in the shot put a season ago. In order to win, they will need to find depth in some areas, something that Coach Miller believes they can do as he anticipates some of this boys stepping up to help the team win. One newcomer that will help this process is junior football running back Jake Williams, who will test his football speed on the track. If all goes to plan, the Raiders could again be challenging for the Section 3 crown.
Click here for the Lebco Girls Track & Field Season Outlook
Lebanon Cedars
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1
Head Coach: Tommy Pearson, 2nd season
Key Returning Athletes: Owen Arnold-Paine (Sr., Pole Vault); Zahir Stoner (Sr., Jumps); Ramon Urena (Jr., Distance)
Key Losses: Caleb Hershey (Colorado Christian), Younes Naomi (Alvernia), Michael Franco Suazo
Outlook: This season will be one of resiliency for the Cedars, as they face two major challenges that they will try to turn to their advantage. First, they are making the move to Section 1. This will mean that the level of competition will instantly improve, which Coach Pearson feels will help his athletes to hit new personal bests if they are able to properly embrace the opportunity. The other challenge is that all of their meet will be on the road, as they are without a home track due to construction of a new building. They have been practicing at Lebanon Middle School on the 440-yard cinder track located within Alumni Stadium. To say the least, the coaches have become very creative and have also scheduled some extra meets to give the athletes an opportunity to run on a standard, modern track. One athlete to watch will be Ramon Urena Batista who was a State qualifier in Cross Country, despite being new to the sport. Keep your eye on this team as they compete with those extra layers of challenges. If they lean into them, this could end up as a memorable season.
Northern Lebanon Vikings
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Adam Molinaro, 1st season
Key Returning Athletes: Aidan Bertrand (Sr., Middle Distance); Alex De Mackiewicz (Sr., Throws); Carter Cheslock (Jr., Distance); Joseph Escobales (Jr., Hurdles/High Jump); Tyler Shunk (Jr., Distance/Pole Vault); Eli Thompson (So., Throws); Myles Watson (So., Sprints)
Key Losses: Ben Brassart; Sam Hillegas; Aidan Krall; Tyler Meyer
Outlook: In 2022, the Vikings competed well, with several performances landing on the Northern Lebanon All-Time Top Ten list, including a school record in the 4×800 relay. This season, the team welcomes first year head coach Adam Molinaro who will attempt to establish a winning culture. Among the challenges will be that there are about forty boys out this season, but only a handful of them with varsity track experience (or any track experience at all), thus making the veteran leadership highly important. The team worked throughout the winter, preparing for a high level of competition in pursuit of new personal records. Coach Molinaro is preaching daily that they should train and compete to the best of their ability. If they can do that, the growth mindset culture will take hold in Viking Nation.
Palmyra Cougars
Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division
Head Coach: Danny Byrd, 15th season
Key Returning Athletes: Eli Becker (Sr., Throws); Jose Morales (Sr., Sprints); Randy Nihm (Sr., jJumps); Mason Bucks (Jr., Pole Vault), Jonathan McDannell (Jr., Hurdles/Sprints); Zachary Morrissey (Jr., Pole Vault); Tyler Burgess (So., Hurdles)
Key Losses: Nathan Berarducci; Kasen Bixler; Anthony Mansfield; Quinton Townsend
Outlook: The Palmyra Cougars went undefeated on their way to the 2022 Keystone Championship. They are hoping they can keep it rolling this year, as they are returning several key contributors from last year’s team. However, they will need several of the younger athletes to step up to fill in what was lost due to graduation, especially in the sprints where Quinton Townsend and Anthony Mansfield were solid top-end options. That is where Jose Morales hopes to shine, along with some other sprinters who could pop this season. Additionally, Mason Bucks hopes to improve upon his 8th place finish at States in the pole vault, having already flashed a very impressive 15’6” in subpar weather at this past weekend’s Tim Cook Invitational. All in all, the Cougars know how to compete and the progress of Coach Byrd’s crew will be fun to watch this season.
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