Female Athletes of the Week: Kaddel Howard & Hayley Sheroky (Week Ending February 25, 2024)

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Kaddel Howard

By all accounts, she hates the limelight. However, it’s tough not to give attention to Kaddel Howard, the dynamic Cedar Crest Track star who has dominated the 400m since bursting onto the scene last year. At the PTFCA Indoor State Championships held on February 25th, the sophomore won her signature event with a time of 54.93. She followed it up a short time later with a bronze medal-winning performance in the 200m, running the one-lap event in 24.62. This type of performance is undoubtedly worthy of LebCo Athlete of the Week, which our readers agreed with.

Howard is a unique talent and is currently on pace to become the most decorated Track & Field athlete that Lebanon County has ever produced. Her performance at the State Indoor Championships follows her victory in the 400m at the 2023 meet. She then tore through the Outdoor season, claiming gold in the 400m. Yes, this is Howard’s third statewide gold medal. Howard has also earned two state indoor medals in the 200m. She also earned a 7th place medal as the Cedar Crest 4x800m anchor at the Outdoor State Championships last May. That’s FIVE medals from State Championships in just three seasons.

For someone with an immense level of natural talent, she knows that she is always being chased, literally in this case. She knows that she has had people who have doubted her, and she was candid in admitting that she had doubted her own abilities at times. Howard knows she has to work hard to perform at her very best to overcome those insecurities.

When asked about how her personal work ethic can help the overall goals of the team, Howard said, “I hope to inspire people to work really hard because it leads to great results.” She also said that she put in the work over the winter months to stay in shape and now plans to set new PRs (personal records) during the outdoor season. Her best outdoor time last year was 53.50, a Lancaster Lebanon League record.

Coach Rob Bare said of Howard’s recent performance, “Kaddel had a great indoor State meet. Her 400M Dash was a thing of beauty. She took it out in 25.9 to make sure she was first at the break line. The fast, early pace took it out of the other runners, which enabled Kaddel to win her third state 400M championship in as many seasons as possible.”

In a nod to the professional approach that Howard takes to each meet, Bare said, “Kaddel was focused. She warmed up, competed, and cooled down like a Champion. She competed with Heart, Desire, & Falcon Pride.”

Though Howard is in the Class of ’26, she is already thinking about college. She knows that she would like to continue her running career. In terms of a future career, she is interested in the medical field.

Beyond that, one thing to know about Howard is that her favorite color is pink, a color that dominates her wardrobe. Now that the Spring sports season has arrived, she will be training outdoors, most likely dressed in a pink ensemble.

We wish Kaddel the best of luck preparing for a successful Outdoor season.

Hayley Sheroky

On February 22nd, Northern Lebanon trailed Trinity by seven points going into the 4th quarter of their District 3 quarterfinal match-up. The Lady Vikings stormed back in the final frame to earn the victory, which clinched a State Playoff berth. Hayley Sheroky had one of the critical performances as Northern Lebanon snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The sophomore scored ten points in the game, eight of which came in the 4th quarter. In fact, she went 8-10 from the free throw line as the Vikings pulled off the improbable win. For her efforts, Sheroky was chosen by our voters as a LebCo Female Athlete of the Week.

Sheroky is Northern Lebanon’s point guard. Despite what the scoreboard read against Trinity, Sheroky stayed in control while facilitating the offense, making the right decisions when they mattered most. Along with her teammates, she also provided a stellar defensive effort that limited Trinity to just five points in the 4th quarter.

While the victory over Trinity was the season’s most important, Northern Lebanon picked up their share of wins during the regular season, going 18-4. While running the offense, Sheroky is also one of the team’s primary scoring threats, along with Olivia Shutter and Kasey Weimer. Her maturity on the court allows her to make the right decisions to get others involved, but also to take her own shots when it’s the right call. About her role, Sheroky said, “Being point guard allows me to create opportunities for my teammates while still executing on my own part. I find myself being one of the main scorers who can step up and take control when necessary.” Through 26 games, Sheroky has averaged 8 points per game.

On and off the court, she sees herself as a leader on a roster that does not have any seniors. Given that she is the quarterback, she understands her role on the team, stating, “I try my best to be a role model for the younger players and a voice of reason to all my teammates, which I believe will help us unite and excel as a team.”

Sheroky is a basketball player through and through, making the sport a year-round endeavor. After being named 2nd Team All-County in her freshman year, her sophomore campaign was put in jeopardy when she ruptured her Achilles tendon last summer. After working hard and enduring many months of recovery and physical therapy, she was ready to go this season.

Sheroky is now ready for the challenge of leading her team into the State Playoffs, where the Vikings will play Allentown Central Catholic, the District 11 Champions. That game will be played in Allentown on Saturday, March 9th, at 3:00 pm.

While Sheroky and her teammates don’t want to think about this season ending, it is important to note that the 10th grader has already decided that she would like to play basketball at the collegiate level. In terms of a future career, she has an interest in majoring in either psychology or neuroscience. Once done with college, Sheroky sees herself coaching basketball.

For now, the future can wait, as Northern Lebanon can take it one game at a time as they enter the PIAA State Basketball Championship Tournament. We wish Hayley and the Northern Lebanon Lady Vikings in making it a multi-game journey.

Sheroky is a true fan, seen here calling a Brian Bicksler 3-ball

LebCo Male Athlete of the Week: Karter Adams

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting:  February 19 – February 25

Previous Winners

Kenzie Eckhart (Week of 12/4) 

Laci Lesher (Week of 12/4) 

Morgan Kline (Week of 12/11) 

Mya Doster (Week of 12/11) 

Kailah Correa (Holiday Weeks) 

Kylee Trostle (Holiday Weeks) – Won the South Central Regional Wrestling Championship to advance to the PIAA State Championship.

Olive Brandt (Week of 1/8) 

Kasey Weimer (Week of 1/8) 

Qynne Demler (Week of 1/15)

Morgan Lantz (Week of 1/22)

Maddie Stout (Week of 1/22)

Kendall Cooper (Week of 1/29)

Miracle Hershey (Week of 1/29)

Riley Hatzfeld (Week of 2/5)

Makenna Haas (Week of 2/12)