LebCo Female Athletes of the Week: Addison Hollenbach & Zariyah Whigham (Week Ending April 14, 2024)

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Addison Hollenbach

Northern Lebanon Softball has asserted itself as one of the top teams in the area. During the Week of April 8th, the Vikings went 3-1. In those games, Addison Hollenbach played a major role at the plate and on the mound. The sophomore totaled five hits, four RBI, and added three steals. Against Columbia, Hollenbach went 2-3 at the plate with two doubles while pitching an eight-strikeout, no walk no-hitter. In a 20-5 victory over Pequea Valley, she won 20-5 against Pequea Valley, and she went 2-5 with a walk and two RBI. She also pitched a complete game, going seven innings with thirteen strikeouts. Given the week Northern Lebanon had and the role Hollenbach played, the LebCoSports.com voters honored her by selecting her as a LebCo Female Athlete of the Week.

As of now, the Vikings are tied atop the Lancaster Lebanon League – Section 4 standings with a 9-3 record overall. Out of the leadoff spot, Hollenbach is hitting .305 with a .487 on-base percentage. She has also drawn six walks. All of this has led to Hollenbach crossing the plate fourteen times. As a pitcher, she has been just as valuable. Currently, she is 4-1 with a 3.63 ERA and 48 Ks in 27 innings.

Coach Bob Bashore said of Hollenbach, “I always tell her before her first at-bat, ‘Find your way on.’ She does a great job of that. It’s not always about the average. She leads our team in walks, HBP, and runs scored. That is what a leadoff hitter does: get on base.”

When it comes to her overall impact on the team, Bashore said, “Addison is also a fantastic pitcher and shortstop. We are lucky to have her on our team because she helps us in so many ways. I love versatile players, and Addison is definitely that. I know that if I could put her anywhere on the field, she would excel. It’s fun to watch kids like her grow and mature into adults, and I only expect great things from Addison in the next 2 1/2 years.”

Hollenbach mirrored her coach’s sentiment when she said it is “doing whatever it takes for the team” when asked about her role. Personally, she is hoping to complete the season with a batting average around .400. More importantly, she hopes that the team can have a long postseason run.

Northern Lebanon after finishing 2nd at the Big Spring Tournament on April 20th

Last season, Hollenbach was an LL Section 4 First Team All-Star, something she is on pace to be considered for again in 2024. Her success is the result of hard work and a strong support network that starts with her parents, Jamie and Doug. In addition to being thankful for the support of her parents, she is grateful for her travel coach, Carl Shaak, who has taught her that “work ethic is everything and to do things successfully, you have to give it your all.”

Beyond softball, the idea of work ethic is something that Hollenbach has also applied to her work on the soccer field and in the classroom. When she graduates from Northern Lebanon in 2026, Hollenbach would like to go to college to become a Pediatric Oncology Nurse.

With her work ethic, drive, and determination already on display in such an impressive manner, there is little doubt that Hollenbach will succeed in the short- and long term.

For now, we wish her and her Viking teammates all the best as they battle through the regular season and prepare for a successful trip to the playoffs.

Photos provided by Addison Hollenbach / NLHS Softball Facebook

Zariyah Whigham

Halfway through her junior season, Zariyah Whigham began her adventures in Triple Jumping. Within a matter of weeks, she broke the Lebanon record in the event and then won gold at the Lancaster Lebanon League Championships before taking bronze at the District 3 Championships. Now a senior, Whigham has continued to improve, and on April 13th, she won the Triple Jump and the Long Jump at the Black Knight Invitational. Her winning jump of 39’1.25″ was the 3rd best all-time in LL League History and helped her win the event by four feet. This performance earned Whigham the adoration of our voters, who selected her as a LebCo Female Athlete of the Week.

This past weekend, Whigham added to her ever-growing collection of medals when she competed at the prestigious Jack Roddick Invitational at Shippensburg University. Launching from the same runway she’ll be using at Districts (and States), Whigham won the Triple Jump with her furthest journey being 38’0.25″, nudging out fellow LebCo star Makenna Hess of ELCO. Whigham also earned silver in the Long Jump (17’6″), with Hess taking bronze.

What makes Whigham’s success even more impressive is the situation that Lebanon Track & Field has faced over the past two seasons, leaving her to do much of her training without a proper pit. Last season, the construction of Lebanon Junior High forced the Cedars to train at Lebanon Middle School. They have been again forced to do the bulk of their training on the old yard-based cinder track as a sinkhole delayed the opening of the new track on Wilhelm Avenue. When they are able to do so, they have been training at ELCO High School, thus furthering the bond between Whigham and Hess.

Coach Mark Silcox, Lebanon Jumps’ guru, said of the situation, “I would like to mention not only Zariyah’s resilience but the resilience of all of the Lebanon HS track athletes. It is amazing that we have practiced on cinders and macadam, with no runway or sand pit for two years, and the entire track team maintains such a positive outlook.” 

Silcox continued, “Zariyah only started jumping a year ago and has never had a consistent practice routine or surface on which to practice. She does not let that get her down but does she best given the circumstances.”

In terms of her continued development, Silcox had his praise, saying, “Last year Zariyah had some success, but I would say that in the last month, she has become more of a student of the jumping event. On Saturday, “things” came together and she had a really good day. What I know about every track event is that athletes have ups and downs throughout the season. She is very smart, very athletic, and resilient; three traits that will serve her well.”

Of her performance, Whigham said, “I came there determined and ready to perform, and that was the best performance I’ve had so far, especially due to the weather. My legs were feeling nice and warm. I had good form, my phases were great, and I controlled my speed well on the runway.”

She went on to thank her coaches, Coach Silcox and Coach Tommy Pearson (head coach), along with Coach Tyler Cottle, who also works with Lebanon’s jumpers.

Track & Field is not the only sport where Whigham’s springy legs have led her to excellence. She was a key piece of Lebanon’s run at the last two Section 1 Girls Basketball Championships, using her athleticism to provide rebounding and scoring. For her efforts, she was named a LL Section 1 Second Team All-Star and was also selected as a Section 1 Defensive All-Star.

Whigham is hoping to continue her athletic career at the collegiate level, with a focus on Track & Field. She plans to major in exercise science. 

One thing that you may not know about Whigham is that she has a twin sister, Zianna, who also plays basketball and runs track for Lebanon. Arguably, Zianna is Zariayh’s #1 supporter (and vice versa).

We are joining Zianna and all of Cedar Nation in wishing Zariyah all the best as she continues to set a new standard.

Click to read about the LebCo Male Athlete of the Week: Zac Frentz

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting: April 8 – April 14

Previous Winners

Katelyn Brenner (Weeks of March 11th, 18th)

Abby Hassler (Week of March 25th)

Danika Setlock (Week of March 25th)

Abby Palkovic (Week of April 1st)