LebCo Male Athletes of the Week: Tyler Burgess & Andrew Via (Week Ending April 7, 2024)

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Tyler Burgess

Tyler Burgess won two medals at last year’s PIAA State Championship Meet. This season, Palmyra’s star hurdler is well on his way to repeating the feat, with his sights set on climbing to the top of the podium at Shippensburg when States is held during Memorial Day weekend. During the Week of April 1st, the junior set the Palmyra School Record in the 110m High Hurdles with a time of 14.17 in a dual meet against Susquehanna Township. He followed it up by winning the 110m High Hurdles (14.4) and the 300m IM Hurdles (39.7) at the Bruce Dallas Invitational. This combination of dominant performances led to Burgess being selected as a LebCo Male Athlete of the Week.

Once again, Burgess shone in three meets this past week. He clinched victory in both hurdle events at the Pan-Ram Invitational, clocking a time of 14.32 in the 110m High Hurdles, which is being hailed as the 2nd fastest time in Pennsylvania this season. His stellar performances not only contributed to the Cougars’ Team Championship at the meet, which saw the participation of thirty-nine teams, but also left a mark in two dual meets. Arguably, the top highlight came when Burgess delivered a performance on Thursday to set the Buck Swank Stadium record in the 300m IM Hurdles with a time of 38.29, despite the challenging winds that plagued the region.

Having secured two State medals in 2023, Burgess is no stranger to success. He finished 7th in the 110m High Hurdles and 6th in the 300m IM Hurdles. However, his sights are set on the ultimate prize—a State gold. To achieve this, he has been putting in the hard work every day, and his early-season success is a testament to his dedication and improvement over the years.

Burgess said, “During the off-season, I was working on my starts and my form. It is showing a lot of improvement in my time and is paying off this year.”

Palmyra Hurdle Coach Tyrah Mosby told LebCoSports.com, “Tyler was recently asked how he felt about this track season, and he stated, ‘I’m a student of the game.’ That totally describes Tyler as an athlete during this journey. He has been working very hard and is coachable. He is willing to make corrections and continues to learn. With setting small goals, one meet at a time, he will have a very successful high school career.”

Burgess is thankful for Coach Mosby’s work in helping him improve. He also credits his trainer, Jalen Ramsey from 1% Performance, for giving him workouts that have helped him get faster and in the shape he needs to be to keep on driving forward.

In addition to his coaches, Burgess is thankful for the support his family gives him. That support starts with his father, Rodney, who himself was a Division III Track & Field All-American while competing for Methodist University. The elder Burgess holds Tyler to a high standard and supports him in a way that Tyler describes as “doing everything he can to make sure that I can succeed.” Tyler is not the only Burgess that benefits from this support, as his brother Jacob is also a star Track & Field athlete for Palmyra, having recently won the Long Jump at the Bruce Dallas Invitational.

As the brothers continue to aid Palmyra’s dual meet winning streak as the program seeks its 5th straight Keystone Division Championship, (Tyler) Burgess will continue to win his share of events as he hopes to eventually break 14.0 and 37.0 in the two hurdling events. Beyond the points he brings each meet, Burgess sees his role on the team as always trying to “uplift” his teammates by cheering them on and attempting to bring positivity as a team leader.

Beyond the Track, Burgess is a valuable member of the Palmyra Cougar Basketball Team. While he uses his athleticism to terrorize opponents on the hardwood, it is ultimately on the Track where he wants to compete at the collegiate level. At this point, Burgess is unsure where the ride will take him. As a self-professed car guy, he knows that a powerful engine will get him places, and he will enjoy the journey to his eventual destination.

For now, we wish Tyler all the best throughout the rest of this season as he continues to put forth a series of jaw-dropping performances that will move him closer to his goal of becoming a State Champion.

Photos provided by Palmyra Track & Field

Andrew Via

Andrew Via, a sophomore with exceptional leadership skills, has been a standout player for the Northern Lebanon Baseball Team. In a crucial Section 4 win over Lancaster Catholic on April 1st, Via’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He went 4-4 with a double and three runs, showcasing his batting prowess. His contribution continued in the win over Lancaster Mennonite, where he went 1-2 with an RBI, walk, and a sacrifice fly. He scored twice, playing a significant role in the Vikings’ 10-3 victory. Recognizing his outstanding performance, Via was voted as a LebCo Male Athlete of the Week.

Following four wins last week, Northern Lebanon now holds an 8-1 record. Over the last four games, Via is 6-13 with two RBI, a double, and a triple. Proving to be a tough out, his overall batting average for the season is now .538, with an on-base percentage of .619. He has also added ten stolen bases, including swiping six bags in the win over Hamburg on March 26th. This has resulted in him crossing the plate twelve times in the first nine games.

Last week, Via also provided relief on the mound in two games, picking up the win in each. He pitched the final three innings on April 8th’s marathon win over Columbia and then faced one batter in April 13th’s come-from-behind win over Schuylkill Valley.

Via has been satisfied with his performance so far this season, as he has played a major role in helping his team win. Personally, he hopes to keep his batting average over .500. More importantly, however, he wants to help the Vikings push deeper into the State Playoffs after making the first appearance in school history during his freshman year.

It was during the 2023 season when Coach Travis Thome began trusting in the young Via to start several key games down the stretch and into Districts and, ultimately, States. Via is thankful for the role that Thome has played in his development.

Via mostly plays middle infield for the Vikings. Oftentimes, during games, there is a family reunion at second base, where he combines with his cousin, fellow sophomore Adrian Gonzalez, to make plays.

Outside of Baseball, Via is a key member of the Northern Lebanon Basketball Team, where he showcases his athleticism. If his play on the athletic field/court is not proof enough that he is athletic, Via will show you that he can do a backflip.

One thing is certain: If Via’s goal of Northern Lebanon winning a State Championship can materialize, he’ll be doing a lot of backflips.

We wish Andrew all the best this season as he helps the Vikings to reach new heights.

Photos provided by Northern Lebanon Baseball

Stay tuned for an article about the LebCo Female Athlete of the Week: Abby Palkovic 

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting: April 1 – April 7

Previous Winners

Ethan Spang (Weeks of March 11th, 18th)

Paxton Thomas (Weeks of March 11th, 18th)

Sam Kolacek (Week of March 25th)