LebCo Male Athletes of the Week: Jalik Hill & Morgan Shanaman (Week Ending May 12, 2024)

Sponsored by Lebanon Federal Credit Union & WiLBuR / Froggy Valley 100.1

If you like this type of coverage, please let us know by Following us on social media: Twitter/X – @lebcosports1 and Facebook.

For any questions, comments, or discrepancies, please reach out to dan@lebcosports.com.

Jalik Hill

At the Lancaster Lebanon League Track & Field Meet, Lebanon’s Jalik Hill used his speed to earn three medals. The senior sprinter finished with a bronze medal in the 200m (22.61) and also took 4th in the 400m (50.98). He ended the meet by serving as a key leg of the Cedars’ 4x400m team that placed 5th (3:31.26). This trio of medals caught the attention of the LebCoSports.com faithful, who voted Hill as a LebCo Male Athlete of the Week.

Hill went on to compete at the District 3 Track & Field Championship Meet this past weekend, where he ran in the 200m and the 4x400m. In the 200m, he made it into the finals where he earned a 7th place medal to cap off his high school career.

For Hill, his last two years of high school track became a story of perseverance given the circumstances he and his teammates were forced to endure, first with construction taking out the old track last season, followed by a sinkhole wiping out the new track ahead of this season. Hill said of the experience, “I’ve dealt with the last two years of not having the correct facilities to practice on, and also not knowing when the text time I would be able to touch the track besides on meets.”

The result of Hill’s hard work and dedication resulted in a rewarding postseason, even though the wear and tear were both physically and mentally taxing. Hill said of the experience, “This year, I made it to districts in all my respectable events, and I earned my spots this year. Last year I got in for the 200 by people scratching. To know I made it this far after putting the work in was a gift in itself. Just being there and having the opportunity to compete on a bigger stage was truly a blessing for me.”

In terms of what he felt it represented for a Lebanon sprinter to find such a high level of success, Hill summed it up by saying, “I represented the team name across my chest very well. Since entering High School, I’ve always had a target on my back just because I’m a city kid.”

Hill’s philosophy is not limited to how he competes on the track, but is something he uses as motivation in other aspects of life. He is a dedicated student who carries a 3.9 GPA and is a member of the National Honors Society. He also serves as Class of 2024’s Co-President. Next year, he’ll be attending Bloomsburg University where he plans to study to become a forensic scientist. He will also continue his Track & Field career at the D2 level.

If there is one thing that Hill has demonstrated, it is that he is up for the challenges of being a student-athlete at the collegiate level. In talking to LebCoSports.com, Hill referenced the “survive and advance“ aspect of running at championship meets. This is something he has learned with the support of his mother, Shaneea, who has raised Hill and his sister, Janeea, as a single parent. Hill understands the sacrifices she has made in always wanting more for him and challenging him to become the young man he has become. Hill thanks God for making it all possible and his coaches, Tommy Pearson and Keith Rolon, for helping him develop the talents he was blessed with.

Hill sees himself as being “very outgoing“ and always tries to make everyone feel included. This is something he did as a leader of the Lebanon Track & Field Team, in trying to hold himself to a higher standard while making the sport enjoyable for all of his teammates. However, there is no one Hill is more supportive of than his younger sister, a member of Lebanon’s Softball team, with whom he speaks in glowing terms whenever he gets an opportunity. 

When it comes to opportunities, Hill recognizes that his reputation does not just serve his own goals but has a greater purpose. About his high school athletic career, Hill said, “I truly feel like I’m helping Lebanon lose that stigma, going out there and competing no matter what people have to say.“

Hill is now in a great position as he readies to move into the next phase, where he will undoubtedly set himself up for a successful life. We wish Jalik all the best as he writes his own story, not one of stereotypes, that could inspire the next generation of “city kids.”

Photos provided by Lebanon Track & Field

Morgan Shanaman

Winning their last three regular season games, ELCO Baseball made a late push to successfully qualify for the District 3 Playoffs. While there was solid team play, one of the seniors who led the charge was Morgan Shanaman. During the final week of the regular season, Shanaman pitched a complete game and struck out nine batters as the Raiders defeated Octorara. He then provided key at-bats in a win over Lebanon as ELCO was able to nab the #8-seed. It was this consistent play by Shanaman that landed him on the top of many ballots as our voters debated the LebCo Male Athlete of the Week.

Shanaman did not stop with the regular season, as he took the mound in ELCO’s District 3 opener against Kennard-Dale on May 17th. In the game, he was efficient as he threw eighty-seven pitches on his way to a one-hit, complete game shutout. This Monday, he went 2-4 with three RBI as ELCO upset Bermudian Springs, the #1 seed, in a 12-1 route. 

An early season ankle injury almost cost “Mo” his senior season. Fortunately, he was able to find his way back to the field and is performing at a high level. For the season, he has thrown in seven games, with his first start only coming on April 24th. This has resulted in him being on the hill for 30.2 innings, including three complete games out of the five games he has started. This has resulted in him compiling a 3-1 record and a 2.51 ERA. At the plate, Shanaman is dangerous as well, holding a .328 batting average and is in the midst of a five-game hit streak. Earlier this season, he had a streak of eight straight games where he had at least one hit.

ELCO Coach Brad Kreiser said, “Morgan has been our leader on and off the field this year. He has worked so hard this year to help lead our team to where we are now. He has been awesome on the mound for us down the stretch. At the plate, he’s been one of the steady bats we have needed all season long.”

The first-year skipper added, “Mo had to overcome a lot this season. His early injury this season almost cost him his entire senior year, and he missed two more games in the middle of our season due to an elbow injury. But he has been nothing but a positive and great leader for us.”

After graduating from ELCO, Shanaman is going to take his pitching skills to Niagara County Community College where he will also major in Biology. While in upstate New York, he will be following his favorite pro team, the Philadelphia Phillies.

That said, Shanaman will have to wait to shift his focus to college, as the work of him and his teammates is unfinished. On Thursday, they will play in the District 3 Semifinal against James Buchanan, which will be an opportunity for them to qualify for States. We wish Morgan the best of luck the rest of this season and well beyond. Go Raiders!

Photo provided by Heather Daub

LebCo Female Athlete of the Week: Meda Pulaski

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting:  May 6 – May 12

Previous Winners

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

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

Sam Kolacek (Week of March 25th)

Tyler Burgess (Week of April 1st)

Andrew Via (Week of April 1st)

Zac Frentz (Week of April 8th)

Gavin Bicher (Week of April 15th)

Chad Keller (Week of April 22nd)

Tyler Shunk (Week of April 22nd)

Adrian Gonzalez (Week of April 29th)

Colten Shaffer (Week of April 29th)