Annville-Cleona Dutchmen
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Sue Felty, 6th season
Key Returning Athletes: Nory Mitchell (Sr., Distance); Sarah Speraw (Sr., Throws); Megan Brophy (Jr., Middle Distance); Grace Francis (Jr., Middle Distance); Emily Shuey (Jr., Sprints); Colbey Brown (So., Middle Distance); Kendall Cooper (So., Sprints); Ava Hoover (So., Jumps/Discus); Audrey Sider (So., Sprints)
Key Losses: Braetan Peters (Elon University); Grace Coleman; Allison Cooper
Outlook: A season ago, the Annville-Cleona Girls finished 3rd in Section 3 before placing 6th at the District 3 Championship Meet. Representing Annville at Districts were 14 female athletes, a number that Coach Felty is hopeful they can improve upon this season. If you have been paying attention to AC’s sports scene this year, you may recognize many of the names of the returning athletes who have had tremendous cross country, field hockey, soccer, and basketball seasons. It is a hardworking group that has discovered a culture of winning. Adding some talented newcomers to the group will aid their overall efforts this season.
Cedar Crest Falcons
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1
Head Coach: Rob Bare, 7th season
Key Returning Athletes: Mariah Haggerty (Sr., Hurdles); Sophia Rosenberg (Sr., Throws); Grace Tadajweski (Sr., Distance); Jill Tobias (Sr., Distance); Alyssa Vandett (Sr., Jumps); Hailee Kreiser (Jr., Pole Vault); Lizzie Lowe (Jr., Distance); Emma Spittle (Jr., Jumps); Lilly Thomas (So., Hurdles); Ava Schreier (So., Sprints); Ruby Wolfe (So., Pole Vault)
Key Losses: Juliana Donley; Molly Heintzelman; Emily Oriel (LVC); Alyssa Stiver; Katie Waranavage
Outlook: The Lady Falcons are always competitive in Section 1 and this year are returning several key contributors from last year’s team. In total, they have fifty-seven girls out this season, with all of them commited to Coach Bare’s motto of “Do The Work!” Beyond the veterans, Cedar Crest will add tremendously to its depth with the addition of two freshmen, distance runner Eliana Schneider and sprinter Kaddel Howard. In the fall, Schneider ran the fastest time in Crest Cross Country history. During indoor track season, Howard became the first Cedar Crest girl to win a State gold medal when she won the 400m (and took silver in the 200m). If this crew sticks together and works hard together, they will be able to reach new heights . . . together.
ELCO Raiders
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Robert Miller, 15th season
Key Returning Athletes: Carissa Bender (Sr., Pole Vault); Jacey Hentz (Sr., Hurdles/Jumps); Sam Nelson (Sr., Throws); Isabel Zwally (Sr., Distance); Sara Miller (Jr., Hurdles); Nina Milosevic (Jr., Distance); Makenna Haas (So., Jumps)
Key Losses: Campbelle Boltz; Emma Fox; Emily Miller (LVC); Jess Seidel
Outlook: Last season, ELCO won their fourth straight Section 3 Championship. They graduated several key members from the 2022 team, but return a lot of key talent as well. Among the talent is Carissa Bender, who finished 11th at States in the pole vault (6th in Indoors). Additionally, Jacey Hentz looks to make a leap forward this year after medaling at Indoor States in the long jump and Sam Nelson will aim to make States after medaling at Districts last season. Overall, Coach Miller has good numbers out this year, which combined with the high level of talent and leadership, raises the chances that they could make it five in a row.
Click here for the Lebco Boys Track & Field Season Outlook
Lebanon Cedars
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1
Head Coach: Tommy Pearson, 2nd season
Key Returning Athletes: Mileyska Calderon (Sr., Sprints/Jumps); Dora Lopez (Jr., Throws); Zariyah Whigham (Jr., Sprints) Liliana Harrison (So., Throws)
Key Losses: Madison Bishop; Isabella Hoffman (Alvernia); Ashley Jocham
Outlook: There are several factors that will make this season an interesting one for the Cedars. First of all, Lebanon will be road warriors this season as construction has left them without a modern track and forced them to be practicing at Lebanon Middle School on the old 440 yard cinder track located within Alumni Stadium. This has challenged the the coaches to get very creative with practice and to schedule additional meets to get more reps on an actual track throughout the season. In addition, Lebanon will make the move to Section 1 this season, bringing on a new level of competition. Coach Pearson believes this move will be a good thing for his athletes. His goal for them is to keep them healthy and for every individual to do the best she can possibly do. One athlete to look for is Liliana Harrison, who as a freshman last season was the Lancaster Lebanon League silver medalist in both the shot put and the discus. If all goes according to plan, people will be talking about Harrison and several of her teammates by the end of the season.
Northern Lebanon Vikings
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Adam Molinaro, 1st season
Key Returning Athletes: Toccoa Boyer (Sr., Hurdles/Sprints); Alyssa Marlowe (Sr., Distance); Ash Rich (Pole Vault/High Jump); Sara Rich (Sr., Sprints); Erin Shuey (Sr., Distance); Ayva Sechman (Jr., Throws/Long Jump); Morgan Rank (So., Hurdles/Sprints)
Key Losses: Tori Hollinger; Anna Klingler; Cala Martino; Ashlyn Messinger
Outlook: In 2022, Northern Lebanon worked hard and some of their athletes became enshrined on the NL Top 10 All-Time Honor Roll for their performances. When the season was complete, they said farewell to several major contributors. However, the team returns several seniors who will help first year head coach Adam Molinaro to establish a winning culture. As many of the forty girls out for the team this season do not have varsity track experience, the leadership among the seniors will become that much more important. While Coach Molinaro does not expect every athlete to be elite, he expects everyone to work to become the best versions of themselves. If that plays out, this team could start to put forth some excellent performances in the near future.
Palmyra Cougars
Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division
Head Coach: Danny Byrd, 15th season
Key Returning Athletes: Olivia Appleby (Sr., Javelin); Kaylee Groff (Sr., Pole Vault); Vanessa Flores (Sr., Throws); Cali Halbleib (Sr., Hurdles); Katie Hartman (Sr., Jumps/Sprints); Xerena Topos (Sr., Sprints/Jumps); Abby Berarducci (Jr., Distance); Carmen McConaghy (Jr., Sprints/Hurdles); Sofie Price (So., Javelin); Avery Rohrer (So., Distance); Ellie Shaffer (So., Distance)
Outlook: Last season, the Lady Cougars finished with a 4-3 record, making them very competitive in the Keystone. This year, they return with several veteran athletes as part of the seventy athletes that will be wearing the orange and black this spring. While the team has plenty of talent among seniors and juniors, one area of strength that will be worth watching is javelin. Olivia Appleby returns after a successful junior season, along with sophomore Sofie Price who finished 14th at States in 2022. Palmyra has a long history of developing successful female track athletes and this year does not look to be any different. Look for several eye-opening performances from this group in 2023.
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