York, PA - This past year was sort of a wacky one for sports that we at the York Daily Record/Sunday News and GameTimePA.com cover.
Sometimes it was terrific, and other times it was tragic, but either way, 2011 was not a dull year on the local sports scene.
First off, nothing we say can convey the sense of loss felt by the New Oxford community when five teenagers, Diego Aguilar, Oscar Banda, Anthony Campos, Chelsea McFalls and Casey Sheridan -- all soccer players -- were killed in an automobile crash.
And added to the sadness was South Western having a football player, Ben Bynaker, killed in a double murder-suicide this year.
Such tragedies are everyone's'
One highlight from 2011 was Dallastown thrower Margo Britton winning a PIAA Class AAA title in the shot put with a heave of 44-4. She also won YAIAA titles in both the shot and the discus. (Daily Record/Sunday News -- file)
nightmare, and my heart goes out to all involved, families, coaches and their schools.Then there is the debacle at Penn State that found former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky under investigation on child-sex-abuse charges, which led to several high-ranking university officials -- including iconic coach Joe Paterno -- losing their jobs.
This was a mess from the start. Child abuse, and the alleged cover-up, are sickening for anyone to ponder, but as a parent, I am especially aghast that this happened.
Revs repeat: Thank goodness we did have some great local sports moments to take away from 2011, starting with the York Revolution winning their second straight Atlantic League championship.
The Revs were an impressive group that consistently beat the odds, especially when defeating favored rival Lancaster in the playoffs. They then followed that feat by knocking off league-best Long Island in the finals.
Once again manager Andy Etchebarren pulled the right strings -- both during games and by bringing in the right mix of players -- to help York become only the second team to win back-to-back Atlantic League crowns.
We are the champions: The YAIAA crowned one team state champion this past year when
Kennard-Dale wrestler Chance Marsteller won a state title at 152 pounds to cap his 42-0 freshman campaign last season. (Daily Record/Sunday News -- file)
the Central York boys' volleyball team, despite losing to Hempfield in the district semifinals, went on to win the PIAA Class AAA championship.With senior starters Paul Kuhn, David Molar, Kyle Wisner and Wes Richardson leading the way, the Panthers scored an impressive title for coach Brad Livingston.
Northeastern might have had a disappointing end to its volleyball season, but a YAIAA championship, a district title and making it to the PIAA semis for the third straight year is still a great accomplishment.
In basketball, the YAIAA crowned four district champions in March, including boys' teams William Penn (Class AAAA) and Hanover (AA) and girls Red Lion (AAAA) and York Catholic (AA) -- the sixth straight for the Irish.
Bigger and better things: Perhaps more intriguing from the hardwoods is the fact that six YAIAA basketball players from the 2011 graduating class are playing in Division I of the NCAA.
Kady Schrann (York Catholic), perhaps the most impressive all-around girls' basketball player the area has ever seen, is starting at Vanderbilt, as is Kelvin Parker (William Penn) at Mount St. Mary's.
The Eastern York duo of Andrew Nicholas and Austin Tillotson are playing significant minutes at Monmouth University.
Four McGlynn (Dallastown) is the sixth man at the University of Vermont and is second on the Catamounts in scoring, averaging 11 points per game. Red Lion grad Gisselle Truiett is seeing time at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Having this many grads playing Division I basketball is quite a feat.
Something to be proud of: This past fall, York Catholic's boys' soccer team had a deep postseason run. After winning the District 3 Class A championships, the Irish made it to the PIAA semifinals.
And it was fun being courtside to see the Susquehannock girls win the District 3 Class AA title.
There was plenty of individual success by local athletes at the state level, starting with Kennard-Dale's Chance Marsteller and Jordan Conaway of New Oxford winning PIAA wrestling championships in March.
Bringing home hardware: Speaking of gold medals, Dallastown's Margo Britton scored a state title in the shot put, capping the track and field season in style. Jared Posey of William Penn won a silver medal in the triple jump.
New Oxford's Jamilla Janneh was the only individual to win two state medals, finishing third in the AAA triple jump and seventh in the long jump.
Megan Lundy of Central York (AAA 400 meter run) earned a sixth-place medal. Dallastown's Jared Allison finished tied for sixth in the AAA pole vault. Northeastern's Karlee Kominsky (AAA high jump) and Sarah Hunt of Fairfield (AA triple jump) earned seventh-place medals.
Bradley Strathmeyer of West York took home two medals from the PIAA swimming and diving championships, earning a bronze in the boys' AA 100 butterfly and sixth-place hardware in the 500 freestyle.
Red Lion's Morgan Pfaff placed sixth the girls' AAA 200 individual medley and eighth in the 100 backstroke. The best part is, both of these swimmers are back for one more year.
Gerard Woody ended his brilliant swimming career on a high note by medaling in the ultra-competitive boys' AAA 50 freestyle at states by finishing fifth. Woody is now swimming at NC State.
Eastern York siblings, Lyndsey and Luke Dickson both earned fifth-place medals in their respective Class AA diving championships.
Touching gesture: My most incredible moment of the year came on a Friday night at South Western, just days after Bynaker was shot and killed. The Mustangs were set to host Central, and the team entered from atop the Corral, standing among their fans as a note from Bynaker's sister was read.If that wasn't heart-wrenching enough, when South Western made its way to the sideline before kickoff, the entire Panther team -- led by Livingston -- came over to shake hands with the Mustang players.
Just recalling that moment I witnessed from the press box gives me goosebumps -- and puts tears in my eyes.
It was that kind of year.
Steve Navaroli is a sports reporter for the Daily Record/Sunday News. Reach him at 771-2060, snavaroli@ydr.com or @stevenavaroli.
Source: http://www.gametimepa.com/ci_19652867?source=rss_viewed
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