Varsity Boys’ Basketball

Photo by Allura McCuller

The varsity boys repeated what they did last year and became Schuylkill League Division One champions once again. From there, they defeated Panther Valley 76-36 February 13 in the semifinals of the Schuylkill League playoffs, and rival Blue Mountain 48-26 February 16 in the championship. However, their season was cut short in the semifinals of the District XI playoffs. They lost to Allentown Central Catholic 57-41 February 27. The boys ended the season with a record of 19-5.

“This season was the most fun basketball season of my life,” junior JR Hahner said. “I will really miss the seniors because I’ve been playing with them my whole life, and I wouldn’t trade our time together for anything.”

Varsity Girls’ Basketball

Photo by Allura McCuller

The Lady Tide made it farther than predicted in District XI playoffs when they defeated Bangor 44-32 February 24. However, the team lost in the championship to Southern Lehigh 52-30 March 3. Despite this loss, the girls ended the season with a winning record of 14-10. They played some of the best teams in the state such as Nazereth, Shamokin and William Allen. The girls’ overall record was 14-10.

“I feel the season went very well,” junior Alexa Cesari said.”We all became very close and worked as a team on the court.”

Boys’ Swimming

Photo by Max Kelly

This season for the boys’ swim team has been the most successful in school history. As a team, the boys won the division one, Schuylkill League and District XI championships.

The boys also had several individual and relay medalists at both the Schuylkill League and District XI championships. At the league championship February 10, junior Corey Holobetz placed fourth in diving. Freshman Zaidian Vanorden won silver in the 200 IM, junior Jordan Young won gold in the 100 IM, junior Zach Turnitza won gold in the 50 backstroke and senior Alec Gonzalez won gold in the 50 breaststroke. In relays, senior Noah Shelhamer, Gonzalez, Turnitza and Vanorden teamed up to win the 200 medley relay; senior Josh Zelinsky, Vanorden, Young and Turnitza won the 400 freestyle relay.

At the district championship, held March 3-4 at Emmaus High School, three relay teams won gold: the 200 freestyle relay of Shelhamer, Zelinsky, Turnitza and Young; the 200 medley relay of Gonzalez, Shelhamer, Turnitza and Vanorden; and the 400 freestyle team of Zelinsky, Turnitza, Young and Van Orden. In individuals, Turnitza placed second in the 100 backstroke, VanOrden placed third in the 500 freestyle and Shelhamer placed third in the 50 freestyle.

At the state championship, held March 15-17 at Bucknell University, the 200 medley relay of Gonzalez, Shelhamer, Turnitza and Vanorden finished 21st, the 400 freestyle relay of Zelinsky, junior Evan Lecher, Young and Vanorden finished 16th, the 200 freestyle relay of Shelhamer, Zelinsky, Turnitza and Young placed 19th and Turnitza placed 16th in the 100 backstroke.

“This season was more successful because we won districts and the league championship,” Turnitza said. “This success was due to a combination of key new swimmers and older, more experienced swimmers. Also, we started practicing much more before school this year. I will miss the leaving seniors most from this season and the first time memories made.”

Girls’ Swimming

Photo by Max Kelly

Many girls on the swim team achieved individual success. In diving at the Schuylkill League championship, held February 10, junior Hannah Kruppenbach finished second. Also at leagues, senior Angela Eckert won gold in the 50 freestyle, senior Jess Turnitza won silver in the 100 IM and junior Kylie Tohill won silver in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle.

At districts, held March 3-4 at Emmaus High School, the 200 freestyle relay of Eckert, Turnitza, Tohill and sophomore Olivia Tokonitz placed fourth. Tohill also won silver in the 100 freestyle.

“This season went really well for me. All of my hard training really paid off, especially in the end,” Tohill said. “Our goal for the season was to have fun and really put in time at the pool so that we could perform well at leagues and districts. The swim meets are the one thing I will miss most about the season because I really loved being surrounded by so much positivity and everyone that was there to make it such a happy place to be.”

Wrestling

Photo by Allura McCuller

The wrestling team repeated as Schuylkill League Division One and overall Schuylkill League champions. The boys made a statement at the league championships, held January 20, which helped them to victory – all 14 wrestlers who were entered in the meet placed. The team advanced seven wrestlers to the finals: senior Cole Painter, juniors Tym Nevadomsky, Nick Onea and Braden Goodman, and sophomores Cal Schoffstall, Wiley Kahler and Shane Quick. Schoffstall, Kahler, Quick, Painter and Nevadomsky earned the silver, and Goodman and Onea won gold.

At the District XI championships, held February 23-24, senior Mike Saint Juste, Painter and Onea advanced to the finals. Onea won gold while Painter and Saint Juste won silver. These three, along with bronze medalist Nevadomsky, advanced to the regional championship.

At the regional meet, Onea won the silver and Painter won the bronze. Both wrestlers qualified for the state meet. At states, held March 9-10, both wrestlers were eliminated in the consolation rounds.

        “Our team only gets better and better every year. I did good in my matches, but it was a team effort,” sophomore Bryce Gonzalez said.

Freshman Basketball

Photo by Zaria Sementilli

The freshman boys’ basketball team finished the season with a 20-2 record. Almost all of the boys’ wins were by over 10 points, including two over rival Blue Mountain by scores of 50-39 and 38-27.

“The season went really well,” freshman Bobby Walchak said. “We only had two losses, which is really good because we played a lot of good teams over the season.”

Winter Track

Photo by Allura McCuller

Several athletes participated in after-school workouts and indoor track meets on the weekends.

Senior Collin Ebling qualified for the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association state meet in the 800-meter run. The meet was held February 24 at Penn State University. Ebling finished seventh with a time of 1:55.13.

Despite winter track not being a school-sponsored sport, athletes worked out and prepared for the upcoming spring track season.

“The winter track workouts and meets help me prepare for spring track because with lifting, it helps me run faster and makes me stronger,” sophomore Brooke Nagle said. “All the practices prepare me for all the meets and help me reach my goals.”