Penn Points Staff

Penn Manor’s Dynamic Duo Take to the Field

By Connor Hughes and Cheyenne Webber –

Penn Manor’s McCoy twins look like each other and play like each other on the field.

Eryn and Emily McCoy were handed field hockey sticks in fifth grade, but they disliked the game they eventually would come to love.

It was a struggle at first, but the game slowly grew on them and the sisters haven’t looked back since.

Domination is a word that perfectly describes how the sisters play.

emily mcCoy — Emily McCoy, along with her sister, Eryn, are superstars on the Penn Manor field hockey team. Photo by Cheyenne Weber

Penn Manor has lost just four games over the last three seasons since the arrival of Emily, a midfielder, and Eryn, a forward.

The duo has helped the Comets earn state and national rankings – and Penn Manor, the four-time reigning Section 1 champ, is off to a 7-0 start in league play this season – and the twins have played for the U.S. National Team, meaning they are among the top prep players in the nation.

Penn Manor coach Matt Soto had only positive things to say about the McCoy’s.

“They work very well together, they’re very good teammates, they work hard during practice, and they have a lot of fun,” the Comets’ coach said. “They make practice very fun, but at the same time, they have great skill.”

Soto, who guided Penn Manor to the state championship in 2008, is an assistant coach for the U.S. Field Hockey National Developmental Team.

Emily and Eryn also play for the U.S. Under-17 squad. In February, they will travel to California to tryout for the U-17 Team. If they make the team, the twins could travel around the world playing field hockey against some of the best national teams.

But to be the best and play with the best, sometimes you have to make sacrifices.

The sisters have had to make some sacrifices to help their career. They transferred from Manheim Township to Penn Manor before their freshman year, leaving their friends and teammates behind.

The McCoy’s had to get over the always difficult hurdle of making new friends, but with the help of the team, their energetic and friendly personalities, and the fact that they always have each other to rely on, it wasn’t that much of a challenge

Lisa McCoy, the twins’ mom, is an assistant coach under Soto, and she does not cut her daughters any slack.

“Lisa McCoy was an assistant coach before they became varsity players,” Soto said. “So she had been acclimated in our program before they were in the picture as players, so the transition has been smooth.”

“(Coach Soto) knows what he’s talking about, and he learns a lot from U.S. Field Hockey and he teaches it to our team,” Emily McCoy said.

The McCoys are making names for themselves at the high school level, but can they do it at the next level? They’re hoping so.

The McCoy twins are being highly recruited by big-name NCAA Division I colleges, but they don’t want to go to separate schools; they want to stick together, and colleges are quite all right with not breaking up the duo. Almost every college that is looking at one of the McCoy’s is looking at the other.

“Only one or two colleges are looking at me separately, and they aren’t Division I schools,” Emily McCoy said.

“We’re being looked at by Boston College, Iowa, Maryland, American and the University of Massachusetts – and some other colleges so far,” Eryn McCoy added.

That’s not all.

Coach Soto said that the McCoy’s are being looked at by up to 15 colleges – most of them being Division I.

Why are the McCoy’s being so heavily recruited? It’s their skill, gifted athletic ability, and their determination to win every game. They are also very competitive.

Whether it’s a game for Penn Manor, the National team, or for their Lanco club team, they don’t like to lose; the twins are very competitive, sometimes even with each other.

When asked who’s better Eryn replied: “Me,” she said, very confidently.

Emily immediately interrupted: “No, that’s not even a fair question,” she said.

Then they discussed it: Eryn has better stick skills, but Emily is faster. And so on. Those kinds of questions might hover over their heads for their entire field hockey careers. But for now, the twins are very happy to be playing field hockey with each other.

The McCoy twins play so much field hockey and practice so much together that they have created a sixth sense between them. Emily can sense where Eryn is and vice versa.

“They definitely have a sixth sense,” Soto said, “and that comes from preparation because they play so much hockey.”

The McCoy’s plan is to continue their marvelous field hockey journey together through high school and through college and however far it takes them.

“It’s always been me and her,” Emily McCoy said.

Boys Soccer Team Downs the Tornadoes in Late-Game Surge

By Matt Hatch –

The Comets soccer team struggled to finish off McCaskey in a close game under the lights Monday.

The Penn Manor soccer team came into this game 3-3 with a close loss in their last contest against Hempfield. They needed the “W” to set their record past .500 with 4 wins and 3 losses.

And they did. By finding weaknesses in the Tornado defense, the Comets got a final chip shot over the goalie to end the game 3 to 1.

The game started off quickly for Penn Manor who pressured McCaskey’s defense to the breaking point. A rebound shot by Andrew Herr, three minutes into the game, gave the Comets their first goal. It looked like Penn Manor was going to dominate.

Penn Manor kept possession of the ball and Stephen Guidos was able to finish a play with another goal only 11 minutes after the first one to take a two- goal lead.

“I thought we were going to blow them out,” said Kevin Reinhart, a Penn Manor soccer player after the Comets led by a score of 2-0.

Late in the first half McCaskey began to turn up the speed and were able to get some shots off at Penn Manor goalie Taylor Skelly. McCaskey was able to get a goal right before the half, turning the contest into a real game.

In the second half the teams were going back and forth trying to find a weak spot in the defense but no one had any success until finally a goal was scored in the final minute by Herr with a chip shot over the goalie from the for the Comets to finish of McCaskey with a score of 3-1.

“Andrew Herr knows what to do and is always able to finish a shot,” said Juan Cubano, another Penn Manor soccer player.

Herr, scored two goals in the game and 12 goals this season, leading the Comets this season. The Penn Manor soccer team is now 3-3 and looking for another win Wednesday against Cedar Crest at home.

Comets Burn the Wildcats in Shutout

By Brandon Schuman and Eric Schlotzhauer –

Dallastown let Friday night’s football game slip through their hands, literally.

Proving turnovers can change the tempo of the game, the Wildcats erred six times Friday night in Millersville and the Comets took advantage of the mistakes by walloping Dallastown 23-0 in front of a raucous home crowd.

The Wildcats fumbled it four times and tossed two interceptions in the contest. Alex Quinn picked up three fumbles alone in the beating that was laid on the Wildcats. Penn Manor senior Michael Bucek returned the first turnover, a fumble for a touchdown.

With a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, Daulton Parmer intercepted a tipped pass which allowed for the second Comet touchdown.

“It’s the mistakes, period,” said Dallastown coach Kevin Myers said about his team’s struggles during an interview with Lancaster newspapers. “We’ve been saying for weeks now that we’re close, but we just have to finish. That’s what it comes down to.”

The first half was not the end of the Wildcat’s turnover nightmare. In the third quarter, quarterback Andrew Henry fumbled the Dallastown ball and threw away the potential to avoid the shutout.

The Comets later forced the Wildcats into a safety setting the score at 16-0 after a botched snap.

Penn Manor’s Brandon Stone put the “icing on the cake” running a 30-yard touchdown to seal the deal at 23-0.

“It’s difficult to shut anyone out at any level of football,” said Penn Manor coach Todd Mealy during an interview with Lancaster Newspapers. “There are so many things that happen in a game. Defensively, we’re very proud of our effort.”

Penn Manor Students Admit Addiction to Cigarettes

By Alicia Ygarza –

The buzz, the relaxation and the feeling of its warmth between your fingers.

The addiction, the coughing and the cancer, a cigarette is a deadly combination of desire and danger.

“You know you’re addicted when you can’t go two hours without one,” said one student.

When many teens first begin smoking it’s only considered fun, but it quickly turns into a weakness.

According to findarticles.com, the rate of teenage smokers has increased every year since 1992.

Findarticles.com states, “The latest National Youth Tobacco Survey, conducted by the American Legacy Foundation with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), finds that about one in eight (12.8 percent) middle school students and one in three (34.8 percent) high school students used tobacco in the last month.”

“A cigarette to me is like biting my nails,” said Leah Freeman, a Penn Manor graduate. “It’s a terrible habit and I hate it.”

According to smokingstatistics.org, more and more teens are becoming addicted to cigarettes and the rate of teen smokers increases by thousands yearly, even daily.

Many teens experienced their first cigarette in the tender years of middle school, a time when teens begin to go through puberty and experience emotional highs and lows. In many cases, cigarettes are a way for teens to escape their troubles.

According to Teen Drug Abuse, many people smoke to relax and escape their “troubles and feelings of insecurity.”

Teen Drug Abuse states,”A common experience for teens who smoke is experiencing their first cigarette in sixth or seventh grade.”

“I became addicted when I was fourteen and hanging out with older people influenced me to continue smoking,” said one Penn Manor student.

Most teens admit that peer pressure is why they smoke, wanting to please their friends around them, according to smoking statistics.org. Approximately 11 percent of students in middle school have confessed that they as well have tried smoking cigarettes on more than one occasion. Most of them will become addicted and continue the habit. Of the teenagers that are addicted to cigarettes, one out of the five is smoking an alarming 13 to 15 cigarettes every single day.

“I smoke 10-15 cigarettes a day,” said a Penn Manor student who wished to remain anonymous.

“I takes me about five minutes to smoke one,” the student said.

According to smoking-facts.net, smoking cigarettes increases your use and chance of drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and using cocaine.

Is this true for teens at Penn Manor?

“Smoking cigarettes doesn’t make me smoke weed, drink or do cocaine. I smoke a cigarette whenever I’m drinking though,” said one Penn Manor student.

A few other students agreed they also smoke a cigarette when they’re drinking.

Though there are products to help people stop smoking, those products don’t work in all cases.

“I used patches for about a week and I think they didn’t work because it’s too much of a change from smoking an actual cigarette. To me smoking is the thought and habit of blowing the smoke out and holding it,” said one Penn Manor student.

“The amount of cigarettes that are purchased illegally for underage teens is astounding, and it’s estimated at over one and a half million packages every year. Once these teens become addicted to smoking, most have revealed they want to quit, but cannot. Many of these teenagers that choose to smoke at such a young age will die at a much younger age because they have decided to smoke tobacco,” says smokingstatistics.org.

“I buy a pack every two days, so I spend about $20-$25 a week,” said a Penn Manor student.

Though cigarettes are suppose to relieve stress, it tends to add more stress for these students.

“I feel guilty when I smoke because my uncle has lung cancer and I don’t want to keep doing it,” said a student.

“When I don’t smoke I get very grumpy. It affects my life because I’m aging faster, my teeth aren’t as white and it affects certain places I go,” said another student.

“I get annoyed of the smell, it’s disgusting,” said one other student.

Cut Backs Obvious Around Penn Manor

By Jay Jackson –

No more thick planners, no more lunch schedules and no more little things.

With excitement surrounding the beginning of the school year, it didn’t take students long to realize that this year may be a bit “cut back.”

The budget has taken a hit and it is obvious to teachers and students. It isn’t a shock that there were cut backs however some are astonished with all of the little things that they can no long take advantage of.

“A lot of little cut backs add up to a big cut back,” said assistant principal Dr. Jason D’Amico.

In this economy and the lack of state funding, these cut backs were expected.

“It is expected something is going on. Most people know that there were going to be cut backs,” said D’Amico.

Despite the money trouble, the school is up and running and isn’t out of money as of now.

“The district isn’t running out of money but we are being fiscally conservative,” said D’Amico.

The teachers were asked to cut down on the materials because every little thing counts.

“We are definitely more conscientious of what we really need like all of the materials and papers. I am trying to save as much as possible,” said Melissa Frerichs, an English teacher at Penn Manor High School.

The whole staff is feeling the pressure to save money, paper, ink and other resources. It is school wide savings.

P9150494 — Senior Ryan Martzall frustrated with not being able to print to the computer carts anymore. Photo by Jay Jackson

“Both teachers and students need to budget supplies,” said Jeffrey Taylor, also an English teacher at Penn Manor.

There are cuts with the transportation as well. They are making kids walk a little bit further so the bus doesn’t have to stop as much, and no more late sports bus. Which saves gas, and money.

Some students are up in arms with the cut backs.

It is obvious around the school to the senior class to all of the cut backs.

“It is incredibly noticeable with all the cut backs around the school. It is ridiculous,” said Ryan Martzall a senior at Penn Manor.

“I think it is ridiculous that my planner is like 3 pages. It is crushed and wrinkled in my backpack and I had to buy I new one,” said Abby Barley senior at Penn Manor.

“I think it is stealing from my education,” said Eddie Bley, also a senior at Penn Manor High School.

Penn Manor downed by Lampeter-Strasburg

By Travis Wells –

Maybe it was all the rain that cut into practice this week. Or the day off school that interrupted the regular schedule.

Whatever the reason, a Comet late-game rally was not enough to hold off the Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers on the gridiron during a postponed game that ended up with a 15-9 loss for Penn Manor Saturday evening.

It started off a little rough for the Penn Manor squad when L-S scored within the first three minutes of the game and went haywire from there as the Comets just couldn’t seem to find a connection with the ball. The first quarter ended with the Pioneers on top 6-0.

“We had a lot of mistakes and just couldn’t seem to get anything started,” said Penn Manor quarterback Adam Sahd.

The second quarter gave the Comets an opportunity to get down to play and they made two fourth-down conversions in a drive that saw Brandon Stones score allowing Penn Manor to take a slight 7-6 lead.

But L-S came back in the second quarter to score again, Pioneers up 12-7.

“The lack of practices this week could have been the reason we weren’t very active,” said Penn Manor player Adam Hess. “We were all together pretty sloppy.”

After a season opening win against Solanco, the Comets were hoping to improve their record. But a steady downpour of rain from Tropical Storm Lee flooded bridges and roads and caused the district to cancel school Thursday. The game had been scheduled for Friday but was moved back a day to let the field dry out.

The second half saw a different Comet team. An onside kick by Comet’s Brian Sloss ended up in an L-S fumble and the ball was recovered by the Comets.

The next play, often called “The Berlin Wall” allowed the Comets to go in for a score which would have tightened the score in the end but the touchdown was called back because of a holding call.

On the Pioneers next possession, they were able to score a field goal, ended the third quarter with L-S up 15-7.

“We need a stop,” Comets assistant coach Gordie Eck yelled to his players. “It’s now or never.”

The Comets did just that. Hess sacked the L-S quarterback in their end zone forcing a fumble that ended in a safety.

The Comets got the ball back and drove to score in vain before time ran out. The final score was 15-9, L-S.

“We just need to shake this loss off and put it in the past, learn from our mistakes and get ready for our game next week,” said Hess.

Remembrance of September 11 bring Fears and Tears

By Jake Shiner and Sam Valentin –

In the shadow of the ten-year anniversary of the tragic terrorist attack that took place on September 11, 2001, students at Penn Manor are eager to reflect upon their memories of that day, even though they were just young elementary students at the time.

A new threat, uncovered by government intelligence this week, brings the memories of the worst terrorist attack on American soil, into sharp focus.

9-11 flag — Image courtesy of girlontheright.com

“Being in second grade we really didn’t realize 3,000 people just died,” said Russ Thorson a senior who is visiting the memorial this Sunday.

He believes that this infamous event is one with a great impact on our generation.

“It’s the single most significant (loss) in our lives,” said Thorsen.

Penn Manor math teacher Ashley Thomas also feels strongly about the event and learned something about herself.

“It showed me I wasn’t invincible,” said Thomas.

Streeter Stewart, a high school social studies teacher, said that the day after the attack was the best day of his teaching career, he had all of his students’ attention.

“I remember one student,” said Stewart, “who said how amazing this was. He didn’t mean amazing that the planes had been hijacked or that people died but that his generation had its JFK assassination or Pearl Harbor.”

9-11 statue of liberty — The twin towers burn in the shadow of the statue of Liberty. Photo courtesy of outontheporch.org

Senior James Servansky was young at the time of the attack, but remembers it clearly.

“I remember seeing the pictures in the paper the next day and telling my mom that it looked like they tried to crash into the tower. When she told me that they did, that’s when I realized what happened,” said Servansky.

On the morning of September 11, four passenger jet airliners were hijacked and used as suicide attacks on the United States. One hit the Pentagon. And the other was actually retaken by passengers and came down in a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Two of the airliners hit the world trade centers in New York City. For many watching on television they could actually see the second plane hit the towers. This is when many figured out it was a deliberate attack on our homeland.

“It felt like I was watching history unfold in front of me because I knew that this day would be a day that people would never forget,” said Sean McKnight a teacher at Penn Manor.

Tony Carrado, a math teacher here, also had a clear memory of where he was at the time of the attack.

“I was at college, at Penn State, and I was coming home from a tennis match that I had just won,” said Carrado. “I guess ignorance is bliss and I just go on with life not thinking about it.”

Adam Daley, a 31-year-old Conestoga volunteer firefighter reflected on the impact 9-11 has had on the psyche of the American public.

“There’s nothing the population can do but just be vigilant about it. They’re goinna do it (attacks) if they want. The more hype you give it, you’re just adding fuel to the fire,” said Daley.

9-11 rubble — The rubble at the World Trade Towers after 9-11. Photo courtesy of worldproutassembly.org

Others had a personal connection.

“We were in New York at the time…we heard sirens but we didn’t know what was going on,” said Jim Witmer, a district resident.

“My father designed elevators for the twin towers and he’s my hero,” Matt Soto, a tech-ed teacher said. “It was really hard to see him put his head down.”

“It helped me make a decision to join the army,” said Chris Gotwals, a Penn Manor senior who has enlisted.

“It makes me think about all the lives lost in the attack,” said a marines enlistee and Penn Manor senior, Skyler Major.

Others remember the moment and recall the fear on that day.

“I was scared,” said Adam Sahd. “I thought our house would be next.”

“I turned on the TV and I thought it was an accident when I saw the first plane hit, then when the second plane hit, I knew it was an attack,” said Daniel Myers.

“I remember my first grade teacher, Mrs. Snyder, turning on the TV and telling us that something very bad had happened and that we were all going home,” recalled Adam Hess, a junior at Penn Manor.

Gage Karr remembered when he woke up that day, his “parents were crying on the couch.”

A junior at Penn Manor, Zach Sinz, had a similar memory.

“My mom was crying and she told me a plane crashed and I didn’t know the significance.”

“It was a depressing day. In second grade you can’t grasp it,” Ryan Martzall, a senior, said.

Others reflected on the most recent threat and how the country has changed since Sept. 11, 2001.

“I still believe the high ranking officers in Al Queda are down but not out,” said Karr.

“It is definitely a tragedy,” remarked teacher Eric Dutchess. “It will be difficult to move on as a nation in the near future due to recent conflicts in the Middle East. It has given America some cultural sensitivity training.”

Dutchess said he went to New York City recently and didn’t feel the shadow of 9-11 hovering over him.

“I felt perfectly safe,” said Dutchess. “I would be more concerned about being struck by lightning at this point.”

“I’m worried about the safety of our citizens but I have faith in our national security,” said student Robert Warfel.

Troy Diffenderfer, a senior, said, “I am not worried about the attacks threatened for the tenth anniversary because we are more aware today than ten years ago.”

Tim Harris and Jacob Harvey contributed to this report.

Boys Soccer looks for Sucess under New Coach

By Sam Valentin-

Penn Manor boys soccer looks to succeed with a new coach at the helm.

Steve McCabe was named the new coach of boys soccer in February, raising hopes for better league play after the Comets missed the playoffs last year. He said he will use his experiences as a professional player and college coach to make this year a successful one.

McCabe hails from the southwest coast of Scotland where he came up through a youth system and later played two years professionally in the Scottish premier league. He came to the United States in 2003 and worked as a director of sports camps.

coachmcCabe — New boys soccer coach, Steve McCabe looks for a successful season. By Sam Valentin

He started his coaching career at his alma mater, Eastern University, in 2007 as assistant coach. While there he also served as Director of Soccer Operations, Recruiting Coordinator and Goal Keeper Specialist.

This year he decided to start his high school coaching career at Penn Manor. In February he was named the head coach of Penn Manor boys soccer. And the players are excited about their new coach.

“He is freaking amazing. He has a lot of experience which is what Penn Manor has needed in the past,” said Ryan Martzall, a senior captain on this year’s squad.

Both the players and their new coach looked forward to the season after spending time together during training camp and really taking time to to adjust to the new skills McCabe brought with him including a new playing formation and an emphasis on life-oriented factors such as conduct not only on the field but off as well.

Under their new coach the squad split its two scrimmages picking up a win against Middletown and losing to Exeter.

Although the boys did win for their new coach in the first official game of the season beating Manheim Township in overtime 3-2, in their next game they lost a questionable game to Warwick which is always a tough team, according to McCabe.

Watch the Comets try to push for the playoffs under their new Scottish leader.

Rain Switches up Sports Schedule

By Jay Jackson –

With all of the rain this this week, the fields are a mess and most of Penn Manor’s sports events have been bumped back.

“Well E-town didn’t have school so we aren’t allowed to play. It is school policy,” said Jeff Roth the athletic director for Penn Manor.

Games got moved back to Saturday and Monday on an unusual schedule.

Saturday:

Girl Varsity Field hockey vs. Wilson at Comet Field 10am/ 11:30am, Girls Varsity Field Hockey vs. E-town at Comet Field 4pm/5:30 pm, Penn Manor Football vs. LS at 7:00 p.m.

Monday:

Freshman Soccer vs. E-town 4:00pm at E-town, JV Football @LS 4pm, Varsity/JV Soccer at LS at 4:00pm, Tennis vs. Ephrata at PM at 4:00pm, Varsity/JV Field Hockey at Leighton at 4:15/5:30pm

“Most of the game postponements were due to school cancellations but the field conditions also come into play,” said Roth.

Rainfall Turns Treacherous in School District and County

By Alicia Ygarza and Sam Valentin

Photos by Amber Brenner

“Everything is coming down to catastrophe in the Susquehanna Valley,” said Joe Calhoun, WGAL Weather reporter.

Penn Manor Superintendent, Mike Leichliter agreed, opting to close district schools Thursday because of extensive flooding in Millersville Borough, and Conestoga and Pequea townships. Since then, many sporting events, including the Friday night football game against L-S, has been postponed.

At 5:29 a.m., Leichliter sent an email to the Penn Manor School District saying, “We are starting with a two-hour delay. Millersville Road at Manor Avenue is closed. The Little Conestoga has flowed over the bridge. We have other roads closed through the school district while other areas are just fine. However, we have more rain coming this morning so stay tuned for a possible update around 7:00 a.m.”

rainoutsidecafe — Torrential rain fell on the school district this week. Photo by Amber Brenner

Flooding only got worse and students stayed glued to the TV hoping to see “Penn Manor School District, closed.”

At 6:55 a.m. Leichliter sent another email to the school district with the subject, “Penn Manor Now Closed.”

Leichliter said in the email,”We are now closed. Road closures are increasing. In addition to the other roads I reported earlier 324 is in bad shape and Conestoga Blvd is becoming part of the Susquehanna.”

The flooding began Wednesday at the high school after Tropical Storm Lee dumped a deluge of rain on the county.

“We ran wet vacuums and used mops to clean up the water,” said Penn Manor custodian Mike Weimer “The hallway from the band room to the fish pond was flooded. The orchestra room and outside the central complex was flooded. Locker rooms and the coaches room was also affected.”

wetvacing1 — The custodial staff had to wet-vac portions of the school that flooded Thursday. Photo by Amber Brenner

According to the National Weather Service Forecast Office, the area has not experienced this much flooding since the 1972 Hurricane, Agnes, damaged Pennsylvania to the tune of more than $3 billion.”

Penn Manor teacher, Joe Herman compared the two storms.

“This storm is right there with Agnes depending on where it floods at certain spots, it has the potential to be worse.”

Around 7:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 8, WGAL reported the rain was coming from York and hitting Lancaster. Forecasters expected Millersville to get hit “badly” by the storm.

In fact the storms triggered a water main break in the borough supply and residents are on a “boil water” alert.

According to WGAL’s Weather Report, the storm was carried from East Virginia to Maryland and through Pennsylvania.

WGAL also reported that the storm caused Harrisburg’s third worst flood, after Agnes in 1972, the second worst flood was in 1936.

Harrisburg was mandated to evacuate.