Notice the headline says “weight lifting,” the funny thing is many people don’t even understand what weight lifting is. Even when they think they do.
“Just going in the weight room and pumpin’ iron,” said Tanner Kennedy.
“Picking up some dumbbells in the weight room and starting to work out those biceps,” said Mark Curtin.
In reality, weight lifting involves only two lifts performed by the lifter. The first is called a “snatch” and the second is called a “clean and jerk.” Both of these lifts are performed at competitions where the best lifter in an age group and weight class take first place.
The team is on the lookout for athletes willing to try this challenging sport.
The weight lifting team now consists of two boys and three girls.
“We are always open to new lifters who are young and ambitious,” says Zajac.
The team has been around for many years. Russ McDonnell was the coach for multiple years. Currently, coaching the school’s weight lifting team is Jon Zajac. He is Penn Manor’s strength coach and now is coaching both a weight lifting and power lifting team for the school.
Several years ago, both the power lifting and weight lifting team were combined with Solanco because the sport was not very popular as it was and both schools had very few athletes involved in it.
The weight room where the team practices
Power lifting is much different from weight lifting. Power lifting if what most athletes do when they open the weight room doors and start “pumping iron.” Power lifting incorporates three lifts: Dead lift, bench press, and squat.
The power lifting team isn’t really present anymore due to most of the lifters graduating and some becoming injured. But the weight lifting team is very much alive and looking for new talent.
Jon’s current goal is to get someone on the team to qualify for a national meet.
The team doesn’t go to many competitions anymore because they are very young and Zajac doesn’t have much time to take lifters.
“The team is very good and has always been good. We plan to keep improving,” says Zajac.
The weight lifting team normally lifts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
In the summer of 2008, a 14-year-old and his parents sat down with Penn Manor football head coach, Todd Mealy, in their home in Mountville, Pa. The point of this meeting: to get permission from the eighth grader’s parents to play varsity level football as a freshman in the upcoming year.
The 14 year-old: Adam Sahd.
Fast-forward a year, the kid turned out to be one of the youngest kids to play varsity ball in the school’s history, just as Mealy planned.
But Sahd soon learned that all the hype in the world, all the encouragement and expectations, can take a player only so far.
The pressure of the Friday night lights can get to even the most talented players. In this case, a player who has won awards at national camps and combines, which Sahd has. When he finally had a chance to shine under those lights, he got a knock on the head – actually a few knocks, hard too, and to most parts of his body.
It was difficult to understand why these lights, in particular, were a little less charitable. They made Sahd work a little bit harder to earn his own shadow.
Through the first four weeks of Sahd’s youthful competitive football career this year, he threw ten interceptions while only throwing three touchdowns. His QB rating through week 4 was a low, 81.1. Those weeks were a bit… sour.
Sahd tried to put these numbers into words and just spat out, “I’m not doing well.”
But as Sahd gained more experience and got used to the flow of varsity high school football, he matured and got a front row seat to watch his numbers climb and his team’s win column start to fill. As Terrell Owens once said, “get your popcorn ready.”
Rewind the tape back again – Sahd started playing the game of football when he was about 8 years old. Brought up on football by his father, Sahd has now played the last eight years and has taken part in nationally-observed camps and combines. By doing that has landed himself the title of one of the most promising quarterbacks of his generation.
One New Jersey camp showcased the top 100 players of any position in the East Coast called the Ultimate 100 (also called U100). Sahd, then an eighth grader, showed off his attributes including vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash, shuttle run and weight-lifting skills.
The sophomore varsity quarterback showing off his stuff. Photo by Alex Geli
“It was cool (and) confidence-boosting,” Sahd said about being selected as one of the top QB’s in the East Coast at that camp.
“(There were) a lot of kids to compete with,” he added.
In late April 2010, Sahd went to – which he would call his favorite camp – the NUC (National Underclassmen Combine) located in Pittsburgh, PA.
Sahd took on similar tests that were just like the U100 and any other combine for that matter. There, Sahd was in the spotlight for sure, winning the quarterback MVP award and also receiving the Overall Camp Leadership Award.
The DeBartolo Sports University had a skills showcase in Philadelphia a year ago that Sahd attended as well. Sahd, again, was on center stage, but this time he had to share the limelight with another quarterback from his home state – such a shame, right? Patrick Moriarty, from Gladwyne, PA, and Sahd shared the honor of being named the Youth Quarterback Combine’s co-MVPs.
Sahd had already gotten a glimpse as a middle schooler of how intimidating high school football could be when he tagged along to team workouts with his older brother, Austin.
There he sat, an eighth grader, with two MVPs in National combines, wearing the label of one of the top quarterback prospects in the U.S. on his back like a “kick me” sign, his confidence was most likely at an all-time high.
All-time high? Not so fast.
Then, just 14 years young, the freshman Sahd, earned a spot on Penn Manor’s surging football club as a backup to senior, P.J. Rehm. Rehm led the team to their winningest season and its first ever playoff win in ’08. Although Rehm’s style was concentrated on the run while Sahd is into passing, the experience at second string turned out to be a stroke of good luck.
Given the chance to be behind an experienced and successful Penn Manor quarterback, made sitting on the bench a good thing. Sitting there was a time of learning and getting a feel for the fast-paced varsity football action.
But Sahd did not let his eagerness to play get the best of him. He didn’t mope, he learned. So when it was Sahd’s turn to step up, he had a better idea what to do than most rookie quarterbacks.
And before Sahd knew it, it was his turn, and his gold helmet seemed to get a little bit tighter. The pressure was on against Cedar Crest.
The Comets needed the win to get home-field advantage for their first playoff game, and Rehm picked a great time to link heads with a defensive player and get taken out of the game.
It was Sahd’s first big chance.
“I was nervous,” Sahd said, “(but) I felt confident going in.”
Sahd was dealt a score of 21-15 in favor of Cedar Crest, and let’s just say that the flop didn’t help him out at all- the Comets sunk to a two-touchdown deficit, 35-22, at the end of the third quarter.
Yeah, way to give your freshman quarterback some leeway in his first ever varsity football game.
But the hole was one Sahd was willing to dig his team out of.
A 26-yard pass play and a crucial conversion on fourth down and ten by Sahd helped the Comets pull out a comeback win and made him the team’s offensive player of the week. The final score was 36-35 with the “W” going to Penn Manor.
Sahd was the role model that day when he took the place of the man he’d been eagerly watching the whole season. He showed that he’d worked hard and transformed himself into a fine looking quarterback.
Not only was he lucky to have Rehm to look up to but he was even luckier when he had his own brother as a teammate that same year. Austin Sahd was a senior in 2009. Austin, Adam said, was his “main motivator” and was happy for him that he got some snaps in a varsity game – not to mention winning it from 13 points down.
“I owe a lot to him,” said the younger Sahd.
A year later with his big brother away at college, someone else had to fill his cleats as main motivator. If Sahd had to pick someone, whether a teammate, coach or family member, he would choose his “wide outs,” Demetrius Dixon and the Comets’ leading pass catcher, Daulton Parmer.
“Keep your head, keep your focus, forget and move on,” are some things Dixon says to Sahd on a regular basis when times for the sophomore quarterback get rough.
“A lot of pressure’s on him,” said Dixon, who also tells the young Sahd not to be afraid to make mistakes.
Demetrius Dixon and QB coach Scott Lackey look over routes to try and make Sahd's job a little easier. Photo by Harlie Madonna
Mistakes?
Well, Sahd’s first game starting at the quarterback position was filled with them; although winning 21-13, he threw four interceptions to Solanco’s defense.
“My performance was alright but could have been a lot better,” Sahd said. “(I was) happy we got the W.”
In week two against Lampeter-Strasburg, Sahd had only two picks and completed 9-26 passes for 202 yards. Notably, one of those nine completions was an 81-yard touchdown pass to Teon Lee. But the Comets, in the end, turned the ball over four times and got wiped out 44-7.
After that second week, the surprisingly struggling Sahd already had six interceptions and only one TD with an 82.4 QB rating.
The Comets fell to 1-2 in week three and Sahd had a turn-a-round game throwing two touchdowns and he limited his mistakes to only one interception.
Bob Forgrave, ex-Penn Manor coach and now the Hempfield head coach, must have had a smile on his face in week four when he saw his offense finally score their first points of the season – 27 to be exact – and presented a 17-point loss to Penn Manor boxed up with a big red ribbon on top, saying, “remember me?” Three interceptions from Sahd definitely helped Hempfield’s mediocre offense rack up the points.
By the end of those four weeks, Sahd averaged two-and-a-half interceptions (10 total) and less than one touchdown (3 total) per game.
“Nobody’s happy with the way he’s played, including himself,” said Penn Manor’s quarterback coach, Scott Lackey, about Sahd’s play. “He’s his worst critic.”
Head coach Mealy was surely taken back by the start of the 2010 season, saying that he was “optimistic that the ball would bounce our way,” referring to the chance of the season going either way with “literally half (the) team who (has) never experienced varsity football before,” he said.
“This year (has been) frustrating because we were really heading into the right direction,” he also said – the right direction being two-straight winning seasons since 2008 with success in the post season.
“The team, overall, (has been) alright (but there has been) a lot of downfalls,” said Sahd. Sahd’s focus, though, was to “finish strong (and) try and get these last wins.”
With the hope of bouncing back fading, the Comets plodded into week five.
And then suddenly a 21-0 shutout victory. That would be bouncing back, alright. The defense showed off their stuff while Sahd didn’t make any mistakes and had a touchdown pass. Thanks to his passing performance and superb punting performance, Sahd led Penn Manor past Ephrata with ease.
Week six wasn’t so easy – physically or emotionally.
After the only interception of the day from Sahd, the McCaskey Red Tornadoes went down the field and scored to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. The McCaskey offense was left with 11 seconds to go to try and make a last ditch effort to pull out a win before overtime. Red Tornado quarterback, Huylo heaved it up to his favorite target, Diante Cherry, who fought off a Penn Manor defender and somehow came out with the ball inside the end zone ending the game 20-14, Red Tornadoes.
“It felt like I got kicked in the stomach,” Lackey said, highlighting the game-ending catch with time expired. “(Our) defense played outstanding (but our) offense can’t score.”
While the whole team and all the fans felt gut-wrenched by the surprise loss, Sahd already had a reason to be upset.
“I was just (upset) that I didn’t have a good game,” said Sahd about his 4-10 day with 80 yards including one touchdown and interception.
Sahd's number 12 on the walls of Penn Manor High School is a glimpse of the expectations and pressure Sahd is under, yet shows the support that the Comets have for their young quarterback. Photo credit: Cassey Graeff
After week seven, though, Sahd had a reason – or 38 reasons for that matter – to turn that frown upside down.
With help from senior running back and linebacker, Garret Young, who ran for 166 yards, Sahd led the Comets to a 38-20 victory over Manheim Township.
“(He) helped us out a lot,” said Sahd, relating to Young’s big game running the ball.
The Blue Streaks were reminded that there is such a thing as losing as the tables turned for Penn Manor – no turnovers for Sahd and the Comets, four turnovers for Township – as the Streaks’ four-game winning streak came to a screeching halt.
Offensive leader, Sahd, puppeteered the Streak’s struggling defense and ran for three touchdowns and passed for one. His biggest play was a 44-yard dash that put up six points awaiting kicker Brian Sloss’ extra point. The only other scores were a Young 57-yard run and a field goal by Sloss adding up to 38 points – a large number which the Comets’ offense wasn’t very familiar with.
Why the turn around? Well, something was different from the get-go, before the Comets even strapped on their cleats.
“We believed in ourselves,” Sahd said. And after the game, Sahd had a reason to believe that this was a start to the turn around Sahd had been hoping for.
“(I) felt more confidence in myself and teammates,” he said.
That game proved to be the one of the most productive for Sahd and the Comets, with 315 total yards. Sahd alone went 6-11 for 63 yards and four total touchdowns.
Penn Manor continued to climb and finally reached the peak where they found themselves .500 again in week eight against Warwick.
Sahd only completed three passes in that game, but one was a 50-yard completion to Dixon that concluded with six points, then seven after the PAT, thanks to a couple broken tackles by #80. Sahd had another score on an eight-yard run into the end zone, putting the Comets up 16-0 with time winding down in the fourth quarter. The score was unaltered in the remaining 1:31 and the Comets defense left the Wildcats with a doughnut hole at Warwick’s home, Grosh Field.
Yeah, so much for the other team’s home-field advantage.
Sahd was slowly getting into the groove of things by week eight and reaching into his basket full of talent to get some wins for the Comets – too bad those first few games didn’t disappear statistically.
“I was getting really frustrated,” said Sahd. “We started out really bad.”
Sahd was all smiles after his "W" against Warwick. Photo Credit: Cassey Graeff
Sahd only threw two interceptions through weeks 4-8, while adding four more passing touchdowns to his total of seven for the year. He also increased his quarterback rating by a solid 15.8 points to 96.9, and has done his best impression of former Penn Manor quarterback Rehm by scampering for a load of yards and touchdowns.
To the sophomore quarterback and his quarterback coach though, stats are the least of their worries.
“Your performance is based on wins and losses,” said Lackey. “Stats are nice to have, but it’s all about winning games.”
“(Winning games is) all I care about,” said Sahd, also knocking on wood and adding, “(and being) injury-free.”
Although Sahd looked like he was getting back on track, there was, and always will be in most cases, room for improvement.
QB Coach, Lackey, meets with Sahd most homerooms to watch film, etc. Photo by Alex Geli
Lackey met with Sahd during most homerooms throughout the season to go over “reads and look at film,” he said. Lackey’s ongoing plan is to sharpen the sophomore’s play “every day, whether it’s Saturday, Sunday or a game,” he said.
“I study film a lot more and let the coaches do their job,” said Sahd, explaining how he continues to work at improving his play.
Yet the Comets couldn’t prepare enough for what they faced in week nine – the Wilson Bulldogs, who came into the game undefeated and also came out of the game undefeated. Don’t worry though, they gave Penn Manor a zero of their own, beating them 44-0.
In that game, Sahd didn’t have much of a chance against Wilson’s league-leading defense as the Comets offense only squeaked by 52 yards – 29 of them being by Sahd’s passing. The main focus was that Sahd didn’t let the Comets help beat themselves by not throwing any interceptions.
And then there was one – a much needed one game left.
It was crunch time for the Comets as they faced Cedar Crest in the tenth and final week of the 2010 regular season. The young studs of the Comets led their team to a 56-21 home victory. Sahd had finally earned his shadow from those Friday night lights, but he had to share with fellow sophomore, Parmer. Sahd and Parmer combined for more than 400 total yards and 5 touchdowns.
The wide-out excelled on the special teams side of the ball while Sahd excelled in leading the offense.
Parmer had a 70-yard kickoff return and then another 85-yard return for a touchdown. Sahd went 10-12 for 189 yards with two passing touchdowns and a 23-yard rushing touchdown. One of Sahd’s passing touchdowns was a 73-yard bomb to his more experienced wide receiver, Dixon.
And just like that, coach Mealy’s question was answered.
“What can you do when literally half your team never experienced varsity football before?”
Well, your sophomore quarterback could give you a scare in the beginning, but eventually catch fire and clinch a playoff berth for your club.
“I hoped we would get back on the right track,” said Sahd relating to the Comets’ turnover-filled, 1-3 start.
“And that’s what we did,” Sahd said, as the season sure took a turn for the better. The Comets ended their run at 5-5 with a spot in the District Three Class AAAA playoffs.
The Comets’ young quarterback may have started out sour in 2010, but with the help of his team, he finished off the season pretty sweet.
Sahd ended his first season with a completion rate of 46 percent, 8 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 1111 passing yards and a 106.2 quarterback rating. Although Sahd had a rough start throwing 12 interceptions in his first six weeks, he finished out the regular season with no interceptions and three touchdowns. He also added rushing to his repertoire, helping the Comets win four of their final six games.
“You’re talking about a 15-year-old kid who’s playing the most important role on the team,” Mealy said, noting that “he touches the ball on every play.”
“Next to me, nobody is going to get the most criticism.”
Fines keep stacking up, as the Pittsburgh Steelers set a penalty yards record during Sunday’s football game against the Oakland Raiders. Fourteen flags were thrown against the Steelers, totaling 163 penalty yards.
Fans may be starting to look at the Steelers differently. They have committed personal fouls in each of their last six games.
Fines for helmet to helmet hits are becoming more frequent in the NFL today. Like any other controversy, the issue has two sides. And the side that’s safer usually wins.
James Harrison and Lamar Woodley, two dominant Pittsburgh linebackers, were fined $80,000 and $12,500 this season. Even with these fines, the Steelers defense says they will not stop with these hits. It has been the Steelers’ physicality that allowed them to have the best statistical defense over the last four years.
“If you start letting penalties affect the way we play, we’re not going to be the aggressive team that we’ve always been,” Woodley said in an interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Pittsburgh starting free safety Ryan Clark also voiced his opinion with The San Diego Union-Tribune.
“We know what’s going on around the league now. We have to do our best to play legally, but also to play to the best of our ability,” Clark said. “We’re an aggressive defense, though. We just have to keep playing.”
The Steelers’ defensive players accept the fact that they are getting fined for these hits, but can’t let penalties and fines interfere with their aggressiveness. Pittsburgh’s defense has made a name for themselves, and can’t let up now.
The league sent out an 11 page guide earlier this November to all the NFL players. This guide includes drawings of both the correct and incorrect way of hitting people. It also indicates different rule changes to make the players more aware of what they need to do.
The referees are feeling a lot of pressure with the new rule changes. In such a fast game, they have to judge if the hard hit should be a penalty or not.
Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL, looks closely to the hits. His job is to make the game safer, but also can’t lower the intensity of the game.
“The referees have to be on edge. They’re at the point now where it’s throw the flag first, and figure it out later,” Goodell said. “If we feel like we’re making clean plays, we just have to keep playing that way.”
The Steelers are not the only team with these problems. Other teams around the league are facing the same controversial issue. The problem has risen quickly and abruptly, and the league has been searching for a quick answer to the problem.
Controversy with the Steelers and the NFL continued when Oakland defensive end Richard Seymour intentionally hit Steelers quarterback Ben Rothelisberger last Sunday.
Seymour was ejected from the game, but only with a $25,000 fine. Many people around the league argued that Seymour, who punched Roethlisberger intentionally, should not have been fined less than Harrison, who unintentionally hit a player illegally.
The question is, how does the league dictate the amount of money fined for a player’s action? And there is no easy solution.
With Thanksgiving a day away it’s time to spotlight the best football games to watch with your Thanksgiving meal or when you’re piling on the leftovers.
Patriots at Lions 12:30 P.M.
Leading off in the holiday games is the Lions and Patriots matchup at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. The Patriots are tied for the best record in theNFL, 8-2, while the slumping Lions are a measly 2-8. This game has the potential to be a down-to-the-wire game, but most likely will leave football fans waiting for the 4:15 game. We give this game a rating of 2 out of 5 stars.
Football is one of America's most popular sports.
Saints at Cowboys 4:15 P.M.
With a new quarterback and head coach, the 3-7 Cowboys are on a roll. Rolling in on a two game winning streak, and at home the Cowboys will make this a better game than it is suppose to be. Jon Kitna will manage the game nicely, and this will be the premier game of the weak Thanksgiving day NFL games slate. We give this game a 4 out of 5 stars.
Bengals at Jets 8:20 P.M.
After two back to back comeback victories the Jets look to take on the slowing sinking Bengals.The two star wideouts Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco are looking to turn their season around. The Jets, one of the better teams in the NFL at 8-2, will be heavy favorites over the 2-8 Bengals. Yet, the Bengals will make a game of it. We give this game a 3 out of 5 stars.
What if the NFL isn’t for you? Is basketball your game? You’re in luck, there are plenty of those as well.
NBA games
The first of two games on Thanksgiving Day, the Atlanta Hawks will battle the Washington Wizards. The Hawks, the lesser of the Eastern Conference powerhouse teams, will try to stop John Wall, the NBA rookie who’s performing like an all-star. Both teams are trying to get on a roll, with Atlanta at 8-7, while Washington is 5-8. We give this game a rating of 2 out of 5 stars.
The NBA will post some popular matchups during the Thanksgiving holiday.
L.A. Clippers at the Sacramento Kings
The final NBA game will be between Blake Griffin and the L.A. Clippers, and the Sacramento Kings. Both teams are bottom of the barrel so far, but will try to show some bright light and get a W. The Clippers, last in the Western Conference, are much better than their record at 2-13. Sacramento is doing a tad better with a 4-9 record. Blake Griffin will surely show his muscles and put up huge numbers. Despite both teams starting rather poorly, this game will be better than advertised. We give this game a 3 out of 5 stars.
So kick back and watch some sports while you try to digest all that Thanksgiving Day food.
By Taylor Groff, Cody Straub, Jake Shiner and Jessen Smith
Lancaster Lebanon back of the week was awarded to sophomore Daulton Parmer.
Parmer, the Comets slot back, earned himself the award not usually given to sophomores. He found out by the LL insider when they posted the award.
Parmer was evaluated during play by local sportswriters.
Parmer on top of his game. Photo by Kyle Hallett
When the comets played Cedar Crest, Parmer had 300 offensive yards along with three touchdowns.
Parmer was a key player during the game and is expected to remain valuable throughout his high school career.
“That was the most yards and touchdowns I have had in one game,” said Parmer. “I was pumped about the award and I’m really happy all of my hard work paid off.”
Parmer is a starter as a slot back and also defensive back.
“This award was a great opportunity and I love the recognition I am getting,” said Parmer.
After a great Monday Night performance Eagles quarterback Michael Vick finds himself in a dog fight for MVP.
“It was amazing,” said gym teacher and Penn Manor football coach Scott Lackey of Vick’s Monday Night spotlight performance.
Vick who accounted for six Eagles touchdowns against the Washington Redskins on Monday Night, leads the league in quarterback passer rating (115.1) has yet to throw an interception, and has accumulated 15 total touchdowns in the six games he has played so far this year. While the stats say this will be Vick’s year, some students beg to differ.
“He (Vick) is a tank, but his luck is gonna run out”, said senior Dalton Willard.
Photo from allphiladelphiasports.com
Willard believes that right now Vick is performing great but doesn’t think he can keep the magic going through the rest of the season, and playoffs.
After Vick’s magical Monday night performance, Kevin Kolb has become a thing of the past for the Eagles and their fans.
The once future franchise quarterback, who was given a one-year extension, will now be just arguably the best back-up in the NFL for the next two years.
Lackey said, “ If Kolb is happy being the backup. Why change it?”
Sophomore Darren Weidman agreed with Lackey,” Keep him (Kolb) as a backup.”
While his performance lately has dazzled fans, it is hard for one to forget that just a mere few years ago Vick was sitting in jail for participating in a dog fighting ring. Or is it?
“He paid his debt to society,” stated Lackey, “Second chances are what they are.”
“If a player does good his popularity goes up,” said Willard
The Hall of Fame has had no problem forgetting about Vick’s troubled past, they even requested Vick’s jersey from the Monday Night game to be displayed at the Canton, Ohio museum.
While questions and doubts still surround Vick because of his past, nobody can deny the stats, and that he is a legitimate contender for the MVP award at the end of the season.
Vick has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 1350 yards on the season, and is the only starting quarterback who has yet to throw an interception so far this season, granted he has only played six games. To go along with his superb passing stats, Vick has rushed for 341 yards and four touchdowns on 44 carries this season.
Weidman and Willard both thought, despite how well Vick has been playing as of late, that at the end of the season he will not win the MVP award.
Lackey disagreed though, when asked if Vick could win the MVP he replied, “Yep.”
While some people are not happy that Vick is back in the NFL, the Eagles are not on that list because Vick gives them a great chance to get back to the playoffs, and possibly even the Super Bowl.
Saturday evening the Penn Manor Comets field hockey team took on Emmaus in a state power house throw-down, for the second time.
Emmaus, undefeated and ranked number one in the state, proved itself to be a formidable opponent for the explosive offense of the Comets, holding them to no goals. Emmaus was one of two losses the Comets had previous to Saturday’s state playoff battle, and would become their third and end their season.
“It was a heartbreaking loss,” Matt Soto, head coach for the Comets said. “I thought we played a terrific game, but we were just unable to score.”
Matt Soto, Coach of the Penn Manor Field Hockey team, is going to miss his current senior class. photo courtesy of the PMFH Website
Despite the loss, the Comets have achieved a lot.
The Comets tore through the section, winning it by blasting Hempfield 6-0. They then took to the Lancaster-Lebanon League, defeating Lancaster Mennonite in overtime 3-2.
They then battled their way to the district finals, losing to a well respected Hershey team 1-0.
And finally, losing to a field hockey program such as Emmaus 1-0, is nothing to be ashamed of. Suffering only three losses all season, two to the best team in the state, the Comets were a force to be reckoned with and had a memorable season.
“Our overtime victory at LMH was very memorable. Going up to Crestwood and beating them the way we did was a lot of fun as well,” Soto said.
The seniors made it known that they would miss field hockey, their coach and each other.
“I’m going to miss being with everyone. We formed a lot of friendships and it’s a weird thought that I’m never going to step on the field with them again,” captain Renee Suter said.
Renee Suter, captain for Penn Manor, is going to miss her teammates.
Suter and Katie Breneman, both team captains, said they were definitely going to miss the many bus rides they had this past season.
“These seniors are a terrific group. They’re extremely fun to be around,” Soto said about his senior leaders.
Regardless of the end of this season, the Comets will continue year after year to be a standout program in the state of Pennsylvania and a force with which to be reckoned.
Making a statement on Tuesday against Central Bucks East, the Comets field hockey team went about the business of winning again, crushing their opponents by a score of 6-0.
Coach Matt Soto attested to their success, saying the girls are extremely focused and driven.
“I give our players a lot of credit. They didn’t want to be outdone again,” Soto said.
The Comets, coming off a loss to Hershey in the district finals, 1-0, during which the Comets had 29 corners but no goals, seemed determined not to get into the negative category on their way to state competition.
“We obviously practiced scoring a lot the day before,” Soto explained.
The Comets look to their quarterfinals match-up with state powerhouse team, Emmaus.
That squad handed Penn Manor field hockey one of only their two losses this season.
“They’re a good program from bottom up. Their coach is great, and a really smart guy,” said Soto.
“We have to keep them out of the circle. We out-shot and out-played them last time but we lost. We have to capitalize on our opportunities,” Soto said.
The Comets’ quarterfinals match-up with Emmaus will be played on Saturday at Exeter High School.
The Penn Manor field hockey team suffered their second loss of the season on Saturday afternoon against Hershey, losing 1-0.
Led by goalkeeper Sonya Torres, Hershey came up with huge stops defensively, holding the explosive offense of the Comets to no goals.
Matt Soto, Coach of the Penn Manor Field Hockey team, is optimistic about state playoffs. photo courtesy of the PMFH Website
“She (Torres) was easily the best goalie we’ve seen all year,” said Matt Soto, head coach for Penn Manor.
Despite the loss, Soto and the Comets are ready to look forward to the state playoffs.
“I think it’s good we lost,” explained senior captain Katie Breneman. “Some people think we are just going to automatically win each game and that’s just not the case.”
The Comets take the loss to Hershey as a stepping stone, as well as a learning experience.
“We learned we need to work on scoring. And also that we have to understand the talent is only going to get better from here,” said Soto.
Maddy Hess strives for a state title. Photo by Jessen Smith
“We had 29 corners, but we didn’t execute. We have to execute and score to win,” said senior offensive leader Madelyn Hess.
The Comets take on Central Bucks East in their first game of state playoffs tonight.
“States start tonight. We win, everything’s great, and if we lose our season’s over,” Soto explained.
Penn Manor’s football team slipped into the district playoffs with their most recent win, but with the team’s record, they haven’t been picked to stay long.
Friday night, the Comets beat the Cedar Crest Falcons 56-21.
Daulton Parmer got the student section in a uproar when he carried the ball 70 yards on the kick off. In the next three plays, Parmer scored his first of three touchdowns of the night.
The Falcons quickly came back with a touchdown from the kickoff by Dalton Ritter.
Penn Manor seniors win their senior night game
The Comets kept their heads up and continued to keep the lead.
In the second quarter, the Comets showed what they were really capable of. Adam Sahd threw a post pattern pass to senior Demetrius Dixon resulting in a 73-yard touchdown.
Shortly after, Teon Lee scored a four-yard touchdown, increasing the chances for the Comet’s victory.
Cedar Crest tried their best to fight back. The Falcons did score, just slightly slower than the Comets.
Dylan Weber scored from six yards to bring the Comets lead to 49-14.
Garrett Levengood of the Cedar Crest Falcons, scored the last touchdown their team would see that night. Levengood sprinted 21 yards to the corner of the end zone, pushing for a win but falling short.
The last touchdown of the night was an 85-yard kick return by Parmer.
The Comets earned their fifth “W” of the season and are heading to the to the district three AAAA playoffs.
From Lee’s aggressive running, to Parmers juke skills, the team had a great night and the victory will carry them to their first playoff game of the year.
