Back-to-back hopes drive the Comets field hockey team.
Tuesday night the Comets took on the Hempfield Black Knights, for the third time, in the district semi-finals.
The Comets would complete a three game sweep of the Knights. Blasting them 6-0, 6-2, and 4-1. This time, it would put the Comets in the district finals.
Renee Suter moves the ball upfield during the game.
Comets’ Madelyn Hess and Emily McCoy added goals, while Renee Suter added two.
“The game was pretty exciting. We played sloppy in the first half, but controlled the second half,” said Hess, who added one of the four goals for the Comets.
“We calmed down and realized we could score and we broke them down,” said Matt Soto, head coach for the Comets.
The Comets will play Hershey, the winner of a huge upset against Lower Dauphin, Saturday at Milton Hershey at 2:30p.m.
The Comets stand hand in hand ready for the district semi final match.
“We need to stop their #1 goal scorer, and we have to score on them. They haven’t seen the type of scoring power we can do all year,” said Soto.
The Comets will look to win back-to-back district titles and continue their tradition of winning.
Tonight the Comets square off in a District semi-final field hockey game with the Hempfield Black Knights.
But it won’t be the first time they have met this year.
“I think we have a really good game plan. And I think if we play a good game it could be a lot of fun,” said Matt Soto, head coach of the Penn Manor Comets field hockey team.
Matt Soto, Coach of the Penn Manor Field Hockey team, is hoping for a district title. photo courtesy of the PMFH Website
The Comets and Knights have done battle twice before this season. The Comets got the better of the Knights both times, with scores of 6-0 and 6-2.
The Knights made it to the district semis by beating Cedar Cliff 4-3, and Dallastown 3-1, proving that they aren’t anyone to be taken lightly.
“We cannot be overconfident. We must play our game and we have to improve on the last time we played them,” Soto said.
Suffering only one loss this season against Emmaus, a state power house, the Comets are heavy favorites in this match up.
If the Comets win, they will play the winner of Lower Dauphin and Hershey at Milton Hershey High School for the District Championship.
Penn Manor left the end zone empty during their game against Wilson Friday night, blanked by the Bulldogs, 44=0.
The Comets set out, determined to have success, but had difficulty getting the game started, going three and out on the first drive of the game.
Soon Wilson was on the scoreboard with 7 unanswered points and increased their lead to 14-0 before the first quarter was over.
The team was enthusiastic but couldn't score any points against Wilson.
It didn’t get much better from there.
The cold, the opponent and the Comet’s inability to get their offense going even affected the crowd, as the student section began to crumble even before the half.
Although the Comets kept battling up field, they always fell short throughout the half when trying to get points.
The half-time score was a rough 28-0.
The Comets came back at half-time looking to redeem themselves, but couldn’t mount a defense against the raging Bulldogs, and were defeated 44-0.
Coming off of the best season they’ve had in an extremely long time, Penn Manor’s boys cross country ended this week with a record of 12 wins and 9 losses.
In some ways, girls cross country had more success since they actually launched a star runner who, as a freshman, swept the entire league.
Having to run a lot everyday not knowing if you’re going to do well at the meet is something you have to overcome if you want to be on the cross-country team.
But it seems all the running is really paying off.
“We did really well. Better than we’ve done in a long time,” said Faheem Gilani, a Penn Manor cross country runner.
“We did 100 times better than every previous year,” noted Peter Ashworth, a runner as well. “We improved tremendously.”
Gilani personally had one of his best years ever. As well as Ashworth.
Next year boys cross country team doesn’t plan on slowing down. With upcoming addition Travis Wells, Jon Bitner and new younger talent, they are looking to improve on this year’s impressive season.
Girls cross country also had one of their best seasons this past year.
With a winning record of 11 wins and 10 losses they were extremely happy about the outcome since it was a much better record than last year.
Emily Edows will be the captain for girls cross country next year.
The girls run everyday except Sunday, and practices are pretty intense.
“We could have done better but it was a good season. Best we’ve done in a long time,” says Greta Lindsley.
Greta Lindsley running a cross-country race
With a 21-0 record as a freshman, Lindsley had an outstanding season.
After winning the L-L League meet, she went to districts October 27 and competed, taking fourth.
The top thirty go to states where Lindsley will compete on Saturday, November 6th.
“I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing because it seems to be working,” Lindsley said.
She has been doing what she’s been doing for quite a long time too. Running has been Lindsley’s sport since kindergarten.
If she doesn’t have practice on a certain day then she trains at home.
Her dad is the main person in her life who has really encouraged her and got her going in the sport, she said.
The Hempfield Black Knights furthered their decade-long hold on girls volleyball league championships Wednesday night by totaling an impressive eight titles in the last nine years.
Although the Penn Manor’s Comets were the victims in the devastating loss, they secured a second place league finish and refined their plans for district play.
The Comets fought hard but fell short in all three games as they got out of rhythm and made mistakes in the league playoff, of which a an experienced team such as Hempfield took quick advantage.
“We matched up skills-wise. I think we did just as good, both teams made mistakes, but they were better at fixing their mistakes, said Penn Manor coach Jared Staub the day after the match.
The first two games resulted in a 25-19 score with Hempfield dominating and staying on top throughout both games. Brittani Young, the Hempfield libero, was a key part in the win over the Comets. Coming back from an injury that forced her off the court for the past two games of the playoffs, Young played her game.
In the end, it was Hempfield’s flawless defense, passing and digging most of Manor’s serves and hits, which converted crucial points for the Knights.
The third game was a little different. The Comets came out with a determination to lengthen the night by winning the third game and going to a fourth. Late into the game the Comets maintained a lead of 18-17, but fell apart as they watched themselves fall to end up as the second seed in L-L League Class AAA going into districts.
District games start Saturday and the Comets are going in with the same attitude.
“First round is different. It’s a pool play tournament and a long night. We have to play hard, but force other teams to make mistake and not let teams push us around,” said Staub.
The Hempfield Black Knights defeated the Comets twice during the regular season. But the Comets may very well overtake their biggest rival in the league championship?
The Hempfield Knights and the Penn Manor Comets meet in the Girls Volleyball League championship at Manheim Township High School at 7:00 tonight. The Comets, not ranked, are defined as the underdogs competing against the Knights who are ranked third in the state in class AAA, and who won the last 7 of 8 League titles.
The league playoffs are played back-to-back for three days.
“We have to be prepared because we don’t get to practice in between games,”said Coach Jarrod Staub. “We played them twice so we know how they play.”
Both the Comets and the Knights dominated their opponents during the league playoffs, and both feel confident that they are the better team. The Knights have more experience playing in the “big game,” but the Comets know it won’t be easy, but expect to surpass the Knights, and grab the league championship title.
“Our strengths is the height of our players, our good offense, serving tough and good blocking,”said Staub. “The one thing that could be better is our defense.”
The question everyone is having for this game is what will the Comets do different this game compared to the regular season?
“Consistency and not to have dumb mistakes like we had in the previous regular season games,” said Staub.
The winner of the game will get the number one L-L League seed into the District Three class AAA tournament. Whichever team loses will be awarded the number two seed. The District tournament will start Saturday.
Since the second grade Bobby Rehm has been on the mats, rolling around, trying to tie up his competitors. This past year Rehm qualified for state wrestling competition. Being in one of the hardest districts in P.A. qualifying for states was something very few wrestlers can do.
“He’s an intense competitor and hates to lose,” says wrestling head coach Steve Hess.
Sophomore year is when his skills really started to skyrocket and he improved as a competitor tremendously. He did a lot of lifting and off-season work which contributed to his success.
Rehm has been wrestling in the 125-pound weight class since his sophomore year; occasionally wrestling in the 130-pound class.
Bobby Rehm
His current best record is 36 wins and 6 losses, which he tallied this past year, his 11th grade year, the year he also went to the state championships.
“I like that it’s a one-on-one sport, not necessarily a team sport,” Rehm says.
In Rehm’s near future he hopes to wrestle Division One in college. Then hopefully he will qualify for the national competition. His current goal is to win the state competition this year.
Rehm wrestles two to three times a week and then normally has a tournament ever other weekend.
Hess plans to incorporate more lifting and conditioning in his program to improve wrestling’s record this year. He also moved some coaches around in hopes of also improving this season’s outcome.
Solanco is Penn Manor’s biggest rival, according to Hess, so beating them this year will definitely take extra effort.
“Practicing is my least favorite part. Practices are hard and take a lot out of you,” Rehm says.
His favorite wrestling move to do on his opponents is called the inside trip ankle pick.
“Bobby enjoys getting really physical and is never satisfied unless he gets the pin” says Kyle Kann, a fellow wrestler.
Gymnastics is a very demanding sport, however one Penn Manor freshman has taken the challenge and excelled to incredible heights, even winning state-level awards.
Freshman Justin Gaukler devotes much of his time to being the best gymnast he can and has been for half his lifetime. At 14, he practices multiple times a week to better himself with the aid of friends and family. The support does not run short.
Gaukler Performing on the Pommel Horse photo submitted by Sherry Gaukler
“They (his family) always ask me how I’m doing and how I did at competitions,” said Gaukler about his support team.
Despite many people’s belief that male gymnasts aren’t true athletes, Gaukler seems to be making a better name for them.
“When people find out they usually think its cool.” Gaukler explained he hasn’t really experienced anyone criticizing his sport.
Even though he has had to give up personal time, he always finds time for school. He hasn’t seen a negative influence upon his grades or ability to do schoolwork with all the practice. Gaukler maintains good grades throughout the year. His parents encourage him to stay focused on school while staying active in the sport.
“Sometimes I have to give up hanging out with friends or going out,” said Gaukler.
Gaukler’s work regiment includes practicing four times a week for three-and-a-half hours. Practices are often held on weekdays. Some, however, are held on Saturdays. This doesn’t even account for all the time he spends traveling and participating in his competitions.
What kind of practice the gymnasts have depends upon their gymnastic level. The classes range from level one to ten, said Gaukler who started in second grade and who is now a level eight.
Gaukler said the practices begin with a standard warm up. From there, the gymnasts move onto their special focuses. The gymnasts split up into their events. Gaukler works on floor, rings, parallel bars, the high bar, vault and the pommel horse. His favorite happens to be the rings.
Gaukler performs on the Pommel Horse Photo by Sherry Gaukler
Gaukler has won several prestigious awards since he began. He was state champion for rings three times and state champion for the pommel horse twice. Not only did he win States, but he also moved onto the regional level to win All-Around Champion in his age group.
Gaukler plans on continuing gymnastics for as long as he is able to. He would like to go to the national competition once he reaches the ninth and tenth levels. However, Gaukler still questions if he would like to stay with gymnastics as an adult.
“I’m not sure if I want to go to the Olympics, but if I’m good enough then I’d like to go,” said Gaukler.
For Gaukler, gymnastics isn’t just a sport. It’s a passion. And he is taking his love for the sport to a whole new level.
The Penn Manor Field Hockey team showed how dominant they have been these past few years, earning their second straight league title, defeating Lancaster Mennonite 3-2 in overtime.
The game’s first points were scored with a goal by speed demon Madelyn Hess, with 20 minutes left in the half. The second goal was scored off a pass from McCoy to Kayla Bixler, putting the Comets up 2-0.
But the Blazers would come back and tie the game 2-2. Mennonite’s team effort was led by their goal keeper Kaitlin Brubaker, who had a spectacular 13 saves.
Senior Katie Brenneman is a captain for Penn Manor's field hockey team. Photo by Jessen Smith
“The game was way too close for comfort. It was extremely nerve racking,” said Matt Soto, the head coach for the Comets.
The Comets got a little help from a high stick penalty, putting the Blazers’ defender Coleen Andrews on the bench for the last 2:55 of regulation and the first 2:05 of overtime. The Blazers would escape without allowing a goal while playing a man down.
Renee Suter plays aggressive for Penn Manor field hockey. File photo
Comets’ all-star Renee Suter smashed a corner at goal, but Brubaker continued to play strong all night.
“She’s (Brubaker) a very solid goalie,” said Soto.
Almost immediately after Suter’s game winning shot was called too high, hero Katie Breneman slammed one in.
“Katie’s shot was almost perfect, it was right in the upper corner of the goal,” said Soto.
In a nail-biting comeback, the Phillies managed to stay alive in the National League Championships by beating the San Francisco Giants, 4-2, on Thursday night in San Francisco.
Although the Philadelphia Phillies are currently behind the Giants 3-1 in the playoffs, they aren’t losing their die-hard Penn Manor fans.
Penn Manor junior Marc Summy is one of many students who believes strongly that the Phils can pull off all the wins they need to in order to go to the World Series.
Game one was held October 16th in Citizens Bank Park.
Juan Uribe hits a game-winning sacrifice fly, Photo by Google Images
The Giants won that game, a nail biter 4-3, Saturday in Philadelphia.
But the Phils did not give up. On Oct. 18 the Phils blew out the Giants 6-1, which tied the series 1-1. Game 3 was held on the night of Oct. 19 and the Phils lost 3-0.
Game 4 was held Wednesday in San Francisco and the Phils lost a close one in the ninth 6-5.
Game 5 was played in San Francisco. If the Phillies win game 6 in Philadelphia, game 7 will be in their hometown.
Penn Manor junior, Austin Richwine, supports the Phils from start to finish, no matter what.
“No, (I am not gonna give up on the Phils but) they’ve been in and out, up and down all year round,” said Richwine.
Dylan Weber agreed.
“I will support the Phillies through the entire series,” Weber said.
Wednesday night’s game was especially heartbreaking when the Phils were winning and ended up losing a close one in the ninth inning.The Phils season is on the line due to trailing in the series 3-1. The Phils need to win every game from here on out.
“Phillies and the Texas Rangers are going to be in the World Series,” said Penn Manor junior, Brandon Schuman.
Although the Phils are trailing it is easy to see that Penn Manor has not gave up there faith quite yet.
“They’ve been working too hard all year,” Schuman said. “(Opponents) can’t beat the rotation.”
Penn Manor senior, Tanner Kennedy, believes the Phillies can win also because of there outstanding pitching staff and roster.
The Phillies had an up and down season. Injuries were a major problem for the Phillies, but somehow Coach Charlie Manuel found a way to make everything work. The Phillies had a record of 97-65 during the regular season and finished first in the National League East.
They still have one more shot at completing their season the way Penn Manor fans wanted – with two more wins.
