Homecoming Queen is Family Legacy

By Julia Norton –

Being crowned homecoming queen in high school is something many girls only dream about. For Laura Wissler, however, it’s become a reality.

Wissler was crowned Penn Manor’s 2011 homecoming queen Friday, October 7th. The other members of the homecoming court were Michelle Dempsey, Kelly Lenahan, Ellen Blazer, Kayla Bixler, Sara Bennis and Demi Greenawalt.

“It was a good group of girls. We all got along,” said Wissler. “We’ve all known each other just through going through school and classes.”

2011 Homecoming Queen, Laura Wissler stands with her mother, Dannel Wissler, the 1986 PM Homecoming queen.

Wissler wasn’t the only person in her family to be crowned homecoming queen at Penn Manor. Her mom, Dannel Wissler, was also in the year 1986.

“I was surprised and excited,” said Dannel about winning. “I appreciated that my classmates selected that for me.”

Despite the family legacy, she wasn’t pressured to win.

“My mom didn’t pressure me at all. She was just proud that I was on the court. If I won, she was happy with it. If not, she was okay with that too,” Wissler said.

Dannel confirmed this by stating, “However it worked out was fine. Even being on the court was a privilege for her. Each girl at the school is special whether or not they’re on homecoming court. That doesn’t define them and it doesn’t define Laura.”

Some people might find the process of running a burden, but not her.

“It was a pretty cool experience. It was an honor to get picked out of those seven great girls. I’m very happy,” said Wissler.

Penn Manor Senior to Attend Prestigious Academy

By Lauren Ressler –

Aim high.

The United States military academies have always held high standards for applicants. With the competition of almost 12,000 other applicants and a reduced class size this year, senior Emily Hess was worried she wouldn’t have what it takes to get into the United States Air Force Academy.

“Extremely competitive, you must have impeccable recommendations [and an] impeccable resume [to be accepted],” said Penn Manor principal Eric Howe about acceptance into the Air Force Academy, comparing the academy to an Ivy League college.

Hess had many hoops to jump through to apply to the academy located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Photo courtesy of the USAFA website, a shot of the campus in Colorado Springs, CO

“You have to start preparing your freshman year,” said Hess. “It’s important to be able to compete academically.”

Hess has maintained an unweighted grade point average of 3.8 and kept up with honors and advanced placement classes to show she is academically able to keep up with the high standards of the academy. Hess attended Lancaster Mennonite High School until this year. She exceeded the curriculum at Lancaster Mennonite, so she transferred to Penn Manor in order to take challenging courses not offered at the private school.

Hess also participates in Penn Manor track and field to stay in shape and improve physical stamina. In order to be accepted into a service academy it is important to have exceptional physical health.

Howe described these high standards as needing to be “cream of the crop,” and “top of your game” in order to be accepted into a United States service academy.

After years of hard work and months of waiting, Hess was called into the counseling office last week. Mr. Gale and Mary O’Connor, representative of PA congressman Joe Pitts, were present to break the news. Pitts had nominated Hess for admission into the academy.

She did it.

“I think she was a combination of excited and relieved,” said Gale.”It’s the first one (student) we (Penn Manor) are sending to the Air Force Academy.

Emily Hess will be attending USAFA in June, photo courtesy of Lauren Ressler

“Shocked, relieved and emotional, Emily called her parents to share her acceptance into the academy.

“My dad didn’t know what to say,” said Hess. “He was shocked. My stepmom was very happy for me.”

Hess had first become interested in the academy because of her career goals. She wants to work in military intelligence.

“I knew I would need a good education, and the academy provides the foundation of military strategy,” said Hess.”It’s also free,” explaining that service academies are government-funded.

She explained her parents are very supportive and very proud of her accomplishments.”Dedication, sacrifice, stamina, organization, time management and self-discipline,” are among the expectations of the Academy, according to their website. Hess will leave June 22 to fly to Colorado Springs to attend boot camp. She will be staying with a host family until she moves into the Cadet Wing.

“It’ll be weird going by myself,” said Emily about flying to the Academy alone. “I’m really close with my family.”

Overall, Hess said she is extremely excited to be attending the United States Air Force Academy. She feels it will be a great foundation for her career, and a good experience to improve leadership and gain friends.

Comets Focus on Red Land in Playoffs

By Connor Rowe –

The Penn Manor (12) basketball squad prepares for Red Land (6) in their first playoff appearance this year. The game will take place Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Red Land, Lewisberry, Pa. at  7 p.m.

Penn Manor will be the true underdog in this matchup statistically, but Comets senior, captain, fan favorite and point guard, Brian Ramsey, sees the game differently.

Ramsey said he can’t wait for the coming contest.

They’ve got some big boys, but we are ready for them,” Ramsey said.

Head coach Charlie Detz is preparing Penn Manor basketball team for district playoffs. Photo by Connor Rowe

Red Land has two 6-11 players, Mike Zangari, a junior, and D1 commit to La Salle, senior Steve Zack.

Manor has a plan to get around these so-called, “big boys.”

“We have two new defensive sets and offensive play to move their big guys out,” said Ramsey.

Another way of achieving success by the Comets is by scrimmaging Manheim Township High School’s basketball team,  where they executed their new tactics.

Brian Ramsey closed with, “I think we have a very good chance to win; (coach Charlie) Detz has been preparing us well. Everybody wants to win.”