Here are 113 Lebanon County spring athletes to watch in 2024
The spring sports season has officially begun on diamonds, tracks, fields and courts across Lebanon County high schools.
Here’s a look at some of Lebanon County’s top athletes to keep an eye on in 2024.
Aidan Mahaffey, Palmyra boys' tennis
It’s hard to ignore one-half of the two-time reigning PIAA Class 3A doubles champs, Aidan Mahaffey – now a senior. After defeating his twin brother, Tyler, to win the Mid-Penn 3A singles title, the pair went on to win District 3 Class 3A and PIAA Class 3A gold. All three of those feats are repeats from the previous season as well, when Aidan took the trio of championships.
Tyler Mahaffey, Palmyra boys' tennis
Now a senior, Tyler Mahaffey, much like his twin brother, Aidan, is one-half of the two-time reigning PIAA Class 3A doubles champions. Look for Tyler to add to his already impressive resume this year before moving onto college at Lafayette with his twin brother Aidan.
Kaddel Howard, Cedar Crest track and field
Howard burst onto the scene as a freshman, winning gold at the PIAA Class 3A meet in the 400 in a blistering 53.50. She also finished third at the District 3 meet in the 200 but chose to scratch that event for the state meet to focus on the 400. Her 400 time at the District 3 meet set a new record when she ran a 54.68. The sky's the limit for Howard.
Mason Bucks, Palmyra track and field
Bucks, now a senior, was the runner-up in the pole vault at the PIAA Class 3A meet. He cleared 15-6, which was the same height cleared by the champion, Bradon Schneider of Erie, but Schneider won due to fewer overall misses. But, Bucks is back with a shot at redemption, and another shot at gold.
Gabby Smith, Elco softball
Smith was stellar as a sophomore, even being named to the all-state team. She struck out 151 from the circle in just 86.1 innings pitched and was a .455 hitter at the plate. This all after hitting .459 and striking out 123 batters as a freshman.
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Jack Wolgemuth, Cedar Crest boys' volleyball
Wolgemuth, a junior, helped lead Cedar Crest to an impressive run in the postseason, reaching the semifinals of the L-L League and District 3 Class 3A postseason and the program's first PIAA Class 3A tournament berth. His efforts earned him a spot on the PVCA Class 3A honorable mention all-state team. The junior stuffed the stat sheets night after night with assists and digs.
Morgan Lantz, Palmyra girls' lacrosse
Lantz is one of the best lacrosse players in Palmyra’s history. She scored 85 goals last year and 72 the season before. The senior and UMass-Lowell recruit will look to build on her success and continue to push the Cougars further. Last year they reached the District 3 Class 3A quarterfinals.
Moises Gonzalez, Northern Lebanon baseball
Gonzalez, now a senior, helped lead the Vikings to a state playoff berth last season. He led the team with a .338 batting average, two home runs, 19 stolen bases, 24 runs scored and 16 RBIs. He also drew a bunch of walks, as shown by his on-base percentage of .516.
Tyler Burgess, Palmyra track and field
The junior hurdler was impressive last year as a sophomore. He finished in sixth place at the PIAA Class 3A meet in the 300 hurdles and seventh in the 110 hurdles. Not a bad season for a sophomore.
Adrian Gonzalez, Northern Lebanon baseball
The sophomore Gonzalez had an impressive freshman campaign on the mound for the Vikings, helping lead the team to the state playoffs. He went 4-4 with a 3.48 ERA, striking out 40 and walking just eight in 50.2 innings pitched. At the plate he hit .265 with nine RBIs, four doubles and a triple.
Chase Blanchard, Palmyra baseball
As a junior, Blanchard batted an absurd .426 with three doubles, a triple and two home runs. He also contributed nine RBIs and scored 15 runs while only striking out seven times in 68 plate appearances. What can he do for a senior season encore?
Meda Pulaski, Annville-Cleona softball
Pulaski was fantastic for the Little Dutchmen last year. She struck out 145 batters from the circle while also batting .438 with four home runs and 20 RBIs. She was instrumental in AC’s run to the District 3 postseason, as well.
Lebanon County spring athletes to watch in 2024
(Listed alphabetically by last name)
Kiera Anspach, Northern Lebanon softball – senior
Brooke Beamesderfer, Northern Lebanon softball – senior
Mason Bender, Lebanon tennis – senior
Oscar Berrios, Lebanon tennis - junior
Gavin Bicher, Elco baseball – junior
Brian Bicksler, Northern Lebanon baseball - junior
Colin Bogart, Elco baseball – senior
Kody Boyer, Elco baseball – senior
Katelyn Brenner, Cedar Crest girls lacrosse – junior
Megan Brophy, Annville-Cleona track and field - senior
Hudson Brown, Northern Lebanon tennis – senior
Peytyn Bryan, Elco softball – freshman
Jacob Burgess, Palmyra track and field - junior
Gavin Bush, Northern Lebanon tennis – senior
Matt Clemson, Annville-Cleona track and field - junior
Cameron Connelly, Annville-Cleona baseball – senior
Jackson Conners, Elco track and field – senior
Kendall Cooper, Annville-Cleona track and field - junior
Anna Crawford, Palmyra softball – freshman
Alex Dorta, Palmyra baseball - junior
Abby Evans, Annville-Cleona softball – sophomore
Dylan Fegley, Cedar Crest baseball – senior
Grace Francis, Annville-Cleona track and field - senior
Dallas George, Elco baseball - senior
Kenidee Gilbert, Lebanon softball – sophomore
Dylan Groff, Cedar Crest track and field - junior
Yostin Guerrero, Lebanon baseball – senior
Brynn Gundrum, Cedar Crest girls lacrosse - junior
Makenna Haas, Elco track and field – junior
Abby Hassler, Elco softball - junior
Miracle Hershey, Annville-Cleona track and field – junior
Jalik Hill, Lebanon track and field - senior
Addison Hollenbach, Northern Lebanon softball – sophomore
Ava Hoover, Annville-Cleona track and field - junior
Landon Hostetter, Annville-Cleona track and field – junior
Davin Kolter, Cedar Crest baseball – freshman
Reece Kowalski, Palmyra boys lacrosse - freshman
Ryan Kowalski, Palmyra boys lacrosse - junior
Landon Kreider, Cedar Crest baseball - junior
Addison Kubica, Northern Lebanon softball – sophomore
Connor Lane, Cedar Crest baseball – senior
Max Liedtka, Annville-Cleona tennis – senior
Madison Long, Annville-Cleona track and field - sophomore
Morgan Long, Annville-Cleona softball – junior
Ella Longnecker, Palmyra girls lacrosse - junior
Tate Lovell, Elco tennis – junior
Lizzie Lowe, Cedar Crest track and field - senior
Emily Maag, Annville-Cleona track and field - senior
Luke Macchione, Elco track and field - senior
Lynsie Mauser, Northern Lebanon softball - junior
Lydia McClintic, Cedar Crest softball – junior
Jonathan McDannell, Palmyra track and field – senior
Travis McDannell, Palmyra track and field - sophomore
Bailey McFeaters, Northern Lebanon softball – senior
Xander McQuaide, Northern Lebanon baseball – senior
Viseth Meng, Cedar Crest tennis - junior
Riley Messinger, Northern Lebanon baseball - junior
Alexis Messner, Lebanon softball – senior
Kya Missimer, Annville-Cleona track and field - junior
David Moran, Annville-Cleona track and field – sophomore
Jon Moran, Annville-Cleona track and field - sophomore
Ben Morcom, Annville-Cleona baseball – senior
Noah Morcom, Annville-Cleona baseball - junior
Mia Morrison, Palmyra softball - junior
Addison Nolen, Cedar Crest softball – sophomore
Makayla Noll, Elco softball – freshman
Logan Oriel, Cedar Crest baseball - senior
Abby Palkovic, Northern Lebanon softball - senior
Katie Poorman, Cedar Crest softball - sophomore
Sofie Price, Palmyra track and field – junior
Kaeden Readinger, Palmyra baseball - senior
Gaven Schreier, Cedar Crest baseball - senior
Eliana Schneider, Cedar Crest track and field – sophomore
Morgan Shanaman, Elco baseball - senior
Kya Sherwood, Cedar Crest softball – sophomore
Danika Setlock, Annville-Cleona softball – junior
Jenna Seyfert, Lebanon softball - junior
Ashlyn Shaak, Annville-Cleona softball – senior
Colton Shaffer, Annville-Cleona baseball – junior
Caitlin Shay, Annville-Cleona track and field - sophomore
Ben Sheffield, Cedar Crest tennis - senior
Kate Shenk, Palmyra softball - sophomore
Chloe Shirk, Elco softball – sophomore
Joe Shkreli, Cedar Crest tennis - junior
Olivia Shutter, Northern Lebanon softball – junior
Zane Smoker, Northern Lebanon tennis - junior
Braeden Sommer, Palmyra baseball - junior
Mackenzie Stellmach, Annville-Cleona track and field – sophomore
Tate Tadajewski, Cedar Crest volleyball – junior
Leo Tirado, Cedar Crest track & field - senior
Carley Umbrell, Northern Lebanon softball – junior
Ramon Urena Batista, Lebanon track and field - senior
Madi Van Zant, Palmyra girls lacrosse - senior
Andrew Via, Northern Lebanon baseball - sophomore
Faith Wagner, Annville-Cleona softball – junior
Aaron Walters, Cedar Crest boys volleyball – senior
Christian Weaber, Cedar Crest track and field - senior
Zariyah Whigham, Lebanon track and field – senior
Morgan Wilson, Elco softball – junior
Isaac Wolfe, Cedar Crest tennis – junior
Serenity Zidik, Lebanon softball - junior
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: LL League Athletes to Watch: Lebanon County spring high school players