Lots of talent returning to HAC-I girls squads
Mar. 28—After a successful 2023 campaign for Heartland Athletic Conference-Division I squads, 2024 is also poised to be fruitful for Shikellamy, Selinsgrove and Milton girls.
All three teams had athletes qualify for the state meet, and return a ton of talent this season. Shikellamy, which finished 7-0 in meets and second in District 4 Class 3A last season, will have to replace state-qualifiers in Bri Hennett (3,200) and Cameron Hoover (triple jump). However, the Braves will return a two-time state-qualifier in Elli Ronk. Ronk ran in the 400 at Shippensburg and was also a part of the 4x400 relay team that competed at the state meet.
Aside from Ronk, Braves coach Matt McConnell also expects district-medalists Jilly Deivert, Kaeley Lloyd, Carly Harter, Olivia Solomon, Savannah Yount and Eden Daku-Treas to be leaders on the team this season. Deivert picked up a pair of bronze medals in the 100 and 200 at districts as a freshman last year.
All three of the Braves' relay teams finished in the top three at districts as well with the 4x400 quartet of Ronk, Lauryn Michaels, Emma Koontz and Paige Fausey taking the gold.
"We have a handful of underclassmen who can really make an impact on how successful this team can be if they buy into our culture," McConnell said.
Shikellamy's cross-river rival, Selinsgrove, aims to be competitive throughout the season with the rich talent that's returning to its squad that's coming off a second-place finish in the HAC meet. Carly Aument and Abby Parise, who represented the Seals in Shippensburg last season, will both be back. Aument pocketed three golds with wins in the 100, 200 and 400 in the district meet last year. Parise earned two herself with first-place finishes in both hurdling events.
Selinsgrove coach Mike Stebila also expects big things from Shakiya Stapleton (shot put), Shaela Kruskie (distance) and Maddy Fertig (jumps).
"Our team has grown with an addition of a strong freshmen class and newcomers to the team," Stebila said. "We're looking forward to seeing what they add to our roster. Last year we had a solid team, but lacked the depth to compete for a district title. We're hoping that this will help us compete at the district meet."
Milton ended its season with two state medalists in the javelin in Morgan Reiner and Mackenzie Lopez. Reiner, who currently throws at the University of Delaware, claimed the bronze when she uncorked a throw of 143 feet, two inches on her final attempt.
Lopez joined Reiner on the medal stand when she hurled a throw of 128 feet, 1 inch, which was good enough for seventh place. Now that Reiner has graduated, Lopez figures to be leading the Black Panthers' javelin squad in her senior season. Like Reiner, Lopez committed to throw at the Division I level at the University of Dayton in December. Despite being tabbed to throw in college, Lopez will partake in a variety of events this season.
Milton's other javelin throwers include junior Amelia Gainer and sophomore Addison Zettlemoyer. In the District 4 Class 2A javelin finals, Milton took three of the five top spots. Reiner and Lopez went 1-2 while Gainer joined them on the podium with a fifth-place finish.
Milton coach Rod Harris expects his team to show strength in a variety of other events besides javelin. Seniors Bri Gordner, Tori Gordner and Alysia Prieto and junior Alli Dicstanzo will be leaders in throws. Cam Roush, Kelsie Morales and Zoey Majors headline the sprints team. Ali Ayala, Jayanah Jones, Keturah Rice and Liz Schrock will be some names to watch at jumps.
"We are very young," Harris said. "Need to get them battle-tested and ready to perform by the end of the season."
Williamsport, Central Mountain and Jersey Shore will also compete in the HAC-I this season. Central Mountain has a co-op agreement with Bucktail.
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MILTON
COACH: Rod Harris, 12th year.
ASSISTANTS: Jonathan Dick, distance; Brad Rocco, pole vault; Janna Bond, distance; Lindsay Bauer, jumps; Bryan Walter, sprints; Kamryn Snyder, throws; Trent Donlan, throws; Bing Pursel, javelin; Ryan Emery, high jump; Tanner Walter, distance; Erica Yodock, distance.
LAST YEAR: 1-4 overall.
KEY RETURNEES: Mackenzie Lopez, sr., hurdles, relays, javelin; Amelia Gainer, jr., javelin; Addison Zettlemoyer, so., javelin; Cam Roush, jr., sprints; Ali Ayala, sr., jumps; Mercedez Farr, sr., distance; Bri Gordner, sr., throws; Tori Gordner, sr., throws.
REST OF ROSTER: Hilhary Baez, sr.; Talya Bardole, sr.; Vanelys Cintron-Reyes, sr.; Laney Cordetsky, sr.; Lydia Crawford, sr.; Miranda Garcia-Calixo, sr.; Sade Hauck, sr.; Daileinis Nieves-Rodriguez, sr.; Alysia Prieto, sr.; Madelyn Waltman, sr.; Lauryn Aunkst, jr.; Emily Beaver, jr.; Allasandra Dicostanzo, jr.; Aubrie Hostetter, jr.; Julia Mong, jr.; Kelise Morales, jr.; Yanelys Vargas, jr.; Addie Bush, so.; Olivia Heise, so.; Camryn Hoover, so.; Liliana Johnson, so.; Jayanah Jones, so.; Zoey Majors, so.; Elleana McConnell, so.; Alexis Regiel, so.; Keturah Rice, so.; Liz Schrock, so.; Ashlyn Shuffstall, so.; Claire Souder, so.; Averie Walters, so.; Emily Waltman, so.; Addison Zettlemoyer, so.; Valerie Baez, fr.; Alayna Ball, fr.; Vivian Bell, fr.; Erika Cabrera, fr.; Tiffany Chen, fr.; Claire Dick, fr.; Cage Farr, fr.; Adalynne Haas, fr.; Brianna Holovich, fr.; Avery Jones, fr.; Samantha Krall, fr.; Marlee Lenig, fr.; Serenity Mitch, fr.; Bella Poynter, fr.; Sienna Short, fr.; Lainey Snyder, fr.
SELINSGROVE
COACH: Mike Stebila, 4th year.
ASSISTANTS: Ali Huber; Bill Switala; Beth Huff.
LAST YEAR: 7-3 overall, finished second in the HAC meet.
KEY RETURNEES: Carly Aument, sr., sprints; Abby Parise, sr., hurdles; Shaela Kruskie, sr., distance; Shakiya Stapleton, sr., shot put; Maddy Fertig, sr., jumps.
REST OF ROSTER: Emma Anderson, fr.; Clementine Asmuth-Day, jr.; Emily Auker, fr.; Leigha Barnwell, sr.; Miah Bassler, so.; Grace Bingeman, jr.; Camryn Bogush, fr.; Lily Bower, jr.; Kaitlyn Boyer, sr.; Lynley Burke, sr.; Lake Dent, fr.; Peyton Endy, fr.; Kailee Eppley, so.; Jenna Erdman, so; Katelyn Estep, sr.; Kourtney Estep, so.; Paige Fanning, so.; Grayce Fordyce, jr.; Isabella Furgison, fr.; Ally Gatewood, so.; Morgan Good, so.; Ella Heath, fr.; Braelyn Heim, sr.; Kaia Hoke, fr.; Malena Keller, fr.; Julia Kline, jr.; Kiana Kruskie, so.; Kalyssa Longer, fr.; Ashtyn Lukens, fr.; Sophia Lybarger, jr.; Makenzie Madden, fr.; Abigail Mangels, jr.; Mikayla Martin, fr.; Erin Merwine, sr.; Leah Mitterling, so.; Talia Mowery, fr.; Tatianna Myers, fr.; Chloe Nichols, fr.; Olivia Paladino, so.; Bella Parise, fr.; Emma Petersen, so.; Sabrina Presgraves, so.; Olivia Rowan, fr.; Kyanna Sanchez, sr.; Peyton Scoviak, fr.; Ryleigh Shakespeare, fr.; Hailey Shatzer, so.; Danica Taylor, jr.; Abigail Trometter, fr.; Alyssa Varias, sr.; Giovanna Veach, fr.; Abby Watkins, so.
SHIKELLAMY
COACH: Matt McConnell, 3rd year.
ASSISTANTS: Chris Colescott; Randi Kunkel; Andrew Monger; Justina Newman; Beth Daku-Treas.
LAST YEAR: 7-0 overall, finished second in District 4 Class 3A.
KEY RETURNEES: Kaeley Lloyd, sr., shot put, Elli Ronk, sr., 400, relays; Carly Harter, jr., hurdles, relays; Olivia Solomon, sr., distance, relays; Savannah Yount, sr.; hurdles; Eden Daku-Treas, sr., distance, relays; Jilly Deivert, so., sprints, relays.
REST OF ROSTER: Aubrie Garinger, fr.; Lillyanna Kase, fr.; Makenzi Musser, fr.; Maci Long, fr.; Lauryn Ross, fr.; Alyssa Williams, fr.; Sarah Bronowicz, fr.; Bailey Fasbinder, fr.; Madison Anderson, fr.; Elizabeth Erb, fr.; Kelsey Deitrich, fr.; Vivyan Ashton, fr.; Jayda Kearney, fr.; Sidney Anderson, fr.; Adrianna McCollum, fr.; Mya Bronowicz, so.; Ally Updegrove, so; Lily Persing, so.; Abby Solomon, so.; Grace Dunkelberger, so.; Emma Trafton, so.; Rylie Pekera, so.; Jocelyn West, so.; Emma Erdley, so.; Mia Barner, so.; Emma Koontz, jr.; Isabella Bolig, jr.; Gionna Colecchia, jr.; Sam Newman, jr.; Aly Bingaman, jr.; Olivia Spontarelli, jr.; Izzy Inch, jr.; Lauryn Michaels, sr.; Brooke Deibler, sr.; Xana Gardiner, sr.; Lilly Campbell, sr.; Julianna Huffert, sr.; Adelyn Henry, sr.; Aloni Natal, sr.; Alexis Cox, sr.; Mikalah Gordon, sr.
