Think you know York-Adams fall sports? We have them covered from A to Z

A − Alphabet future

Central York senior Jocelyn Keen doesn't always watch television for enjoyment. Sometimes, when watching shows like "Criminal Minds" and "The Rookie," she's taking a look into her potential future. A forward on the field hockey team, Keen would like to play club at George Mason, where she wants to go to study forensics with a minor in criminology. George Mason is her choice because of its internship program with the FBI. "My mom is a science teacher," she said. "I'm really into crime and science."

B − Ballin' Bobcats

The Northeastern boys' soccer team has been on a roll lately — winning the 2021 YAIAA title and the Division I crown last season. And don't expect the Bobcats to fall off this season. Reigning Division I Player of the Year Evan Jennings leads an experienced lineup that will have plenty of motivation after losing in the YAIAA semifinals and District 3 quarterfinals last season.

C − Circled on the calendar

When Dallastown beat South Western, 5-2, in the District 3 girls' soccer tournament last season, it was the fourth time the Wildcats had beaten the Mustangs. That included a 1-0 win in the league title game. Well, the Mustangs haven't forgotten. South Western brings back seven starters including sophomore midfielder Carly Louey, who set the program record for goals in a season as a freshman, By comparison, Dallastown graduated co-Players of the Year Maggie Groh and Annabelle Wunderlich. The two teams meet Sept. 7 at South Western and Sept. 28 at Dallastown.

D − Delone director

There's been some turnover in the Delone Catholic athletic department in recent years since Tim Bonitz took a new role as an assistant principal at the school. Retired athletic director Dave Lawrence ended up stepping in last year in an interim role. The school hopes John Rudolph will bring stability to the position this year. A minister and former teacher, Rudolph got involved with Delone athletics a few years ago when his son, Asher, played for the Squires basketball team.

E − Enjoying extracurriculars

It didn't take South Western sophomore Olivia Bateman long to find plenty of school activities to keep her busy. You would think playing field hockey, basketball and softball would be enough. But she also participated in the school musical, band and chorus as a freshman. Here's hoping she finds the energy to maintain this rigorous schedule.

F − Fast-flying Flowers

New Oxford's Harvin Flowers has had quite a journey. A native of Honduras, he came to New Oxford at age 8 speaking no English. But he made friends through soccer and has developed into one of the best players in the YAIAA. The midfielder was named Division II Player of the Year last season and leads a group of nine returning starters for the Colonials this fall.

G − Gold in golf

A York County golf team has never won a state title. Two have been runners-up. But a couple teams could make a legitimate run at gold this fall. Dallastown finished second last year and brings back four of their top five finishers — brothers Lane and Reed Krosse and Mason Tucker, and Taylor Hicks. Lane Krosse is a defending District 3 champion. The Wildcats finished just six strokes behind Pittsburgh Central Catholic, which graduated four of its top five. Still, Central York won the first two Division I meets this season and has always had an outstanding program. Could both programs be state contenders?

H − Hundred at Hanover

It's a historic season for the Hanover Nighthawks football team, which is celebrating its 100th season. The moment will be celebrated at the team's first home game on Sept. 8 against Pequea Valley. There is a lot of excitement around the Nighthawks in head coach Jarrel Burnett's first season.

I − In her blood

Senior Kendall Smith is the only first-team all-star returning for Spring Grove's field hockey team. The midfielder and her teammates have high hopes for the season, but once it's over, so is Smith's field hockey career. She'll play lacrosse in the spring and then it's on to the rest of her life. If she has her way, it will be a lifetime of protecting her community. Just like her mom. "She was an EMT and now she's a police officer," Smith said. She has taken the first steps toward her goal of being a paid firefighter. She's a member of the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Co. and is taking classes at the York County Fire School.

J − Just plastic, please

York Suburban school district has followed in the footsteps of District 3 and the PIAA by going cashless for all athletic ticket purchases. The district announced the policy days before hosting the Rose Bowl football event Friday and Saturday. The Trojans have partnered with the GoFan website so that fans can purchase tickets online before arriving at the games or at the stadium gate. Athletic Director Ron Coursey said the district made the change to save time and money and to create a level of security by eliminating large amounts of cash at the events.

K − Kicking it far

Central York has produced so many star football players in recent years it's easy to forget about kicker Matthew Parker. But the junior kicker could be one of the program's next top-tier Division I recruits. He nailed a 45-yard field goal on opening night and has made kicks around 60 yards in practice. "You don't see guys do that other than major college or NFL kickers," Panthers head coach Gerry Yonchiuk said. The 6-foot-2 Parker is also a basketball player and could play other positions in football if he wanted to, but prefers to focus on kicking.

L − Luck of the Irish

York Catholic girls' volleyball team is the defending PIAA Class 2A runner-up and District 3 champ. Nine players and that head coach are gone. But new coach Shane Gephart still likes his team's chances this season. Yes, he knows the Irish are young with only three players returning who saw significant varsity time last year. But so far the team has impressed him. The Irish will get a look at where they stand right off the bat as they play a veteran Delone Catholic squad on Sept. 5.

M − Multi-sport athletes

Coaches are concerned these are becoming a dying breed, but even with sport specialization, they still exist. Littlestown's Zyan Herr plays football and golf in the fall along with basketball and track and field. Spring Grove's Henry Rumbaugh balances soccer, wrestling and baseball. And there's plenty more around the YAIAA.

N − New face, same tradition

Two of the most successful boys' soccer programs in the YAIAA have new head coaches. Longtime Susquehannock assistant Scott Kaifer will take over for Brett Maxwell, who led the Warriors to six division titles and two league titles in 10 years. And Frank Lenno stepped down at Central York after leading the program since 2006 and built the program into a perennial title contender — including five straight division crowns from 2013 to 2017. Bryan Linz is the new man leading the Panthers. Still both teams will be looking to improve this year. Central finished 10-7-1 last year while Susquehannock went 8-10.

O − On the run

Senior Finley Smith has practically every minute of her day planned for Sept. 23. The York Suburban field hockey forward has to, she doesn't have a minute to spare. First up is a home game against defending division champ Susquehannock at 10 a.m. After that she has to get ready for her brother's wedding, yes she's in the bridal party. After the ceremony and some of the reception, she's off to change dresses and head out to the Homecoming Dance, which starts at 7 p.m. Ah, youth.

P − Pairing up

It's not uncommon for athletes to play more than one sport in a school year. It's becoming more common to see athletes competing in two sports in the same season. Soccer players joined football teams just to kick. Soccer and field hockey players picked up cross country to, well, run. Football and golf have always gone together. Volleyball and cross country? Not so much. But Fairfield senior Kylee Partilla has made it work. She goes to volleyball practice after school and puts her miles in after she gets home. Six times this season she will run 3.1 miles after school in a cross country meet and then turn around to start at middle hitter on the volleyball team.

Q − Quarterback depth

The YAIAA has seen an impressive string of quarterbacks the past few years. Central York's Beau Pribula rightfully gets most of the hype at Penn State, but his brother Cade (Sacred Heart), New Oxford's Brayden Long (Slippery Rock) and York High's Sam Stoner (Shippensburg) all earned Division I FCS or high-level PSAC opportunities. There's no obvious headliner this year, but the league has a deep slate of returning quarterbacks including Red Lion's Chris Price, Dover's Aric Campbell and York Suburban's Rylan Bratton.

R − Runaway favorites?

Are there any in YAIAA cross country? Susquehannock's Matt O'Brien dominated the boys' side the last two years but is now off to Cornell. Dallastown's defending champion Victoria Rodriguez and her super freshman sister, Sophia, just moved to Seattle. So who steps up? Northeastern junior Griffen Ridler is the top returner on the boys' side (fourth, 16:30.70) and York Catholic's Madeline Murphy is the top returning girls' runner (fourth, 19:12.80)

S − Special delivery

York Suburban field hockey coach Denise Kreider has Oct. 12 circled on her calendar. It's not only the last game of the regular season, the Trojans are playing their Division II nemesis Susquehannock on the road. But that's not the only reason the date is important to Kreider. It's the due date for her to deliver son No. 3. She already has boys ages 2 and 3. Just in case, the nearest hospital is only 15 miles away!

T − Tom the Trojan

In an era when many head coaches last just a few years, York Suburban's girls' soccer coach Tom Shugars is the exception. Shugars has been with the program 25 years — 20 as the head coach. "Others don't get players like these," Shugars said with a smile. "In 25 years I don't think I've had many problems with any players." Shugars has coached two sets of mothers-daughters, three sisters and a player who is now a grandmother. He has high hopes for a team that challenged top seed Bishop McDevitt in a 3-2 loss in last year's District 3 playoffs.

U − Unopened Canners

Biglerville boys' soccer is the team to beat every season — having won six of the last seven YAIAA Division III titles. But Biglerville will need some inexperienced (unopened) Canners to step up this season. The team graduated five all-stars from last season including co-Players of the Year Guillaume Schmitz and Cameron Tyson.

V − Veterans on the gridiron

Gone are the days of the 30-year head football coach. Mike Lippy's retirement after 20 years at Littlestown leaves Red Lion's Jesse Shay as the YAIAA's longest consecutively tenured football coach at 11 seasons. Delone Catholic's Corey Zortman (nine), Dover's Wayne Snelbaker (nine), Kennard-Dale's Chris Grube (eight) and York High's Russ Stoner (eight) are next in line. Ron Miller's return to West York puts him at 10 years at the school over two tenures.

W − Watch out for Wojcik

Susquehannock senior Lilly Wojcik has been one of the league's top field hockey players for a couple of years. The Princeton commit trains with Team USA in the offseason and led the league with 46 goals last season. Can she lead the Warriors to a repeat YAIAA title?

X − X-tra protection

Football coaches and administrators are always looking for ways to better protect their players during practice and games. One of the latest pieces of equipment are Guardian Caps. The padded covers, worn over regular helmets during practice, are designed to decrease the effects of impact. Red Lion linemen and running backs are using the covers this season, and they were spotted in a New Oxford equipment bag over the weekend. The covers are not allowed to be used during scrimmages or games.

Y − York Suburban's Yepez

York Suburban won the YAIAA boys' soccer title last season. If the Trojans are going to repeat, they're going to need a strong performance from senior forward Damien Yepez, who is the team's only returning first-team all-star. The Trojans have a new coach in Scott Payne. Yepez is also the kicker of the football team.

Z − Zipper up, it's gonna be cold

Selecting a coat to match the weather is easy ... if you have a coat. Susquehannock sophomore Tristan Rankin has been working toward that goal since he was 7. He, with the help of his family and friends, created the nonprofit Coats of Friendship to provide coats to anyone in the area who needs them. Area schools collect them, and his group hands them out in the fall. The football team, where Rankin is a lineman, is helping the cause by holding a coat drive on Oct. 20 when the Warriors host West York.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: YAIAA fall sports 2023: Here's your season preview from A to Z