Outtakes from the 2014-15 sports year
GameTimePA sports reporter Matt Goul wrote a recent commentary on his lasting memories from the 2014-15 sports year. Read all about it, here.
And, in honor of that, some of our GameTimePA staffers also reminisced about the year that was in YAIAA athletics, and beyond. Their thoughts:
Football coaching changes: When I think back to my first year at the York Daily Record and GameTimePA, I’ll undoubtedly remember all the turnover in the high school football coaching ranks. Some changes featured marquee names -- Ron Miller leaving West York, for instance -- while others featured flip-flopping of the YAIAA programs -- Steve Wiles leaving Delone Catholic and landing at Susquehannock. Heck, the story lines continue today, as New Oxford is currently searching for a new coach following the departure of Jason Thurston last week. Yes, that’s what I’ll remember looking back at 2014-15.
-- Teddy Feinberg, assistant sports editor
State title tie: Well, this was just odd. It was back in November when Palmyra and Penn Manor finished in a 1-1 tie for the Class AAA state championship in girls’ field hockey. The outcome wasn’t exactly met with open arms by fans and followers of the sport, and this past May the PIAA Board of Directors voted unanimously to use penalty strokes, if necessary, to determine the outcome of future state field hockey championship games. A state title contest ending in a 1-1 deadlock was a bizarre finish to the field hockey season, that’s for certain.
-- Teddy Feinberg, assistant sports editor
Heavy Hitters: A trio of YAIAA softball players hit more than .600 this season, but no one was as dominant as Delone Catholic’s Shelbee Holcomb. The junior shortstop hit .740 (57-of-77) with 10 home runs and 53 runs batted in, which would earn her the triple crown. Senior Haley Norton of Spring Grove batted .627 with 19 of her 37 hits going for extra bases, including five home runs. A sophomore -- Central York catcher Briannah Dobson -- not only hit .612, but did not strike out all season. Another player, Dover junior Natalie Cutright, also did not whiff this season, and posted a .594 average.
-- Steve Navaroli, sports reporter
Stunning pool performances: Carson Gross of York Suburban lost her lead during the PIAA Class AA 200 freestyle to Pottsgrove’s Emily Glinecke. But Gross was not to be denied, finishing strong and passing Gliecke in the final few yards. The junior’s time of 1:51.71 won a state gold medal at Bucknell University. Even more suspenseful was the way Dallastown senior Noah Brockway earned a gold medal in the AAA 100 backstroke at the District 3 championships. Brockway appeared to be touched out at the wall by Cumberland Valley’s Ben Francis. However, officials noticed that Brockway’s hand missed the touch pad when he reached back, registering the time only when his head hit the pad. As is procedure, backup times were used, and Brockway was district champion with a corrected time of 51.22 seconds. Wildcats teammate Spencer Hill also won district gold in the 100 butterfly.
-- Steve Navaroli, sports reporter
500 wins: On Dec. 20, the Bermudian Springs wrestling team traveled to Northern Lebanon for a dual tournament. Later that day, after an 81-0 white-washing of Tulpehocken, Dave McCollum and the Eagles celebrated McCollum’s 500th career win as head coach. It was a monumental feat, as McCollum has essentially built the Eagles’ wrestling program into the power it is today. That, and only eight other coaches in PIAA wrestling history have recorded as many victories.
-- Andrew Mease, sports editorial assistant
Decreased wrestling power: In 2014, District 3 combined for nine PIAA individual wrestling championships, three of which came from the YAIAA. In 2015, however, District 3 took home just one PIAA gold medal, as Governor Mifflin’s Jan Johnson repeated at 195 pounds after beating Big Springs Tommy Rayhart in the final. District 3 did, however, graduate arguably the most successful group of seniors, including two four-time champions in Solanco’s Thomas Haines and Kennard-Dale’s Chance Marsteller.
-- Andrew Mease, sports editorial assistant
From our readers
We asked our readers for their lasting memory from the 2014-15 sports year. Here was their take, via GameTimePA Facebook and @GameTimePA_SC on Twitter:
Northeastern State volleyball three-peat
-- Jodi Arentz
York High basketball
-- Barbara Brown
Susquehannock’s boys’ swimming!
-- @rgjaxon on Twitter
The tie in AAA field hockey. Great game by @PalmyraFH negated by poor attention to detail by @PIAASports.
-- @Coach_Ralph on Twitter