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H.S. SPORTS: Mercersburg's Ellie Clark, Karl Reisner win ISPL awards


MERCERSBURG >> A pair of Mercersburg Academy's finest was honored with inaugural Independent Parochial School League awards.

Three-sport athlete Ellie Clark was named the Female Student-Athlete of the Year, and retiring baseball coach Karl Reisner earned the Excellence in Coaching Award.

Clark earned a total of eight varsity letters during her Blue Storm career in lacrosse, soccer and squash. She was an All-ISPL and All-Mid-Atlantic Prep League selected in lacrosse. She was a starter on the 2013 IPSL lacrosse championship team and the 2014 ISPL soccer championship team.

"Ellie is everything we expect as a contributor in our community," Mercersburg athletic director Rick Hendrickson said in a press release. "She is passionate, competitive and dedicated. Her drive in the classroom is just as strong as her drive on the lacrosse field. Her commitment to her goals transformed her from an above-average varsity starter to a college recruit."

Clark was involved in AP and honors courses in biology, chemistry, calculus and physics. She earned Commended Scholar status in each of her eight terms, and was heavily involved in local community projects. Clark will play lacrosse at Saint Michael's College in Vermont.

Reisner came to Mercersburg in 1971 and has served as the school's head wrestling, football and girls basketball coach at different times. He spent 25 years as the baseball coach, during which time Mercersburg earned 16 conference championships and four Pa. Independent Schools Athletic Association titles. He holds the Blue Storm record for career wins at 356 and was the Public Opinion Baseball Coach of the Year in 2015.

Hendrickson said, "People speak of memorable coaches and teachers. Karl Reisner is the epitome of the type of guide and mentor who inspires those memories. He has students who remember him just as fondly as former players, and he has colleagues who have gained so much from his leadership."

Other ISPL member schools include Maryland School for the Deaf, Mount Airy Christian, St. James, St. John's Catholic Prep and St. Maria Goretti.