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Notebook: West York's versatile Andrew Moyer adds school pole vault record


With a white head band and green socks, West York senior Andrew Moyer sticks out during track-and-field meets.

He's the one jumping over hurdles on the track and shuttling over to the pole vault area in neon trim (the green socks replaced last year's pink ones).

Moyer already has a YAIAA championship in the 110-meter hurdles to his name. As of Tuesday's dual meet at Dover, he now owns West York's pole vault record at 12 feet, 10 inches.

The 6-foot-2 senior needed three tries to break Andrew Allen's 9-year-old record of 12-9. His previous high was 12-0, but Moyer usually hurdles before he vaults. With a schedule change that flipped the events, Moyer credited fresher legs for his improvement.

He nearly forwent 12-10 and tried for 13-0 after an initial suggestion from Bulldogs coach Julia Haynes.

"I know it's only two inches, but two inches is a lot up there," said Moyer, whose first two missed attempts at 12-10 proved that theory.

The record is significant to Moyer because he never vaulted until 3 years ago as a freshman. Older brother Alex provided the push.

"It was always something I watched," Andrew Moyer said. "I'm a bit of a risk-taker. I like snowboarding and action sports. We had the sibling rivalry. I love it."

Ironically, Moyer likes hurdling and vaulting because he doesn't see them as competitions against other athletes. They are more technical, he said, with form and preparation. In turn, he competes against his own times and heights.

"To be honest I'm not that fast," Moyer said. "I probably run a 12.0 (in the) 100."

He's probably not exaggerating, either.

"He's good at the technique and analyzing himself," Haynes said. "Sometimes I don't have to say a word."

Like during a practice this spring when Moyer tried the high jump. He cleared 5-10 and has been used in a pinch. Haynes said he will team with freshman Jamal Anderson in the high jump during next week's Herb Schmidt Relays.

The additional workload should help Moyer, who wants to be a college decathlete at Kutztown.

Schmidt Relays next week

With the Herb Schmidt Relays at York Suburban moved to Friday, April 17, it marked only the third time in six decades that a make-up date was needed for the event, according to Schmidt.

"I cannot remember another time in my 32 years we've had to switch it because of the weather," Suburban coach Dave Wickenheiser said.

Nine total teams, all from the YAIAA will participate, including Moyer and West York. Steel-High and Manchester Valley (Md.) were originally scheduled but cannot compete with the new date.

Henry Schaefer Memorial Golf Outing

Dallastown will put on the second annual Henry Schaefer Memorial Golf Outing on Saturday, June 20 at Honey Run Golf Course. Proceeds benefit the Dallastown Basketball Boosters and the Henry Schaefer Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The cost is $75 per player or $300 for a foursome. To register, contact Dallastown boys' basketball coach Mike Grassel at 682-0910 or email Grassel.m@comcast.net.

Schaefer is a former Dallastown math teacher and girls' basketball coach who died in January 2014. His 2004-05 girls' team advanced to the state quarterfinals.

Shine on the diamond

If the rain holds off Thursday, Littlestown visits York Suburban in a YAIAA Division III baseball battle of unbeatens. Suburban's 4-0 start already matches its win total from last year, while Littlestown is looking for its third division title in four seasons.

Two weeks into this season, the Thunderbolts and Trojans are not the only teams yet to drop a game.

• West York is off to a 4-0 start and plays host to Susquehannock on Thursday and Lancaster Catholic (3-1) of the Lancaster-Lebanon League on Saturday.

• York Catholic is 2-0 but just wants to get on the field. The Fighting Irish had their season opener stopped in the seventh inning at Gettysburg, another YAIAA cross-over against Eastern York postponed and a non-league matchup with Trinity postponed twice.

"It's crazy," Irish coach Joe Gurreri said. "I was hoping so much we'd get yesterday's game in, and we did."

• Kennard-Dale softball remains the lone unbeaten YAIAA team, having won its first six. Coach Gregg Coulton's Rams own victories against Dallastown and Susquehannock, last year's league finalists, and are on top of Division III. They will play in Red Lion's four-team tournament Saturday.

"We're still not anywhere close to where I want us to be," Coulton said Tuesday after a 3-1 win at Littlestown.

Rain or shine

A Thursday night matchup that should be played regardless of weather conditions is West York's trip to Susquehannock for boys' lacrosse. Both teams are atop the YAIAA standings and the last unbeaten teams at 5-0.

"We're in a four-game stretch where it's going to define our season with the playoffs," Bulldogs coach Rodney Tamblin said after Tuesday's 7-6 overtime win against previously undefeated Dallastown.

The Bulldogs will enter Susquehannock coming off three consecutive overtime wins, which came at York Catholic, at Red Lion and vs. the Wildcats.

"Besides us, these are the top four teams we've faced — all in a row," West York goalie Cole Rinehart said.

Contact Matt Goul at 771-2045.