Skip to main content

5 things to watch this week in Franklin-Fulton


play
Show Caption

Keep an eye on these top five events around Franklin and Fulton counties this week, as a few cross country teams will go up against some of the nation's best, and an area golf team will try to ink in a major milestone.

MONDAY

Mid Penn Colonial golf at Chambersburg Country Club, 1:30: The Chambersburg golf team's outstanding winning streak was threatened in the fourth Mid Penn Colonial golf tournament of the season. This time around, though, the Trojans have a major milestone win riding on a good showing.

Chambersburg can reach its 200th consecutive victory Monday in the regular season finale to make a statement in the division.

Chambersburg's Karsen Rush is the team's top competitor, averaging 73.5 strokes through six rounds this season. His best round came at Range End, where he shot 70.

TUESDAY

Mercersburg Academy at McConnellsburg girls soccer, 4: McConnellsburg hosts Mercersburg Academy in a non-league contest Tuesday in what looks to be a low-scoring affair. With focus on defense, neither team has found the back of the net much this season. In its first three games of the season, McConnellsburg scored just three goals by three different players, while Mercersburg has started its season 0-3 and has yet to score.

Watch out for McConnellsburg's Rebecca Wenschof, a sophomore who scored during the Spartans' win over Rockwood, and keeper Kellyn Perry in net, who could make a difference in a low-scoring contest.

THURSDAY

Waynesboro at Greencastle-Antrim boys soccer, 7: Heading into this week, the Greencastle-Antrim boys soccer team had just one black mark on its ledger, a 4-0 loss to Susquehannock during the Blue Devil Challenge last weekend. But despite the loss, the Blue Devils (5-1) have shown promise, led by Brandon Stuhler and Damian Sherrill.

Waynesboro on the other hand has had a fine start to the season with a 6-1-1 record. The Indians are fresh off a 2-2 non-league draw with Chambersburg, and will be eager to get another win. Waynesboro's top talent, Derek Buhrman, has racked up an astounding 12 goals in the first eight games of the season to lead the area, while Aaron Tylicki has three goals and three assists.

The team's Mid Penn Colonial clash Thursday is set to be a competitive game between two of the area's best boys soccer squads.

Big Spring at Shippensburg field hockey, 4: Despite having to rebuild its entire back line, the Shippensburg field hockey team has started out strong in Mid Penn Colonial division play, with just one blemish against Boiling Springs on its record so far.

Thursday will be another challenge for the Lady Hounds as they take on the 6-1 Bulldogs, who sit on top of the division. Big Spring's only loss of the season has come from Greencastle-Antrim.

Maddie Kline (five goals) and Courtney Coy (four goals, one assist) lead Shippensburg, while Zoe Holtry and Rachel Kline each have three goals on the season.

SATURDAY

Carlisle Cross Country Invitational, 9: After a fine showing at the Big Spring Bulldog Invitational, area cross country teams face off again during the Carlisle Invitational, which is set to be a tough one - for everyone but the host school. James Buchanan, Shippensburg, Chambersburg and Greencastle-Antrim are set to attend Saturday's invitational.

The Carlisle cross country team is the favorite to win states in 2016, with two of the nation's top boy runners, Noah and Sam Affolder - transfers from New York state who are storming to the front of the pack.

Needless to say area boys' teams will have tough competition during the upcoming invitational, but Chambersburg coach John Ambrosio said so far his team is exceeding expectations, led by senior Andrew Feldman.

For the girls, Greencastle-Antrim's Taryn Parks and Lauren Hirneisen both placed favorably at the Big Spring invitational, but the Blue Devils' next three finishers hurt the team scores; while Chambersburg's top three are still on pace from last year's success, and a pair of freshman are moving up in the ranks as the team's four and five finishers.