Eastern York girls cap undefeated dual-meet season with YAIAA Division II title

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After the cheering and hugging stopped, the Eastern York girls started a chant.

"Jackets, jackets, jackets," they yelled, while high-fiving each other and hugging coach Joel Jacobs.

The jackets they were referring to haven't been made yet, but when they are they'll become a lasting emblem of what this Golden Knights team accomplished with a 92-58 win against Gettysburg. The Eastern York booster club buys jackets for every team to win a YAIAA division title, and that victory clinched an undefeated and untied dual meet season and the YAIAA Division II title, its first division title since 2009.

"For the last three weeks, they've been talking about that," Jacobs said. "(I knew we were capable of this) at the end of last year, watching this group of eighth graders. We've had a lot of great upperclassmen leadership too, they really stepped up."

The Golden Knights swept the relays and earned first-place finishes in eight of the individual events against the Warriors, who came into the meet undefeated with one tie.

They also earned the top two spots in the 1,600-meter run, the 3,200 run and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Junior Paige Witten and sophomore Brittan Heisten both set personal-bests, as they came across the finish line .2 seconds apart in the 300 hurdles. Witten led with a time of 49.2 seconds, which is less than three seconds higher than the expected cutoff for the AAA District 3 meet of 46.85 seconds.

"We're like the most motivated people, we want to go to districts so bad," Witten said. "At practice, we run hills, other people are kind of dogging it but we're sprinting up the hills, pushing each other."

The pair, which are "best friends," have taken ownership of the 300 hurdles for the Golden Knights, and Witten trained at camps at Shippensburg University and Penn State University during the offseason.

"They both love that event," Jacobs said. "The 300 hurdles, with the exception of maybe the 800-meter run, is probably the toughest event in track. To take a liking to that and really want to go to that event and excel at it says a lot about their character."

Madison Nalls won the 800, while Maddie McLain won the 1,600 and 3,200. McLain was the only Golden Knight to win two events. Tia Judy won the 100 dash, and Haley Spyker, Taylor Currier, Maura DeRemer and Ashley Kerr all won field events as Eastern York showed off its balance and depth in its clinching victory.

"You don't even understand how important it is," Witten said, as she and Heisten finished each other's thoughts.

Added Heisten: "This is what we've been looking forward to all season."

Then Witten: "It's amazing for our seniors, they've worked so hard for this. To get them a county jacket is amazing."

The Gettysburg boys, which had already clinched the Division II title, won 95-55 to finish off an undefeated, untied season.

Girls

Eastern York 92, Gettysburg 58 at Gettysburg

3,200 relay — 1. Eastern York 11:06.1, 100 hurdles — 1. Tia Judy (EY) 17.0, 2. Rachel Topper (G) 17.4, 3. Brittany Heistan (EY) 17.6; 100 — 1. Zanna Abele (G) 12.9, 2. Arielle Stigelman (EY) 13.4, 3. Kaylee Dillon (G) 13.8; 1,600 — 1. Maddie McLain (EY) 5:30.1, 2. Katie Myer (EY) 6:01.7, 3. Madi Hirneisen (G) 6:07.8; 400 — 1. Zanna Abele (G) 1:00.0, 2. Hannah Meyers (EY) 1:01.3, 3. Haley Nalls (EY) 1:05.0; 400 relay — 1. Eastern York 52.3; 300 hurdles — 1. Paige Witten (EY) 49.2, 2. Brittany Heisten (EY) 49.4, 3. Sophia Kranias (G) 51.9; 800 — 1. Madison Nalls (EY) 2:31.8, 2. Nicole Intile (G) 2:37.6, 3. Tarisa Kelly (EY) 2:44.5; 200 — 1. Zanna Abele (G) 26.7, 2. Hannah Meyers (EY) 27.4, 3. Genesis Mercedes (G) 28.2; 3,200 — 1. Maddie McLain (EY) 12:04.6, 2. Katie Fletcher (EY) 13:56.8, 3. Madi Hirneisen (G) 14:01.5; 1,600 relay — 1. Eastern York 4:16.8; Shot put — 1. Ashley Kerr (EY) 32-6, 2. Ann Mathews 30-11 3/4, 3. Maura DeRemer 29-11 1/2; Discus — 1. Monica Ramierz 93-2, 2. Maura DeRemer 91-4, 3. Gayle Sullivan 86-1; Triple jump — 1. Olivia Young 32-11 1/2, 2. Anna Thacker 32-2 1/2, 3. Taylor Currier 31-5; Long jump — 1. Taylor Currier 15-1, 2. Laura Sanchez 14-8, 3. Katie Keller 14-6 1/2; High jump — 1. Haley Spyker (EY) 5-1, 2. Genesis Mercedes (G) 4-10, 3. Solon/Nails 4-4; Pole vault — 1. Olivia Faloon 9-6, 2. Kim Grasmick 8-4, 3. Anna Thacker 8-7; Javelin — 1. Maura DeRemer 119-9, 2. Bonita Solida 111-10, 3. Madison Pecaitis 97-5.

Boys

Gettysburg 95, Eastern York 55 at Gettysburg

3,200 relay — 1. Gettysburg 8:22.2; 110 hurdles — 1. Derek Zurin (EY) 15.6, 2. Michael Heeschen (G) 15.8, 3. Sawyer Richardson (EY) 16.9; 100 — 1. Edny Celius (G) 11.5, 2. Rajon Treasure (EY) 11.5, 3. Wade Laudenman (G) 11.6; 1,600 — 1. Dan Filler (G) 4:45.3, 2. Tyler White (EY) 4:57.3, 3. Brandon Daily (EY) 5:10.1; 400 relay — 1. Gettysburg 45.2; 400 — 1. Wyatt Culver (G) 51.8, 2. Kyle Trebilcock (EY) 53.8, 3. Tyler Bream (G) 54.4; 300 hurdles — 1. Derek Zurin (EY) 42.2, 2. Michael Heeschen (G) 42.7, 3. Jordan Weaver (EY) 44.0; 800 — 1. Mason Bear (EY) 2:06.5, 2. Adam Buck (G) 2:08, 3. Luke Milhimes (G) 2:17.9; 200 — 1. Raejon Treasure (EY) 23.4, 2. Buckwalter (EY) 24.5, 3. Marquise Camel (G) 24.5; 3,200 — 1. Dan Filler (G) 10.33.4, 2. Tyler White (EY) 11:03.2, 3. Connor Staub (G) 11.4; 1,600 relay — 1. Gettysburg 3:34.2; Shot put — 1. Dalton Lyons (G) 38-4 1/4, 2. Scott Elliot (EY) 37-4 1/4, 3. Aaron Stoner (G) 35-7; Discus — 1. Jordan Turner (G) 130-4, 2. Dalton Lyons (G) 108-1, 3. Brady Buckley (G) 97-4; Triple jump — 1. Ravaughn Dillard (G) 45-2, 2. Nathan Lopez (EY) 36-8 3/4, 3. Keith Askins (G) 33 3/4; Long jump — 1. Ravaughn Dillard (G) 20-11 3/4, 2. Kobe Wansel (G) 19-9, 3. Marquise Camel (G) 19-5 3/4; High jump — 1. Derek Zurin (EY) 5-8, 2. Mason Bair (EY) 5-8, 3. Bream/Weikert (G) 5-2; Pole vault — 1. Nate Sharrah (G) 12-6, 2. Brady Glatfelter (EY) 11-6, 3. Issac Myers (G) 10-0; Javelin — 1. Dalton Lyons (G) 164-4, 2. Wade Laudeman (G) 160-8, 3. Michael Heeschen (G) 152-2.