Sports

6- MERCHANDISER - Manheim Central Edition - January 12, 2022 SPORTS Conestoga Valley • Donegal • Elizabethtown Garden Spot • Hempfield Lampeter-Strasburg • Manheim Central Penn Manor • Pequea Valley • Solanco MORE SPORTS PICTURES and other high school sports news at

Matmen Return 10 Starters, Top Crest, L-S

BY ERIC G. STARK

In his first year with the Barons, Quint Eno inherits a loaded roster. Manheim Central has 10 wrestlers returning from last season.

Ryland Fittery, Rocco Daugherty, Brett Barbush, Logan Forrest, Ethan Stoltzfus, Jake Hess, Uriah Warner, Gabe Thomas, Braxton Keiffer and Taylor Bloom are key returners.

Key newcomers include Tyler Groff, Brodie Daugherty, AJ Hondru, Leo Bonanno, and Luke Gibble.

Eno said the team’s core values are heart, hustle, and humility.

“So far, the team has bought in and is dialed in,” Eno said. “The staff has been pleased with how they’ve responded to and embraced change, and how they demonstrate our values on and off the mat. The team continues to develop and make strides and we are excited to watch them compete week in and week out as they continue grow. Boiled down, our keys to success are a strong desire, a relentless effort, and a selfless devotion.”

The Barons defeated Cedar Crest 57-15 on Dec. 15 and beat LampeterStrasburg 48-21on Jan. 4, making the Barons 2-0 on the young season. Against the Pioneers, Hundru, Daugherty, Groff and Keiffer all won on decisions. Fittery and Hess each had pins. RIFLE

After starting the season 3-0, the Barons suffered their first loss to Elizabethtown, 495-494 on Jan. 4. Trevor Frey shot a perfect 100, followed by 99s by Elle McBade and Anna Haldeman. Rod Sauder and Nate Sauder each had 98 scores.

Manheim shot right at its 494 season average. They have had 12 shooters shoot in matches and the lowest average is 97. Their high score is 497 in a win against Garden Spot. Depth has been a key to their success. In their win against Governor Mifflin, the teams finished tied at 498 and Central won on its seventh shooter.

Haldeman has a 99.5 average this season. Genna Eberly has a 99 average, followed by Frey with a 98.67, McCabe, 98.3 and Sauder, 98. Seniors Haldeman, McBade and Frey are returning starters with experience.

“It is nice to have depth, but now we need consistency,” Barons’ coach Steve Waddington said. “We’re doing well. I’m happy and pleased with how we’re performing.” SWIMMING

With three meets under their belt, Baron’s coach Heather Fittery said the season is going well with the boys beating McCaskey. Central’s numbers are low with about seven girls and six boys swimming in meets so far.

Anderson Pilsner has been swimming well in 200 IM, 100 back and relays.

Bryce Garber is competing is the 100 backstroke, 50 free and in the relays. Cayden Schwebel swims in the 50 free, 100 breaststroke. Caleb Bower also competes in the 50 free, 100 free and Ryan Moreno, in the 100 free and 100 back, have been contributing in relays. These boys are all first-year swimmers on the high school team.

Returning swimmers include Colton Faulhaber in the 100 free and 100 breaststroke; Makenna Enck in the 50 free, 100 backstroke and relays; Olivia Faulhaber in the 50 and 100 free and relays; Chloe Enck in the 100 back and relays; Gabrielle Fittery in 200 and 500 free and Raegan Nissley in 100 breaststroke and relays. BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Behind a game-high 28 points by Trey Grube, Manheim cruised to a 6343 victory over Solanco last Wednesday. It was the second time the Barons beat the Mules this season, the first coming during Solanco’s Holiday Tournament in a 54-39 triumph in the championship game. Grube had 25 in the first meeting and garnered tournament MVP honors. Connor Fahnestock added nine points and Judd Novak and Zach Benner each had seven.

Central was down five early in the first match up and went on an 8-0 run in the second to take a 27-17 halftime lead and led 33-25 after three quarters. The Barons led by as many as 15 in the fourth, finally figuring out the Mules’ zone. Novak controlled the game at point guard and Grube hit “a huge 3 to kick start things,” Barons’ coach Charlie Fisher said.

Since starting the season 0-2, the Barons have been on a roll, winning six in a row. “Night in and night out it has been our defense,” said Fisher, who is going about nine deep. “Sometimes we try to think about scoring too much. ...They own their roles and understand it.” BOWLING

Landen Statts led the way with a three-game 556 to pace the Barons to a 2592-1971 victory over Lancaster Mennonite on Jan. 3. Jesse Hurst rolled a 549, including a first-game score of 255. Ethan Howard had a 514. Hailey Kowalski and Holly Hunt posted a 494 and 479, respectively. Worth noting, Josh Shaw, a JV bowler, posted the third highest score with a 534.

Overall, Central bowled fairly consistently and did well covering most of their spares, Barons’ coach Alan Slides said.

Statts, a sophomore, has the high average on the team with a 181.7, followed by Hunt, a junior at 180.1. Howard, a sophomore, averages a 179 and had a personal-best 670 triple against Elizabethtown. Hunt and Kowalski average a 158.9 and 153, respectively.

“I think, overall, we are improving and basically we are returning the same players next season, so it is nice to see us progressing,” Slides said. “From last year to this year they have improved. My assistant coach, Todd Steffy, has helped make adjustments in positions and correcting their flaws. The kids are really listening to his coaching and making improvements.” GIRLS’ BASKETB BALL

The Lady Barons (5-2 overall) defeated Solanco 55-30 on Jan. 5. Maddie Knier had a game-high 28 points and Abbie Reed chipped in 20.

“We’re playing well,” Central coach Tyson Hayes said. “We’re buying into our roles on the team. It is the best I’ve seen with players playing well together.”

Hayes returns everyone from last year and has added a few new weapons, giving the Barons plenty of depth. Knier, who averages about 22 points a game, is the team leader with her outstanding play and is starting to get serious looks from colleges, Hayes said. He said she will be a coaches dream for whoever she plays for in college.

“I just encourage everyone to watch her play and see how she plays hard all the time,” he said. “Any boy or girl could look up to her and want to play like that.” Now Hayes said his staff is working to develop her inside and outside game for the next level.

Reed, the point guard, is developing into a solid player, Hayes said. She is a floor general and one of the top on-the-ball defenders, guarding the other team’s best scorer most nights. Rachel Nolt, who averages about 14 points, is a senior leader and is making basketball plays that Hayes has not seen from her previously.

Photo by Bob Diller

Baron heavyweight Ryland Fittery turns Lampeter-Strasburg’s for a 2:44 fall to add six points to Manheim’s 42-21, Section Two win at home on January 4.

DIVE IN FOR A FLURRY OF SAVINGS

Photo by Mona Steinhauer

The Barons posted a 60-48 win over Conestoga Valley and a 54-39 victory over Solanco in the final to win the Solanco Holiday Tournament on December 29 and 30.

Jan 10-22

Up to Ask about

40% OFF $100 OFF

In-Stock Vinyl Installation

Offer ends 2/15/22