By Loren Crispell
Assistant Director of Athletics, State College Area School District
In a very short amount of time since the athletic seasons began, State College teams have been dealt some unusual situations during their practices and competitions. Between frequent severe weather alerts that affected and disrupted preseason practices for nearly every State High team in August, and unusually high temperatures and real-feel readings this week, Little Lion teams and support staffs have had their flexibility and patience tested while searching for consistency in scheduling.
Throughout all of it though, we have witnessed a healthy chemistry and hardened persistence shown by all who wear the maroon and gray. District employees who manage facilities, both indoors and outdoors, have been phenomenal while battling all that Mother Nature can throw at them and other unique circumstances. More recently, the athletic training staff has served as the nerve center of information when it comes to the safety of our student-athletes in this extreme heat, all while providing guidance and counsel on data regarding turf temperatures, heat indexes, and weather forecasts. Needless to say, our department has been safer and better while working in concert with these groups, and we count ourselves incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by experts in their fields who are devoted to the well-being of our student-athletes day in and day out.
After promoting a belief in “Celebrating Shared Success” during 2017-18, our department motto this year is “Better Together.” It is simple and direct, but it speaks to the hundreds of ways our department can be stronger and better when collaboration and shared support are healthy. We have been Better Together this fall sports season, simply by virtue of being surrounded by so many talented, caring professionals. We also hope that we see it come to life within our community of student-athletes throughout the year, by supporting each other at events, and by supporting the student body in a variety of ventures and endeavors.
Two weeks ago, the football team opened their season at home three days before school started. It’s rare to have a home game before classes begin, and yet the student section was full, with students clad in white and cheering on their classmates in what was a tremendous scene.
Early on Thursday, we had the chance to take two football players to Mount Nittany Elementary for the first of our annual kindergarten visits in advance of the Kindergarten Night on Friday, Sept. 14 vs. Carlisle. Along the way, one of our players asked if there was any chance that we might be able to consider moving the girls soccer game later in the evening, because it would give them a chance to attend the game, and because they’d “love to be there to support the girls for such an important game.”
It was hard not to smile, because it was the embodiment of exactly what we were hoping for this year out of our student-athletes. Between the great collaboration across departments, and the peer-to-peer support being shown by our student-athletes, it feels like the idea of being “Better Together” is well on its way.
On to what our respective teams have done early in their seasons:
Girls Volleyball
After graduating just one senior from a sweet 16 team in 2017, the girls volleyball team is off and running in 2018. Their opening week saw them take down Red Land in a home match (3-0), and Chambersburg on the road (3-0). The Little Lions travel to Wilson High School on Saturday, and return home on Tuesday night to play host to rival Cumberland Valley at 6 p.m. in the North Gym.
Photo by Steve Manuel
Girls Golf
The Little Lion girls golf team came away with a tournament championship on Thursday, taking home first place in the Coudersport Invitational. State College had the first, fourth, and fifth place finishers, and will travel to Central Dauphin on Tuesday, Sept. 11 for Mid Penn match play.
Field Hockey
The defending District 6 champions split their opening week, winning their home opener 3-0 over a strong opponent in WPIAL power North Allegheny, behind a consistent offensive effort, and shutout work in goal by sophomore Bayla Furmanek and senior Grace Biddle. The Little Lions fell on Wednesday to the defending 4A champion Greenwood, and now prepare for three games in five days, culminating with an always-entertaining matchup vs. Mifflin County at Memorial Field on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.
Boys Cross Country
The boys cross country team got off to a great start in 2018, capturing the Reedsville invitational on Saturday. The Little Lions utilized a great strategy to defeat highly-acclaimed Mifflin County, packing their runners together to bunch a number of scorers near the top of the race standings, and effectively ensure the win by doing so. The Little Lions will run as part of the Spiked Shoe Invitational on Friday at the Penn State Golf Courses.
Boys Soccer
The boys soccer team opened its season on Saturday, battling Wilson High School to a scoreless tie, before coming home and defeating a scrappy Williamsport team, 1-0, behind a goal from Marc Rodgers. After a postponement Thursday, the Little Lions will travel to Cumberland Valley on Friday for a big early-season Mid-Penn conference matchup.
Girls Soccer
The girls soccer team also fought its way to a scoreless draw vs. Mount Lebanon in the season opener on Saturday, and has not returned to the pitch this week. The Little Lions were scheduled to take on the conference favorite Cumberland Valley at home on Thursday, but a severe weather forecast pushed that match to 4:30 p.m. Friday at the State High South Track. State College gave CV a great battle at home in 2017, and the matchup marks a great chance to springboard into 2018.
Girls Cross Country
Head Coach Rebecca Donaghue’s troops are some of the most consistent student-athletes around, and continue to go about their business. They started the season with a championship in the Reedsville Invitational, and will now prepare for the Spiked Shoe Invitational on Friday at the Penn State Golf Courses.
Girls Tennis
Perhaps no team has enjoyed more success or has been more dominant than the Little Lion girls tennis team, which started 2018 red-hot. After Thursday’s win over Lower Dauphin, the Little Lions are 7-0, and have yet to lose a point in any of their matches. Led by senior Kelly Vanden and sophomore Catelyn Janac, State College is a remarkable 21-0 in singles matches, and 14-0 in doubles matches to begin 2018. The Little Lions will head to Hershey on Wednesday to continue Mid-Penn conference play.
Football
The Little Lion football team took to the road in the second week of the season, and defeated St. Augustine’s Prep 19-7 in a hard-fought victory. State College was tested, and could not put the game away until junior running back Isaiah Edwards took off on a 75-yard scamper that found the end zone, putting the Little Lions up by two scores. Next up for Matt Lintal’s squad is a battle with the Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers, currently No. 6 in the state in the 4A rankings. It promises to be another good test against a team with an experienced offensive line and quarterback. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Friday night in Tiger Stadium.
