If you’re looking to catch some of your favorite Waynesboro athletes playing fall sports at the collegiate level, you don’t have to look much farther than your own backyard.
Rosters for local college teams like Wilson, Penn State Mont Alto, and Hagerstown Community College are chock-full of talented ex-Indians and Maidens. We’ve counted at least 15 former Waynesboro stars competing for these schools alone.
In this month’s College Corner, we’ll take a close look at these athletes, as well as the former Waynesboro athletes who are standing out at collegiate programs all across the country. In the months to come, we’ll examine how Greencastle and Chambersburg athletes are performing this fall, before eventually circling back to Waynesboro.
Is there anyone we’re missing from our list? Please send additions for College Corner to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Below is a sport-by-sport, athlete-by-athlete look at former Waynesboro athletes competing at the college level this fall:
Soccer
Kiaya Mouer, Sophomore, PSU Mont Alto
Mouer returns to guard the goal for Mont Alto after earning the lion’s share of playing time in net last season.
The 5-foot-4 netminder flashed some talent last fall when she started in 15 games and got 1,133 minutes of work, allowing 28 goals (2.22 goals allowed average) and making 86 saves (.754 save percentage).
Mont Alto (0-1) will be counting on Mouer ever more this fall, starting with the team’s next game on Saturday at home against Christendom.
Madison Eberly, Sophomore, PSU Mont Alto
Mont Alto’s biggest point producer from a year ago is back on the pitch this fall.
Eberly, a 5-foot-6 defense/midfield player, was lethal from scoring range in 2022, amassing 12 goals and three assists.
She’s looking for her first points this season after her team was shut out 3-0 by Hagerstown Community College in the season opener on Aug. 25.
Nicole Jones, Senior, PSU Mont Alto
Jones, a 5-foot-6 midfield/forward player, returns for her senior year with more than 30 games of experience under her belt.
Over the course of her career, Jones has scored four goals and recorded six assists.
Jones was in the starting lineup for Mont Alto in its first game of the season, a 3-0 loss to Hagerstown Community College on Aug. 25.
Noel Myers, Freshman, PSU Mont Alto
Myers was inactive for Mont Alto’s season opener, a 3-0 loss to Hagerstown Community College, on Aug. 25.
Kiera Pryor, Freshman, Hagerstown Community College
Pryor has been an immediate contributor for Hagerstown, with the 5-foot-4 defender seeing the field in every game for an unbeaten Hawks squad that has allowed just four goals in five games this fall.
Pryor and Hagerstown (5-0) will try to stay hot on Saturday, when they hit the road to face Middlesex College.
Becca Cordell, Sophomore, Wilson College
Cordell has gotten on the field for both of Wilson’s games this fall.
The 5-foot-2 forward made her first appearance in a 4-2 loss to Hood on Sept. 1, spending six minutes on the field. In the next game for the Phoenix, a 2-0 loss to the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg on Sept. 3, Cordell got to play for three minutes.
Cordell, a Health and Physical Education Major, is coming off a 2022 season where she appeared in four games, recording a goal and an assist.
Wilson (0-2), which was scheduled to face Penn College on Wednesday, returns to the pitch on Friday for a home game against Penn College.
Devin Wynkoop, Freshman, PSU Mont Alto
Wynkoop netted a goal in the first game of his collegiate career.
Wynkoop found the back of the net in Mont Alto’s season-opening 5-0 win over Patrick Henry on Aug. 29. He also attempted shots on goal in losses to Central Penn (5-1) on Friday and Christendom (4-3) on Saturday.
Mont Alto (1-2) was scheduled to face Wilson on Wednesday.
Connor Geis, Junior, PSU Mont Alto
Geis, a 6-foot, 180-pound defender, is a regular on a Mont Alto back line that is allowing three goals per game through three games.
Wesley Muller, Junior, PSU Mont Alto
Muller, a 6-foot, 175-pound midfield/defender, has appeared in all three of Mont Alto’s games this fall.
Zach Stum, Freshman, PSU Mont Alto
Stum has appeared as Mont Alto’s goalkeeper in two of the team’s three games.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound netminder has logged 10 saves and has a 1-1 record.
Volleyball
Emily Channing, Sophomore, Millersville
Channing will be looking to move up the depth chart for Millersville this fall.
The 5-foot-6 setter/defensive specialist is looking forward to seeing her first collegiate action on the court.
Millersville (2-2) returns to action on Friday with matches against Charleston and UNC Pembroke.
Ashley Donald, Sophomore, Hood College
Donald, a 5-foot-3 defensive specialist, figures to once again be a key player for Hood this fall.
Last year she appeared in 22 matches and 75 sets, accumulating six kills, 30 assists, 18 service aces, 225 digs, and 24 points.
So far this fall Donald is credited with 23 digs and five service aces.
Hood (1-3) was scheduled to face St. Mary’s College of Maryland on Wednesday.
Leslie Huckle, Senior, PSU Mont Alto
Mont Alto is off to an 0-4 start this fall, but the team is looking toward leaders like Huckle to help get the train back on the tracks.
Huckle, a 5-foot-4 outside hitter, has appeared in 59 matches and 195 sets for the Lions, logging 384 kills, 15 assists, one service ace, 127 digs, 45 blocks, and 413 points.
Mont Alto was scheduled to face Lycoming on Wednesday.
Gracie Vaughn, Junior, PSU Mont Alto
Vaughn, a 6-foot-3 middle hitter, has been a valuable player in her two years of competition for Mont Alto.
In 60 career matches and 194 sets, Vaughn has totaled 491 kills, 199 blocks, 642.5 points, four assists, and five service aces.
Autumn Scahill, Freshman, Hagerstown Community College
It’s her first season on the court, but Scahill is already seeing playing time for Hagerstown.
A 5-foot-3 defensive specialist, Scahill has gotten work in two matches and six sets, logging three kills, one service ace, six digs, and four points.
Hagerstown (4-2) returns to action on Saturday, when it hits the road to face Frederick Community College.
Sophia Johnson, Junior, California (Pa.)
Johnson is off to a sizzling start for California, leading the Vulcans to a 3-0 start.
A 6-foot-1 middle hitter, Johnson has started in all three of California’s matches, logging 29.5 points, 23 kills, one dig, and 12 blocks.
Johnson has had a productive career for the Vulcans up to this point. Coming into the season, she had appeared in 26 matches and 82 sets, posting 91 kills, one assist, nine service aces, 38 digs, 72 blocks, and 144.5 points.
California returns to competition on Friday, when it hits the road to face Daeman and Davis & Elkins.
Leah Helman, Junior, Lancaster Bible
Helman is looking to have a breakout campaign after showcasing her gifts on the court for the past two seasons.
Helman, a 5-foot-7 defensive specialist, has had a solid career leading up to this season. In 53 matches and 182 sets of work, Helman’s totaled 34 kills, 152 assists, 78 service aces, 760 digs, six blocks, and 115.5 points.
In four matches of work this fall, she’s already rolled up a team-best 72 digs.
Helman, a Health & Physical Education Major, and Lancaster Bible return to the court on Tuesday for a home match against Eastern.
Football
Ethan Saunders, Senior, Delaware
After a junior season that saw Saunders — a 6-foot, 248-pound defensive lineman — appear in 12 of 13 games, he once again finds himself on the field as a senior.
Saunders will be looking to build upon a 2022 season where he registered nine tackles, including two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. He’s off to a great start in 2023, as he logged one tackle for loss and two QB hurries in Delaware’s season-opening 37-13 win over Stony Brook.
Saunders and the Blue Hens will get some time in the national spotlight on Saturday when they travel to take on Penn State.
Rhyan Day, Sophomore, Bridgewater College
Day played in his first collegiate game last weekend, a 51-19 loss to nationally-ranked Susquehanna.
A 5-foot-10, 175-pound defensive back, Day entered the game as a reserve and recorded no stats.
Bridgewater (0-1) will try to get back on track on Saturday, when it travels to face Southern Virginia (0-1), a team coming off a 45-0 loss to Christopher Newport.
Andrew Brizan, Sophomore, Moravian University
Brizan, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound offensive lineman, will be battling for playing time throughout the season for Moravian.
Last fall as a freshman, Brizan appeared in two games, and logged his first collegiate tackle.
The Greyhounds are off to an 0-1 start following last weekend’s 53-12 loss to Muhlenberg. Brizan was inactive for the game.
Moravian returns to the field on Saturday, when it travels to face Utica (1-0), a team coming off a 20-17 win over the University of Rochester.
Louis Lindsay, Sophomore, The College of Wooster
After earning a fair share of playing time in his first year in the collegiate arena, Lindsay is aiming to once again be a crucial cog in the Fighting Scots lineup.
Lindsay, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound defensive back, appeared in eight games last season, including two starts, and registered 14 tackles to go along with six pass breakups.
Lindsay, a Business Economics Major, was active in last weekend’s season opener, logging one tackle in Wooster’s 63-43 loss to Wilmington.
The Fighting Scots (0-1) return to the gridiron on Saturday, when they play host to Olivet (1-0), a team coming off a 35-32 win over Franklin.
Aiden Mencia, Sophomore, Lebanon Valley College
Mencia, a 6-foot, 210-pound running back, will be looking to compete for playing time this fall after limited action in 2022.
Last year, the Business Administration Major appeared in three games, logging two carries for no gain.
Lebanon Valley lost last weekend’s season opener to Franklin & Marshall by a 16-12 score. Stats were not immediately available following the game.
The Dutchmen (0-1) return to the field on Saturday, when they travel to face Stevenson (1-0), a team coming off a 20-17 win over Rowan.
George Souders III, Graduate, Robert Morris
In a season opener where Robert Morris got pasted 42-7 by Air Force, Souders just may have been the Colonials most productive player on the field.
Souders, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound punter, got plenty of work against the Falcons. He logged six punts for an average of 44.3 yards per punt. Souders boomed a 51-yard punt, while landing three punts inside the 20-yard line.
Souders has had a long and fruitful career for Robert Morris. Coming into this season, he had appeared in 33 games and made 183 punts for an average of 38.2 yards. Souders landed 47 punts inside the 20, while registering 17 punts of 50-plus yards.
Robert Morris (0-1) returns home on Saturday to host Saint Francis (0-1), a team coming off a 35-17 loss to Western Michigan.
Xavier Rhyne, Junior, California (Pa.)
After appearing in two games over his first two seasons, Rhyne is eager to compete for more playing time this season.
Rhyne, a 6-foot, 285-pound defensive lineman, and the Vulcans are off to a late start this season after their first game against Alderson Broaddus was canceled.
California will now play its opener on Saturday at home against Kutztown.
Gunner Lesher, Junior, Juniata
Lesher is looking to once again be a meaningful contributor for Juniata after appearing in all 10 games last season.
Lesher, a 5-foot-9, 205-pound linebacker, registered 34 tackles last fall, including two tackles for loss and a sack.
He played in the Eagles opener, a 40-20 loss to Gettysburg, and recorded no stats.
Juniata (0-1) returns to the gridiron on Saturday for a home game against Alfred.
Golf
Dylan Byers, Sophomore, Shepherd
Byers, an Alvernia transfer, was inactive for Shepherd’s first competition of the season: The California Vulcan Invitational on Sept. 3-4.
The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Byers will be looking to compete for playing time this season while working on his Education Major.
Shepherd returns to action on Sept. 16-17 for the Cardinal Classic in Hagerstown, Md.
Brogan Beall, Senior, PSU Mont Alto
Beall, a 5-foot-9 mainstay in the Lions lineup, returns to Mont Alto after a successful junior season that saw him finish top two on the team in shots multiple times.
At last year’s PSUAC/USCAA Championships, Beall totaled 172 strokes in two days for a 58th-place finish. He completed his season as the Penn State Mont Alto John Fritz Sportsmanship Award winner.
Mont Alto opens its season on Thursday at the Penn State White Course for the PSUAC Invitational.
Cross Country
Cora Helman, Sophomore, Shenandoah
Helman, a 5-foot-3 runner for the Hornets, will be aiming to once again qualify for the postseason after doing so as a freshman last fall.
Helman, an Elementary Education Major, competed in the NCAA Division III South Region Championships last fall, placing 127th in the 6K race with a time of 29:39. Helman carries a collegiate PR of 26:04 in the 6K.
Helman was inactive for Shenandoah’s trip to the Salisbury Fall Classic last weekend. The Hornets return to competition on Sept. 23 for the Long Short Invitational at Dickinson.
Joel Weber, Sophomore, Pitt-Johnstown
After making a trip to the PSAC Championships in his freshman year, Weber is looking to do even more damage in his sophomore campaign.
Weber is coming off an initial college cross country season that saw him compete in five meets, culminating in November with the PSAC Championships, where he placed 140th in the 8K race with a time of 32:09. Weber has a collegiate 8K PR of 31:19.
He recently opened his season on Sept. 1 at the Saint Francis University Father Bede Invitational, placing 98th in the 6K race with a time of 25:21.
The Mountain Cats return to action on Saturday at the Bethany College Invitational.
Joey Jacobs, Freshman, Mount Saint Mary’s
Jacobs was inactive for Mount Saint Mary’s opening meet last weekend.
The Mount returns to competition on Saturday at Lebanon Valley College for the Dutchmen XC Invitational.
Field Hockey
Mia Brunet, Sophomore, Wilson
Brunet, a 5-foot-3 forward, is looking to earn more playing time for the Phoenix after playing in seven games, including one start, last fall.
She played in Wilson’s season opener, appearing as a substitute in the team’s 2-0 win over Sweet Briar on Saturday.
The Phoenix (1-0) were scheduled to play a road game at Juniata on Wednesday.
Olivia Dingzon, Freshman, Wilson
Dingzon, a 5-foot-4 defense player, was inactive for the team’s season opener against Sweet Briar on Saturday.
