They say that truth is stranger than fiction and that certainly seems to be the case for freshman True Benshoff and the Hagerstown Community College Hawks, who could not have scripted a better start to the season.
The Hawks have blown out all four of their opponents, and Waynesboro grad Benshoff has been the primary reason, with the forward exploding for 13 goals. She scored four goals in the first game of her college career and hasn’t looked back, since.
In College Corner this week, we’ll take a closer look at the exploits of Benshoff and 36 other former Waynesboro athletes who are playing sports at the next level. In the months to come, we will rotate College Corner coverage to Greencastle-Antrim and Chambersburg, before circling back to Waynesboro, once again.
Are we missing any athletes? Please send submissions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Soccer
True Benshoff, Freshman, Hagerstown CC
Benshoff has only competed in four games for Hagerstown, but she’s already totaled more goals than some players score in an entire career.
Benshoff, a 5-foot-7 forward, has made four starts for the Hawks, accumulating 13 goals and two assists. She recorded hat tricks in her first three games before she finally “cooled off” with just two goals in a 4-1 win over Frederick CC on Sept. 3.
Hagerstown (4-0), a team that’s outscoring opponents 29-1, returns to action on Saturday with a home game against Middlesex College.
Becca Cordell, Junior, Wilson College
Cordell has seen action in all three of Wilson’s games this fall, assisting the Phoenix to an unbeaten start.
A 5-foot-2 forward, Cordell has gotten 30 minutes of playing time so far this season, recording no stats over that span. She’s coming off a season where she appeared in 15 games and recorded four goals and an assist in 443 minutes on the field.
Wilson (2-0-1) will look to keep its undefeated streak alive on Saturday, when it plays host to Immaculata.
Madison Eberly, Junior, Pennsylvania State University Mont Alto
Eberly has started in all three games for Mont Alto.
Eberly, a 5-foot-6 defender/midfielder, has taken six shots this season.
The Lions (0-2-1) return to the field on Saturday, when they play host to Christendom.
Noel Myers, Sophomore, PSU Mont Alto
After appearing in 17 games last fall and scoring the first goal of her career, Myers is back for another season.
The 5-foot-2 midfielder/forward has started all three of Mont Alto’s games this fall.
Ben Steiger, Junior, Southern Virginia
After appearing in one game all of last season, Steiger has already seen the field twice in two games this fall.
Steiger, a center-back, has compiled 56 minutes of playing time this season and has taken one shot on goal.
Unbeaten Southern Virginia (2-0), which is outscoring opponents by a 20-0 margin, returns to action on Friday with a road game at Maryville.
Devin Wynkoop, Sophomore, PSU Mont Alto
Wynkoop, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound defender, has started in two of three games for the Mont Alto, a team seeking its first win.
Wynkoop has taken one shot for the Lions.
Mont Alto returns to the pitch on Saturday, when it hosts Manor.
Connor Geis, Senior, PSU Mont Alto
After starting in 17 games last fall, Geis is back to assist Mont Alto again this season.
Geis, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound defender, has started in all three games for the Lions this fall and has taken a shot.
Wesley Muller, Senior, PSU-Mont Alto
Muller, a 6-foot, 185-pound midfielder, has been a regular in the Lions lineup, appearing in all three games this fall.
He’s taken one shot this season.
Jonathan Wishard, Junior, PSU-Mont Alto
Wishard, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound midfielder, has appeared in one game this fall.
Bryson Shaull, Junior, Ithaca
Shaull, a 6-foot-5 goalkeeper, made his first start for Ithaca after transferring into the program from UMBC.
Shaull’s debut for the Bombers was a successful one, as he recorded one save and posted a clean sheet in a 5-0 win over Wilkes on Sept. 2.
Ithaca (1-1) returns to the pitch on Saturday, when it travels to face Alfred State.
Hayden Oldham, Senior, Elizabethtown
Oldham, a 5-foot-4 forward, is looking to be an impact player in his final season for Elizabethtown.
Oldham is coming off a 2023 season where he appeared in 17 games, recording three goals and an assist. He has appeared in one of two games for the Blue Jays this fall, recording no stats.
Elizabethtown (1-1) returns to the pitch on Saturday with a home game against Immaculata.
Gracie French, Freshman, Juniata
French is seeing playing time during her first season in the college arena.
French, a 5-foot-3 forward, has appeared in three games for Juniata and has taken a shot.
The Eagles (1-1-1) return to action on Saturday with a home game against Notre Dame (Md.).
Blake Emge, Junior, Pitt-Johnstown
Emge, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound forward, and the Mountain Cats are set to open their season this weekend.
Emge is a Waynesboro native who went to Shalom Christian.
Pitt-Johnstown kicks off its schedule on Saturday with a home game against Shepherd University.
Volleyball
Leslie Huckle, Senior, PSU Mont Alto
Fresh off leading PSU Mont Alto to a USCAA Division II National Championship last season, Huckle is back to compete for the Lions again this fall.
Huckle, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter, has appeared in all three matches for Mont Alto, totaling 22 kills, two assists, two service aces, 29 digs, five blocks, and 27 points. She most recently recorded 11 kills in a 3-0 victory over Lycoming College.
Huckle brings a wealth of experience to the Lions. Coming into this season, she had appeared in 87 matches over the course of her career with 704 points, 666 kills, 218 digs, 60 blocks, 17 assists, and one service ace.
Mont Alto (2-1) returns to the court on Saturday with a road match at Mount Aloysius.
Gracie Vaughn, Junior, PSU Mont Alto
Vaughn, a 6-foot-3 middle hitter, has been a force at the net for the Lions in the early going this season.
After three matches, Vaughn leads Mont Alto in points (40), kills (29), and blocks (15), while also recording one assist and four digs. She most recently competed in a 3-0 win over Lycoming College on Aug. 31, and posted a season-high 11 kills to go along with four blocks.
Kiera Mouer, Freshman, PSU Mont Alto
After competing for Mont Alto’s soccer team last season, Mouer is set to take the court for the Lions’ volleyball squad this fall.
Mouer, a 5-foot-5 defensive specialist, has appeared in two matches for Mont Alto.
Sophia Johnson, Senior, California (Pa.)
Johnson, a 6-foot-1 middle and right-side hitter, will be looking to wield her power at the net in her final season of college volleyball.
She’s coming off a season where she appeared in 17 matches, including 12 starts, and totaled 96.5 points, 79 kills, 31 blocks, 20 digs, three assists, and one service ace.
The Vulcans are set to open their season on Friday at the Millersville Marauder Clash.
Leah Helman, Senior, Lancaster Bible
With Helman leading the way, Lancaster Bible is off to a red-hot start this fall.
The 5-foot-7 defensive specialist has appeared in five matches, all wins, totaling 15 points, three kills, 17 assists, 12 aces, and a team-high 84 digs. She most recently appeared in a 3-0 win over Delaware Valley on Sept. 3, notching four assists, five service aces, and 17 digs.
Helman is coming off a 2023 season where she appeared in 28 of 29 matches and recorded 58 service aces, 539 digs, 12 kills, 70 points, and 86 assists.
The Chargers (5-0) return to action on Tuesday with a road game at PSU Brandywine.
Football
Ethan Saunders, Graduate, Delaware
With Saunders in the lineup, Delaware rolled to a 48-17 win over Bryant in its season opener on Aug. 29.
Saunders, a 6-foot, 250-pound defensive lineman, registered four tackles, including a half tackle for loss.
The Blue Hens (1-0) return to the field on Sept. 14, when they travel to face North Carolina A&T (0-1), a team coming off a 45-13 loss to Wake Forest.
Rhyan Day, Junior, Bridgewater College
Day, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back, and the Eagles are set to open their season this weekend.
Day is coming off a 2023 season that saw him appear in five games, recording two tackles and an interception.
Bridgewater kicks off its campaign on Friday, when it hits the road to face Susquehanna.
Drew Brizan, Junior, Moravian University
Offensive lineman Brizan and Moravian are set to kick off their season this weekend.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 240 pounds, Brizan is coming off a 2023 season that saw him appear in four games.
The Greyhounds open their schedule on Saturday with a home game against Muhlenberg College.
Louis Lindsay, Junior, The College of Wooster
After a fine season patrolling the secondary for Wooster, Lindsay is back to assist the Fighting Scots again this fall.
Lindsay, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back, is coming off a season where he played in all 10 games and totaled 35 tackles, including two tackles for loss, to go along with a team-best seven pass breakups.
Wooster is set to kick off its season on Saturday with a home game against Wilmington.
Xavier Rhyne, Senior, Clarion
Rhyne, a 6-foot, 285-pound defensive lineman, was inactive for his team’s first game, a 36-7 win over Millersville on Aug. 29
Rhyne is coming off a 2023 season that saw him appear in two games.
The Eagles (1-0) return to action on Thursday with a home game against Lincoln.
Gunner Lesher, Senior, Juniata
With a wealth of college experience under his belt, Lesher is ready to lead the Eagles in his final season on the gridiron.
Over the course of his career Lesher, a 5-foot-10, 203-pound linebacker, has appeared in 23 games, totaling 52 tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack.
Juniata is set to open its season on Saturday with a home game against Gettysburg.
Scott Campbell, Sophomore, Chestnut Hill
Campbell and Chestnut Hill are eager to play another season after the Griffins posted a 2-5 record in their first year of sprint football last fall.
The 6-foot Campbell appeared in four games last season, totaling 11 tackles.
Chestnut Hill is scheduled to open its season on Sept. 20, with a home game against Caldwell University.
Golf
Devin Smith, Senior, Mount Saint Mary’s
After competing in nine tournaments last season, Smith is ready to give the Mount another big effort this fall.
Smith averaged a 73.18 last season through 22 rounds of golf.
Mount Saint Mary’s is set to kick off its season on Sept. 21-22 at the Temple Invitational.
Linkoln Gundacker, Freshman, Geneva
Gundacker did not factor into the scoring for the Golden Tornadoes in their season opener at the Geneva Invitational on Sept. 3.
The Golden Tornadoes return to the golf course on Tuesday, when they travel to compete at the Bethany Invitational in Wheeling, W.Va.
Cross Country
Cora Helman, Junior, Shenandoah
Helman began her season by running for a 4K time of 19:01 at the Eagle Cross Country Challenge at Bridgewater College.
Helman, who earned 38th place for her finish, competed in four meets last season. She owns career PRs in the 3K (12:03), 4K (18:05), and 6K (26:04).
Shenandoah returns to competition on Friday at the Galen Piper Challenge, hosted by Shippenbsurg University.
Joel Weber, Junior, Pitt-Johnstown
Weber and Pitt-Johnstown are set to begin the season this weekend.
Weber appeared in four meets last fall and owns a collegiate 8K PR of 31:11.
The Mountain Cats will hit the road on Saturday for the Dutchman Invitational at Lebanon Valley College.
Joey Jacobs, Sophomore, Mount Saint Mary’s
Jacobs was inactive for the Mount Saint Mary’s 5K Duals on Aug. 30.
Jacobs is coming off a 2023 season where he competed in three meets and established a college 8K PR of 29:31.
The Mount returns to competition on Saturday at the Dutchman Invitational, hosted by Lebanon Valley College.
Isabella Reufle, Freshman, Millersville
Reufle began her collegiate career by running a 3K time of 13:27 at the Millersville Alumni Run on Aug. 30.
The fast finish earned her 20th place.
The Marauders return to competition on Saturday at the Navy Cantello Invitational, held in Annapolis, Md.
Noah Bockstie, Freshman, Hagerstown CC
Bockstie is ready to begin his collegiate career on Friday, when the Hawks travel to Shippensburg University for the Galen Piper Challenge.
Will Campbell, Freshman, Hagerstown CC
Campbell will be looking to make his mark on Hagerstown in his first season of college cross country.
Field Hockey
Mia Brunet, Junior, Wilson
Brunet, a 5-foot-3 forward, has appeared in one of two games for Wilson.
She has seen 33 minutes of playing time this fall. Brunet is coming off a 2023 season that saw her compete in 15 games and record a goal.
The Phoenix (1-1) return to action on Saturday with a home game against Oberlin College.
Olivia Dingzon, Sophomore, Wilson
Dingzon, a 5-foot-4 defensive player, has seen four minutes of action for the Phoenix this season.
Mackenzie Monn, Freshman, Wilson
Monn, a 5-foot-2 defensive player, has gotten two minutes of playing time so far this fall.
Hunt Seat
Leyna Ribner, Sophomore, Wilson
Ribner, a limit specialist, and the Phoenix are set to open the season on Oct. 12-13 at Penn State.
