It’s no secret that Chambersburg possesses one of the most stable track and field programs in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Even in the Pennsylvania winter, a season where indoor track is designated as a club sport, the Trojans can be found in large numbers honing their craft on the invitational scene. With more than 40 athletes listed on this season’s roster, including several standouts from Chambersburg’s cross country squad, the Trojans could be in for yet another productive campaign.
While Chambersburg looks to reload, several other squads in the Local.News1 coverage area are dealing with heavy graduation losses, most notably Smithsburg, which has lost the majority of its team that finished second in the state last winter.
In our girls indoor track and field previews, we’ll take a closer look at the Trojans and Leopards, while also shining the spotlight on our other area teams.
Stay with Local.News1 in the days to come as we continue to preview the winter sports season.
Below are team-by-team previews for the six indoor girls track teams in the Local.News1 coverage area:
Waynesboro Maidens
Coach: Jennifer Atkinson
Top projected returners: Braelyn Thompson (Jr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Ella Swart (Sr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Maddie Ruefle (Sr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Katie Behnke (Jr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Morgan Price (Sr., Mid-Distance/Distance)
Meet the Maidens: With the graduation of star jumper Jaeda Dockman, now competing for the University of California (Pa.), Waynesboro will be exclusively a running team this winter … Maddie Ruefle and Ella Swart are back for indoor track this winter after qualifying for districts in cross country this fall … Ruefle took 109th at districts in 21:13, while Swart claimed 158th in 22:09 … Braelyn Thompson, who competed in the Mid-Penn cross country meet, also returns for the Maidens … Katie Behnke is projected to return for Waynesboro, while Morgan Price, a mainstay on the outdoor squad, has signed on for the indoor team this winter.
Opener: Friday, Dec. 12, at Ray Shriver Invitational
Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Rich Secrest
Top projected returners: Tiegan Thompson (So., Sprints/Jumps), Alyssa Fowler (So., Sprints), Sophia Denlinger (Jr., Distance), Shalini Maharaj (Jr., Distance), Kadence Abbott (Sr., Hurdles), Aqueelah Hodge (Sr., Hurdles), Ada Oberholzer (Sr., Hurdles), Bailey Hurley (Sr., Throws)
Meet the Blue Devils: Greencastle’s roster will look much different this season with the graduation of a talented senior class that included Jaylynn Schmuck, a PIAA qualifier in the triple jump last spring … Graduation hit the Blue Devils especially hard in the sprints not only with the loss of Schmuck, the team’s fastest sprinter, but also Anna Sullivan, Sophie Bitner, Emily Angelini, and Hailey Baker … Tiegan Thompson is Greencastle’s top returning sprinter, with Alyssa Fowler also projected to come back for the Blue Devils … Sophia Denlinger and Monica Schemel had quality seasons for Greencastle’s cross country squad, and should give the Blue Devils a boost in the distance events … Bailey Hurley is a PIAA-caliber thrower who should compete well on the invitational scene, while Kadence Abbott and Aqueelah Hodge could be in for breakout seasons in the hurdles … Emily Forrester, a distance runner for the outdoor track squad, is set to give indoors a try this winter.
Opener: Friday, Dec. 12, at Ray Shriver Invitational
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Chris Monheim
Top projected returners: Addyson Brubaker (So., Sprints), Jaxin Frazer (Sr., Sprints/Jumps), Niamah Collins (Jr., Sprints), Noema Ayala (Jr., Sprints), Trinity Martinez (Jr., Sprints), Adrianna Bonnick (Jr., Sprints), Adalyn Lawson (So., Sprints), Elliot Coy (Jr., Sprints), Maggie Holtry (Jr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Mikaela Sistrunk (Jr., Sprints/Jumps), Moriah Collins (Jr., Sprints), Mary Portmann (Sr., Sprints/Jumps), Olivia Coy (Sr., Mid-Distance/Distance/Jumps), Kattarina Small (So., Mid-Distance/Jumps), Natalie Quinn (Jr., Distance), Mady Koons (Sr., Distance), Kaylie Savage (So., Distance), Kylie Savage (So., Distance), Annamarie West (Jr., Distance), Marlee Jackson (Sr., Hurdles), Sienna Scott (Sr., Jumps), Natalie Stake (So., Jumps).
Meet the Trojans: Chambersburg is not only be well-stocked with top-shelf talent, the team also has depth for days with a roster that includes more than 40 athletes … Sienna Scott, a jumper, is set to return for the Trojans after qualifying for the PTFCA State Championships last winter … Addyson Brubaker quickly rose to become Chambersburg’s top sprinter as a freshman last season, and is projected to serve as the headliner for a deep stable of speedsters that includes Jaxin Frazer and Niamah Collins … The Trojans should be loaded in the distance events as they possess a group that just missed qualifying as a team for the PIAA 3A Cross Country Championships … Leading those cross country runners is Natalie Quinn, a junior who was a district medalist and PIAA qualifier … Mady Koons chose soccer over cross country in the fall, but it appears she will be rejoining her running mates for track season … Chambersburg is projected to return Olivia Coy, who was the Trojans top performer in both the long jump and triple jump … Marlee Jackson gives Chambersburg a threat in the hurdles, but it remains to be seen whether the Trojans have a replacement for graduated pole vaulter Alaina Morris.
Opener: TBA
North Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Jon Witmer
Region: Class 3A West
Top projected returners: Annabelle Schaberl (Sr., Sprints/Jumps), Dayanah Brunson (So., Sprints), Adyson Pilgrim (Sr., Sprints), Harmony Griffith (So., Sprints), Binta Macalou (So., Sprints), Zadeara Johnson (Jr., Sprints), Meilyn Twyman (Jr., Sprints/Mid-Distance), Anna Chamberlin (Sr., Mid-Distance/Jumps), Mia Johnson (So., Mid-Distance), Brianna Matthews (Sr., Mid-Distance), Jacquelin Wilson (Sr., Mid-Distance), Anna Ramanan (So., Mid-Distance/Distance), Sadie Morton (Jr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Ana Alesson Fernandez (Sr., Distance), Karmeryn Burrill (Sr., Throws), Laila Faire Williams (Sr., Jumps), Reggan Chapin (Jr., Pole Vault), Lena Cassesa (So., Pole Vault).
Meet the Hubs: North Hagerstown’s track program moves on to life without Lauren Stine and Rian Johnson, two Division I runners now at Penn State and Temple, respectively … Stine was the state and region champion in the 3,200, while Johnson posted state podium finishes in both the 800 and 1,600 … The Hubs bring back one state medalist in Anna Chamberlin, who finished fourth in the high jump last winter … Sprinter Annabelle Schaberl is expected to return for her senior season after placing eighth in the region in the 55 last winter … Schaberl is joined by two other regional qualifiers in Anna Ramanan (3,200) and Reggan Chapin (pole vault) … North will be aiming to build upon its team success from last year, a season that saw the Hubs take second in the Washington County meet, sixth in the CMC, fifth in the region, and seventh at states.
Opener: Friday, Dec. 5, at HCC Terry Baker Invitational
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Nissa Freeman
Division: Class 4A West
Top projected returners: Trinity Savage (Jr., Sprints/Jumps), Wynter Cephus (Jr., Sprints), Ajayah Alexander (Sr., Sprints), Reilly Foley (Jr., Sprints/Mid-Distance), Allison Cruz Almaraz (Jr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Da Miah Donerson (Jr., Mid-Distance), Joselyn Blake (Jr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Marie Carole Kadjemse (So., Mid-Distance), Jessica Garcon (Jr., Mid-Distance), Kiersten Blake (So., Mid-Distance), Aniyah Lubin (So., Mid-Distance), Jupiter Schellhase (Sr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Michaela Kadjemse (Sr., Throws), Devin Jones (So., Throws), Kelechi Akanu Ujah (So., Throws)
Meet the Rebels: South Hagerstown had one group — the 4×200 relay squad of Ajayah Alexander, Reilly Foley, Wynter Cephus, and Trinity Savage — qualify for states last winter, and all four members are expected to return this winter … Savage and Cephus were two of the area’s top sprinters last season, finishing 6-7 in the 55 at the region meet … The aforementioned 4×200 also earned a region medal after a sixth-place finish … The Rebels bring back one other region qualifier in thrower Michaela Kadjemse, who competes in the shot put … South Hagerstown will have to fill lineup holes left by graduation of distance ace Gracie Butts and shot put region qualifier Tochi Akanu Ujah … The Rebels will be angling to improve upon its 2024 team finishes at the Washington County meet (4th), CMCs (8th), region meet (13th), and states (DNP).
Opener: Friday, Dec. 5, at HCC Terry Baker Invitational
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Stacey Crawford
Region: Class 1A West
Top projected returners: Melyssa Bard (Jr., Sprints), Acasia Todd (So., Sprints), Krystal Gaston (So., Sprints), Andrea Fouedjou (So., Sprints), Lilian Hade (Jr., Pole Vault/Sprints), Ava Heiston (Sr., Sprints), Adalynne Shifler (Jr., Mid-Distance), Kaitlyn Masemore (So., Mid-Distance), Grace Aaron (So., Mid-Distance/Hurdles), Maru Weidmyer (Jr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Jazmina Demar (Sr., Hurdles), Rebekah Hutzell (So., Hurdles), Julissa Sickle (So., Throws), Emilia Spithaler (Jr., Jumps), Emmaleigh Mentzer (Jr., Pole Vault), Hannah Donnally (Jr., Pole Vault)
Meet the Leopards: Last winter proved to be a banner season for Smithsburg’s indoor squad, which captured Washington County, CMC, and region team championships on its way to a runner-up finish at states … The Leopards, however, have graduated quite a bit of talent from that team … The four runners who teamed up to win a 4×800 championship at Adidas Nationals — Grace Ellis, Cora Gentzel, Ella Fisher, and Kayla Hawbecker — have all graduated … Hawbecker earned three individual state medals, Gentzel claimed two, with Ellis and Fisher each landing one MPSSAA medal … Jenna Howe, a double state medalist in the 300 and 500, has also graduated, as has Alexandria Spithaler, a fifth-place finisher in the state pole vault … Throw in three other state qualifiers lost to graduation, and it’s easy to see why Smithsburg could be facing a rebuilding season … The Leopards will build around two returning state medalists: Lilian Hade and Melyssa Bard … Hade took third place in the pole vault at states and was a region runner-up in the same event … Bard is the only returning member of the Smithsburg 4×200 relay that took eighth at states. She is a returning regional medalist in both the 55 and 300 … Emilia Spithaler, a fifth-place region finisher in the high jump, will be gunning for a return trip to states this season … Smithsburg is projected to return four other region qualifiers in Acasia Todd (55), Adalynne Shiffler (500), Grace Aaron (55 hurdles), and Emmaleigh Mentzer (pole vault).
Opener: Friday, Dec. 5, at HCC Terry Baker Invitational
