It’s hard to imagine a world where a “Blue Devil” could make such a big impact on the North Carolina Tar Heels, but Taryn Parks has found a way.
Parks – a former standout distance runner for the Blue Devils of Greencastle-Antrim, not Duke – concluded a brilliant career for North Carolina’s indoor track and field squad earlier this month.
She accomplished something in the sport that most of her peers could only ever dream of: Earning All-ACC honors in the mile for four consecutive seasons. Parks clinched the honor by nailing down a fifth-place finish in the mile at the ACC Indoor Championships. She’s finished on the awards stand in all four of her seasons wearing the powder blue and white, a run which includes first-place finishes in 2022 and 2023.
In College Corner this week, we’ll take a closer look at the exploits of Parks and other ex-Blue Devils at the college level.
In the months to come, College Corner will rotate coverage to Chambersburg and Waynesboro, before circling back to Greencastle-Antrim, once again.
Are we missing any athletes? Please send submissions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Indoor/outdoor track
Taryn Parks, graduate, North Carolina
Parks concluded a superb four-year career for North Carolina’s indoor track squad by nailing down All-ACC honors in the mile for the fourth-straight season.
Competing at the ACC Indoor Championships on March 1-3, Parks surged to a fifth-place finish in the mile with a time of 4:36.88. She also guided the Tar Heels’ distance medley relay squad to fifth place in 10:58.11.
Parks’ efforts in the mile earned her a spot on the All-ACC Second Team for the second year in a row, after placing seventh in 4:41.75 last season. Parks won the indoor championship in both 2022 (4:36.41) and 2023 (4:39.36).
She wrapped up postseason competition on March 14 at the NCAA Division I Championships, leading her distance medley relay squad to a ninth-place finish in 11:02.57.
Parks will take a moment to recharge the batteries before returning for the outdoor season, which resumes on Friday, April 4, with the VertKlasse Invitational.
Piper Linn, freshman, Connecticut
Linn, a pole vault specialist, is coming off a busy indoor season that saw her compete in eight invitationals and log six Top 10 finishes.
Her best performance came at the best time: The Big East Indoor Championships on Feb. 28-March 1. It was there that she vaulted for a PR height of 12-5.5 to finish as the conference runner-up.
Linn kicked off her outdoor season on March 22, vaulting for an 11-1.75 to take 15th at the Yellow Jacket Invitational.
Connecticut returns to action on Saturday, April 5, when it hosts the Dog Fight Invite.
Claire Paci, freshman, Connecticut
Paci is set for outdoor season after competing in three meets during indoors.
Competing at the Penn 10 Elite on Jan. 25, Paci clocked a 4:59.11 in the mile to secure 21st place. She followed up by competing in the 3,000 on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic. Paci finished the race in 9:48.60 to take 77th place.
Paci capped off her indoor season at the Big East Indoor Championships on Feb. 28-March 1. There, she ran the mile in 5:07.94 for 19th place.
Conner Wright, freshman, Mount Saint Mary’s
Wright, a javelin thrower, recently unleashed the biggest throw of his young college career.
Competing at the Navy Outdoor Invitational on March 29, Wright uncorked a throw of 161-6 to land fourth place. It was Wright’s second collegiate meet, with his first coming at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational on March 22-23, an invite that saw him pop a 157-0 for 16th place.
Mount Saint Mary’s returns to action on Friday, April 4, when it travels to High Point, N.C., for the Vertklasse Invitational.
Timothy Ehko, junior, Geneva
Ehko, a javelin thrower who also competes on Geneva’s golf squad, has competed in three invitationals this spring.
His best performance came on March 21-22 at the Marty Pushkin Invitational, when he exploded for a PR throw of 161-2 for fourth place. It was the highest placement of his career.
The Golden Tornadoes return to competition on Friday, April 4, when they travel to Slippery Rock for the Dave Labor Invitational.
Katherine Board, freshman, Moravian
Board, a distance specialist, concluded her indoor season with a PR at the Landmark Conference Championships, before crushing that PR less than a month later to kick off the outdoor campaign.
The conference meet, held on March 1, saw Board complete the 5,000 in 20:15.23 to earn 12th place. She shaved nearly 45 seconds off that 5,000 time on March 28-29, when she posted a 19:31.38 for 33rd place at the Danny Curran Invite.
Moravian returns to competition on Friday, April 4, when it travels to take on the Muhlenberg College Invitational.
Seth Stouffer, sophomore, Indiana (Pa.)
After capping off his indoor season at the PSAC Championships, Stouffer opened his outdoor campaign with competition at two invitationals.
The indoor conference championships, held on March 1-2, saw Stouffer guide Indiana’s 4×400 squad to an 11th-place finish in 3:36.21.
He was back on the relay grind on March 22 at the IUP Ed Fry Invitational, leading his 4×100 team to a fifth-place finish in 44.38. Stouffer most recently competed on March 28-29 at the Carnegie Mellon Invitational. There, he took 20th in 100 (11.35) and 32nd in the 200 (22.97).
The Crimson Hawks travel to Bucknell University on April 11 for the Bison Outdoor Classic.
Ashton Botzan, sophomore, Indiana (Pa.)
Botzan, a pole vaulter, has taken on two invitationals this spring.
He kicked off his season by logging a podium finish at the IUP Ed Fry Invitational on March 22. There, Botzan placed third in the pole vault with a height of 12-3.5.
He added more than a foot to that mark on March 28-29 at the Carnegie Mellon Invitational, landing 13th place with a leap of 13-4.5.
Hayden Parks, freshman, Buffalo
After wrapping up his first indoor season with PRs in the mile (4:25.70) and 3,000 (8:56.53), Parks is off to a fast start this spring with another PR.
Competing in the 1,500 at the Richmond Fred Hardy Invitational on March 20-21, Parks blasted off for a 15th-place finish in 4:06.94.
Buffalo returns to the track on Saturday, April 5, for the Geneseo Spring Opener.
Aidan Horan, sophomore, West Liberty
Horan has twice competed in the shot put this spring.
He kicked off his outdoor season on March 21-22 at the Marty Pushkin Invitational, finishing 22nd in the shot put with a throw of 35-5.75.
Horan was back in action a week later at the West Liberty Tim Weaver Invitational. There, he posted a 36-1.5 in the shot put to take 30th.
The Hilltoppers return to competition on Friday, April 5, for a meet at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Shavari Maharaj, sophomore, Hofstra
Maharaj, a distance specialist for Hofstra, recently opened her outdoor season in a meet against LIU on March 28.
Competing in the 1,500, Maharaj finished sixth in 5:54.20.
She warmed up for the season with a PR in the mile (6:11.09) at the Fastrack National Invite on Feb. 7.
Hofstra will jet out to the West Coast for the Stanford Invitational on Friday, April 4.
Weber Long, junior, Wake Forest
Long opened his outdoor season on March 27-29 at the Raleigh Relays. He was a DNF in the 10,000.
Long last competed on Feb. 1-2, finishing 24th in the mile in 4:14.51 at the Gamecock Challenge.
Wake Forest returns to competition on Friday, April 4, when it travels to High Point, N.C., for the VertKlasse Invitational.
Isaac Boyer, freshman, Delaware Valley
Boyer recently began his outdoor season after wrapping up his indoor campaign with PRs in the 800 (2:38.75), 3,000 (11:23.60), mile (5:29.80), and 1,500 (4:58.64).
Taking on the 5,000 at the Danny Curran Invite on March 28-29, Boyer clocked a 17:50.30 for 107th place.
Delaware Valley will hit the road for Ursinus on Friday, April 4, for the UC Track and Field Carnival.
Kyle Baker, R-freshman, Shippensburg
Baker, a distance specialist, has been inactive so far this spring.
He last competed on Jan. 25 at the Gulden Invitational. There, he registered a PR time of 9:17.05 in the 3,000 to take 12th place.
Shippensburg will send athletes to two invitationals on Friday, April 4: The William & Mary Colonial Relays and the Millersville Metrics.
Claire Coons, junior, Millersville
Coons, a sprinter, has been inactive for Millersville since the end of last spring.
The Marauders return to competition on Friday, April 4, when they host the Millersville Metrics.
Baseball
Caiden Smith, senior, PSU Mont Alto
Smith is off to a brilliant start at the plate for Mont Alto this spring.
Smith, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound utility player, has appeared in 19 games and is batting .417 (25 for 60) with seven doubles, a home run, 22 runs, 13 RBI, and a stolen base.
He most recently took the field on March 29, going 1 for 4 with a double, run, and walk in a 12-8 over PSU York.
The Lions (11-12, 3-1 PSUAC) is scheduled to host PSU Hazleton for a doubleheader on Friday, April 4.
Lance Overcash, freshman, PSU Mont Alto
Overcash, a Greencastle native who went to Global Vision Christian, has appeared in four games this season and is 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA.
In 10 2/3 innings of work, the 5-foot-6, 160-pound right-hander has allowed 10 earned runs on 14 hits and eight walks, while striking out six batters. Overcash most recently took the mound on March 29, pitching two innings and allowing five earned runs with two strikeouts in a 12-8 win over PSU York.
Adam Horst, sophomore, Frederick CC
Horst, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound right-handed pitcher, is having a dominant season as Frederick’s closer.
He’s appeared in nine games this season and is 1-0 with three saves and a 0.96 ERA. In 18 2/3 innings of work, Horst has allowed just two earned runs on nine hits and seven walks, while striking out a team-high 23 batters.
Horst is coming off back-to-back scoreless outings. He most recently took the mound on March 29, pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts to earn the save in a 12-2 victory over CCBC Catonsville.
The Cougars (24-4, 13-3 MD JUCO) return to the diamond on Tuesday, April 1, when they host Hagerstown CC for a doubleheader.
Riley Bohrer, freshman, Frederick CC
Bohrer has made one appearance for Frederick this season.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed pitcher took the mound on Feb. 26, allowing two earned runs in one inning in his team’s 16-8 victory over Canada Post Grad.
Carter Reid, sophomore, Messiah
Reid, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound catcher/infielder, has made the most of limited at-bats this spring.
Reid has appeared in 10 of 23 games, including two starts, and is batting .357 (5 for 14) with two home runs, five runs, five RBI, and two stolen bases, to go along with a perfect fielding percentage.
He most recently took the field on March 29, going 2 for 3 with a run and two RBI in a 17-1 victory over Stevenson.
The Falcons (14-9, 9-0 MAC Commonwealth) are set to take the field on Tuesday, April 1, for a road game at Lebanon Valley College.
Jace Szaflarski, sophomore, Lock Haven
Szaflarski has shown marked improvement on the mound this spring after a 2024 season which saw him post a 5.51 ERA.
Szaflarski, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound right-handed pitcher, has made seven appearances this season and is 0-1 with a 1.86 ERA. He’s allowed two earned runs on six hits and five walks, while striking out 11.
He most recently pitched on March 28, working two scoreless innings with a strikeout in a 1-0 win over Seton Hill.
The Bald Eagles (12-15, 2-5 PSAC) are scheduled to host Indiana (Pa.) for a doubleheader on Friday, April 4.
Aidan Grudzinski, sophomore, Hagerstown CC
Grudzinski, a 6-foot, 170-pound outfielder, has competed in 22 of 29 games for Hagerstown this spring.
He is batting .235 (16 for 68) with three doubles, two home runs, nine runs, 13 RBI, and six stolen bases. Grudzinski most recently recorded a hit on March 30, when he was 1 for 2 with a run in a 13-3 loss to Harford CC.
The Hawks (23-6, 9-5 MD JUCO) return to the field on Tuesday, April 1, for a doubleheader at Frederick CC.
Briggs Remenick, freshman, Hagerstown CC
Remenick has been an active player in his first season of college baseball.
Remenick, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound infield player, is batting .227 (5 for 22) with a double, two RBI, and five stolen bases, to go along with an .864 fielding percentage.
Remenick most recently connected for a base hit on March 30, when he went 1 for 1 with a double and an RBI in a 16-6 loss to Harford CC.
Andrew Kerns, freshman, Hagerstown CC
Kerns ranks No. 4 on Hagerstown’s pitching staff in innings this seasons.
Kerns, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-hander, has made six appearances this spring and is 2-1 with a 6.27 ERA. In 18 2/3 innings of work he’s allowed 13 earned runs on eight hits and 22 walks, to go along with 18 strikeouts.
Kerns, a Greencastle native who went to St. Maria Goretti, recently suffered his first loss of the season, posting two strikeouts in a 15-12 loss to Cecil College on March 27.
Connor Rohm, junior, Juniata
Rohm has pitched in seven games this season, including one start, and is 1-0 with a 9.64 ERA.
Rohm, a 5-foot-10 right-hander, has worked 18 2/3 innings and has allowed 20 earned runs on 32 hits and seven walks, to go along with seven strikeouts.
He most recently took the mound on March 29, striking out three batters in one inning in a 17-13 victory over Moravian.
The Eagles (7-14, 2-9 Landmark Conference) return to the diamond on Tuesday, April 1, for a road game at Lycoming.
Ethan Ford, freshman, Shepherd
Ford, a transfer from Limestone University, has seen the field in multiple roles for the Rams.
Listed as a 6-foot-1, 170-pound catcher, Ford has appeared in seven games and is 0 for 2 at the plate. His bigger impact has come as a relief pitcher, a position that has seen him rack up four scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
Shepherd (14-4, 2-6 PSAC) hosts Kutztown for a doubleheader on Friday, April 4.
Landon Huth, freshman, Seton Hill
Huth, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed pitcher, has been inactive through 25 games for Seton Hill.
The Griffins (20-5, 6-2 PSAC) return to the field on Tuesday, April 1, for a home game against Point Park University.
Chase Cassera, freshman, Chesapeake
Cassera, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound infield player, has been inactive through 28 games for Chesapeake.
The Skipjacks (20-8, 15-3 MD JUCO) return to the diamond on Wednesday, April 2, to host a home doubleheader with CC of Allegheny.
Softball
Alexis Jones, freshman, Hagerstown CC
Jones has seen regular action as a catcher for Hagerstown.
She’s appeared in 16 games this spring and is batting .229 (8 for 35) with three doubles, one home run, eight runs, and three RBI. Defensively, Jones is sporting a .957 fielding percentage.
Jones recently clubbed the first home run of her career. Competing in a 16-6 loss to Howard CC on March 22, she went 2 for 2 with a homer and two runs scored.
The Hawks (4-14, 1-5 MD JUCO) return to the field on Wednesday, April 2, for a road game at Montgomery College (Md.).
Brooke Buhrman, freshman, Hagerstown CC
Buhrman, an outfielder from Greencastle who attended Boyd J. Michael III Technical, has been brilliant for the Hawks this spring.
She’s played in all 18 games for Hagerstown and leads her team in batting average (.438), hits (21), doubles (5), triples (3), home runs (3), and runs (15), while ranking No. 2 on the Hawks with 18 RBI. Buhrman also has a fielding percentage of .861.
Her biggest effort of the season came on March 18, when she went 3 for 4 with a double, triple, home run, two runs, and five RBI in a 17-16 victory over Corning CC.
Makayla Jerin, freshman, California (Pa.)
Jerin, a 5-foot-8 infield player, has been a consistent performer for California in her first season of college softball.
She’s played in 25 games, including 21 starts, and is batting .333 (23 for 69) with five doubles, four runs, and 10 RBI, to go along with a .902 fielding percentage.
Jerin has been heating up with hits in four of her last five games. Over that span she batted .471 (8 for 17) with two runs and two RBI.
The Vulcans (5-23, 2-6 PSAC) return to action on Tuesday, April 1, when they host Clarion for a doubleheader.
Sydney Orndorff, sophomore, Rhode Island
Orndorff, a transfer from Saint Peter’s, has played in 17 of 26 games this season, including 13 starts.
Orndorff, an outfielder/catcher, is batting .219 (7 for 32) with three runs and four RBI. She most recently recorded a hit on March 25 in a 5-4 win over Providence.
The Rams (7-19, 2-7 A10) return to action on Wednesday, April 2, with a road game at Bryant.
Abigail Cunningham, junior, Penn State Mont Alto
Cunningham, a 5-foot-5 utility player, has had a productive season for the Lions.
She’s appeared in 13 games and is batting .314 (11 for 35) with two triples, nine runs, two RBI, and three stolen bases. Defensively, Cunningham has played error-free ball thus far.
Cunningham has had four multi-hit games this season, with the most recent one coming on March 25, when she went 2 for 5 with two runs in a 15-10 win over CCBC Catonsville.
Mont Alto (9-7) returns to the field on Tuesday, April 1, for a home game against PSU Scranton.
Abby Stouffer, sophomore, Grove City
Stouffer has seen action in 14 of 19 games this season, including three starts.
Stouffer, a 5-foot-1 infield player, is batting .111 (1 for 9) with nine runs, one triple, one RBI, and one stolen base.
She most recently connected for a hit on March 7, when she went 1 for 1 with a triple, two runs, and an RBI in an 18-1 win over Valley Forge.
The Wolverines (15-4, 6-0 PAC) return to competition on Tuesday, April 1, when they travel to Allegheny for a doubleheader.
Golf
Timothy Ehko, senior, Geneva
Ehko has seen action in both of Geneva’s meets this season.
The Golden Tornadoes opened their spring with a home match on March 24. Ehko finished ninth overall after posting an 11-over 82.
Ehko then lowered that score to an 80 to earn 30th place at the Grove City MBA Invitational on March 27.
Geneva is set to host its next match on Monday, March 31.
Sydney Barnes, sophomore, Millersville
Barnes has been inactive for Millersville over the first two invites of the spring.
She’s coming off a fall season that saw her compete in three events.
The Marauders return to competition on Monday, March 31, for the Alvernia Invitational.
Cooper Swam, freshman, York College
Swam has been inactive for York through two invites this spring.
The Spartans return to the golf course on Friday, April 4, when they take on the Camp LeJeune Intercollegiate Championship.
Wrestling
Aurelius Dunbar, senior, Penn State
Dunbar, a reserve 165-pounder for Penn State, finishes his final season with a 3-2 record and two major decisions.
The Nittany Lions wrestled to a 15-0 mark this winter, including an 8-0 record in the B1G.
Basketball
Thomas Lewis, senior, Goucher
Lewis, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound guard, made his first start of the year in Goucher’s season finale on Feb. 22.
Lewis saw 23 minutes of action in that game, an 85-68 loss to Wilkes, and recorded three rebounds. He finishes his season with appearances in 14 games and in 97 minutes of playing time he totaled 21 points, including five 3-pointers, to go along with 10 rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
Lewis appeared in 68 games and recorded 79 points over his four-year career with the Gophers.
Goucher wraps up its season at 4-21 (3-15 Landmark Conference).
McKenna Rife, senior, Marist
Marist rewarded Rife, a Greencastle native who went to St. Maria Goretti, for her contributions to the program by giving her the first start of her career.
Rife, a 6-foot-3 forward, made the start on March 8, taking five shots in a 61-50 loss to Mount Saint Mary’s.
She finishes her career with appearances in 24 games, and in 63 minutes of playing time she totaled 10 points, 12 rebounds, and one block.
The Red Foxes end their season at 16-15 (11-9 MAAC).
Eli Sterling, freshman, PSU Altoona
Sterling, a 6-foot-3 forward, appeared in nine of 28 games in his first season of college basketball.
In 33 minutes of playing time he totaled 22 points, which includes one 3-pointer, to go along with eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
Sterling had his biggest game of the season on Feb. 16, when he recorded eight points and three rebounds in a 105-78 win over Carlow.
The Lions end their season at 18-10 (12-4 AMCC).
Surzano Solomon, freshman, PSU Berks
Solomon got a fair share of playing time in his first college campaign.
A 6-foot-1 guard, Solomon appeared in 19 games this winter and 184 minutes on the floor, he totaled 25 points (1.3 ppg), including one 3-pointer, to go along with 29 rebounds (1.5 rpg), 20 assists, seven steals, and one block.
Solomon most recently cracked the scoring column on Feb. 11, when he posted four points and a block in a 96-73 win over Saint Elizabeth.
Maddie Goodhart, freshman, NYU
Goodhart, a Greencastle native who went to Mercersburg Academy, had a front row seat for NYU’s undefeated run to an NCAA Division III national championship.
The Violets were crowned champs after topping Smith College by a 77-49 score in the title game on March 22.
Goodhart, a 6-foot-1 forward, appeared in four games this season and in 10 minutes of playing time she totaled two points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block.
She most recently took the floor on Feb. 7, posting one rebound and one assist in an 80-58 win over UChicago.
NYU wraps up its season at 31-0 (14-0 UAA).
Swimming
Kortny Green, junior, Elizabethtown
Green, a Greencastle native who went to James Buchanan, wrapped up her season by competing in the Landmark Conference Championships on Feb. 13-16.
At that meet, she logged 13th-place finishes in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.13) and 200 breaststroke (2:40.25), while also finishing 17th in the 200 IM with a time of 2:24.99.
She warmed up for the conference championships by competing in four dual meets, winning an event along the way. Swimming in her team’s 162-85 loss to Washington (Md.) on Jan. 18, Green blasted off to victory in the 100 breaststroke in 1:13.09.
The Blue Jays conclude their season at 6-5 (4-2 Landmark).
Dylan Hervieux, senior, Marywood
Hervieux was inactive for Marywood this season.
Last winter he was a Second Team All-AEC swimmer in the 100 and 200 backstroke.
The Pacers wrap up their season at 3-9 (1-3 Atlantic East).
Hunt seat
Madison Shanholtz, sophomore, Wilson
Shaholtz, a Pre-Novice rider for the Phoenix, has been inactive this spring.
Wilson returns to competition Saturday, April 5, when it takes on IHSA Zones.
Equestrian
Kaylee Papa, sophomore, Emory & Henry College
Papa, an IHSA competitor for the Wasps, has been inactive up to this point in the season.
Emory & Henry College returns to action on Saturday, April 5, when it travels to Virginia Tech for IHSA Zones.
