Author: Andy Sandrik

I’ve been told this column is supposed to be about running, but after last weekend’s highly-entertaining Super Bowl, I’m still finding my thoughts stuck in the realm of football. Say what you want about the game’s anti-climatic climax, this year’s clash between the Eagles and Chiefs will undoubtedly go down as one of the great games in Super Bowl lore. As a neutral fan in this game, I could only watch in amazement — and frequently shout “Wow!” — at the heart, desire, and pure talent displayed by both teams. How do these guys get so good? We all know…

There aren’t many college wrestling teams hotter than the Drexel Dragons, a squad that has won eight straight matches. The Dragons began their winning streak on Dec. 20 and haven’t lost since, scrapping their way to a No. 19-ranking in the NWCA Mid-Major Top 20. Of course, there have been two big contributors to Drexel’s success: Former Chambersburg standouts Luke and Tate Nichter. The brothers are regulars in the Dragons lineup and have combined for 20 wins this season. In College Corner this week, we’ll take a closer look at their seasons, as well as take a deep dive into…

Some day, perhaps in my next life, I’d love to own a home with a secret room. It could be a trap door to a basement bunker, or a library that implements the traditional pull-a-book gimmick. I’m not too picky. I’d fill that room with snacks, games, and maybe even a treadmill to complement an office working space. It would be a place of leisure, yes, but also a space for shelter, be it from an attack or even just two children arguing over who gets the purple cup. A guy can dream, right? Until that day comes, I’ll have…

Anyone who has picked up on my running journey over the years should know at least a little about my trials and tribulations with food and eating. I’ve certainly written on this topic quite a bit, mostly because binge eating has been a behavior that I’ve been fighting for as long as I can remember. Dating back to my days as a literal starving college kid, food wasn’t always readily available, so I was always trying to “stock up” when eating opportunities were presented. Life is much more comfortable now, thankfully, but the habit of having seconds and thirds, chased…

What can be accomplished in two and a half minutes? Not a whole lot, unless you are Chambersburg Jr. High wrestling heavyweight Frank Barrientos, who needed a total of just 2:33 to pin five different opponents at last weekend’s Connellsville Duals. With Barrientos leading the way, the Trojans went 3-2 with wins over Ringgold (54-27), North Allegheny (51-28), and State College (42-38), and losses to Altoona (42-39) and Connellsville (66-16). Barrientos got the tournament’s award for most falls in the least amount of time, with his pin times of 1:11, 0:36, 0:15, 0:12, and 0:19 all adding up to less…

I’ve got to admit that between the holiday parties, family get-togethers, and the seemingly endless cleanup that follows, I haven’t had the time to properly reflect on 2022, let alone set any resolutions for 2023. But it’s only a few days into the New Year. It’s not too late to set running goals, right? Of course as I peck away at the keyboard and think of some of my past goals, I can’t help but yawn. Objectives like “get faster” or “run X amount of miles” come to mind, along with the age-old goal of “lose weight.” All of these…

Year by year, we’re seeing more and more girls and women on the wrestling mat. This time, however, there are enough female grapplers on the mat that they can now wrestle each other instead of the males. Waynesboro grad Madison Matta has been a pioneer for women’s wrestling, shining brightly for Lock Haven’s newly-formed Division I program. As the Bald Eagles starter at 136 pounds, she has been close to automatic with wins in 10 of 12 bouts, including six falls. In College Corner this week, we examine Matta’s magical season, while also taking a closer look at how other…

When it comes to premier wrestling events on the east coast, the Trojan Wars Tournament in Chambersburg is well on its way to becoming a national destination. With a sprawling gymnasium built to host dozens of schools and championship trophies that come in the form of Trojan helmets, there’s plenty to love about this tournament, which completed its eighth running on Thursday and Friday. While the brightest lights at Chambersburg were reserved for the high school grapplers, the Junior High program showed that there is plenty to look forward to in the years to come. In a tourney that featured…

In the world of youth wrestling, every weekend is a party, and last weekend Waynesboro, Greencastle, and Chambersburg all happened to crash the same get-together in Biglerville: The Season’s Beatings Tournament. Chambersburg led the way, crowning four champions in Knox Bryan (6U, 55 pounds), Archer Hight (8U, 75), James Kearns (10U, Unlimited), and Deakon Snavely (12U, Unlimited). There were three champions from Greencastle — Silas Robertson (12U, 95), Jackson Polifka (12U, 100), and Damien Johns (12U, 130) — while Waynesboro’s Noah Fortney (6U, 45) and Caiden Fann (8U, 65) each won titles of their own. Another tournament, the Cocalico Junior…

You don’t have to celebrate Christmas to appreciate the holiday’s sense of warmth and togetherness, you just have to take a jog through town. Of the four seasons, winter is the one that sees the most runners mail it in. It’s a shame, but I get it. It is miserably cold with biting winds, and you can never tell for sure when you’re about to step on an icy patch. But one thing that keeps me going outside (in layers) is the Christmas spirit. Particularly with the lights and decorations. I love the effort, creativity, passion, and unity shown by…