The college arena can be an intimidating atmosphere for athletes, but pole vaulter Ashton Botzan is no stranger to scary places.
Botzan, a Greencastle-Antrim grad and a fearless competitor for the Indiana (Pa.) track squad, keeps going higher and higher in his event. He owns two Top 5 finishes this spring, and recently vaulted for the best mark of his career.
In College Corner this week, we’ll take a closer look at the season of Botzan and 36 other athletes from Greencastle competing at the college level. This list includes Jarek Szaflarski, a freshman who is batting over .350 for the PSU Altoona baseball team, and Caroline Logsdon, who is mashing the ball in her first season for Hagerstown Community College.
In the months to come, College Corner will shift focus to Chambersburg and Waynesboro, before circling back to Greencastle. Are we missing anybody? Additions for College Corner can be sent to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Indoor/outdoor track & field
Ashton Botzan, Junior, Indiana (Pa.)
Botzan, a pole vaulter, recently hit the biggest height of his career.
Competing at the John Papa Invite at Slippery Rock on April 16, Botzan sprang upward for a vault of 14-11 to earn fifth place. He followed that up on April 24-25 with a third-place height of 13-5.25 at the Paul Kaiser Classic.
Indiana returns to action on Thursday, April 30, at the PSAC Championships.
Seth Stouffer, Junior, Indiana (Pa.)
Stouffer has competed in four invites this season, landing two PRs and a medalist finish in the process.
The sprinter’s first PR came in the 400, when he ran a 52.15 for 14th place at the Carnegie Mellon Invitational on March 27-28. Two weeks later at the John Papa Invite at Slippery Rock on April 16, Stouffer blasted off for a seventh-place finish in the 200 with a PR time of 22.63. He also competed in the 100, and took 10th in 11.10.
Stouffer most recently competed at the Paul Kaiser Classic on April 24-25. There, he claimed 15th in the 200 (22.83) and 19th in the 100 (11.39).
Joel Amstutz, Freshman, Roberts Wesleyan
Amstutz has taken on three invitationals this spring, hitting PRs every step of the way.
He opened his campaign at the Geneseo Early Season Invitational on April 3-4. There, Amstutz took 68th in the 800 with a PR time of 2:10.27, while also competing in the 1,500 (30th in 4:14.98) and the 4×400 (13th in 3:46.0).
Amstutz recorded a Top 10 finish at the Brockport Invitational on April 12-13, taking eighth in the 1,500 with a PR time of 4:10.28.
He most recently competed, and landed a PR, at the GVSU Extra Weekend Meet on April 24. Competing in the 5,000, Amstutz finished 63rd in 15:40.99.
Roberts Wesleyan kicks off the postseason on Thursday, April 30, at the East Coast Conference Championships.
Kyle Baker, Junior, Shippensburg
After wrapping up his indoor track season with a PR, Baker is off and running again this spring.
Baker concluded his indoor campaign in a big way at the PSAC Championships on Feb. 28-March 1. There, he ran to an 11th-place finish in the mile with a PR time of 4:27.16.
That performance helped jumpstart a spring season that has seen Baker land a Top 10 finish. That top finish, a ninth-place effort in the 3,000 steeplechase (9:53.7), came at the Dr. Jack Toms Alumni Invitational on March 27-28.
Baker most recently competed on April 24-25 at the Paul Kaiser Classic, and finished 15th in the 1,500 (4:09.85).
Shippensburg is back in action on Thursday, April 30, for the PSAC Championships.
Isaac Boyer, Sophomore, Delaware Valley
Boyer, a distance specialist, has posted four PRs over six invitationals this spring.
His first PR came on March 27-28 at the Danny Curran Invitational, a meet that saw Boyer take 54th in the 10,000 in 36:20.09. Boyer added PRs in the 800 (2:27.82) and 1,500 (4:48.10) at the Messiah Invitational on April 9-11, before adding a PR in the 5,000 (17:33.58) at the Widener University Paul Donahoe Invitational.
Boyer most recently competed on April 21 at the Haverford Mid Week Meet. In that meet, he took 21st in the 1,500 with a time of 5:09.89.
Delaware Valley returns to competition on Thursday, April 30, at the MAC Outdoor Championships.
Claire Paci, Sophomore, Connecticut
Paci landed a podium finish and PR in her only race of the season.
Competing at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational on March 19-21, Paci claimed second in the 3,000 with a time of 10:06.30.
Connecticut returns to competition on Saturday, May 2, at the Northeastern Coaches Invitational.
Piper Linn, Sophomore, Connecticut
Linn is off to a solid start in the pole vault this spring after posting a Top 10 finish in the event at the indoor conference championships.
Competing at the Big East Championships on Feb. 27-28, Linn vaulted to a sixth-place finish with a height of 11-7.75. She used that performance as a stepping stone into the outdoor season, which has seen Linn post Top 5 finishes at the Duke Invitational (5th place, 12-4.75) on April 10-11 and the UConn Northeast Challenge (3rd, 11-7.75) on April 17-18.
Linn most recently competed at the Penn Relays on April 23-25, vaulting to a height of 11-3.75.
Aidan Horan, Junior, West Liberty
Horan, a thrower, has competed in five invitationals this spring and has landed three Top 10 finishes.
He took on the Marty Pushkin Invitational on March 20-21, and placed ninth in the discus (111-0), 13th in the hammer throw (99-7), and 14th in the shot put (35-3.25). Horan added two more Top 10 finishes at the West Virginia Mountaineer Showcase on April 17-18, taking eighth in the discus (104-8) and ninth in the shot put (35-1.25).
As the season continues, Horan will be looking to improve upon his PRs in the shot put (40-11.75), discus (118-11), hammer (118-2), and javelin (122-6).
West Liberty returns to competition on Sunday-Tuesday, April 26-28 at the Mountain East Conference Championships.
Shavari Maharaj, Junior, Hofstra
Maharaj has been inactive for Hofstra up to this point in the season.
The Pride return to action on Friday, May 1, for the Larry Ellis Invitational.
Equestrian
Kaylee Papa, Junior, Emory & Henry College
Papa is listed on the roster for Emory & Henry College’s IHSA equestrian team.
The team most recently competed at the IDA National Championships, taking second out of 12 teams.
The Wasps return to competition on April 30 for the IHSA National Championships, set to be held in Tryon, N.C.
Baseball
Cameron Niland, Freshman, PSU Mont Alto
Niland, a right-handed pitcher, has seen more than 15 innings of mound time this season.
Niland is 3-2 with a 12.33 ERA and has struck out six batters over 15 1/3 innings of work. His most recent win came on April 21, when he pitched 2 2/3 innings and struck out three batters in a 20-11 victory over Christendom.
Mont Alto (26-14, 11-5 PSUAC) opens postseason play on Friday, May 1, when it takes on an opponent to be determined in the opening round of the PSUAC Tournament.
Adam Horst, Junior, Seton Hill
Horst, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound right-handed pitcher, has been productive for Seton Hill this spring after transferring in from Frederick Community College.
Horst has appeared in 10 games this season, including four starts, and is 1-0 with a 6.12 ERA. He has struck out 33 batters over 25 innings.
Horst most recently took the mound on April 21, striking out four batters over two innings in a 22-5 win over West Liberty State.
Seton Hill (37-9, 22-2 PSAC) returns to the field on Thursday, April 30, for a road doubleheader at Clarion.
Riley Bohrer, Sophomore, Frederick CC
Bohrer, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed pitcher, has made one appearance this season.
He took the mound on March 6, allowing one earned run and striking out one batter over 2/3 innings of work in his team’s 26-2 loss to Lansing Community College.
Frederick (29-12, 19-5 MD JUCO) returns to the field on Thursday, April 30, for a home game against Westmoreland Community College.
Carter Reid, Junior, Messiah
Reid is having a fine season as a full-time player for Messiah this spring.
A 5-foot-7, 170-pound catcher/infielder, Reid has started in 34 games and is batting .364 (43 for 118) with six doubles, one triple, 22 runners, 25 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. He’s logged multiple hits in 15 games, most recently on April 26, when he went 3 for 3 in a 20-0 win over Alvernia.
The Falcons (28-11, 19-2 MAC Commonwealth) kick off postseason play on Friday when they face York College in a best-of-three semifinal series at the MAC Commonwealth Tournament.
Trey Daugherty, Freshman, Messiah
Daugherty, a Greencastle native who went to James Buchanan, has seen limited action for the Falcons this season.
A 5-foot-10, 170-pound pitcher, Daugherty has worked three innings this season to the tune of a 0.00 ERA.
Jace Szaflarski, Junior, Lock Haven
Szaflarski, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound right-handed pitcher, has been inactive for Lock Haven this season.
The Bald Eagles (8-36, 4-20 PSAC) return to action on Thursday, April 30, with a road doubleheader at Gannon.
Andrew Kerns, Sophomore, Hagerstown CC
Kerns, a Greencastle native who went to St. Maria Goretti, has been a regular in the pitching rotation for Hagerstown.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-hander has started in nine games this season and is 3-2 with a 7.34 ERA. Kerns has struck out 39 batters over 38 innings of work.
He most recently took the mound on April 28 in a 5-4 win over CCBC Essex. In that game Kerns allowed three earned runs over six innings, while striking out five batters.
The Hawks (33-16, 19-7 MD JUCO) take the field again on Thursday, April 30, for a home game against Shenandoah.
Connor Rohm, Senior, Juniata
Rohm, a 5-foot-10 right-handed pitcher, has made 13 appearances this season.
He owns a 2-3 record with an 8.17 ERA, with 22 strikeouts over 39 2/3 innings of work.
Rohm most recently took the mound on April 9, earning the pitching victory and striking out two batters over five innings in a 10-9 win over Mt. Aloysius.
Juniata (12-26, 4-20 Landmark) returns to the baseball diamond on Thursday, April 30, for a home doubleheader against PSU Altoona.
Ethan Ford, Sophomore, Shepherd
Ford, a 170-pound pitcher, has seen action in seven games this season.
Ford owns an 18.41 ERA and has struck out eight batters over 7 1/3 innings. He recently pitched a scoreless inning for Rams in an 8-2 loss to East Stroudsburg on April 23.
Shepherd (26-20, 12-12 PSAC East) returns to the field on Thursday, April 30, for a road doubleheader at Shippensburg.
Landon Huth, Sophomore, Pitt-Greensburg
Huth has made an impact on the mound for Pitt-Greensburg after transferring in from Seton Hill.
Huth has made 10 appearances this season, including four starts, and is 1-3 with an 8.01 ERA, striking out 25 batters over 30 1/3 innings in the process. He most recently pitched on April 26, logging a scoreless inning in his team’s 10-1 loss to PSU Behrend.
Pitt-Greensburg (9-21, 7-8 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference) returns to action on Saturday, May 2, when it hits the road for a doubleheader at Alfred State College.
Jarek Szaflarski, Freshman, PSU Altoona
Szaflarski is playing like a veteran in his first season of college baseball.
A shortstop/pitcher, Szaflarski is batting .352 (31 for 88) with five doubles, 22 runs, and 18 RBI. On the mound, he’s struck out two batters over 3 2/3 innings and has yet to allow an earned run.
Szaflarski most recently competed on April 27, going 2 for 3 with a run scored in a 15-5 loss to Juniata.
PSU Altoona (16-17, 7-8 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference) is back in action on Thursday, April 30, when it hosts Juniata for a doubleheader.
Softball
Caroline Logsdon, Freshman, Hagerstown CC
Logsdon, a 5-foot-9 infielder, is having a sharp campaign in her first season in the college ranks.
Logsdon leads the Hawks with a .346 average (37 for 107), while also recording four doubles, two triples, and a home run. She most recently connected for a base hit on April 15, going 1 for 4 in a 9-6 loss to CCBC Catonsville.
Hagerstown (15-20, 6-12 MD JUCO) hits the road on Saturday, May 2, for a doubleheader at Cecil College.
Brooke Buhrman, Sophomore, Hagerstown CC
Burhman, a Greencastle native who went to South Hagerstown, leads her team with four home runs this spring.
In addition to the homers, the 5-foot-10 outfielder is batting .269 (28 for 104) with four doubles, five triples, and five RBI. Buhrman had her biggest game of the season on April 8, when she lifted off for two home runs in an 8-7 loss to Frederick Community College.
Alexis Jones, Sophomore, Hagerstown CC
Jones, a 5-foot outfielder, has been a regular in the lineup for Hagerstown this season.
She’s batting .214 (24 for 112) with four doubles, five RBI, and three stolen bases. Jones most recently played on April 15, going 1 for 4 in a 9-6 loss to CCBC Catonsville.
Makayla Jerin, Sophomore, California (Pa.)
Jerin, a 5-foot-8 infielder, is the only player on California’s roster to start in all 42 games this season.
Jerin is batting .354 (46 for 130) with 10 doubles, one home run, 10 runs, 21 RBI, and one stolen base. She’s recorded hits in eight of her last nine games, most recently denting the box score on April 26 with a 3 for 4 performance in a 7-4 win over Clarion.
California (17-25, 12-12 PSAC) returns to the field on Friday, May 1, with a home doubleheader against Seton Hill.
Sydney Orndorff, Junior, Rhode Island
Orndorff, an outfielder/catcher, has been a standout for Rhode Island this spring.
She’s played in 38 games, including 35 starts, and leads her team in batting average (.354) and stolen bases (12), while also recording two doubles, two triples, 19 runs, and 14 RBI. Orndorff most recently competed on April 28, going 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBI in an 11-0 victory over Stonehill.
The Rams (18-26, 6-15 Atlantic 10) are back in action on Saturday, May 2, when they host George Mason for a doubleheader.
Abigail Cunningham, Senior, Penn State Mont Alto
With the solid-hitting Cunningham in the lineup, Mont Alto owns a winning record this season.
Cunningham, a 5-foot-5 utility player, is batting .386 (22 for 57) with one double, one triple, 10 RBI, and one stolen base. She most recently competed on April 14, going 2 for 2 in an 11-3 victory over PSU Schuylkill.
The Lions (20-9-1, 12-2 PSUAC) open postseason play on Friday, May 1, when they take on PSU Scranton in the quarterfinal round of the PSUAC Tournament.
Abby Stouffer, Junior, Grove City
With Stouffer appearing in 28 games, Grove City played to a winning season this spring.
Stouffer, a 5-foot-1 infielder, batted .088 (3 for 34) with three runs and three RBI. She most recently connected for a base hit on April 8 in a 6-1 win over Westminster.
The Wolverines end their season at 18-14 (10-12 Presidents’ Athletic Conference).
Aliyah Masser, Freshman, Wilson
Masser, a reserve catcher/infielder, has made the most of limited playing time this spring.
She’s appeared in six games, including two starts, and is batting .286 (2 for 7) with one run, one RBI, and one stolen base. Masser most recently competed on April 11, going 1 for 1 with an RBI in her team’s 9-1 victory over Valley Forge.
Wilson (28-9-1, 15-1 United East) plays next on Friday, May 1, when it faces an opponent to be determined in the second round of the United East Championship.
Mia Libby, Junior, Messiah
The speedy Libby, a soccer player for Messiah, has been able to help the Falcons on the softball field.
She’s appeared in 19 games and has totaled 12 runs and seven stolen bases.
Messiah (25-14, 13-1 MAC Commonwealth) kicks off postseason play on Thursday, April 30, when it takes on Stevenson in the opening round of the MAC Commonwealth Tournament.
Meadow Gambacurta, Freshman, Bucknell
Gambacurta opens her college career as an everyday starter for Bucknell.
A 5-foot-7 first baseman/third baseman, Gambacurta has started in 41 games for the Bison and is batting .243 (26 for 107) with five doubles, one triple, one home run, nine runs, and 16 RBI. She most recently cracked the hit column on April 26, when she went 2 for 4 with a triple, two runs, and two RBI in a 6-5 victory over Army West Point.
Bucknell (9-32-1, 6-9 Patriot League) hits the road on Saturday, May 2, for a doubleheader at Colgate.
Golf
Grant Diefenderfer, Sophomore, Hagerstown CC
Diefenderfer has been inactive for Hagerstown this spring.
The Hawks most recently competed on April 16-17, taking second at the Region 20 NJCAA Championships.
Hagerstown returns to the course on Sunday, April 26, for the NJCAA DII Southeast District Tournament.
Flag football
Emily Kilcup, Senior, Lancaster Bible College
Kilcup, a 5-foot-4 center/linebacker, was rostered on Lancaster Bible College’s flag football squad this spring.
No stats were kept by the Chargers sports information department.
Wrestling
Aurelius Dunbar, Graduate, Duke
Dunbar, a Greencastle native who went to Mercersburg Academy and Penn State before transferring to Duke, was the Blue Devils’ starter at 165 pounds this season.
He won five of his first six matches, before finishing his campaign with a 5-10 record.
Duke wraps up its season at 6-14 (0-6 ACC).
Basketball
Eli Sterling, Sophomore, PSU Altoona
Sterling, a 6-foot-3 forward, appeared in 21 games this season.
Over that span he totaled 31 points (1.5 ppg), 23 rebounds (1.1 rpg), seven assists, nine steals, and two blocks. Sterling most recently cracked the scoring column on Feb. 18, when he posted four points in a 99-74 loss to Pitt-Greensburg.
PSU Altoona concludes its season at 12-14 (6-10 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference).
Cheerleading
Kamille Reines, Freshman, Shippensburg
Reines, a flyer, showcased her skills on the sidelines for Shippensburg this season.
Bailey Wilhide, Freshman, Saint Francis
Wilhide contributed to Saint Francis’ cheer squad as a base this season.
