Gracie French won plenty of races in her time as a standout sprinter for the Waynesboro track team, but at Juniata College she quickly found out that victories are much harder to come by at the next level.
French didn’t get down after a winless freshman outdoor season. Instead, she got better. Her hard work came to fruition this spring with a four-win season that eventually resulted in medalist finishes at the Landmark Conference Championships.
French highlights a large group of former Tribe track athletes making an impact at the college level. Jada Creager crushed the pole vault at Mount St. Mary’s, while Jaeda Dockman made a splash in the heptathlon at California (Pa.). Isabella Ruefle (Millersville) and Will Campbell (Hagerstown CC) dominated in the distance events.
In College Corner this month, we’ll take a look at these athletes and other former Waynesboro stars — we’ve counted 31 in all — competing at the next level. This list includes Slaydon Fisher, a standout softball player for Albright, and Garrett Rosenberry, who helped guide PSU Mont Alto’s baseball squad to its second national runner-up finish in as many years.
In the months to come, College Corner will shift focus to Greencastle-Antrim and Chambersburg, before circling back to Waynesboro. Are we missing anybody? Additions for College Corner can be sent to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Outdoor track
Gracie French, Sophomore, Juniata
French used a brilliant performance at a home meet to set the stage for a sharp run through the postseason.
Competing at the Juniata Tune-Up on April 24-25, French took her game to the next level with the first, second, and third outdoor wins of her collegiate career. She won the 200 in 26.85, while guiding both the 4×100 (51.31) and 4×400 (4:18.40) relay teams to victory.
With that confidence boost, French was ready to take on the Landmark Conference Championships on May 2-3. The conference meet saw her deliver with medalist finishes in the 100 (3rd in 12.43), 200 (4th in 25.45), 4×400 (5th in 4:08.56), and 4×100 (51.96).
The postseason rolled forward with the ECAC D-III Championships on May 9, and it was here that French collected a win in the 200 in 25.37. It was one of four podium performances from French, who also took third in the long jump (15-3.5), while guiding both the 4×100 (50.39) and 4×400 (4:09.78) relays to runner-up finishes.
Her season came to an end on May 13-14, when she took 11th in the 200 (25.31) and 33rd in the 100 (12.70) at the AARTFC Championships.
Jada Creager, Sophomore, Mount St. Mary’s
Creager, a pole vaulter, saved the best mark of her career for the MAAC Outdoor Championships on May 9-10.
She vaulted to a PR height of 11-11.75 to snare a third-place medal. It was a sharp ending to an outdoor season that saw Creager compete in six invitationals and post three podium finishes, including a victory.
Isabella Ruefle, Sophomore, Millersville
Ruefle had a sharp spring on the track for Millersville, competing in six meets and earning the first two wins of her collegiate career.
Her breakout came on April 3-4, when she splashed through the 3,000 steeplechase with a PR time of 11:45.28 to seize victory at the Millersville Metrics. Just over a week later at the Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic on April 11-13, Ruefle produced another PR, this time with her 32nd-place finish in the 1,500 (4:48.0).
Ruefle picked up her second win of the spring on April 18 at the Millersville Invite. There, she conquered the 3,000 steeplechase in 11:52.83, and also landed 20th in the 200 with a PR time of 29.95.
Another PR came, this time in the 800, when Ruefle competed at the Paul Kaiser Classic on April 24-25 and finished her race in 2:24.41 for 10th place.
Ruefle capped off her season at the PSAC Outdoor Championships on April 30-May 2. The conference meet saw her take 13th in the 3,000 steeplechase (11:58.39) and 17th in the 1,500 (4:57.53).
Will Campbell, Sophomore, Hagerstown CC
Campbell has competed in six meets since our last update, landing seven Top 5 finishes and a victory in the process.
He showcased his range at the Mid Atlantic JUCO Invitational on April 10-11, winning the 5,000 (16:12.09) and adding solid finishes in the 10,000 (3rd in 37:19.51) and 1,500 (4th in 4:23.99).
After posting a third-place finish in the 1,500 in 4:25.04 at the Stevenson Mustang Stampede Invitational on April 17, Campbell set his sights on the Paul Kaiser Classic, which was held at Shippensburg on April 24-25. There, he blasted through the 5,000 for a PR time of 16:01.54 to earn a runner-up finish.
Campbell scored another PR at his next meet, The Hill City Twilight on May 2, when he ran the 1,500 in 4:19.94 for 39th place. He wrapped up his season on May 9 at the WVU Last Chance and claimed fourth in the 5,000 in 16:08.89.
Jaeda Dockman, Freshman, California (Pa.)
Dockman peaked at just the right time, as the multi athlete exploded for six PRs at the PSAC Outdoor Championships on April 30-May 2.
She took on the heptathlon for just the second time in her career and posted a PR score of 3,940 points to earn 11th place. Included in Dockman’s multi endeavor were PR efforts in the 800 (5th in 2:29.79), javelin (3rd, 99-4), long jump (2nd, 17-8.75), and 200 (9th in 27.01). She also competed in the open high jump and, you guessed it, Dockman hit another PR with her ninth-place height of 5-3.75.
Dockman warmed up for the conference meet by scoring a 3,916 in the heptathlon at the Susquehanna River Hawk Multi on April 10-11. She also took a road trip to the John Papa Invitational on April 16 and placed 17th in the javelin (85-9) and 19th in the 100 hurdles (17.27).
It was quite the freshman season for Dockman, who competed in 12 events — including the heptathlon and pentathlon — over the course of the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Cora Helman, Senior, Shenandoah
Helman concluded her season with competition at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships on April 24-25. Competing in the 10,000, she took 12th in 44:28.01.
Helman wraps up her career with a nice set of PRs in the 800 (2:38.31), 1,500 (5:41.91), mile (5:47.64), 3,000 (11:46.81), 5,000 (20:18.19), and 10,000 (43:26.39).
Joel Weber, Senior, Pitt-Johnstown
Weber competed in two outdoor invites this spring.
After a DNF in the 1,500 at the John Papa Invitational on April 16, Weber again competed in the distance on April 24-25, when he ran to a 55th-place finish in 5:12.56.
Weber concludes a collegiate distance career that saw him lock down PRs in the 800 (2:14.64), 1,500 (4:34.38), mile (5:02.83), 3,000 (10:47.95), and 5,000 (18:38.64).
Joey Jacobs, Junior, Mount St. Mary’s
After spending the spring honing his craft in the 1,500, Jacobs ran his best time of the season at the MAAC Outoor Championships on May 9-10.
At the conference meet he exploded for a 4:35.80 to take 47th.
Jacobs warmed up for the race with two April invitationals. He posted a 4:41.14 for 24th place at the JMU Invite on April 11, before taking ninth in 4:46.47 at the SFU Red Flash Invitational.
Owen Shockey, Freshman, Mount St. Mary’s
Shockey, a hurdler, was inactive for Mount St. Mary’s this season.
Josh Schuurman, Junior, Wheaton (Ill.)
Schuurman, a pole vaulter, competed in four invites this season.
His highest placement of the spring came at the Old Fashion Meet on April 22. There, he soared to third place with a vault of 12-5.5.
Schuurman then hit his best mark of the season at the CCIW Championships on May 1-2. The conference meet saw Schuurman explode upward for a height of 12-8 to earn 14th place.
He ended his season by competing in the javelin, and taking 16th with a throw of 99-11, at the St. Francis Fighting Chance Invite on May 8-9.
Joseph Vacchio, Sophomore, Misericordia
Vacchio, a Waynesboro native who went to Lynbrook Senior High School, sprinted to his first wins of the spring at the DeSales Quad Meet on April 11. There, he won the 200 in 22.54, while also guiding his team’s 4×100 squad to victory in 42.41.
It was good preparation for the MAC Outdoor Championships on April 30-May 2, a meet that saw Vacchio sprint his way to the awards stand. Competing in the 200, Vacchio landed a seventh-place finish in 22.35, while also finishing 12th in the 100 in 11.11.
Ben Williams, Freshman, Point Park
When the stage got the biggest, that’s when Williams unleashed the biggest javelin throw of his young college career.
Competing at the Mountain East Conference Outdoor Championships on April 26-28, Williams uncorked a throw of 183-8 to take third place.
He heated up for the conference meet with a sharp performance at the SU Mid-Week PR Bonanza. The April 16 meet saw Williams finish as runner-up in the javelin (181-6) and take 16th in the shot put (42-10.25).
Williams finishes his outdoor season with competition in seven meets and seven Top 8 finishes.
Softball
Slaydon Fisher, Junior, Albright
Wins weren’t easy to come by for Albright, but with Fisher shining in the lineup, the Lions were competitive.
Fisher, a 5-foot-7 third baseman, competed in 39 games, including 39 starts, and led her team in doubles (14), triples (1), home runs (2), and RBI (26). She batted .339 (43 for 127) with 19 runs and three stolen bases. Defensively, Fisher sported an .884 fielding percentage.
She ended her season on a three-game hitting streak and batted .357 (5 for 14) over that span with a double, two runs, and seven RBI.
Albright finishes its season at 14-26 (4-10 MAC Commonwealth).
Alexis Thompson, Freshman, PSU Mont Alto
Thompson had a sharp debut season in the pitcher’s circle for Mont Alto this spring.
The 5-foot-4 hurler appeared in 15 games for the Lions, including 11 starts, and sported a 6-2 record with a 3.39 ERA. She struck out 48 batters over 51 2/3 innings of work.
Thompson most recently picked up a win on April 24, when she struck out six batters over five scoreless innings in a 15-0 victory PSU Hazleton.
Mont Alto (24-13-1, 10-2 PSUAC) saw its season end with a 1-2 showing at the USCAA Small College World Series.
Trysta Bricker, Junior, PSU Mont Alto
Bricker, a 5-foot-5 reserve middle infielder for Mont Alto, saw action in eight games this spring.
She batted .167 (1 for 6) with one RBI. Bricker recorded her hit and RBI on April 16 in a 15-0 win over Mount Aloysius.
Abby McElroy, Sophomore, Lebanon Valley College
With McElroy delivering an RBI hit in the championship game, Lebanon Valley rolled to the MAC Freedom Tournament crown.
Competing against Misericordia in the conference title tilt on May 3, McElroy went 1 for 1 with two RBI to help guide her squad to a 14-0 victory.
A 5-foot-6 middle infielder, McElroy played in 28 games this spring, including 16 starts, and batted .196 (9 for 46) with one double, one home run, four runs, and nine RBI.
The Dutchmen (26-17, 10-4 MAC Freedom) saw their season end with an 0-2 showing at the NCAA Division III Ohio Regional.
Michelle Baker, Junior, Chestnut Hill
Baker, a 5-foot-8 pitcher, saw action in 10 games this season, including three starts.
She was 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA, striking out 12 batters over 26 1/3 innings. Baker most recently competed on April 21, when she worked two innings and registered a strikeout in her team’s 11-2 loss to Holy Family.
Chestnut Hill wraps up at 5-27 (1-17 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference).
Cameron Witte, Junior, Millersville
Witte had her biggest season yet for Millersville.
A 5-foot-4 outfielder, Witte appeared in 42 games, including 28 starts, and ranked second on the Marauders with a .388 batting average (33 for 85), to go along with nine doubles, one home run, 13 runs, 10 RBI, and four stolen bases.
Witte most recently connected for a hit on May 2, when she went 1 for 3 with a run scored in Millersville’s 9-3 loss to Shepherd.
The Marauders conclude their campaign at 21-31 (8-24 PSAC).
Golf
Tyler Fortney, Freshman, Mount Saint Mary’s
Fortney competed in each of Mount Saint Mary’s final two meets of the season.
On April 12-13 he took on the Abarta Coca-Cola Intercollegiate and finished 81st after carding a 14-over 80-78-158. Fortney then went on to compile a 17-over 80-77-76-233 at the MAAC Championship on April 28-30, a score that earned him 39th place.
Fortney finishes off a spring campaign that saw him start in all five of The Mount’s meets.
Linkoln Gundacker, Sophomore, Geneva
Gundacker golfed in all five of Geneva’s meets this spring and was often among the scoring finishers for the Golden Tornadoes.
He opened his season on March 30, shooting an 82 to help guide his team to a runner-up finish at Geneva Spring Opener. Gundacker then shot his lowest round of the spring with a 79 at the Thiel Spring Invitational on April 6.
After taking 33rd with a 102 at the Bethany Spring Invitational on April 9 and 84th with a 98 at the MBA Invitational on April 20, he set his sights for the PAC Spring Championships, which were held on April 24-25. There, Gundacker carded an 86-88-174 for 45th place.
E-sports
Laine Wilkinson, Freshman, Penn College
Wilkinson, a Valorant player, helped guide Penn College to a 23-34-1 record this season.
Equestrian
Leyna Ribner, Junior, Seton Hill
Ribner, a Waynesboro native who went to Commonwealth Charter Academy, was a regular competitor in Seton Hill’s lineup this season.
With Ribner competing in the Limit Flat event, the Griffins earned high point honors twice.
Seton Hill capped off its season with a fifth-place finish at the Zone 2 Finals on April 4.
Lacrosse
Alli Kuhar, Freshman, Bridgewater
With Kuhar making regular contributions to the lineup as an attacker, Bridgewater played to a winning record this spring.
She appeared in 18 games, including three starts, and totaled six goals and nine assists, while scooping up five ground balls and causing four turnovers.
Kuhar had her biggest game of the season on April 8, when she posted three goals and an assist in a 22-0 victory over Randolph.
Bridgewater ends its campaign at 10-9 (4-4 Old Dominion Athletic Conferernce).
Baseball
Garrett Rosenberry, Senior, PSU Mont Alto
Thanks in part to the contributions of Rosenberry, Mont Alto finished as the national runner-up for the second season in a row.
A 6-foot-1, 185-pound utility player, Rosenberry appeared in 27 games this spring and batted .345 (29 for 84) with six doubles, two triples, two home runs, 17 runs, and 27 RBI.
He did some of his best work at the USCAA Small College World Series. Competing in Game 1 of a best-of-three series against Apprentice on May 14, Rosenberry went 2 for 3 in his team’s 6-4 loss.
He closes out his three-year career for the Lions with a career batting average of .309 (47 for 152), to go along with nine doubles, three triples, two home runs, and 37 RBI.
Mont Alto finishes its season at 34-17 (11-5 PSUAC).
Dylan Morgan, Junior, PSU Mont Alto
Morgan, a 5-ffot-9, 140-pound second baseman/outfielder, appeared in five games this season and batted .167 (1 for 6).
Seth Dodson, Freshman, PSU Mont Alto
Dodson saw limited time on the mound for Mont Alto this spring.
The 6-foot, 150-pound right-hander appeared in six games this season, including one start, and was 0-1 with a 7.45 ERA, while striking out three batters over 9 2/3 innings.
Dodson’s cleanest outing of the season came on April 24, when he fired 2 2/3 scoreless innings in a 5-4 loss to York.
Garrett Beaver, Senior, Salisbury
Beaver was once again sharp out of the bullpen for Salisbury this spring.
A 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-handed pitcher, Beaver was called on 16 times this season and posted a 1.77 ERA, while striking out 13 batters over 20 1/3 innings of work. He got stronger as the season progressed and did not allow a single run over his last five outings, a span of 6 1/3 innings.
Beaver wraps up a solid four-year career that saw him pitch more than 100 innings for the Seagulls. He finishes with a a 6-4 career record to go along with 2.84 ERA and 90 strikeouts.
Salisbury (37-11) bowed out of the postseason with an 0-2 showing in pool play at the NCAA Division III Championships.
Gunner Shifflett, Freshman, Hagerstown CC
Shifflett was the portrait of consistency at the plate for Hagerstown.
A 5-foot-6, 152-pound outfielder, Shifflett batted .333 (28 for 84) with seven doubles, one triple, 28 runs, seven RBI, and 10 stolen bases. He was especially potent in a postseason game on May 2, when he went 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI in a 12-7 win over Prince George’s Community College.
The Hawks (35-18, 21-7 MD JUCO) saw their season come to an end on May 9 with a 15-6 loss to Allegany College of Maryland in the Region 20 first round.
Bryan Benedict, Freshman, Hagerstown CC
Benedict lived up to his nickname as a “tank” by competing in every one of Hagerstown’s 53 games this spring.
A 5-foot-7, 187-pound infielder, Benedict batted .259 (42 for 162) with 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 40 runs, 36 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. In two postseason games against Prince George’s Community College, he batted .571 (4 for 7) with two doubles and an RBI.
Ethan Hotchkiss, Freshman, York
Hotchkiss blasted off for multiple home runs in limited playing time for York.
A 6-foot-3, 210-pound first baseman, Hotchkiss appeared in 18 of 41 games for the Spartans and batted .174 (8 for 46) with one double, three home runs, six runs, seven RBI, and one stolen base. He most recently went deep on April 17 in a 7-3 win over Alvernia that saw him go 2 for 4.
York wraps up its season at 19-22 (10-11 MAC).
Brett Powell, Freshman, Allegheny College
Powell, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound infielder, was inactive for Allegheny for this season.
The Gators finish their season at 26-16 (16-6 PAC).
