In most cases, it would be unfair to declare any team as a favorite to win the state title before the season even starts.
But Smithsburg’s girls track and field squad is not just any team.
The Leopards return a majority of the pieces that helped them run away for the team title at last year’s Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association 1A State Championships, including senior leaders Jenna Howe and Cora Gentzel, who combined for six individual state medals last spring.
Smithsburg isn’t the only Local.News1 school expected to make an impact this spring. North Hagerstown’s Lauren Stine has a state title to defend in the 3200, while South Hagerstown brings back a strong group of young sprinters who could very well make a postseason splash.
In Pennsylvania, athletes from Waynesboro, Greencastle-Antrim, and Chambersburg will be looking to climb the ladder at both the district and state levels. Bailey Hurley, a state medalist in the discus for the Blue Devils, aims to set the tone for her Franklin County peers.
Local.News1 will spend the next several days previewing multiple sports from the seven teams in our coverage area. Today our focus is on girls track and field, with spring sports set to be previewed in the days to come.
Below is a team-by-team preview for each of the seven girls track and field squads in the Local.News1 coverage area:
Waynesboro Tribe
Coach: Jim Rickett
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial Division
Last season: Waynesboro competed to a 6-0 record last spring.
Top projected returners: Jaeda Dockman (Sr., Jumps), Addison Shaull (Sr., Throws), Alie Briegel (Jr., Sprints/Mid-Distance), Natalia Anderson (So., Sprints), Ella Swart (Jr., Mid-Distance), Maddie Ruefle (Jr., Distance), Ella Dingzon (Sr., Throws), Katie Baker (Sr., Throws), Camryn Bonner (Sr., Pole Vault), Katie Behnke (So., Distance), Lainey Peyton (Jr., Sprints), Morgan Price (Jr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Braelyn Thompson (So., Mid-Distance/Distance).
Notable: Waynesboro’s top projected athlete this spring is Jaeda Dockman, the Tribe’s only returning district qualifier. Dockman left her mark at districts when she popped a PR height of 5-2 in the high jump to take 11th … Waynesboro will be without the services of graduated distance ace and district qualifier Bella Ruefle, who is now running for Millersville. The good news for the Tribe is Ruefle’s younger sister, Maddie, should be able to pick up some of the slack this season … Jada Creager, a district medalist in the pole vault and district qualifier in the sprints, has graduated, but Natalia Anderson showed potential as a freshman speedster last spring and could help fill the void left by Creager … Waynesboro’s biggest need this season just might be at hurdles, as the team graduated its top three athletes in the event, including PIAA qualifier True Benshoff … The Tribe have been a solid dual team in recent years, with the squad posting a combined 15-3 record over the last three seasons.
Opener: Tuesday, March 25, at home vs. Boiling Springs
Greensboro-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Rich Secrest
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial Division
Last season: Greencastle-Antrim compiled a 5-1 record last season.
Top projected returners: Bailey Hurley (Jr., Throws), Jaylynn Schmuck (Sr., Sprints, Jumps), Lilah Overcash (So., Sprints), Abby Szumetz (So., Sprints), Anna Sullivan (Jr., Sprints), Hailey Baker (Sr., Mid-Distance), Rowan Shubert (So., Mid-Distance), Avery Hinkle (Jr., Mid-Distance), Sophia Denlinger (So., Mid-Distance), Sophia Young (Sr., Distance), Emily Forrester (Jr., Distance), Kadence Abbott (Jr., Hurdles), Aqueelah Houge (Jr., Hurdles), Carlee Knepper (Sr., Hurdles), Acacia Long (Jr., Throws), Alannah Coleman (So., Throws), Rachel Murray (Jr., Jumps).
Notable: Greencastle returns some firepower in the discus in the form of Bailey Hurley, who took third at districts (121-0) and fifth at states (122-1) … Claire Paci, the district champion in the 1,600 and 3,200, has graduated and now running for University of Connecticut … The Blue Devils will be aiming to replace Paci with a talented group of runners that includes Sophia Denlinger, Sophia Young, and Emily Forrester … Greencastle is hoping for a big campaign from Jaylynn Schmuck after she thrived in the triple jump during indoor season with four invitational wins, a runner-up finish, and a PR of 35-10 … The Blue Devils had a quality dual season last spring, with their only loss coming to undefeated backyard rival Waynesboro.
Opener: Tuesday, March 25, at Gettysburg
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Chris Monheim
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division
Last season: Chambersburg notched a 6-2 record last season.
Top projected returners: Madelyn Kuhns (Jr., Distance), Alaina Morris (Sr., Pole Vault), Cameron Bender (Sr., Throws), Maggie Holtry (So., Sprints/Mid-Distance), Olivia Coy (Jr., Sprints/Mid-Distance/Jumps), Jaxin Frazer (Jr., Jumps), Natalie Quinn (So., Distance), Marlee Jackson (Jr., Hurdles), Niamah Collins (So., Sprints), Lashae Hang (Sr., Sprints), Mikaela Sistrunk (So., Sprints/Jumps), Ellianna Rife (Jr., Mid-Distance), Emma Kolb (Jr., Hurdles), Hannah Forrester (Jr., Hurdles), Yanaiah Smith (Sr., Throws), Serafina Richards (So., Throws), Addison Zimmerman (Jr., Jumps).
Notable: Chambersburg should be excited about this spring after an indoor season that saw Natalie Quinn (Mile), Marlee Jackson (55 hurdles), Sienna Scott (High Jump), and Addyson Brubaker (200) finish on top of our Local.News1 leaderboard … The Trojans graduated a couple of district medalists in sprinter Natalia Holmes and jumper Jahnaya Wimberley, along with two other district qualifiers in Lexi Boyd (Distance) and Abby Bucher (Throws) … Chambersburg will be leaning on production from returning district qualifiers Madelyn Kuhns (Distance), Cameron Bender (Throws), and Alaina Morris (Pole Vault).
Opener: Tuesday, March 18, at home vs. Mifflin County
Fairfield Knights
Coach: Scott Motter
Division: YAIAA III
Last season: Fairfield was 0-6 in dual meets last spring.
Top projected returners: Sarah Nagy (Sr., Hurdles), Hannah Myers (Sr., Throws).
Notable: The Knights return two district qualifiers in Sarah Nagy (Hurdles) and Hannah Myers (Throws) … Fairfield will be looking to replace the graduated Audrey Chesko, who took fourth in the 300 hurdles at last year’s District 3-2A Championships.
Opener: Thursday, March 20, at York Tech
North Hagerstown Hubs
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Top projected returners: Rian Johnson (Sr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Lauren Stine (Sr., Distance), Anna Chamberlin (Jr., Jumps), Reggan Chapin (So., Pole vault), Claire Heard (Sr., Pole Vault), Annabelle Schaberl (Jr., Sprints/Jumps), Kaliyah Knowlton (Jr., Sprints), Taniya Flanagan (Sr., Sprints), Ella Hajel (Sr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Kameryn Burrill (Jr., Throws), Rizzo Chapin (Sr., Throws), Laila Faire Williams (Jr., Jumps).
Notable: All eyes will be on senior distance ace Lauren Stine, who has shined brightly in the postseason in recent years … Stine, a Penn State commit, won the 3,200 in 10:47.08 at last year’s MPSSAA 3A Outdoor State Championships, and recently won another gold in the 3,200 (11:03.58) during indoor states … Stine was also the runner-up in the 1,600 (4:57.55) at outdoor states last year … Rian Johnson is aiming to leaver her mark this spring after a big effort at indoor states, which saw the senior strike for silver in both the 800 (2:17.83) and 1,600 (4:58.66) … The Hubs return three other outdoor state qualifiers in Anna Chamberlin (high jump), Reggan Chapin (pole vault), and Claire Heard (pole vault) … North Hagerstown will have to fill a hole in the 300 hurdles left by the graduation of region medalist Anthonette Bantamoi.
Opener: Friday, March 21, at Charas Heurich Invitational
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Nissa Freeman
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Top projected returners: Rhianna Ignasiak (Sr., Hurdles), Wynter Cephus (So., Sprints), Trinity Savage (So., Sprints/Jumps), Chloe Gietka (So., Sprints/Jumps), Ajaya Alexander (Jr., Sprints), Charly Shorter (So., Sprints), Gracie Butts (Sr., Distance), Jupiter Schellhase (Jr., Distance/Jumps), Kristen Gyamfi (Jr., Hurdles), Naomi Powell (Sr., Hurdles), Da Miah Donerson (So., Sprints), Tochi Akanu Ujah (Sr., Throws), Brooklyn Styles (Sr., Throws), Kristin Stiles (Jr., Throws), Reilly Foley (Jr., Sprints).
Notable: This year’s South Hagerstown squad is built on the foundation of speed with three sophomore sprinters — Wynter Cephus, Trinity Savage, and Chloe Gietka — set to return to the track after serving as members of the Rebels 4×100 relay, which finished seventh at outdoor states last season … Savage was also a state qualifier in the long jump last spring, and she’s coming off an indoor season that saw her lead the Local.News1 coverage area in the 60 … Junior Ajaya Alexander, who ran states for the Rebels’ 4×200 relay team last spring, adds depth to the group of Rebels sprinters, who graduated region medalist Jessica Franklin … Senior hurdles star Rhianna Ignasiak is back for the Reebls after earning region medals in both the 100 hurdles (4th) and 300 hurdles (7th) … Tochi Akanu Ujah, a senior, is angling for a strong outdoor season after leading the Local.News1 area in the shot put during indoor season … South Hagerstown will be looking to replace the graduated Riley Troxell, who took third in pole vault at outdoor states last season, and Ana Small-Simmons, a state qualifier in the shot put.
Opener: Saturday, March 29, at Paul Arbogast Memorial Invitational
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Adam Rudy
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Top projected returners: Jenna Howe (Sr., Sprints/Mid-Distance), Alaina Pate (Sr., Sprints), Grace Ellis (Sr., Mid-Distance), Kayla Hawbecker (Sr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Cora Gentzel (Sr., Mid-Distance/Distance), Taylor King (Sr., Hurdles), Melyssa Bard (So., Sprints), Alyiah Wygant (Sr., Throws), Emilia Spithaler (So., Jumps), Lilian Hade (So., Mid-Distance/Pole Vault), Alexandria Spithaler (Sr., Pole Vault).
Notable: Every Class 1A team in Maryland will be gunning for for the Leopards, the defending MPSSAA outdoor team champion … Smithsburg has hammers all through its lineup, with seniors Jenna Howe and Cora Gentzel leading the way … Howe earned silver medals in three events — the 100 (12.57), 200 (25.78), and 400 (58.43) — at outdoor states last spring … Gentzel is also a returning triple-medalist after a junior season that saw her take second at outdoor states in the 1,600 (5:19.14) and sixth in both the 800 (2:24.64) and 3,200 (12:06.02) … In addition to Howe and Gentzel, the Leopards return six other outdoor state medalists, including Kayla Hawbecker (3rd in 1,600; 5th in 800), Grace Ellis (4th in 800), Taylor King (4th in 300 hurdles), Alexandria Spithaler (4th in pole vault), Emilia Spithaler (6th in triple jump), and Lilian Hade (8th in pole vault), as well as two other state qualifiers in Alaina Pate (100) and Alyiah Wygant (discus) … Smithsburg is favored to repeat as state champions in the 4×200, 4×400, and 4×800, as the three relays combine to return all but one member this year … The Leopards will be aiming to defend their state championship without graduated state medalists Michaela Gross (3rd in 3,200; 6th in 1,600), Leah Howe (8th in 100 hurdles), and Lily Proctor (4th in discus).
Opener: Friday, March 21, at Charas Heurich Invitational
