WAYNESBORO – Lydia Shank can get through the remaining months of her senior year at Waynesboro Area Senior High School knowing where she is attending college and what her primary sport will be.
Shank, the daughter of Jeb and Ashley Shank, signed a letter of intent to attend Mansfield University, where she will major in communications and play softball. Shank has played primarily catcher but has also taken the field as a first baseman and third baseman.
“It’s a big weight lifted off of me,” said Shank. “I won’t have to send any more emails or go through the recruiting process.”
The short version of Shank’s path to Mansfield is as good as any extended version. Shank’s travel team, the Pennsylvania Krunch (based in Carlisle) held a showcase camp at which Mansfield softball head coach Edith Gallagher was present.
It didn’t take too long for Shank to make her verbal commitment to Mansfield. And, this past Wednesday, Shank took part in a ceremonial college signing at WASHS. In addition to her parents, her brother Hayden and sister Evelyn, her Pennsylvania Krunch head coach Joe Henry and assistant coach Joe Piper.
“I think playing catcher definitely helps,” Shank said. “It could give me an awesome opportunity.”
Shank isn’t just a good softball player. She is a model student. Shank is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society and has earned Honors with Distinction every marking period at WASHS.
“(Softball) is a sport that she really took to her love for the game continues to grow,” said her father. “She was 11 or 12 when she wanted to play competitively.”
Lydia Shank will play one more season for the Waynesboro Maidens varsity softball team before getting prepared for college life, including a new level on the softball diamond.
