Indoor track States: Setting new PR’s, New school records

MEKENZIE MCCANN H/S Editor JACK O’CONNOR Reporter

On Feb. 21, six girls attended the meet competing in the pole vault, shot put, and the 4x800 Relay.

Athletic Live reports junior Anna O’Leary competed in the shot put, placing eighth, throwing 29.5 feet. At regionals, O’Leary “was the Regional Champion and set a school record,” Mr. Jimmy Cachola, the indoor track coach, says.

Junior Korynn Sims competed in the pole vault, placing sixth, clearing nine feet. Sims finished second at regionals, according to Cachola.

The 4x800 relay team, consisting of sophomore Eden Hussung, freshman Kendall Chandler, senior Sierra Weaver, and senior Jodylynn Cadden, ran an 11:11.35, placing ninth. The team placed “second at Regionals, and ran a season-best” at States, according to Cachola. Cachola comments that “it is an accomplishment to make States, [and the girls] did have a great season.” He also states that the girls “all performed very well, and [he is] proud of them.”

To make it to States, the girls “had to qualify at a highly competitive regional meet to get there. Only the top four from an event qualifies for States,” says Cachola. “Preparation for States started in November. [The team] has a formal practice three days a week and they also ran on their own. [O’Leary] and [Sims] worked on their events, shot put and pole vault, with their specific coaches to help with technique and other drills to get them to throw further or jump higher,” Cachola says.

Many students like Hussung believe that the drive of individual athletes and the excellent coaching is really what brought the indoor track team as far as states. Hussung participated in the 4x800 relay at states. “There were around 20-25 teams including all of 1A and 2A, but we still

Tennis season in full swing

EMILY JOHNSON

IDR Editor

The tennis team’s 2023 season has begun, and students from all grades tried out for the teams. There were no cuts made. Both teams also have new coaches as well.

The teams practice every day, from 3pm to 5pm. They begin with running a mile, either around the school property or on the track. Then, they stretch their muscles and begin drills. Each day, they work on different things, such as backhand or forehand, serving, and volleys. Players can also challenge the person that is ranked one spot higher than them during practice, in an attempt to move up the ladder.

Junior and foreign exchange student Baptiste Chone has been playing tennis for five years, and has missed playing since the beginning of his year in the U.S. “ [He is] really excited about the tryouts” and is also excited to play matches against other schools here. Chone usually plays singles as opposed to doubles, because he “doesn’t like to rely on someone else” when playing. “[He] is best at backhand and volleys,” but isn’t always consistent in plays. At the moment, he doesn’t have any expectations for the team, but still wants “everybody to try their best, even if it doesn’t bring a win for the team.” Chone also played soccer and occasionally ran back in France.

Sophomore Emma Clayton played on the varsity team last year, and will be joining them yet again. She was ranked number five. She hopes that the team will continue to improve their skills over the duration of this season. Clayton is “nervous for tryouts but definitely excited for the season.” She normally played third girls singles, but occasionally played doubles as well; she prefers singles between the two. “Looking at the schedule, [she thinks] we will have nine wins and five losses this year.”

Varsity coach Mr. Bryant Siegfried has played tennis since he was 14, and coached “on and off since [he] was a junior in college” as well. He also created a co-ed tennis club at Shippensburg University. This is his first year coaching at North Harford. His favorite part of coaching is “watching a player develop in their skills and abilities.” He believes it is “extremely rewarding” when their hard work pays off.

The varsity team will have an assistant coach as well, Mr. Carey Webb. The JV team will be coached by Mr. Mike Francis.

Siegfried commented that next year, the team will have many returning players.

Girls basketball: Looking back on, successful season

NOEL BAILEY Op/Ed Editor

The Hawks girls basketball team made it all the way to states, being ranked one of the highest and best teams in the region for girls basketball. The girls were close to making it to states this year.

They made it to the regional playoffs, but they did not win that game against Fallston to pursue into the next round.

The team only consisted of three seniors: Jenna Amrhein, Marissa Struhar, and Lillian Duffy.

There is only one junior on the team, Caroline Nicholson.

They had different sophomores and freshmen coming up throughout the season to play varsity for different games.

showed up and showed out,” said Hussung. O’Leary described her experience this year. “For the most part, it was a really tough year; the coaches really pushed, almost to our breaking point, but did so in a great way and I really saw a lot of improvement throughout the team this year and am not surprised that we made it to states.”

Though now that the indoor track season is over, many of its participants are looking forward to regular track. Hussung says, “indoor track was a great learning environment and I think it really helped prepare me for this upcoming track season.”

Members of the indoor track team say it is a great place to train, compete, and meet new people. O’Leary explains that the players are “a supportive and tight-knit team that strives for the team to succeed.” The athlete adds that “indoor track is a wonderful group of people, all hardworking and all pushing you to be better.” “Hoping to make states there as well, with just as much perseverance and hard work. Not to mention the excellent coaching,” says Hussung, who wishes our Hawks well and is excited for up-andcoming seasons.

The girls had a long and a “hard earned” winning streak, according to Struhar. The team “deserved everything we won,” said Struhar. Their record for this year was 17-4.

The girls started off their season with two big wins against C.Milton Wright (47-20) and Fallston (43-23).

Freshman Payton Dawson made the varsity team this year. Her experience on the team was “amazing, and [she] made lots of new friends while bonding over the game,” said Dawson.

Dawson’s favorite game she played in was “the Patterson Mill game, because we went into double overtime...they also had a big student section which made it all more fun.”

The team had lots of time and memories together, but Dawson’s favorite memory was “the game against Rising Sun, because they were the number one team, but [she] liked that game because [they] got hyped all before the game and it was exciting.”

The team had a close bond with each other. “We all had fun this season,” said Struhar.

The three seniors on the team, Amrhein, Struhar, and Duffy, were the captains of the team.

“This is my favorite sports season, and this team made it all even better,” said Struhar.

“I thought my senior season was great and it was such a fun year with the coaches and the girls, and we had a great season, great record, and overall just great,” said Stuhar.

The girls team won against Harford Tech 45-39.

“Beating Tech was probably my favorite game because it was very intense and a very close game, but we ended up pulling through to the win,” said Struhar.

“Being a team and friends, going out to eat and hanging out, or just being around each other,” is what made the team feel special to Struhar.