Hard work over months of practices, games, and late nights is a challenge many high school athletes face throughout their seasons. But for some athletes at State High, their efforts paid off as they were recognized with All-Division selection in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth.
Success is nothing new to State High athletes, and this year the trend didn’t stop. State College held precedent over 34 spots throughout six sports, and nearly half of them were All-Division First Team selections.
The most decorated of all the sports went to State College’s football team. With the team finishing 10-3 on the season, it made perfect sense that 18 State High selections were awarded.
All-Division selections for the offense went to seniors D’Antae Sheffey, Daimear Coad, Jake Lukac, Luke Milito, Hank Lustig, juniors Anthony Sheffey, Matt Gaul, and sophomore Connor Kulka. Sheffey also won the Offensive MVP for the Commonwealth with his impressive rushing season, totaling 1,613 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, AJ Fry, Lustig, Gaul, TJ Bowser, Trayce Brennan, Kellen Williams, Rowan Walker, and Shane Markowski, who was selected as both punter and place kicker, were awarded as well. Markowski spoke about how it was an honor to win, yet it makes the road ahead even more difficult.
“I mean, it definitely sets a bar pretty high to do the exact same thing next year. I’m kind of forcing myself to meet the exact same standards next year, but it’s a good thing overall just for my work ethic and all that,” Markowski said.
The football team was also awarded the Commonwealth Sportsmanship Award, which serves as a reminder of how a strong community and work ethic can come together to make something even greater.
“You know, you just gotta trust the guys around you, just do your job, know exactly what you’re meant to do and just trust yourself to do it, do your job every single snap,” Markowski said.
Just like football, winning is nothing new for the girls volleyball team, as they finished 18-5 on the season and undefeated in the Mid-Penn. The team was led by sisters, sophomore Stella Cawley and freshman Nora Cawley, who not only made All-Division First Team selections but were also awarded all-state honors by the PVCA.
For the second team, senior outside hitter Ella Doby and junior setter Kenzie Kurzinger were selected, followed by senior middle hitter Miley McLaughlin on the third team. Nora Cawley looked towards the future and how this accomplishment will motivate her both as a team and individually.
“Team-wise [a goal] is definitely to win a state championship, and then for myself, I just want to keep consistently improving,” she said.
The selections continued with State High Field Hockey, pulling in four athletes of their own. Sophomore midfielder Reagan Dare, who led the team with 13 goals on the season, made the All-Commonwealth First Team.
Junior midfielder Sadie Kocher and junior goalkeeper Cora Bierly, who tallied 135 saves, both made the second team. Forward Brynn Pezalski followed with a third team selection, scoring 12 goals for the Little Lions as a freshman.
The boys soccer team also excelled throughout their season, finishing with a winning record complemented by multiple overtime thrillers that resulted in wins for State High. The team was led by senior midfielder Ryan Hulek, whose outstanding performances earned him a first team selection.
Senior forward Daniel Sahakian and senior defender Jack Snyder both earned All-Commonwealth Second Team nods, while senior defender Bryce Dwyer and senior forward James Sheehan rounded out the third team. Dwyer shared the piece of advice that carried him throughout his career and played a large role in his selection.
“Leave your ripple in the bond. It’s something I have heard my dad say. It’s just like a great impact being able to have your spot and show others the way of how you want your own leadership and motivation to develop,” Dwyer said.
Finally, State High girls soccer faced some struggles throughout the year. Despite these setbacks, multiple players earned spots on all-division teams, while the team also joined football in earning the Commonwealth Sportsmanship Award.
Junior Leah Sampsel earned a spot on the first team at forward, while senior defender Leila Crandall was named to the second team, and freshman defender Shae Dwyer made the third team. A standout award went to State College head coach Kent Dwyer, who earned the Commonwealth Coach of the Year award.
Crandall shed light on the struggles the team faced throughout the season and how they overcame them together.
“Our schedule was very difficult as we’re playing in one of the competitive conferences, and there were times where we were playing six away games in a row, and that can be really challenging for a lot of girls. But, just being able to keep a positive mindset and focusing on each day as it comes was kind of our mentality,” Crandall said.
Through all the ups and downs, these teams, and especially these athletes, rose to the challenge of competing in one of the toughest conferences and etched their names into the award books.
