Rough Start, Hopeful Finish
The Colonials lost their first game of the season to cross-town rival Delone Catholic Squires by the score of 14-0. In the first quarter, the Colonials shut down the Squires, and the score was 0-0 by the end of the first. At the start of the second quarter, the Colonials gave up an early 43-yard touchdown run to Delone’s Kodi Reed. On the next drive, the Colonials had a chance to score, but they could not convert. On Delone’s next drive, Tyler Smith ran the ball in for a 12-yard touchdown. Linebacker Brett Riser had fourteen tackles and Jared Hagerman had two forced fumbles. Quarterback Quinn Starner led all rushers with 70 yards on 18 carries. The following week the team will attempt to even the record in a contest between the Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils (1-0) at home.
The Colonials took on the heavily-favored Blue Devils of Greencastle-Antrim. The Devils got of to a quick start by scoring an early touchdown, but they missed the extra point. After the first quarter, the Blue Devils started to dominate. They scored two touchdowns and held off New Oxford in the second quarter. Then in the third quarter, Colonial star linebacker, Brett Riser was injured on a goal-line stand which resulted in a touchdown for Greencastle. Riser was able to walk off under his own power, but did not return. Steve Sanders had fifteen tackles and a sack for the Colonials while Joe Murren added another twelve tackles. Starting quarterback, Quinn Starner, completed two passes for twenty-five yards and threw two interceptions in the losing effort. Greencastle running back Devin Schaeffer ran for 169 yards on twenty carries, had three rushing touchdowns, and threw for one touchdown. The final score ended up being 37-0 in favor of the Blue Devils (2-0). Looking forward to the third week of the season, the Colonials (0-2), who were underdogs once again, hit the road to face off with the Waynesboro Indians (0-2).
The Colonials won their first game of the season on September 17th, 2010, beating out the favored Waynesboro Indians 21-10. The Colonials started off fast by scoring an early touchdown. Waynesboro
The game against CY is one night that the Colonial football team wants to forget-- and fast. The Colonials were blown out by the Panthers of Central York by a convincing 54-0. The Colonials (1-3) couldn’t stop the Panthers (2-2) from dominating the field on both sides of the ball. Colonial quarterback Quinn Starner completed three of five passes for ten yards, and linebacker Brett Riser had eight tackles in the loss. The Colonial offense put up a very disappointing - 9 yards and had not a single first down. The offense was looking for ways to put up points and would look to turn things around against a tough old Division 1 rival, the Red Lion Lions (3-1).
The first half of the season wrapped up with the game against Red Lion, and unfortunately we took our lumps again as the team was blown out 56-6,. The Lions got off to a quick start by scoring 28 points in the opening quarter. The Lions dominated both sides of the ball just like the Panthers of Central York did the week prior to the Colonials. The Colonials did improve however by actually putting up 10 first downs instead of the zero that they put up against Central. Quinn Starner threw seventeen passes, completing six of them for 50 yards. Nick Slusser had the lone touchdown for the Colonials coming with 3:27 remaining in the game. The Colonials are hoping that Divisional play will create a different ending story for the season and give us a chance to compete for a playoff berth. Our first test would be against the Northeastern Bobcats (1-4).
On Friday, October 8th, the Colonials notched a much needed win against the Bobcats of Northeastern. The Colonial defense came out shaky, giving up a big run to Bobcat running-back, Aaron Greene, who eventually scored on a 1-yard touchdown plunge. The Colonials had a good chance to score on the following drive, but Quinn Starner was picked off in the end zone. In the second quarter, the Colonials got started with a 6-yard touchdown run by Starner. On the Bobcats next drive, Greene had another big run this time for a 53-yard score. Norhteastern led at the half by a score of 14-6. At the start of the third quarter, the Colonials came out firing by marching downfield and scoring on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Starner to Justin Hoffman. On the next Bobcat drive, a bad snap from center caused Colonial safety Dennis Greenholt, to tackle Norhteastern quarterback Nick Small in the endzone for a safety. After the third, the score was 14-14. The Colonials put the icing on the cake by moving quickly down field, topped off with an 11-yard run by our stalwart running back, Jared Hagerman. Quinn Starner led the offensive attack with 79 yards on 19 carries, and completing 8 of 17 passes for 138 yards a touchdown pass three interceptions, and a rushing touchdown. Colonial safety Aaron Yeely nabbed a big interception in the fourth quarter, while Steve Sanders led the Colonials defensive attack with 8 tackles. Also, defensive lineman Gage Bunner forced a fumble while Joe Murren had a fumble recovery. The Colonials are now 2-4 for the season and have a 1-0 record in divisional play. We will take on the Rams of Kennard Dale for at Colonial Stadium for Homecoming.
On Friday, October 8th, the Colonials notched a much needed win against the Bobcats of Northeastern. The Colonial defense came out shaky, giving up a big run to Bobcat running-back, Aaron Greene, who eventually scored on a 1-yard touchdown plunge. The Colonials had a good chance to score on the following drive, but Quinn Starner was picked off in the end zone. In the second quarter, the Colonials got started with a 6-yard touchdown run by Starner. On the Bobcats next drive, Greene had another big run this time for a 53-yard score. Norhteastern led at the half by a score of 14-6. At the start of the third quarter, the Colonials came out firing by marching downfield and scoring on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Starner to Justin Hoffman. On the next Bobcat drive, a bad snap from center caused Colonial safety Dennis Greenholt, to tackle Norhteastern quarterback Nick Small in the endzone for a safety. After the third, the score was 14-14. The Colonials put the icing on the cake by moving quickly down field, topped off with an 11-yard run by our stalwart running back, Jared Hagerman. Quinn Starner led the offensive attack with 79 yards on 19 carries, and completing 8 of 17 passes for 138 yards a touchdown pass three interceptions, and a rushing touchdown. Colonial safety Aaron Yeely nabbed a big interception in the fourth quarter, while Steve Sanders led the Colonials defensive attack with 8 tackles. Also, defensive lineman Gage Bunner forced a fumble while Joe Murren had a fumble recovery. The Colonials are now 2-4 for the season and have a 1-0 record in divisional play. We will take on the Rams of Kennard Dale for at Colonial Stadium for Homecoming.
Coach's Corner:
An Interview with Coach Muller
An Interview with Coach Muller
By: Ryan Wallen
I recently sat down with the head football coach of the New Oxford Colonials, Mr. Matt Muller. I asked him about how he thought the team was doing so far, and he responded by saying, “The first two games we played were against two playoff teams from last year-- Delone Catholic and Greencastle. Both are really good teams.” He also said, “The game versus Greencastle where they blew the door off of us, I felt a change in the team's attitude.” He added, “With the win versus Waynesboro
I then asked him who he thought had been the key contributors to the team so far. He replied, “I believe on defense, Steve Sanders who has had a lot of tackles, and Brett Riser who also has a lot of tackles.” “On offense, Jarred Hagerman because he has had two touchdowns for us on the ground, and he has been effective. And on special teams, it has to be Conner Neiman because when he gets the chance to return the ball, his returns are electric and exciting to watch.”
I followed up by asking him what teams he is the most excited to play. He answered, “Northeastern, because they are our first new division (Division 2) game at home.” “Plus, Northeastern has only had a football team for 2 or 3 years, so I’m excited for those reasons.”
I also asked him how he planned on keeping the momentum going heading into a tough few weeks. He replied, “We have to keep having good practices and the boys have a different buzz now that they won the game, so I plan on keeping doing what I am doing.”
I then asked what he thought the teams’ downfall has been so far. Coach Muller answered very quickly: “Youth. We only have three seniors starting this year on both offense and defense, and I truly think that is our downfall.”
The final question I asked him was who he thought has been the most improved player so far this year. He replied by saying that all the boys have improved, but the junior safety Austin Johnson is the one who has improved the most. I thanked him for his valuable time and said that I hoped we could have another opportunity to interview him as the schedule turns our attention to our Division 2 opponents.
An Insider’s View
of the Girls’ Tennis Team
By: Sarah Rudasill
The New Oxford girls’ tennis team has had a record-breaking season this year on and off the court. Tennis is a sport that is often misunderstood or assumed to be “easy,” but the girls on the team will tell you differently: it takes a lot of skill to hit the ball with force and keep it in the court. Outlasting your opponent both mentally and physically in grueling three-and-a-half hour matches can be exhausting. They also mention returning 80 mile-per-hour serves and working to win crucial break points is incredibly difficult while maintaining a good mental attitude. Yet the girls on our tennis team have had great success this year in doing all of the above.
Under head coach Travis Martin and assistant coach John Henne, the girls have had the most successful season ever. As of October 1st, the team was in third place in the league, their highest ranking in the history of the program. They have conquered challenging opponents such as Biglerville, Red Lion, and West York during the course of the season. They have improved their record against dominating teams like Dallastown and Central York by working hard to earn several points in each match.
One may wonder why this year’s team has found so much success. The girls say it is because of the team’s close bond and ability to work together through tough situations, on and off the court. Like freshman Jenna Doron stated, “Everyone always encourages each other, and even though there can be some problems, we always manage to work them out.” Sophomore Rachel Storm agrees. “We get along very well as a team. But our success is also due to our hard work during both matches and practices.” The girls say one of the key elements to a successful tennis season is working hard and having fun doing it. Rachel phrased it perfectly, stating, “Tennis is just really fun. We have fun together and make new friends.”
Tennis is a very unique sport for several reasons. It is the only sport where you can lose more points than your opponent but still win the match. It also gives players the priceless opportunity to totally “start over” the match if it is not going their way. Since tennis utilizes a three-set scoring system, if a player loses the first set, they can start fresh and come back to conquer the next two! Another reason why tennis differs from other sports is that it is a huge mental game. During the course of a tennis match, players make dozens of mistakes. The best tennis players are the ones that can shake off those mistakes and focus on winning the next point rather than getting angry after missing a shot.
Jenna Doron pointed out another exclusive attribute of tennis: it is one of only a couple sports where a player decides their spot on the team. Players challenge each other to determine their order on the team rather than having a coach choose who plays. “It is also a team sport, but you play individually and can move up as the season moves on,” Jenna stated. Five singles matches and two doubles matches are played, each worth one varsity point. Players compete individually but come together collectively for the team to win.
Looking into future seasons, it appears the girls are destined to get even better. The team is young with only one senior, and the junior varsity team remained undefeated for the entire season. That demonstrates the Colonials’ depth on the roster, and as players continue to develop, the team will only improve.
Co-captains Sarah Rudasill (sophomore) and Erin Luckenbaugh (senior) play numbers one and two, respectively, in varsity singles. They also pair up together as a force in number one varsity doubles. Sophomore Emily Groft dominates in the number three spot, junior Jordan Mlsna conquers in the number four position, and junior Sam Brzenk rounds out the top five for singles. Emily and Jordan team up together as the number two varsity doubles team.
The success of the team on the court does not stop there: the girls give back to the community multiple times throughout the season under Coach Martin’s philosophy of making the community a better place. The team raised money and participated in the American Heart Association’s annual heartwalk in Gettysburg. They also coach Jr. Tennis, a program that teaches younger kids basic tennis fundamentals each week.
Overall, the girls are incredibly happy with their achievements this season and plan to continue their hard work during training in the offseason. Although no one knows what the future holds, one thing we know for sure: their strong work ethic and desire to play will carry them far in their tennis careers.
Although the cheerleaders’ main job is to get the crowd rowdy, they also focus on stunting, tumbling, cheering, and dancing. So if dancing and gymnastics are considered sports, why isn’t cheerleading? Cheerleading is defined as "a sport that uses organized routines that usually range from 1 minute to 3 minutes, made from elements of tumbles, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games, and matches and/or compete at cheerleading competitions." However, while eighty percent of schools in theUnited States
Cheerleading was started by a man named Johnny Campbell in 1898 when he led on aMinnesota University
In 2003, it was officially declared a sport by the NCAA. In colleges and high schools across our country, there are no signs of any let up. In fact, the sport of cheerleading is about to go global with its addition to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games to held in London, England.
I asked 33 students (all of them non-cheerleaders) about whether they perceive cheerleading as a sport. Thirty said it was a sport, and three people said it was not.
Every one has their own opinion about cheerleading, and some may think it’s a sport, while others disagree. But it takes just as much as dedication as any other sport because cheerleaders put in just as much effort as any athlete would--because that is what we are--athletes.
Cross Country
By: Bryce Culp
Cross Country takes endurance, stamina, ability, and effort. It takes a lot of training to get ready for XC. Cross Country is growing in popularity as each year more runners become interested in one of the world's most ancient sports.
Our cross country program extends into the middle school team. The coach of cross country is Mr. Frantz who also coaches wrestling. He teaches social studies in the high school. He says that the team runs three miles at the minimum each practice. Frantz says that the high school team this year is the biggest group of XC runners that New Oxford has had. The furthest distance our team travels is about two hours away.
A question most people ask is if there is a difference between cross country and track & field. Coach Frantz said that there is a difference in that "in high school cross country, the team runs a 5K (3.2 miles), while in track, there are many different types of running events that you can do going from something like high jump, jumping hurdles, running relays, mile runs, and more. The nature of the running is just more diversified." When Coach Frantz was asked what he thinks invites teenagers to run, he said that "the camaraderie that comes with being on a team and going through training and competitions together is very important. The experience of belonging to something as a team helps that team become more like family as the season rolls along." So if you love to run as a way to boost your fitness, consider joining our cross country team for next season. You can get the information in Mr. Frantz’s room.
The girls had a great season with a 10-2 record and the guys' record was 5-7. Kaylee Kubisak turned in a stellar performance coming in 11th in districts, thus qualifying for states. Stay tuned for more about Kaylee's upcoming meet.
Is Cheerleading a Sport?
By: Keely Moore
Just like every other sport, cheerleading takes strength, flexibility, conditioning, endurance, and stamina. Many people criticize cheerleading and think that all we do is lead the rally cries of fans. Over the years, it has grown into something much more competitive.
Although the cheerleaders’ main job is to get the crowd rowdy, they also focus on stunting, tumbling, cheering, and dancing. So if dancing and gymnastics are considered sports, why isn’t cheerleading? Cheerleading is defined as "a sport that uses organized routines that usually range from 1 minute to 3 minutes, made from elements of tumbles, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games, and matches and/or compete at cheerleading competitions." However, while eighty percent of schools in the
Cheerleading was started by a man named Johnny Campbell in 1898 when he led on a
In 2003, it was officially declared a sport by the NCAA. In colleges and high schools across our country, there are no signs of any let up. In fact, the sport of cheerleading is about to go global with its addition to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games to held in London, England.
I asked 33 students (all of them non-cheerleaders) about whether they perceive cheerleading as a sport. Thirty said it was a sport, and three people said it was not.
Every one has their own opinion about cheerleading, and some may think it’s a sport, while others disagree. But it takes just as much as dedication as any other sport because cheerleaders put in just as much effort as any athlete would--because that is what we are--athletes.
Major League Baseball Postseason Predictions
By: Ryan Wallen
The end of baseball’s regular season has come to an end and the postseason is looming over the entire sports world.
For the American League Divisional Series (ALDS), the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays will face off against the AL West champion Texas Rangers for a chance to go to the American League Championship Series (ALCS). I believe the underdog Texas Rangers will pull off the upset to advance. In the other ALDS matchup the AL Central champion, the Minnesota Twins will take on the AL Wild Card Team, the 27-time, and defending World Series Champions, the New York Yankees. The Yankees should win this series with no problem to advance to the ALCS to face off with the Texas Rangers. The ALDS is a best of five series, so the first team to win three games in the series moves on to the ALCS, and the winner of the ALCS, which is a best of seven series, will move on to the World Series to face the National League Champion.
And speaking of the National League, in the National League Divisional Series (NLDS) the defending National League and NL East Champion Philadelphia Phillies will be facing off with the NL Central Champion Reds of Cincinnati, Ohio. I believe the Phillies are going to win the Series and move on to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) to face off against the NL Wild Card Champion Atlanta Braves of the NL West Champion San Francisco Giants. I predict that the Braves will win this series for their long-time and Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox. In the ALCS, I think that the Yankees will advance to their second straight World Series to face off against the Philadelphia Phillies who will beat the Atlanta Braves in seven tough and grueling games.
In the World Series I predict that the Phillies will give it their all to get another title, but the Yankees pitching will push through and beat the Phillies in seven games for their second straight World Series title.
Predictions are always dangerous, but they are a game in and of itself, made even more fun if you get on a winning streak. So, baseball fans of young and old alike, who do you think will win?
Roy Halladay
Throws Second No-hitter
Throws Second No-hitter
in Postseason History!
By: Ryan Wallen
Philadelphia Phillies ace, Roy Halladay, made history on October 6th, 2010 by throwing only the second no-hitter in Major League Baseball Postseason history. Halladay was making his first postseason start of his career after languishing for 12 disappointing seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. He had already thrown a perfect game May 29th, 2010 against the Florida Marlins. (A perfect game means a pitcher retires all 27 batters without giving up a hit or a walk; a no-hitter is going a whole game without giving up a hit).
This season, Halladay went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA (Earned Run Average) and recorded 219 strikeouts. Halladay has been the Phillies ace since coming over from Toronto
The Phillies of course won the game 4-0.
Halladay is the second person to ever throw a no-hitter in the postseason. The first one to accomplish this feat was Don Larsen, who threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series for the New York Yankees. He also became the first pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1973 to throw two no-hitters in a season.
I am not the only sportswriter who believes that Roy Halladay will win the NL Cy Young award this season which is given to the best pitcher in the National League. I also would say that with the kind of stellar pitching by Halladay and friends and an amazing line-up built on power and speed, the Phillies are going to go deep into the playoffs and possibly contend for a World Series title.
Move over, Reggie, Mr. Doctober is coming to town.
Little League World Series Recap
By: Ryan Wallen
By: Ryan Wallen
Japan has emerged victorious in the LLWS by taking the crown over United States represented Waipahu, Hawaii by the score of 4-1 on August 29th, 2010. The Hawaiian squad, who had won the LLWS title in 2008, was looking for their second title in three years, but the Japanese team had something to say about that.
In the title game played in Williamsport , PA , Japan Hawaii put up a fight though. After losing the first game in the tournament’s group round, they stormed back to win their next four elimination games to advance to the title game against Japan
In the championship title game, Japan had a 2-0 lead, but in the fifth inning Hawaii threatened to make a comeback. W Japan
This was Japan Japan
Before the title game, the 3rd place game pitted Chinese Taipei against the U.S. team from Pearland , Texas United States Taipei
United States-32
Japan-7
Mexico-3
Chinese Taipei-9
South Korea-2
Venezula-2
Curacco-1
Japan Does their 2010 Victory Lap
