As a tune-up for the sectional wrestling tournament (Feb. 19), Solanco scheduled a non-league match with Donegal the week before and came away with a 42-24 victory.

"Nick Evans is the head coach at Donegal," said Solanco boss Tony Mendez. "I coached Nick and he's doing a great job there. It's nice that he's giving back to the sport. We talked a lot before the match, trying to get the best matchups for both teams to help prepare for sectionals."

The match opened with the 215-pounders. Donegal took the early lead, posting back-to-back first period falls, and then secured a third fall, at 113, after Solanco's Caden Rutt decked Nathan Rothstein at 106 to put the Mules on the board.

The fifth straight fall of the match went to Solanco's Weston Bare, with a 52 second result against Mark Overlander, cutting the lead to 18-12.

Donegal responded at 126 with a 5-0 decision but won just one match after that.

Solanco started its rally with Jared Fulton's 3:37 fall over Landon Keller at 132 and then picked up forfeit points at 138 and 152. Donegal sandwiched its last win between those forfeit points, earning a tight 8-6 overtime decision over Ben Williams at 145.

"This was Ben's first match coming back from an injury," said Mendez. "Even though it was a loss, it was good to get a match before sectionals," said Mendez.

Solanco's second overtime match of the night went to Wade Adams who earned a takedown in the extra time to secure the win.

"Wade wrestles 152 but Donegal didn't have a 152-pounder so we moved him up," noted Mendez. "It was a competitive match."

Blaine Plastino followed that with a 5-1 decision over Silas Mumper, breaking a 0-0 first period tie with Silas Mumper with three back-points to take the lead for good.

Wrapping up the night was Robert Castagna's pin at 189. Up 4-2 in the first period, Castagna made short work of Stewart Carroll, posting the fall at 2:31.

SWIMMING

Solanco's Addie Scott competed in the Lancaster-Lebanon League Championships on February 12 as an independent swimmer. Making the trip to the Roy G. Snyder Natatorium at Wilson High School in West Lawn, Scott successfully defended her two league titles captured in 2021. The junior swam the first event on Saturday and clocked a winning 52.98 in the 100 freestyle, holding off Warwick junior Melanie Hahn (53.88) and Lampeter-Strasburg sophomore Zara Paisley (54.10).

Three events later, Scott posted a winning 58.05 in the 100 backstroke. Hempfield junior Lilian Farmer was second with a 1:00.37.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Solanco hosted Penn Manor Monday, Feb. 14. Both teams were looking to pick up their third win of the season. Despite a solid first half and a fourth quarter rally, the Mules fell short, 58-54.

"Our offense got a little stagnant in the third quarter and Penn Manor knocked down some shots," said head coach Dave Long. "We fought hard in the fourth to get back and came up just a little short."

Jayden Yoder knocked down a game-high 22 points, just four off his season high, and netted seven of Solanco's nine first quarter points. They led the Comet by one and extended the advantage to 24-21 at the break. Elijah Cunningham sparked that quarter, netting six of his 12 points.

The Comets regrouped after the break and took control, out pointing the hosts 20-10 with six different players scoring. They led 41-34 heading into the final quarter.

Behind eight more points from Yoder, Solanco mounted a comeback, outscoring the visitors 20-17, but came away with the four-point loss. Trent McDowell chipped in with 11 points, including five in the fourth quarter. Noah Bailey tallied all five of his points in the second half, Austin Wenger hit a three-pointer and Noah Baber went one-for-two from the foul line to round out the scoring.

"Austin played great and took two charges," added Long.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

After picking up back-to-back wins over Northern Lebanon and Warwick, the Mares were looking to make it three in a row last Thursday, February 10 in a home game against Manheim Township. The Lady Streaks, who ended Hempfield's opportunity for a Section One title, needed a strong second half to pull off a 53-35 victory.

In a nip-and-tuck first half, Olivia Lasko buried a pair of three-pointers and dropped eight of Solanco's nine first quarter points. The Streaks saw four different players score and managed a slim 10-9 advantage. Both teams were even up in the second quarter, netting 11 each. Lasko canned another triple and finished the half with 13 points.

"We were patient on offense and were getting good looks," said head coach Chad McDowell. "And defensively we were getting the stops. We did a good job hanging with a district qualifying team."

But whatever Township head coach Sean Burkhart said at halftime must have worked because his Streaks opened the second half with a 9-0 run to take control of the game.

"They increased their defensive intensity, and we were left with difficult shots," said McDowell.

The hosts finished with four points in the quarter, all at the hands of Lasko, and the Streaks pulled away, netting 15 for a 36-24 advantage with eight minutes remaining.

Township buried a pair of threes in the fourth quarter and went to the line for 12 free throws, connecting on seven. They finished with an impressive 21-of-28 attempts.

"We were playing aggressive man defense and they created contact to get to the line," said McDowell. "We also took some chances with some aggressive traps that led to some aggressive fouls."

In addition to a game and career-high 22 points, Lasko had yet another double-double with ten rebounds. She also added two assists and a pair of steals to her totals. Kendal Janssen followed with five points and four rebounds; Kara Peace chipped in with four points and two steals; Hannah Wood scored two points and grabbed four rebounds; and Jaelyn Olmeda also scored two points as Solanco capped its season at 3-19 overall.

"Even though we didn't get three wins in a row, I am pleased that we got two," said McDowell. "This team has worked so hard, and they went out and played every game and never gave up. They just battle. I am proud of their efforts."