Despite a 19 second victory by junior Kaleb Kabakjian, the Comet harriers suffered close losses against McCaskey (27-30) and hosting CV (24-30) while the girls' team came away with a split, edging CV 27-28 before a 25-32 loss to McCaskey in Witmer last Tuesday.

Tristan Weaver (5th), Carter Vinson (10th), Jack Hightower (13th), and first year runner Chase Bearden (18th) rounded out Manor's top five while Jerico Strohmeyer slipped in at 20th.

"The boys were missing three of their top eight but still kept it close," said head coach Andrea Kramer. "And this was Kaleb's first win in his high school career."

Abby Ames, Kenzie Nafziger and Bethany Hetrick finished 5th through 7th, respectively to lead the Comets. Zoe King was 12th with Madison Martin (14th), Polina Balkenhol (15th), Leiana Martin (16th) following in a pack.

"Strong pack running was the key," said Kramer. "First win of the season was a total team effort."

TENNIS

In back-to-back matches the Comets earned yet another team victory, rebounding from a 5-2 loss at Manheim Township and knocking off Warwick 5-2 Sept. 9.

Catherine Rabatin and Erin Shipley got Manor on the board with 8-5 doubles win but the Streaks prevailed, winning three of four singles matches. Rabatin made a short work of Kayla Kurtz, winning 6-1, 6-0. At No. 4, Autumn Kirkley put up some good numbers but lost 6-4, 6-3. She also teamed with Daphne Eisenhauer at No. 3 but the duo bowed out 8-5.

On Friday, the girls swept singles play to overcome a 2-1 doubles deficit and left Lititz with a victory.

"It's the first time we've beaten them since 2020," said head coach Amanda Pryzbylkowski. "I'm proud of the girls and the hard work they put in during the off-season."

Rabatin and Haley Hutchinson's 8-0 doubles win put the Comets on the board. Rabatin went on to post a shutout at No. 1 singles, Hutchinson won 6-2, 6-4 and both Shipley and Kirkley posted 6-1, 6-1 wins to wrap up the victory.

The girls improved to 5-3 overall with a tight 4-3 win over McCaskey. Shipley and Daphne Eisenhauer pulled out an 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles while Sydney Gieg and Rose Emenheiser won 8-2 at No. 3.

Clinching the 'W' was Eisenhower with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles and Emenheiser's shutout at No. 4.

FOOTBALL

In what has become a typical Penn Manor/Solanco clash, the Comets saw a 19-7 lead slip away as Solanco escaped Millersville with another thriller, 29-26 on Friday, Sept. 9.

"We've had some great games against Solanco," said head coach John Brubaker. "The effort was there, and I was happy with the steps we took forward. Yes, we would like to come out on top but we're making progress."

Noah Bolin's three -yard run in the first quarter gave the hosts an early lead. Solanco forged ahead 7-6 early in the second but the Comets answered with a 46-yard run by QB Eli Warfel (60 yards rushing, 62 yards passing) and another Bolin TD, this one two-yards. A Peter Skiadas PAT made it 19-7 after a failed two-point conversion on Warfel's TD.

"I thought Eli played pretty well," said Brubaker. "He got us in the right situations more often than not. Peyton Witmer and Sebastian Rivera (6 tackles, 1 sack) played well as did Dhamir Wesley (2 receptions, 30 yards). We have to do a better job utilizing his strengths."

Josiah Forren rushed for 128 yards and scored twice for the Mules after the break. He also snagged the interception that iced the victory with 2:07 left to play. Spencer Stuart's two -yard burst in the third quarter was the only TD Manor managed in the second half.

"We played a better first half and they played a better second half," said Brubaker.

BOYS' SOCCER

Penn Manor's up and down season continued with a 3-0 league win over McCaskey Sept. 7 and a 3-2 loss to Cedar Cliff two days later.

Jonathan Harthon and Alexander Mowery provided a pair of first half goals while Owen Leddy scored in the 69th minute to cap the scoring. Drew Lebo needed just three saves to earn his first shutout of the year.

Despite an 11-6 advantage in shots on goal, the Comets fell short against Cedar Cliff. Taking a feed from Thatcher Kratz, Harthon scored in the 47th minute and then assisted on Tyler Hostetter's goal 12 minutes later.

"We need to finish the opportunities we have," said head coach Paul Taylor. "Staying composed and disciplined will help us win more games. This was evident in the Cedar Cliff game where we were not as focused as we should have been.

"Overall, Tommy Lebo, Xander Mowery, Logan Greenawalt and Thatcher Kratz played well."

In a tightly contested outing in Witmer last Tuesday, Conestoga Valley snuck in the game-winner in the 79th minute, handing the Comets a 1-0 loss.

FIELD HOCKEY

The field hockey team earned its second straight non-league win on Saturday. In the 3-0 shutout over State College, freshman Chloe Hook opened the scoring with a first quarter tally and wrapped things up at the 7:15 mark of the third. Tristan Groff added the second goal and dished an assist.

Adeline Arkhurst earned the shutout with three saves in goal and Annie Bibus added a defensive save.

The Comets were coming off a dominating effort over Elizabethtown. With 19 shots and 15 corners the visitors broke a 1-1 tie with seven straight goals en route to an 8-1 final.

Isabelle Thatcher notched a Texas hat trick with four goals, including two in the first. She also dished out one assist as did Caity McGough who contributed with two goals. Olivia Cox and Groff rounded out the scoring.

Last Tuesday the Comets pounded out 15 shots, worked 16 corners but barely broke through Manheim Central's defense. Thatcher's goal at the five-minute mark in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner. Arkhurst made just one save on the night.

Up just 2-1 at the half, Manor exploded for six second half goals in an 8-3 runaway over L-S on Wednesday. Liz Bustillo and Groff (2a) paved the way with two goals each. Bibus, Grace Gerner, Avery Bradburn and Hook each scored one.

GIRLS' SOCCER

In non-league action Saturday, Sept. 10 at Comet Field, Penn Manor secured its fourth straight victory with a 2-1 overtime thriller over Mechanicsburg, the defending District 3 3A champs.

"It was a good challenge for us, especially since we were missing our center midfielder," said head coach Bill Zapata. "I think we just wore them down. We don't have many subs, so the girls play a lot of minutes."

Freshman Lilly Rineer gathered up a failed clear and went 1v1 with the keeper, putting Manor on the board in the 15th minute. The Wildcats tied the game in the 54th minute and set the stage for Carly Keene's game-winner on a pass from Rineer.

"I think Lilly is in the top ten in the league in scoring, as a freshman," noted Zapata. "Our offense is pretty potent, if we do it right," he continued.

Last Tuesday the Comets notched its second 8-goal victory, blanking Conestoga Valley behind a Keene hat trick. Lauren Stoner added two goals and Izzy Kligge, Carolyn Hinkle and Rineer each scored in a span of seven minutes to put the game out of reach.

VOLLEYBALL

With a match-high seven kills from Cassidy McCollum, the Comets earned its first win of the early season last Tuesday, topping Cedar Crest 25-16, 25-14, 25-17. Janelle Bowmaster and Elaina Knaub served up three aces each to add to McCollum's offense. Jordan Bailey (10 digs), Knaub (21 assists) and Taylor Long (3 blocks) also contributed.