Solanco High School athletic director Anthony Hall was recently named as the District III Athletic Director of the Year by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Anthony received the honor after the organization's meeting of athletic directors in October, during which a vote was held to highlight an individual who has gone above and beyond to serve both the PIAA and his or her own athletic department.

To be eligible for the PIAA award, Anthony was chosen as the Lancaster-Lebanon Athletic Association's athletic director of the year. Anthony was nominated by another athletic director in the league to receive the honor, making him a candidate for recognition at the District III level. The ballot included various athletic directors from the region, and the vote was taken during the District III conference's annual meeting before the fall playoff season begins.

"I was extremely surprised and honored to be nominated," Anthony said. "We have some very good athletic directors in our league, and I was very humbled to be considered for the award."

Anthony has worked at Solanco High School for the last 10 years, but he has more than 18 years of experience as an athletic director. Prior to taking his current position, Anthony served as athletic director at Hanover High School as well as New Hope Academy Charter School in York city, which permanently closed its doors in 2014. Between the two positions, Anthony worked as the assistant athletic director at HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. After the closure of New Hope Academy Charter School, Anthony said he heard from a friend that Solanco was searching for a new athletic director. "I started at Solanco two weeks after the day I had to leave New Hope. It was a blessing," added Anthony.

Anthony commuted from York during his first year as Solanco's athletic director, eventually moving to his current home in Quarryville with his wife, Katie. "I traded an hourlong commute for a two-minute drive and three stop signs," Anthony joked.

Although Anthony moved to Quarryville to be closer to his work, he said that he's developed a deep appreciation for the Solanco community as a whole. "My wife and I have fallen in love with the community," Anthony said. "I love that Solanco School District is a community in itself, but the greater community is always backing the school. Whether it's athletics, music events or school functions, the community gets involved all the time." In addition to serving as the high school's athletic director Anthony coaches the varsity boys' basketball team.

In Anthony's role as Solanco's athletic director, one of his main duties is to oversee and schedule all of the high school's sporting events, and he's constantly checking in with coaches and athletes to make sure they have what they need. Anthony said one of the biggest challenges he's faced as athletic director is finding enough people to get involved behind the scenes, helping with tasks such as running a scoreboard or operating a game clock. "We're always advertising for people to help out during a game. Not just as a fan, but getting involved where help is needed," Anthony said. "Finding good workers makes it challenging, which is why I am able to do such a quality job at Solanco - I am surrounded by great people."