The Barons had seven grapplers compete February 19-20 at Sectionals, where the top two finishers advanced to the District Three tournament. No Manheim Central wrestler advanced to districts, though several grapplers performed better against a wrestler they battled earlier in the season.

Dominic Flatt, of Solanco, defeated Manheim's Gabe Thomas on a technical fall, 18-3 at 106 pounds. Thomas lost his next bout to Jordan Williams, of Hempfield, on a pin. At 138 pounds, Kamron Fickes, of Hempfield, defeated Manheim's Uriah Warner on a major decision, 10-2. Warner was pinned in his next bout against Jacob Myers, of Palmyra. Warner did beat Lampeter-Strasburg's Josh Heisey on a major decision, 15-2.

At 145 pounds, Logan Forrest avenged an earlier loss - in the last week of the regular season - to L-S's

Alex Cardwell, earning a fall in the rematch. In the quarterfinals, Forest lost 18-4 to Warwick's Alex McClune and lost in consolations on a fall to Hempfield's Reagan Lefevre. At 152, Dakota Thomas pinned Salem Essis, of Hershey, but lost 10-4 in the quarterfinals to Warwick's David Wooley and 4-2 in the consolations to Solanco's Steven Williams.

At 172, Barons' coach Billy Chamberlain said Rocco Daugherty lost 4-3 on a controversial last second decision to L-S's Liam Feister. On a positive, Daugherty battled in the bout, after being pinned by Fiester earlier this season. Daugherty lost on a fall in the consolation to Bobby Walters of Elizabethtown.

At 189, Brett Barbush lost to Hempfield's Russell Walters and Palmyra's Jase Jones.

Wyatt Kupres, 215 pounds, was pinned in both his bouts, losing to Michael O'Hare, of Manheim Township, and Nathaniel Mosey, of Central Dauphin. At heavyweight, Ryland Fittery gained a pin over Donegal's Nicholi Brotzman. Earlier this season Fittery beat Brotzman on a close 1-0 bout. Fittery lost his next two matches on falls to L-S's Zach Shelley and Central Dauphin's Ben Stewart.

Overall, Chamberlain was pleased with his team's performance.

"We had some guys who performed better than in the regular season," he said. "I was pleased to see the fight and pleased to see the effort. I like our future and where we are going with it."

BOWLING

Jesse Hurst bowled well in the Lancaster-Lebanon League tournament Feb. 24 at Leisure Lanes, but not well enough to advance in the post season.

The sophomore missed advancing by 41 pins, finishing with total score of 826 and needing an 867 to move on. The top 20 advanced to the next round in leagues. He finished No. 25 overall in the league tourney. This is a stark improvement from last year when in placed in the top 40 bowlers.

Hurst had to make adjustments to the oil on the lanes. In the first two games he rolled a 136 and a 144. After moving over in lanes, he adjusted to the oil to post 187 and 211 in the next two games. After four games he ranked No. 21 overall. Back to his original lanes, he struggled in his fifth game, rolling a 148 and dropping to No. 25.

"He did about what I expected," Barons' coach Alan Sides said. "He made the adjustment in the middle rounds and was really clicking and then moved back to the original lanes and struggled again. Overall, he did very well."

This ends Manheim's season. Sides said he will hand out individual awards. Hurst will get the Most Valuable Player award, averaging a 179 score. Aaron Vogel gained Most Improved honors and Landon Statts earned Rookie of the Year.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

The Barons are entering the post season playing their best basketball. MC defeated Donegal 70-49 on Feb. 24. Winners of five in a row and beating teams by least a 20-point margin in four of the five victories, the Barons (11-5) are playing strong defense and hitting the open shots on offense.

Ahead 41-22 at halftime, the Indians cut the lead to 12 early in the third quarter, but Manheim responded with a 7-0 run and never looked back. Barons' coach Charlie Fisher said Trey Grube, who finished with 19 points, carried the offense early and Cam Eberly played a strong overall game, posting a team-high 24 points and collecting 15 rebounds.

"Eberly was awesome the whole game," Fisher said. "His energy is amazing. All the role players stepped up."

Judd Novak and Wyatt Becker had great games and Logan Shull, who has started recently as Fisher changed up the lineup, has played well in his new role.

With only one game in a week, Fisher said he used the extra time to focus on improving parts of the Barons' game and preparing for District Three Class 5A tournament, which will be a new experience for all his players, playing in the postseason for the first time.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

The Lady Barons did not play a game this week but used the idle time to prepare for the District Three tournament. This is the second straight season MC, which has a 10-6 record, has made districts.