Donegal played host to Solanco in a Lancaster-Lebanon League match on Thursday, February 10. The Indians kept pace with the Mules, evening the score at 24-24 with five bouts remaining.

Unfortunately, the second of two forfeits and a pair of close Solanco victories helped the visitors claim a 42-24 win.

The two forfeits were largely due to two major injuries that have Noah Hinkel and Landen Baughman sidelined.

"If Hinkel and Baughman were in there, it changes the matchups with Solanco," head coach Nick Evans stated.

One weight class the Indians did not have to forfeit was at 113 pounds. That was where Jarren Flohr filled in nicely for Hinkel.

"Jarren Flohr got his first varsity win," Evans pointed out. "He was filling in for Hinkel. Anytime you can see a kid who has worked hard as a backup get a win like that, it gets him confidence going forward."

The match began with Owen Champ and Nicholai Brontzman each earning six team points. Champ pinned Jaden Summers at the 1:08 mark of the 215-pound bout. Brotzman followed with a 23-second pin at 285.

Following a Solanco pin at 106, Flohr pinned Wyatt Shiffler 5:05 into the 113-pound match. That pin gave the Indians an 18-6 lead.

"Owen Champ had a nice win," Evans said. "The thing about him is that he came out for his senior year after a decent football season and he has filled in nicely. He leads by example."

And Champ's presence is also helpful in making sure Brotzman has a practice partner for the heavyweight class.

"Having Owen Champ in the room also helps, being able to practice with Brotzman," added Evans.

"Nicholai Brotzman is having a great season," continued the coach. "We're very excited for him. He could qualify for districts."

Another Solanco pin cut the Indians' lead to 18-12, but Benyamin Viselli came through by blanking Luke Scott 5-0, thus giving Donegal a 21-12 lead.

The Mules gained 12 points, six of which were uncontested, and were up 24-21 when Ruben Mumper's 8-6 decision at the 145-pound bout tied it at 24-24.

"It was a good close match - a good close decision," Evans recalled. "He was in a couple of takedowns. It was just a matter of taking the shot and finishing.

"He is a good competitor," Evans added. "It was a single leg position. He finished what he needed to do."

Another Donegal forfeit made it 30-24 in Solanco's favor heading into the 160-pound match. That was where senior Andrew Small came up just short in a 6-4 decision.

"Andrew was also in a good close match with that kid," said Evans, referring to Wade Adams, the winner the decision. "He was up in the first and second periods with a couple of shots. Some little things could have changed the direction of that match. One little takedown or reversal could have changed the complexion of the match."

SWIMMING

Ethan Shenk grabbed first place in the boys' 100-yard backstroke and also grabbed gold in the 200-yard freestyle as a handful of Donegal swimmers earned medals at the L-L League Swimming and Diving Championships, which took place Friday and Saturday, February 11-12, at Roy G. Snyder Natatorium at Wilson High School.

"We have two seniors on the team - both boys," said Isaac Greene, the Donegal coach. "Grant Leibried is the other senior boy. He swam the 100 free and the 100 butterfly and did drop some time in the 100 fly."

In the 100 fly, Liebfried posted a time of 53.45 seconds, which was good for third place. In the 100 free, the senior registered a time of 49.75 as he took fifth place.

Shenk won the 200 free with a time of 1:45.47 and the 100 back in 51.47.

"He did very well in both the 200 free and the backstroke," Greene said. "He obviously has his sights set on going beyond leagues."

Greene explained that while Donegal does not have a swim team per se, the swimmers compete against some L-L League schools in exhibition meets.

"Some of the schools like Manheim Central and Lancaster Catholic are very accommodating," he added. "There is already a disadvantage for being a non-swim school. A lot of the headlines are about how teams are doing. These kids are getting a chance to shine at leagues. They are setting their sights on districts."

Sierra Houck, who is a junior, placed second in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.23. Emily Gambler of Columbia, who swims with the Donegal squad, finished fifth (25.85) in the event - in a tie with Grace Bresch of Penn Manor.

Gambler also swam an impressive 100 butterfly, taking fourth place in 1:01.63.

"Emily has been balancing basketball and swimming this season," Greene remarked.

Houck also earned a medal in the 100 free, finishing sixth at 55.23 seconds.

Also earning a sixth-place finish was junior Kylie Wilkinson. She swam the 200 freestyle in 2:01.22.

"It was a very good time for her," Greene said. "Her seed time was 2:07."

Hailey Leibried took sixth and Emma Myers 10th in the 200-yard individual medley with respective times of 2:24.21 and 2:25.75.

.