It was full steam ahead for the Comets competing in the District Three championships which got underway over the last week. The track teams were represented by nine individuals competing on Friday and Saturday, May 19-20 at Shippensburg University. The baseball team opened action on Friday while the softball team did the same on Monday. Both lacrosse teams opened on Tuesday, May 23 as did the volleyball team. With that being said, only the lacrosse teams advanced to the second round.

The girls' lacrosse team hosted ninth seed Dallastown (11-6) while the boys traveled to No. 8 State College. Both games came down to the wire with the girls pulling away for a 10-8 win and the boys advancing with an overtime triumph.

The lady Comets (13-5) fell behind 3-0 early and were down 4-1 before scoring three straight goals, one each by Mia Jones, Erin Shipley, and Emily Kemmer, to tie the score at 4-4 with 4:14 left. The visitors, however, shook off that momentum builder, scoring twice in the final 49 seconds for a 6-4 lead at the break.

"Our strength in facing adversity has improved this year and we take it on with stride," said head coach Anneli Starry. "This game, I think, showed that the best. Our mental game has gotten so much better this year from previous years."

The second half played differently. Manor' Jarliah Ferko scored the first goal after the break and then scored again with 9:42 remaining, knotting the score at 7-7.

"At halftime we talked about our strategy on defense and that changed the pace of the game," she added. "We shook things up on the attacking end as well, which again made Dallastown have to re-adapt. Adapting in real time is tough."

The Wildcats edged ahead 8-7 but not for long as Joelle Krosen's goal with 4:18 showing again tied the game. The Comets took their first and only lead when Erin Shipley scored from a free position with 1:42 left to play. Manor gained possession after the draw and added an insurance goal when Claire Eckroat assisted Kemmer with 25 ticks left. The hosts outscored the Wildcats 6-2 in that second half.

"In the final three minutes, I didn't lose hope," said Starry. "The girls stayed true, and I knew that we weren't going down. We took a timeout after that to talk about how to handle the final minute and what was going to happen, and the team made it happen."

Shipley (1a), Ferko and Kemmer each scored twice with Grace Gerner, Mia Jones, Kroesen, and Eckroat (1a) rounded out the balanced attack with one goal each. Mackenzie Nafziger finished with five saves.

The Comets have not been to district playoffs since 2016.

"Having a two-week layoff was tough but it gave us a chance to rest and learn some new tactics," said Starry. "Overall, the coaching staff is proud of what this team accomplished today."

BOYS' LACROSSE

Despite a 2.5-hour bus ride to State College, the boys' lacrosse team got off to a solid start, taking a 3-2 lead over the hosts Tuesday night. That, however, was short-lived as State College rallied with four second quarter scores and held a 6-4 lead at the half.

After a dead-even third quarter, the Comets (13-6) started to take control. They outscored State College 4-2 in the final quarter forcing extra time to decide the outcome. That was when Adam Hollinger stepped up with the game-winning goal, pushing Manor to an 11-10 triumph.

Eli Warfel led the way with five goals and two assists. Grant Bradburn and Benedict Flinchbaugh each scored twice with Aidan Gerlach adding one.

"We were down three with about three minutes left," recalled head coach Connor Rowe. "It took a full team effort and a lot of grit to fight back. I give a lot of credit to my assistant coaches and my offensive coordinator, Brady Charles. We have been best friends since preschool and have been drawing up plays in the back yard forever. The OT winner was no different.

"I think the most important plays were the faceoffs that rewarded us the ball late in the game," he added. "Our sophomore faceoff man, Ish Bolorin, stepped up to the plate. I'm proud of him and how he has competed all season.

"We have to enjoy this one but at the same time get ready for a second-round matchup against top seed Manheim Township (15-0)."

TRACK

At Shippensburg, Trevor Schneider was Manor's highest finisher, taking 9th after clearing 6-2 in the high jump. Six different athletes cleared that height with the results coming down to misses. Mechanicsburg's Ben Reichenbach, who also cleared 6-2, was fifth.

Kaleb Kabakjian's 9:33.91 in the 3200-meter run was a personal record and good for 12th place. Drew Lebo also finished 12th, clearing 12-3 in the pole vault while Mikayla Weaver matched that effort, going 4-10 in the high jump. The freshman was the fifth highest L-L League place-winner.

Jael Cruz was 17th in the discus with a 130-11. Both Adrian Smith and Jon Osman competed in the 100-meter dash and advanced to the semifinals. Osman also competed in the 200 and was part of the 4x100 relay with Jovani Martinez, Lebo and Smith.

VOLLEYBALL

The 14th seeded Comets (9-9) had a tall task in taking on No. 3 Central York (13-1) in the opening round of the District Three 3A playoffs last Tuesday. And while the Comets fell 3-0, their game scores of 25-17, 25-19 and 25-23 were more than competitive.

"We improved as we went and the scores reflected that," said head coach Chris Telesco. "We were proud of the fight we saw in the boys - down to the last point. Wyatt Rohrer showed he can run an offense with the best of setters and spread the ball beautifully. Harry Whited attacked the ball effectively, mostly because our passers passed even the toughest served with confidence.

"I am thankful that I was able to come back to be part of this crew," he added. "They were willing and eager to grow, and while the seniors will move on to bigger things, the younger guys show a ton of promise."

Wyatt Rohrer was solid all around as evidenced by his 15 assists, five digs, two aces, one block night. Harry Whited continued to be a force at the net and led with seven kills in addition to a pair of aces and two blocks. Noah Reen was close behind with six kills and also served two aces and put up one block. Luke Thomas led the blocking crew with three and also added four kills.

BASEBALL

The baseball team opened their road to a district championship with a first-round matchup at No. 7 Wilson on Friday, May 19. The underdog Comets almost pulled off an upset, bowing out with a heart-breaking 5-4, ten-inning loss.

"Really tough loss to end a really nice season," said head coach Tom Fish. "We lost ten seniors to graduation and still managed to take on a tough schedule, deal with injuries and come out with 12 wins, a winning 8-7 record in Section One and a trip to districts. And for the second straight year, we defeated each team in our section at least once. That is something I am really proud of."

Wilson took a 4-0 lead in the third with a two-run homer and a pair of two out RBI hits against starter Bradyn Eckert.

"Bradyn started the season with his broken left arm in a sling but got this start and cruised through the first two innings," recalled Fish.

Manor responded in the top of the fourth. Isaac Braegelmann, Grant Fry and Spencer Stuart loaded the bags with consecutive base hits. Then, with one out, sophomore Billy Riggs connected for a game-tying grand slam.

"The score was tied for what seemed like hours," said Fish. "Bryce Avery relieved Eckert and pitched a perfect fourth and Grant Fry, coming back from his own arm injury, went the rest of the way and gave his offense chance after chance by keeping Wilson off the board."

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth and no outs, Stuart made a catch deep in right and fired a perfect strike to home, gunning down the would be game-winning run at the plate.

"Unfortunately, with two outs, the next batter reached, and Wilson celebrated," Fish said.

"Proud of these guys and proud of the season they put together. This was the second straight year we lost a district playoff game on a walk off run in heartbreaking fashion," he added. "We need to find a way to host a game next year."

SOFTBALL

The No. 10 seed Comets (14-6) traveled to No. 7 Dallastown (15-5) last Monday, May 22 but couldn't find enough offense to advance. The Wildcats, behind all-time strikeout leader Gabby Fowler and her ten strikeouts, held the Comets to three hits and pulled away with a 3-0 victory. Comet ace Juliegh Bowmaster finished with three strikeouts, three walks and scattered four hits in the loss.

"We had three errors and gave up three unearned runs," noted head coach Dave Stokes. "Too many popups and strikeouts."