by Bud Hart

    Allyson Osborne doesn't look like a field hockey goalie.
    The Solanco senior, who stands no more than 5’-3” and weighs 125 pounds tops, impressed Anna Myer, head coach at Hartwick College. So much so that Osborne may be the incoming freshman goalkeeper Meyer needs.
    As a result the Solanco senior received a substantial grant to both guard the goal and matriculate in a subject yet to be determined.  Osborne was contacted by Meyer following the 2016 season and after visiting the Oneonta, N.Y., college, signed up in an early admission program most colleges and universities offer.  
  

by Bud Hart

    Solanco brought home two championships from the District III, Section 2, wrestling meet held at Hempfield High School on Saturday, February 18.  
    Junior A.J. Wilson (152) was the first Mule to accept the gold on the podium after handing second seeded Luke Hirtzel (Warwick) an 18-3 technical fall at the 5:47 mark.  
  

by Bud Hart

    Ten senior teams and four junior teams participated in the inaugural Solanco Baseball Booster’s Wiffle Ball Tournament played at the high school on Friday and Saturday, February 10 and 11. The winners of the Golden Wiffle Ball were team Rock (senior) and the Legends (junior).  Members of the Rock are Mike Worthington, Dillon Marsh, Zach Switzer, Dylan Byler and Dawson Kreider.  Legend members were Sean Keller, Nate Miller, Zach Shambaugh, Avery Jacobson and Cody Chapman.
 

by  Bud Hart

    The Golden Mule girls ended their regular season on Tuesday, February 7, by downing the Garden Spot Lady Spartans 58-41.  Solanco finished with an overall record of 11-11 and came close to qualifying for the L-L League playoffs as well as Districts.
    The visiting team jumped out to a five point lead, but the host Mules went on a 12-3 run to take a four point lead after the first eight minutes.  “I was extremely pleased with our resiliency and how we responded after their quick start,” said Coach Chad McDowell. “This shows our growth as a team. The Mules continued to use their momentum and held a 33-19 lead at the break.”
  

by Bud Hart

    What a difference a month makes.  
    In January the Mules defeated the Spartans of Garden Spot by 20 points (70-50) at home. This month, on Tuesday, February 7, they ended their regular season in New Holland and the Spartans lassoed the hapless Mules with a 57-39 loss, including holding them to single digits in three of the four quarters.  
    “Let’s not forget Garden Spot is a very good team who is currently in the Top 10 of the District III power ratings,” said Solanco head coach Scott Long. “Garden Spot has excellent guard play and we had a lot of success last game playing our 3-2 zone.”  

by Bud Hart

    With a 47-34 home win over Ephrata on Tuesday, January 31, the Solanco girls kept their hopes alive for a playoff spot.
    It was a tale of two halves as the Mules held the Mounts to single digits in each of the first half quarters, while the Mounts turned the favor in both second half quarters limiting the Mules to eight points in each eight minute quarter.  
    “In the first minutes of the game we raced out to a 10-0 lead” wrote head coach Chad McDowell. “It is always important to get out to a quick start against a rivalry team.”  

by Bud Hart

    The Solanco boys saw their hopes for post season action slip away when the Ephrata Mountaineers handed them a 55-42 loss at Ephrata on Tuesday, January 31.
    Tied at the half at 24-all, the Mounts held the Mules to 18 points in the second half while pumping in 31. “We just were not able to get enough offensive production to win the game,” wrote head coach Scott Long. “Despite that fact Mike Worthington had a tremendous first half, scoring eight points and going five of six from the line.”  
    While the visiting Mules had seven players score, only one hit double digits.  Robbie McHugh led the team with 10 points followed by Dylan Hastings (9), Mike Worthington (8), Braden Redcay (6), Aaron Constein (4), Dan Siegrist (3) and Alec Munro (2).  
   

 by Bud Hart

    The Golden Mules closed out their 2016-17 regular season at home on Wednesday, January 25, with a 50-18 win over the Hempfield Black Knights. The Knights ended their season failing to win a league match.  
    Following Mule wins by forfeit at 220 to Kaleb Tucker and 106 to Thomas Steinhauer, Hempfield’s Jared Loose and Solanco’s Sheldon Peiffer hooked up in a good one at 120.
 

by Bud Hart

    Solanco's varsity girls basketball team split last week, losing to L-S in Lampeter 58-46 on Tuesday, January 24, and crushing Lebanon 66-33 at home on Friday, January 27.
    Solanco took a 28-25 lead to the locker room at the half on Tuesday night, but the Lady Pioneers came out with a vengeance in the third quarter, holding the visitors to a single digit while putting 22 in their column.
    “I thought we did an excellent job in all facets in the first half,” said Coach Chad Mc Dowell. “In the third quarter L-S made a run and took control of the game.”
  

by Bud Hart

    It was not a good week for the Solanco boys’ basketball team as the Mules lost to both L-S and Elizabethtown.  
    On Tuesday, January 24, L-S held a 26-16 lead at the half and coasted to a 62-47 win.
    “We did not play with the energy needed to win a game against a good team,” said Coach Scott Long. “L-S did a nice job of being physical with us and making us uncomfortable.”  
    Long said his team had a great Monday practice and he and his staff were confident coming into the contest. L-S mixed in some zone defense and the Mules struggled to get decent looks, especially inside.     “A bright spot on the night was Aaron Constein,” the coach said. “Aaron had 19 points and played really aggressively.” Dylan Hastings also had a decent night, adding 15 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Others scoring for the Mules were Mike Worthington and Robbie McHugh who each contributed four points.
    Jack Boomsma added three and Braden Redcay two.  The Mules connected on 13 of 17 (76.5 percent) from the foul line