It may not be up there with all-time losses like the new England Patriots losing to the New York Giants, but a loss is still a loss, and a playoff loss stings just a bit more. Need proof, look no further than the Conestoga Valley boy's lacrosse team who saw their season come to an abrupt close thanks to a loss to L-L rival Hempfield in the opening round of the District 3-3A playoffs.

The loss took place on May 23rd and left the Buckskins at 9-9 as they head off into the sunset of 2023. Soren Stoltzfus finished with 10 saves, but it was not enough as the Black Knights outscored CV in all four quarters, including a 5-0 blitz in the final frame that set the 17-4 final. Tyson Zwaska accounted for half of the goals while Jeff Fisher and Hunter Silvaggio split the remaining two. Noah Harrison chipped in with an assist.

VOLLEYBALL

The boys' volleyball team also headed off into the sunset, dropping their District 3-3A opening round clash opposite Governor Mifflin on the 23rd. CV was able to push the Mustangs a bit more in each game but the 'Bucks still ended up on the wrong side of 25-19, 25-20 and 25-23 finals leading to the 3-0 sweep and a 7-8 mark on the season.

Carson Hoover led the way with 13 kills and three aces while Samson Pha (14 assists) and Trevor Forney (12 assists) provided the setup. Rowan Aisenbrey added 14 digs and Austin Li one block to finish up.

TRACK

With the Lancaster-Lebanon League Championship Meet in the rearview mirror the Buckskins' track and field teams turned their attention to Shippensburg University for the 2023 edition of the District 3 Championship Meet. The results were mixed but CV will have three entries, Zach Phy, Alondra Ortiz, and the Lady Buckskin 400m relay team, returning to Seth Grove Stadium for the PIAA meet.

Ortiz will go solo for the PIAA meet in the 200m after placing sixth with a 25.69 run in the finals. The junior just missed a second solo event, her 12.46 in the 100m good enough for fifth on the day but short of the state qualifying standard. She will make a second appearance at the state meet along with Hallie Schnapf, Brooke Denlinger and Mae Lindor thanks to their sixth place time of 49.19 in the 400m relay.

Denlinger made the final podium stand visit for the Lady Bucks, finishing eighth in the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.72. She added a 14th place run in the 300 hurdles while also taking part in the 1600m relay that finished 15th. Ortiz, Belle Marie Alston, and Ayva Fisher took care of the other three legs of the relay, clocking a 4:36.09. CV's 3200m relay team of Meagan Kime, Kylee Antrim, Seana Dougherty and Alston finished 14th with a time of 10:21.01.

The Buckskins highest place-winner was Aidan Zimmerman who claimed 4th in the javelin with a top toss of 173-02.

Phy's state qualifying run came in the 300 hurdles where a 39.79 was good enough for fifth place and made Phy the lone L-L athlete taking part in the 300 hurdles at the state meet.

The Buckskins did have one more athlete collect a medal for their work, Aidan Zimmerman. The junior was CV's highest medal winner, claiming fourth in the javelin with a toss of 173-02.

Ben Eberly just missed joining Phy on the medal stand, settling for ninth place with a 40.56.

CV's 1600m relay team of David Irwin, Nick Tran, Andrew Hoffner and Joey Castronova also just missed a medal, finishing ninth with a 3:26.58. Castronova was not as close in the open 400m where his 51.80 slotted him 20th in the final standings.

CV missed one last medal opportunity in the 3200m relay where Irwin, Carson Miller, Yonatanne Desta and Timothy Gitonga finished 15th with an 8:27.24.

Thabo Lautsbaugh had two near misses, finishing tenth in both the long jump and triple jump.