For the second time in eight days, the L-S boys' swim team pulled out a close one. On Thursday, January 21, the Pioneers won eight of 11 events but needed a 1-2 punch in the 500 free to gain momentum against Cocalico. They got that, and more, enroute to an 83-72 win over the Eagles.

"Before the 500 I told the boys the score was tied and that we needed a 1-2 in the 500 free," said head coach Kylie Turner. "Ryan Smecker and Nathan Eberly finished first and second, respectively, giving us 10 points and shifting the meet. Then the boys went out and won the 200 free," she continued. "But it didn't stop there. Smecker won the 100 back and Cooper Honert came in third and then Mitchell Livengood won the 100 breaststroke. The boys team came to win."

Smecker and Eberly also contributed to two relay wins, joining Kyle Spaulding and Andrew Reidenbaugh with top times in both the 200-medley relay and the 200 free exchange. Reidenbaugh also earned a win in the 50 free and Spaulding was tops in the 200 free.

Sweeps were the name of the game for the girls who splashed their way past the Eagles, 132-36.

The girls won all but one event and went 1-2-3 in the 200-medley relay, and all four freestyle events to pull away.

Bre Fluhr, Emma Kury, Ellie Parido and Elizabeth Horner won the 200-medley, Horner claimed the 50 free and 100 breaststroke and Fluhr took the 500.

Kara Scranton won the 100 back and 100 fly and anchored the winning 200-free with Zara Paisley, Fluhr and Horner. Paisley also claimed the 200 free.

Abby Welchans, a 100 free winner, anchored the 400 free with Ashley Prouse, Tori Smith and Krista Lambert contributing.

Tuesday the girls won 2 of 3 relays and pulled out a 97-73 win over Elizabethtown. Horner won the 200 IM and the 500 free, Welchans was tops in the 200 free and Paisley won the 500 free. All three, along with Scranton, took the 200-free relay.

Welchans also led the 400-free relay with Kury, Lambert and Prouse.

The boys' team, on the other hand, fell short 110-60 despite two wins from Spaulding (200 and 500 free), who also swam on the winning 400 free relay.

WRESTLING

The Pioneers won just six of 13 events, all via the fall, but it was enough to hand Garden Spots its first loss of the season, 36-27 last Wednesday. Alex Cardwell (145), Owen Witmer (152), and Joel Bitler (160) made quick work of their opponents, pinning in a combined 5:24 and vaulting L-S to an 18-0 lead.

Jaiden Newton (189) and Parker Owens (215) worked back-to-back falls extending the lead to 30-3 while Austin Reiff's decking of Matthew Casey at 113 was Lampeter's last win. The Spartans rand off the final four bouts of the night but only recorded one fall in the run, leaving L-S in front.

After cruising to a lopsided 60-17 win over Lebanon on January 20, the Pioneers came back with a solid 42-21 verdict over Elizabethtown two days later, scoring four falls and picking up two forfeits.

Treson Spahr earned a third period fall over Ryan Hottenstein to open the action and Zach Shelley (285) picked up a 1:12 fall for a 12-0 lead. Arik Harnish (132) earned the fastest fall of night, 32 seconds and Josh Heisey's first period fall at 145 pushed the score to 34-12.

Logan Erb worked a 15-5 major and Liam Feister added a decision at 172 to cap the scoring.

After picking up six forfeits against Lebanon, L-S won four of the six bouts wrestled, all via the fall. Connor Erb (120) needed just 14 seconds to put Brayden Travis on his back. Erb, Heisey and Bitler (160) also pinned.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

In a battle of undefeated teams, the Pioneers rallied against Cocalico Friday, January 22, but came out on the short end of a 45-43 final.

Tied at 14-14, the Eagles went on a 9-2 run in the second quarter for a 23-16 lead at the break. L-S returned the favor in the third quarter, outscoring the hosts 12-5 to make for a nip-and-tuck final eight minutes.

Isaiah Parido's triple with four minutes left put the Pioneers in front, 38-37. He added two free throws that knotted the score at 40-40 and then turned a steal into a layup for Lampeter's final lead of the night.

The Eagles hit one of two free throws and scored again with 31.5 left to go up one, 43-42. Luka Vranich drained one of two from the stripe and Carter Nuneville dropped in the final two foul shots with .3 on the clock to steal the win.

"I don't want to make excuses, but I don't think that was a foul at the end," Berryman said. "It should have gone to overtime. But you have to credit Cocalico. We didn't rebound the way we needed to, and we had six turnovers in the second quarter when we scored just two points. We had 14 turnovers in the game, only three steals and only two offensive rebounds.

"Everyone learns from a game like this," he concluded.

Parido and Ty Burton both netted a dozen points.

The Pioneers turned things around on Monday, Jan. 25, picking up a 70-74 win over Manheim Central.

L-S led from start to finish in this one. Their 21-13 first quarter lead proved to be the difference. Up 39-32 at the half, the hosts held on as Manheim made a run, outpointing L-S 38-36 only to come up short.

Ty Burton poured in a game-high 30 points. Ben Wert and Parido added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

The Pioneers clawed their way to the top of the Section Three standings with a 35-41 win over Cocalico on Friday, January 22. Despite the Eagles knocking on the door, L-S led from start to finish. They enjoyed their largest lead at halftime, 22-15 and had an answer every time the visitors challenged.

"Rebounding was the key," said Fink. "We won by 13. Maggie Visniski was dominant. We also took care of the ball and had balance throughout. Again, we closed it out at the foul line."

Kiersten Hostetter's bucket early in the fourth extended the lead to 34-27, matching their largest lead of the night. Cocalico scored five straight before Katie Ranck and a pair of free throws by Visniski kept the lead at five. The last 13.4 seconds saw Drouillard connect on three-of-four free throws to seal the win.

Visniski led the way with 12 points.

In non-league play Saturday, the Pioneers were held scoreless in the third quarter, did not hit a single three pointer and dropped a 40-25 result against Twin Valley.

Visniski finished with 12 points and Drouillard and Ranck combined for 13 to account for the scoring.

In a battle to stay on top of the Section Three standings, L-S split the series against Central last Monday, Jan. 25. The Barons avenged their 46-29 first half loss with a solid 41-33 result in Manheim.

"We had a lot of unforced turnovers and they won the loose ball battle," stated Fink. "Maggie had another solid game, but we needed more players to step up."

The Barons won each of the first three quarters to hold a 33-21 lead with eight minutes left. L-S pressed for a fourth quarter comeback but fell short.

Visniski and Drouillard combined for 15 points.

BOWLING

After suffering three straight losses, the bowling team grabbed a pair of 5-2 wins, defeating Manheim Central on Jan. 22 and Elco three days later. Nick Burkowski's 484 series against Elco was tops for the Pioneers.