Jun 23, 2017 4 min read

The West Greene softball team put the absolute best and biggest bow that it could on the 2016-17 high school sports calendar in Greene County.

Truly, the 26th and final win of the Lady Pioneers’ season was not only entertaining, but one of the most inspiring and memorable contests in local sports history.

To watch a team that is so young, but so composed, come back from a 7-0 deficit to avenge last year’s defeat at the hands of a state power like Williams Valley, was truly an inspiring experience. Getting to talk to head coach Billy Simms and his players, who are all so dedicated to one another, made the experience of witnessing the first state title team win in Greene County since 1998 (Carmichaels softball) an even more inspiring one.

So, with everything but the inevitable public celebration honoring the Blue and Gold left on the calendar, it’s time to look forward to the long, hot summer that separates us from the first electric Friday night of the fall. With so many underclassmen building already impressive reputations, next year should keep Greene County in the local headlines.

If anyone didn’t know who McKenna and Madison Lampe were heading into this September 2016, their exploits on the diamond certainly cemented their legacy in Greene County sports lore. Most amazingly, they are only halfway through their scholastic sports journeys.

While best known for already being two of the best ball players in the state and leaders of the West Greene girls basketball resurgence, along with classmate Kaitlyn Rizor, a smaller portion of the population are aware of their fall exploits. To help with their conditioning for a grueling 36-40 weeks of training and practice, the Lampes compete in cross country starting in late August. Check that, they thrive in the sport.

Last year, both sisters not only qualified for the PIAA Class A championships at the WPIAL Championships at Cooper’s Lake Campground, but McKenna and Madison placed ninth and 18th, respectively, out of 184 runners. According to an interview with Madison at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Softball Park, she and her twin will again be on the course looking to shoot for even more state gold.

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Just one name will be on the lips of Mapletown fans come football season: Rush. Senior do-it-all standout Dylan Rush, who surpassed the 4,000-yard career rushing mark as a junior, will not only be looking to lead the Maples back to the WPIAL playoffs, but shut the mouths of his naysayers.

Last season, I publically commented on how some individuals, including former Mapletown players, were decrying Rush’s accomplishments. Typically, they chose the oh-so-cowardly platform of social media to belittle the young man, who has come off as nothing but humble and classy to me as he was not only carrying the team on his back, but taking the vast majority of the punishment from opposing defenses.

Let me be clear … I believe true fans of the program are 100 percent behind Rush and his teammates. I hope their voices are even louder this year, as he puts the finishing touches on what should be a revered four years in Black and Gold.

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Will he or won’t he?

That is the question that faces Jefferson-Morgan superstar Gavin Teasdale as he heads into his senior season on the wrestling mats. Waiting for him at the end of his four years in Orange and Black is true legend status and a spot among the elite of the elite in the sport.

Being a four-time undefeated PIAA state champion would allow him to become a member of a fraternity that would consist of just six individuals. After seeing his good friend Spencer Lee’s journey to the same level of immortality come just seconds shy of completion, Teasdale will have even more motivation to dominate the opposition before heading off to Penn State to wrestle for the top program in the country.

What has me even more excited about next year than the individuals and teams mentioned above, are the ones that have yet to get their names on fans’ lips. It’s that anticipation that makes even a great season like summer, feel just a little too long, hot and humid.