This story was originally published in August 2018.
The most successful team from York and Adams counties to win state titles? The answer might surprise you.
York High’s boys swim team won 16 state championships in the 1930s to 1960s.
Here’s a look at the York-Adams teams that won PIAA championships in soccer, swimming, tennis and field hockey.
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The Green Knights won the first team state title in school history with a season for the ages. Led by star senior Hannah Logue, Fairfield went 25-1 and outscored teams 201-25 on the season. The Knights beat Shady Side Academy, 9-4, in the Class 1A state title game. Junior midfielder Moriah Logue and freshmen Nora Clarke and Annabel Anderson were also major contributors on coach Phomma Phanhthy’s squad.
The first YAIAA soccer team to reach a state title game, the Warriors took advantage of their only scoring opportunity when Sam Wendler scored the winning goal with 14 minutes to play in a 1-0 victory over Pottsgrove for the Class 2A championship. The Warriors, who finished 22-4-1, went on an improbable state playoff run after finishing third in District 3.
The Trojans won their third straight state title by picking up 212 points to second-place Hershey’s 180 at Bucknell University. York Suburban got individual gold medals from Kevin Marsteller in the 100 backstroke and Chris Manning in the 100 breaststroke. The Trojans’ 400 freestyle relay of Marsteller, Manning, Harry Foster and Ben Appleby won gold with a state-record time of 3:08.27.
After a long wait to win his first state title, Dick Guyer only waited one year to win his second. The Trojans repeated as Class 2A champs with another dominant performance, finishing with 220 points while second-place finisher Springfield Township picked up just 138.50. The Trojans picked up a medalist in every event, with Kevin Marsteller winning the 100-backstroke and Harry Foster taking second in the 100-freestyle.
It took Dick Guyer 38 years to capture his first PIAA boys’ swimming championship, as a talented Trojan squad won the Class AA crown in 2006 by finishing with 200 points to second-place Radnor’s 147. The Trojans got a gold-medal performance from its 400 free relay team of Joe Bentz, Alex Grubbs, Kevin Marsteller, Harry Foster.
The Wildcats captured the first team state title in school history with a 3-1 victory against Upper St. Clair at the West Branch Tennis Club in South Williamsport. It was a moment of redemption for the Wildcats, who lost in the state championship match the year before. Head coach Mark Koons’ lineup featured stars Andrew Holmes and Billy Heird, who teamed up to win the Class 3A state doubles title that season. Additionally, Phil Bayliss won the District 3 singles title that year and went on to play at Saint Joseph’s.
The Bolts won the only team state title in school history by defeating Conrad Weiser, 1-0, at Shippensburg. Coached by Sallie Sites, the Bolts went undefeated in the regular season and won the District 3 Class 2A title. Cathy Donnelly was the team’s leading scorer, while Deanna Yealy scored the winning goal in the state title game. Goalie Donna Shipley posted a shutout to give the Bolts the title.
The Bearcats were led by Bill Groft, who won six individual state championships during his career. From the 1930s through the 1960s, York High’s program won 16 team state titles and 63 individual or relay state titles.
Research for this article was done by former York Daily Record sports reporters Jim Seip and Matt Allibone.
