Cleveland Guardians (3)  vs. Detroit Tigers (6)

“Battle of the AL Central” 

New York Yankees (4) vs. Boston Red Sox (5)

“The Great New York-Boston Rivalry”

National League Wildcard Recap

Cincinnati Reds (6) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3)

“70’s Throwback”

San Diego Padres (4) vs. Chicago Cubs (5)

“Windy West Showdown”

NLDS Matchup Previews

Los Angeles Dodgers (3) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2)

The Reigning champion Dodgers are set to face the Phillies after beating the Reds in two games to advance to the  NLDS. Both teams have some of the highest payrolls in the league, featuring star-studded rosters. The Phillies finished with a record of 95-67, winning the NL East and obtaining a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Game One is set to begin at 6:38 PM EST on Saturday in Philadelphia. Scheduled starting pitchers will be left-handed Christopher Sanchez for the Phillies and right-handed Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers. 

Chicago Cubs (4) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (1)

After clinching the NL Central and finishing with the best record in the National League of 96-66, the Brewers were awarded the first seed and a bye to the Divisional series. The Cubs beat the Padres in the wildcard, and both teams will face off in the Battle of I-95 to advance to the NLCS. Game One is scheduled for 2:08 PM EST on Saturday. The scheduled starting pitcher for the Brewers is right-handed Freddy Peralta, while the Cubs have yet to announce who will start in game one. 

ALDS Matchup Previews

Detroit Tigers (6) vs Seattle Mariners (2)

After beating the Guardians in three games, the Tigers advanced to the ALDS to face the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners look to push for a World Series Championship as they have never appeared in the Fall Classic. The Tigers are making their first appearance in the ALDS since 2014 as they look to spark a deep playoff run. Game One is scheduled for 8:28 PM EST on Saturday in Seattle. Neither team has yet announced starting pitchers

New York Yankees (4) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (1)

The Yankees advance to the ALDS after winning in three games against the rival Red Sox. New York looks to build off dominant starting pitching from the likes of Max Fried and Cam Schlittler, while the Blue Jays were awarded a bye after securing the top spot in the AL East. Game One is scheduled for 4:08 PM EST on Saturday in Toronto. Both teams have yet to name starting pitchers. 

Former Exeter Eagles football star Joey Schlaffer reached new heights for Penn State over the weekend. The 6’5, 250-pound TE saw action against Villanova last Saturday, recording his first touchdown. 

Schlaffer, a redshirt sophomore, scored on his first college reception. With 7:05 remaining in the fourth, QB Ethan Grunkemeyer found him at the two-yard line for the touchdown, making it 44-0. 

The Exeter graduate was far from the only player representing Berks; he wasn’t even the only Eagle to nest at Beaver Stadium. 2022 graduate J.R. Strauss saw action on the opposing sideline with Villanova, continuing an impressive junior-year campaign. 

Governor Mifflin’s Nick Singleton, Daniel Boone’s Max Heffner, and Wyomissing’s Caleb Brewer and J’ven Williams all suited up for Penn State. Tanner Maddocks, who played for Fleetwood at Oley Valley, has earned time as backup quarterback for Villanova. 

Maddocks threw an insane touchdown pass as time expired to deny Penn State from covering the spread. The line stood at 47.5, but the last-second score made the final 52-6, a 46-point victory for Penn State.

Though battling in a highly competitive tight end room, Schlaffer is only on the rise. The former four-star recruit was a three-time all-state selection and holds Berks records for receiving yardage and touchdowns. 

The #2 Nittany Lions return on September 27th to host #6 Oregon for a thrilling White Out. Schlaffer’s alma mater hosts Lebanon tonight for Exeter’s annual Homecoming game.

After months of training, 18 Exeter swimmers qualified in a variety of events to race at the PIAA District 3 3A swimming championships (names listed below). To qualify, they must have won their event at the BCIAA championship meet or be one of the top 32 times in their event in the entire PIAA District 3. Exeter’s swim and dive team is composed of participants from Exeter, Wyomissing, Antietam, and Oley, almost all of which are represented by those racing at the district meet. This meet will take place at Cumberland Valley High School, February 28th and March 1st, where Exeter’s swimmers will compete against over 30 other schools. They hope to break more school records and have top 8 podium finishers. 

This is head coach Luke Scoboria’s first year coaching here at Exeter. After various other coaching opportunities, he succeeded Ashley Zappacosta. Coach Scoboria says that he is “really proud of this team” and is excited that they are sending a huge group this year. Currently, the team is resting up to prepare for the meet but hoping to continue training afterward and send some swimmers to the PIAA State Championship meet.

Good Luck Eagles!

On another note, on this past Saturday, February 22nd, Dominic Hymon, a junior, traveled to Dover High School to participate in the PIAA District 3 3A diving championship meet. Hymon was the first Exeter male diver since 2017 to qualify for this meet, who competed very competitively with divers from other schools, barely missing qualification for states.

Here are Exeter’s District 3 3A Swimmers:

Girls:

• June Grim

• Lexie Nonnemacher

• Keiryn Stoltzfus

• Amelia Fanning

• Kinley Guziak

• Mimi Sahaida

• Lydia Smith

• Hayley Brown

Boys:

• Aiden Boehm

• Evan Carl

• Chase Jefferson

• Charlie Rogers

• Jonah Matteo

• Ethan Tibbetts

• Alex Popa

• Kurt Achenbach

• Josh Griffith

• Will Keim

The Eagles were the overwhelming favorite against Cocalico, a 6-4 team in the regular season who scraped their way into the bracket. Quickly, the game turned sour and it was heartbreak for Exeter, as they were on the wrong side of the underdog magic. In a match between David and Goliath, they lost convincingly to the eventual two-time champs from Lancaster. 

After the 2022 season, Schlaffer went off to Penn State, uniting with Singleton, while Caccese had another underdog story; a state championship appearance in basketball. He has continued with football at the University of Delaware. After they graduated, along with much more of the team, it was time to rebuild in Reiffton.

Or was it? Win after win piled up to start their 2023 campaign, and through week eight, they remained a perfect 8-0. Weeks nine and ten featured matchups against Conestoga Valley and Manheim Central, both of whom halted Exeter’s hopes of another undefeated regular season.

“These kids have been mentored by great leadership for the past two years, so they know what it takes to be successful. They want to leave their own mark and legacy on the program,” Bauer remarked in week one of the 2023 season. 

Entering as the nine-seed on the road, the District III Playoff was the perfect opportunity to look past the poor finish to the regular season; it looked like just that through the third quarter against Hershey. The Eagles were crushing the Trojans 27-7 with just two minutes left in the third quarter.

Anyone tuned into the game probably thought it was over and that Exeter was about to take another run towards the chip; except Hershey had other plans. The Trojans scored 21 unanswered points to make a tremendous comeback, stunning Exeter 28-27. It was the first time Exeter exited in the first round since 2014. 

Though tight-end Zack Zandier was headed to Coastal Carolina, many key pieces returned this fall, including his younger brother, Jayden Zandier. Zandier topped Nangle’s single-season school record for rushing yards at 1,814, as well as the school record for career rushing yards.

Once again, they were unbeaten through eight weeks, but Conestoga Valley ended that streak for the second straight season. Exeter made a valiant effort late in the game, but down 28-27, Zandier’s two-point attempt into the endzone was ruled short on a controversial call, ending the match in defeat.

The singular loss knocked Exeter down to the eighth seed in a loaded District III 5A, but they were able to regain their footing with a first-round blowout against South Western, which was reminiscent of the start of the 2021 run. Unlike that run, they wouldn’t have to wait to see the one-seed, as 10-0 New Oxford was their quarterfinal foe. 

Exeter gained solid ground in the first half, heading into the locker room 14-7. Tied 21-21 late in the game, Zandier took the kickoff return yards back, setting up a 32-yard field goal by Jake Franek to win it 24-21.

“We never give up, very good execution, team captains, and coaching skills,” Franek described the strength of this year’s team. “I’m not gonna say we didn’t have that last year, but we definitely did not give up, and that was the good part about it,” he continued. 

As the ball soared through the uprights, not only did Exeter advance to a rematch with Conestoga Valley, but Bauer secured his 124th win at the helm, a school record. Exeter did not make it close the second time around, blowing out the Buckskins 48-14 on their revenge tour. 

Ahead of the 2024 season, Bishop McDevitt moved up to class 5A, having already won the past three titles and a state championship in 4A. They’re led by quarterback Stone Saunders, who holds the record for most passing touchdowns in state history and is the only quarterback in Pennsylvania to throw for 3,000 yards in all four seasons. 

Like basketball’s encounter with Imhotep Charter, it was a nightmare scenario in the District Championship against a private, non-boundary powerhouse. While the score repeated 48-14, it was the Crusaders on top, putting an end to Exeter’s magic. 

Though it may be the end of the road for Zandier, Carter Redding, Genuine Stutzman, Logan Wegman, Pharrel Cacceres, Casey Gerhart, and the rest of the senior class, it has been a remarkable run. They have punched a ticket to three title bouts and finish their careers 42-10 overall. 

“Those seniors during my freshman year (2021) were some of the best people I’ve ever met. To this day, I still talk to the majority of them, whether I’m at Walmart or Target and I run into somebody, or if I’m purposefully texting someone,” Redding remarked on his inspirations. 

All-time, Exeter is 363-302, but 143 of those wins have come in the past 15 years under Bauer. Looking forward to 2025, Riley Martinez will return for his third season at quarterback, while Jayden Ware, Aidan Dauble, and Joel Ummarino will make up a strong senior class. Their Section 2 foes, Conestoga Valley, too graduated a sizable senior class. 

The dominance, culture, and leadership of Exeter’s football program is truly special. For the past decade, they have been a regular in the postseason, which has paid off with three championship appearances in the past four seasons. From the improbable underdog story, to heartbreak in 2022 and 2023, to a playoff resurgence, there has never been a better time to bleed blue. 

“If it was easy, everyone would do it. You gotta understand that you’re holding yourself to a higher standard, but you’re also achieving things that a lot of people couldn’t do,” Schlaffer described Exeter football. 

Check out this week's sports round up using the following links:

ESR Youtube: https://youtu.be/Jd8Y6vYaWjs?si=XvOpssCsvt6RbcoY

ESR Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6nyomXq7qEwZhT6zMeFIcC?si=uS4sYu5VS-KCO-v9QniUFA" 

This week, we looked at Football's win on a last-second field goal, All-Star selections, a look back at Water Polo's success, and more

TIMESTAMPS:

-Football's incredible, last second upset District win at New Oxford 0:44

-Jake Franek joins the show to discuss game winning field goal 1:42

-Cross Country, Golf, and Field Hockey All-Stars announced 6:49

-Maddy McCraw joins the show to talk about historic Water Polo success 8:05

-Molly Lubenow commits to Arcadia University for wrestling 11:49 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/58LxjKNPiJrsXUhnI7KQnR?si=6HRNVW_TRdeeO...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLq43fB9i7A 

YouTube Roundup: https://youtu.be/NkePaPbxKB8?si=GvgB_24pVqO-Mwhb

Spotify Roundup: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3c9KS2RWbablyXvGt2nU7D?si=E8Q2dnkxTg-Me...

On this week's version of the sports roundup, I took a look at District/State playoff action, Berks All Stars, collegiate decisions, and more.

While there were no special guests this week, expect multiple awesome athletes to join next episode to talk about their awards and records.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0FLQS9Ma1SdkvwRbxnF0k3

https://youtu.be/z7Y0M_sGCHA 

Choudhry advances to states at District III Cross Country Championship 0:43

Giulia Weisser finishes 15th at State golf tournament 1:27

Girls Volleyball finishes season in Districts 1:57

Girls Soccer finishes season in Districts 2:37

Boys Soccer and Girls Tennis All Stars announced 3:02

Water Polo's two away matches 3:40

Football blows out Elizabethtown, looks towards Playoffs 4:18

Casey Gerhart and Gavin Miller make their decisions 4:52 

This week, I took a look at the county playoffs in girls volleyball, girls soccer, and cross country, a controversial finish to the football game, the District III doubles tournament, and more. Payton Klein joined me to talk about volleyball's first title since 2019.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2A7mkHmE4Qw6rm04el4iYz

https://youtu.be/VfG2z3XfdPQ 

TIMESTAMPS:

- Girls Volleyball Wins County Championship 0:36

- Payton Klein Joins the Show 2:17

- Girls Soccer County Semifinal 6:17

- Football Against Conestoga Valley 7:06

- District III Girls Tennis Doubles Tournament 8:32

- Cross Country County Championships 9:13

- Water Polo at Reading 10:03

- Giulia Weisser at States Today/Tomorrow 10:39 

Philadelphia had the momentum going into Queens but could not capitalize. Aaron Nola allowed two early runs but had a solid performance over five innings. However, like game one, the offense stalled, which was most potent with a scoreless sixth inning with two runners on and no outs. The Mets kept adding on, winning 7-2, and the Phils were on the brink of elimination. 

It was mostly the same for game four; lackluster offense and bullpen disaster. While an error by Vientos on a fielder's choice put Philly on the board first, Ranger Suarez grew tired and was pulled after 4.1 innings. Jeff Hoffman finished out the fifth, but Rob Thomson surprisingly kept him out in the sixth. Hoffman proceeded to load the bases, where Carlos Estevez came in to limit the damage.

With no outs and a 2-1 count, Lindor swung at a fastball in the middle of the zone, blasting it over the fence in left-center. The grand slam was the final nail in the coffin, as the Phillies lost 4-1.

While the Phillies were the underdogs heading into the 2022 and 2023 NLDS, the roles were essentially reversed. New York became the 22-23 Phils, winning game one, losing to a comeback win in game two, and taking games three and four convincingly at home. 

After the NLCS collapse of 2023 and a brutal 2024 exit to their division rivals, change is necessary for this ballclub. Fans have directed much criticism at Thomson, who had questionable managerial decisions with the lineup, Dave Dombrowski, who refused to pick up major pieces at the trade deadline, and much of the offense. 

Realmuto went 0 for 11 in the series, while Bohm went 1 for 13 with a poor attitude. Despite earning his first all-star selection and becoming a vital hitter in the lineup, Bohm’s late-season struggles and game-one misery resulted in a benching the next day. 

The Mets will play the winner of Thursday’s game five between Los Angeles and San Diego. It is their first NLCS appearance since 2015, which the Phillies will have to watch from the couch. 

FOOTBALL:

On Friday, Exeter returned home for a week six matchup in the Lancaster Lebanon Section 2. Exeter sought to stay undefeated with a win over Ephrata, a rival in the section.

Genuine Stutzman took a 17-yard pass to the house, putting Exeter on the board first. While Ephrata clapped back with a touchdown of their own, the Eagles put up 36 unanswered points in the second and third quarters, giving them a 43-6 victory.

Jayden Zandier scored two touchdowns on 168 total yards, while Carter Redding had 64 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, as well as 54 receiving yards and a 39-yard receiving touchdown. 

Exeter improves to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in league matchups. They remain tied with Conestoga Valley at the top of Section 2. 

They stay home on Friday to host 3-3 Muhlenberg. Gametime is scheduled for 7:00 PM. 

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL:

Exeter hit the road for three straight-away games from Tuesday through Thursday. They played two weaker league opponents, as well as a crossover match against Berks Catholic.

They had no issues handling Muhlenberg and Reading. On Tuesday, they swept the Muhls, as well as Reading on Thursday. Taylor Mack had 10 kills at Muhlenberg, while Morgan Miller had 7 at the Geigle Complex in Reading. 

At Berks Catholic, Exeter was against a wall after losing the first two sets. After they dominated the third set, winning 25-9, the momentum was in their hands. The Eagles tied it up after winning 25-20 in the fourth set and won the deciding fifth set 15-12. 

Jillian Warner had 23 kills in the reverse sweep, while Mack had 21, and Audrey Gierlich had 11. 

Exeter improves to 10-2 with a 6-1 league record. Twin Valley has the same league record and is a single game back in Berks 1.

The Eagles play a single game, looking to maintain their narrow Berks 1 lead. They host 9-4 Governor Mifflin on Tuesday.  

GIRLS SOCCER:

While Exeter has a comfortable lead in BCIAA Division 2, they entered the most important stretch of the season for Berks and District III rankings. They played Muhlenberg and Governor Mifflin, two league opponents from Berks 1, then Penn Manor on Saturday. 

Seven goals were well enough for Exeter in their 9-0 shutout at Muhlenberg. Kenzie Mentzer had a hat trick, while Chayse Flood and Hannah Long had two goals. Chloe Dauble and Aubrey Ridge had the other two goals, while eight players provided assists. 

10-2-1 Governor Mifflin proved to be a difficult opponent. After falling 2-0 in the first half, Exeter made a comeback effort with goals from Mentzer and Maddie McAuliffe but fell short. The game was headlined by rough play between the two rivals, which resulted in multiple cards for the Mustangs. 

Exeter hosted Penn Manor in the second leg of a Saturday boys/girls doubleheader. Penn Manor had been ranked higher in the District III power rankings, but Mentzer, Flood, and McAuliffe all chipped in with two goals. They won 6-3. 

Exeter is now 11-3 with a 5-1 league record, holding one of the best records in Berks. They have a chance to clinch Berks 2 if they finish 2-0 this week. 

They play a huge match at home against 11-2-1 Wilson tonight. Additionally, they travel to Twin Valley for a Wednesday night match. 

BOYS SOCCER:

Like the girls, the boys started with two league opponents, then hosted a non-Berks team in Saturday’s doubleheader. First, it was Muhlenberg, then Daniel Boone and Manheim Township. 

On Tuesday, Exeter hosted Muhlenberg. After falling 1-0 early, Semaj Roberts took a pass by Callan Stuck to the back of the net, tying it up. However, a second-half goal by the Muhls put them on top, where they secured a 2-1 win. 

The Eagles rematched Berks 2 rival, Daniel Boone, on Thursday. After a scoreless stalemate through the first two halves and the first overtime, Roberts shot a heroic game-winner in double overtime. Brenton Feathers totaled 11 saves, while Brayden Karas provided the assist in the 1-0 win.

Like Tuesday, Exeter went down early to Manheim Township, but tied it up before halftime. This time, it was Christian Santos with the goal, but a Blue Streaks goal gave them a 2-1 lead, which they finalized. 

They face three opponents this week, starting with an away match at Wilson tonight. Tomorrow, they host Twin Valley, then get another chance against Fleetwood on Saturday on the road. 

FIELD HOCKEY:

Exeter entered last week 6-7, but undefeated against league opponents. They had two important matchups; Oley on Monday and Governor Mifflin on Thursday.

The Eagles hosted the defending state-champion Lynx on Monday. Marley Weller scored to give Exeter a 1-0 lead in the first, but four unanswered goals in the second half put Oley Valley on top 4-1. 

In Shillington, they went scoreless. The defense and goalie Macky Speece put up a great effort, but an overtime goal by Mifflin’s Grace Kellenberger was the deciding factor in the 1-0 contest.

Exeter is in fourth place in BCIAA Division 1 behind Wilson, Mifflin, and Oley respectively. They are 6-9 overall and 3-2 against league opponents. 

GIRLS TENNIS:

Exeter was originally scheduled for two matches this week; Reading on Monday and Penn Manor on Thursday. However, poor weather pushed the Reading match to the next day and the Penn Manor match to October 2nd. 

Reading only contended three singles matches and doubles one. Myah Marturano, Maira McCartin, and Lily Jordan all swept their matches, while Reading took doubles one to a third set. Exeter finished on top 6-1. 

The Eagles are 8-4 overall and 6-1 in league matches. They clinched second place in BCIAA Division 1 and will play in the team tournament.

Exeter has their most important week ahead of them. They compete in the BCIAA Flight Tournament today and tomorrow at Muhlenberg, then head to Penn Manor for their final regular season match on Wednesday. On Friday, they start the quarterfinals of the BCIAA Tournament, which lasts through Monday. 

This week, they stay on the road for two more Berks opponents. Tonight, they head to Schuylkill Valley, then head to Wilson on Wednesday. 

CROSS COUNTRY:

The boys and girls teams did not compete this week. They return tomorrow, Tuesday, October 1st, for their home meet against Berks Catholic, Conrad Weiser, and Twin Valley. 

WATER POLO:

Exeter’s boys and girls teams both squared off against Reading, then traveled for “The Beast of the East”, a massive two-game tournament at Muhlenberg and Upper Dublin. 

The boys took a narrow loss to Reading on Wednesday. They trailed by a single point heading into the fourth quarter, but couldn’t pull off the comeback, falling 14-12. Evan Carl had 5 goals, while Charles Jacoby had 4. 

The girls managed better against the Red Knights, taking an easy 11-3 win. Mehgan Wagner and Kinley Guziak had 4 goals each, while Maddy McCraw finished with 12 saves, 3 steals, and 2 assists. 

Exeter’s boys split Friday’s action at Upper Dublin, finishing 1-1 against Upper Dublin and Pingry. Upper Dublin scored 9 goals in the first quarter, winning 17-7, while Exeter put up 20 goals in the win against Pingry. Carl finished with 11 goals through both games, while Jacoby had 9. 

At Wissahickon, the girls, too, finished 1-1. They took a 10-5 loss to the host, Wissahickon, but found success against Upper Perkiomen. In the 11-2 win, Guziak and Mimi Sahaida had 3 goals each, while Amelia Fanning and Rae Tufariello both scored 2. 

On Saturday, the boys tournament continued at Muhlenberg. The Eagles took wins against both Episcopal Academy and Upper Merion. Against Episcopal, they narrowly won out 11-10 thanks to 6 goals from Carl, as well as 2 each from Alex Popa and Aiden Boehm. 

Exeter reached the Flight 4 Championship against Malvern Prep. After regulation, they were tied 11-11 and looking to threaten for the title. However, they were outscored 3-2 in overtime, falling 14-13. Carl had 10 goals, while Jacoby had 3. 

The girls lost both of their games at Governor Mifflin. Guziak and Fanning were the ones to score in a 5-2 loss to Wilson B, while both of them, plus Sahaida and Dakota Hughes, scored in the 7-4 loss to Germantown Academy. 

Exeter’s boys are now 12-4 overall and 4-2 in league matchups, remaining in third place in the Western Conference. The girls also are third in the west, retaining a record of 9-6. 

GOLF:

Exeter wrapped up their team season with the county championships at Golden Oaks and Blackwood. First, Giulia Weisser competed for the girls title, and then the boys and team competed on Wednesday.

As a freshman, Weisser won the second-place tiebreaker over Wilson’s Kyla Quimby in the BCIAA Championship. With Wilson’s Kayla Maletto graduating, Weisser and Quimby played for first place this year. Weisser shot +2, which was one of her best finishes to date, and finished on top by 8 strokes. 

Throughout its history, Exeter has had several strong female golfers, particularly 6-time major championship winner Betsy King. However, none in the last five decades have won the BCIAA Title. That all changed with Weisser, who is the second underclassman in five years to taste gold in Berks. 

Liam Myers was Exeter’s highest placement in the boys tournament on Wednesday, tying for 29th place with a score of +29. As a team, they placed eighth.

While the team finishes their season, Weisser will continue into the District III 3A Tournament, which takes place on October 10th and 12th in York. 

FOOTBALL:

Exeter rolled into Shillington 3-0, looking to stay undefeated against 2-1 Governor Mifflin. Many questioned the legitimacy of their record when considering opponent strength, but a win would cast their doubts wrong. 

In the first half, it was a right 14-7 game with Exeter leading. While Jayden Zandier and Carter Redding had touchdowns, Governor Mifflin kept it close with one of their own. 

The Eagles blew it open in the second half, scoring 20 points en route to a 34-13 win. Zandier added on another touchdown, giving him 219 yards, as well as Redding and Genuine Stutzman.

The game was their first in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, where they are tied at the top with 4-0 Conestoga Valley. 

This week, Exeter makes a long trip to 0-4 Lebanon. They return home on September 27th in a big game against Ephrata. Both matchups are within the league. 

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL:

Eight games in a week for Exeter? It would be a long and important one, as the Eagles entered with a perfect record. They started with three games, two of which were in Berks, before heading to the Hempfield Invitational on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Reading provided little competition at home for Exeter. Taylor Mack, Audrey Gierlich, and Jillian Warner all totaled three kills, as they won 25-9, 25-11, and 25-15 to sweep the match. 

Wednesday’s match against Cumberland Valley proved to be difficult. After narrowly losing the first two sets, Exeter crawled back for a fifth and final set. However, Cumberland Valley edged out a 15-13 set to win, handing Exeter their first loss of the season. Warner and Mack both had 15 kills, while Lily Acker had 46 assists and 17 digs. 

Governor Mifflin entered as a strong opponent in Berks 1, sharing a 5-1 record with the Eagles. Exeter got to work quickly, and with 11 kills from Warner, 5 from Ridleigh Moyer, and 4 from Gierlich, Exeter swept the match in Shillington. It was a massive game in Berks, which gave them a 3-0 league record. 

Exeter made it to the semifinals of the Hempfield Invitational on Saturday. In pool play, they went 3-0, defeating Penn Manor, New Oxford, and Dallastown. They continued with a quarterfinal win over Elizabethtown, but struggled in a rematch against Dallastown, falling in three sets in the semifinals. Results from the tournament did not affect standings. 

The Eagles remain one of Berks’ best. They sit atop the competitive BCIAA Division 1 with a 6-1 record. 

This week, they play two crucial league matchups against the 2023 county champion and runner-up; Wilson and Twin Valley respectively. 

GIRLS SOCCER:

Exeter’s momentum has not slowed midway through the season. They played in two key league matchups in Berks 2, both at home.

On Monday, Kenzie Mentzer found the back of the net on four occasions to lead the Eagles past Twin Valley. Chayse Flood and Olivia Skipper added on with their own goals, as they won 7-1. 

On Thursday, they put up double digits against Daniel Boone. Mentzer and Flood each had hat tricks, while Aubrey Ridge, Haven Bessemer, Olivia Skipper, and Addison Harper also scored. Exeter’s defense was lights out, leading to a 10-0 shutout final.

Exeter holds a considerable lead over Conrad Weiser and Twin Valley in Division 2 with a 2-0 league record and 7-1 overall record.

They head to Conrad Weiser for a big Berks 2 matchup on Monday. On Wednesday, the Eagles face another league opponent, Reading, for Youth Night. They finish their week with an early game at Palmyra, which starts at 10:00 AM. 

BOYS SOCCER:

Exeter entered last week facing Fleetwood and Conrad Weiser, two Berks 2 giants and county finalists, as well as Coatesville. Could they stay on top of their division, or would the might of their opponents prove too much to handle?

On Tuesday, Fleetwood’s offense was a powerful one. Despite goalie Brenton Feathers making 12 saves for Exeter, Fleetwood’s 3 goals outmatched Exeter’s 1, which was scored by Evan Smith. 

Conrad Weiser, a favorite to make a deep playoff run, proved to be just as difficult. They shut out Exeter 5-0 in Robesonia. 

The Eagles got their chance to turn things around on Saturday. They made the trip south to Coatesville, taking a narrow victory behind a goal from Callan Stuck and a shutout performance from Feathers and the defense. 

Currently, they sit in third place of BCIAA Division 2 with a 2-2 league record and a 3-5 overall record. 

Exeter returns home for three straight home matchups. This week, they play Daniel Boone on Tuesday, and Governor Mifflin on Saturday. 

FIELD HOCKEY:

Exeter played in four games last week, including their first two league matches and a tournament at Reading. Three of the four games were decided by two or fewer goals. 

To kick things off, the Eagles traveled to Daniel Boone, a Berks 1 opponent. The game was tied through the first three quarters, but Genieve Carpenter came up clutch, scoring the only goal to give Exeter a 1-0 win. 

While they had won a thriller the previous night, Exeter received the short end of the stick against Central York on Thursday. Marley Weller scored to give them a 1-0 lead, but two goals by the Panthers scored two in the latter half of the game, hanging a loss to the Eagles. Macky Speece still managed to total an impressive 18 saves throughout the game. 

The Eagles went 1-1 in the tournament at Reading. They started with an 0-2 loss to Cedar Cliff, but regained their footing against Reading. Eight different players scored goals for Exeter in the 9-0 win, which included Weller (2), Carpenter, Naelah King, Teagan Marturano, Kayla Hafer, Bella Redding, Karli Grove, and Phoebe Miller. 

Exeter sits third in BCIAA Division 1 standings with a 4-6 overall record and a 2-0 league record. 

They have another long and important week ahead of them. They start with Senior Night tonight against Muhlenberg, and then play Reading and Ephrata. 

GIRLS TENNIS:

It was a busy four-game week for Exeter, one which would have major playoff implications down the road. 

On Monday and Wednesday, they had their most important matches; Muhlenberg on the road and Conrad Weiser at home respectively. Both games counted towards league standings, which could put them over Conrad Weiser for the final Berks 1 playoff spot. 

Neither league opponent stood in their way, as Exeter swept both matches and failed to drop a single set. Their win on Wednesday gave them a 3-1 league record, which pushes them into third place in Berks 1. 

In addition, they played on Tuesday and Friday. While they took a 5-2 win against a solid Hamburg team, they struggled later in the week against Lancaster Country Day. Lily Jordan secured the sole singles win in a 4-1 loss. 

Exeter is 5-4 and hungry for playoff action. With a good 3-1 week, the defending-champs will likely have their chance at October tennis as a team. 

The Eagles have a lighter week, only playing two games. However, the games could make an impact, as they play two BCIAA Division 1 opponents; Daniel Boone on Monday, and Governor Mifflin on Wednesday. 

CROSS COUNTRY:

The boys and girls cross country teams met at Kutztown High School this week for their third meet of the season, the first of which was an invitational. They faced Kutztown, Schuylkill Valley, and Tulpehocken. 

Chase Choudhry topped the charts with another first-place finish, completing in 10:07. Chase Ryan, Dylan Holland, and Colton Von Stetton rounded out the top-four. Dylan Taffel, Daniel Wright, Jordan Coakley, Jack Schlegel, and Cayden Choudry all placed top-15.

As a team, Exeter dominated, beating Kutztown and Tulpehocken 15-50, as well as Schuylkill Valley 15-47. They remain 2-0 in league standings and have a 5-1 overall record, sitting behind Governor Mifflin in BCIAA Division 1. 

Exeter made up four of the top five runners in the girls race. Freshman Lena Bluestone repeated as champion with a time of 13:00, while Addie McKittrick, Addison Matthews, and Chloe LaRiviere were all within 1:09 of Bluestone. Madelyn McDevitt, Mackenzie O’Brien, Emma Thomas, and Mikaela Johnson all placed top-15. 

As a team, Exeter dominated, beating Kutztown and Tulpehocken 15-50, as well as Schuylkill Valley 18-43. The Eagles have not dropped a match this season, improving to 6-0 overall, which is tied with Governor Mifflin and Daniel Boone in Berks 1.

Exeter heads to two different meets this week. First, they travel to Governor Mifflin on Monday, then Big Spring for the Ben Bloser Bulldog Invitational on Saturday. 

BOYS WATER POLO:

Exeter made history on Tuesday in a crucial game against Governor Mifflin, and then boarded the buses for a three-game tournament at Springfield. 

The Eagles hadn’t beaten the Mustangs in six years, but had a chance to do so at Albright. In a hectic, action-packed matchup, Evan Carl led with a 10-goal performance. Aiden Boehm added on five of his own, while Alex Popa and Charles Jacoby scored two each. In the end, it was Exeter on top, stunning Governor Mifflin with a 19-17 win. 

They went 3-0 in their tournament on Saturday. Jacoby led a 20-10 win over Upper Perkiomen with 7 goals, Carl tallied 11 of 16 against Springfield, and seven players scored to beat Lower Merion 12-6. 

Exeter is having an incredible season, sitting third in the Western Conference behind Wilson and North Allegheny. They are 7-1 overall and 2-1 in league matches. 

This week, they host Muhlenberg at Albright on Tuesday, and then travel to Central York on Thursday. 

GIRLS WATER POLO:

Last week, Exeter matched up with a great Governor Mifflin team, and then headed to the Springfield Tournament on Saturday. 

On Tuesday, Governor Mifflin’s offense proved too mighty. While the Eagles had goals from Meghan Wagner, Amelia Fanning, and Rae Tufariello, they fell 15-6. 

Exeter fared much better in their tournament, going 2-1. While they struggled against the hosting Springfield Spartans, losing 11-4, they took wins over Lower Merion and Upper Perkiomen. Wagner and Mimi Sahaida each scored four against Upper Perkiomen, while four players scored multiple goals against Lower Merion.

With 21 throughout the tournament, senior Maddy McCraw accumulated her 500th career save.

The Eagles sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. They are 5-3 overall and 1-2 against league opponents. 

This week, they host Muhlenberg at Albright on Tuesday, and then travel to Central York on Thursday. 

GOLF:

Exeter played two Berks 1 opponents last week; Conrad Weiser and Muhlenberg. Both league matches would be important ones to secure for the Eagles. 

On Monday, they hosted Conrad Weiser for a 12-hole match. All six of Exeter’s starting lineup shot for under 60, as Dylan Luft shot 52, while Giulia Weisser and Liam Myers both had 54. Chase Blew shot 56, while Nate Hoffman had 57, and Javier Garcia finished with 59. In the end, it was Exeter with a 216-231 victory.

Muhlenberg hosted Exeter at Willow Hollow on Wednesday with a 9-hole match. Weisser led with an impressive 34, while Luft followed her with 39. Myers, Garcia, and Hoffman totaled 40, while Blew had 41. However, they narrowly lost to the Muhls, dropping the match 149-153. 

The Eagles are sixth place in Berks 1, maintaining a 7-6 record in both league and overall standings. 

They play their final two matches this week and look to rebound in the win column. On Monday, they host a strong Wilson team, who has clinched Berks 1, followed by Brandywine Heights at Golden Oaks on Thursday. 

It’s no secret that the Phillies’ 2023 postseason collapse and subsequent elimination was disappointing. After defeating the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS for the second straight year, they blew both a 2-0 and 3-2 lead to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS (read about it on the Talon here). However, they remain one of the most fierce and competitive teams in the league, still on the hunt for “Red October” as they gear up for the 2024 season.

Despite having a mostly quiet offseason, the Phillies have made crucial moves. Ace starting pitcher Aaron Nola, who entered free agency, is back on a 7 year, $172 mIllion deal. Nola seems to be the team’s Opening Day starter for the 7th straight season. Just recently, Zack Wheeler, another top starter in the rotation who would have entered free agency next offseason, was just signed to a 3 year, $126 million extension. Wheeler’s $42 million salary is the highest ever given out in an extension.

Additionally, the Phils have made some depth moves to stay well-rounded. They added Whit Merrfield, who can play most infield and outfield positions. While not expected to be a starter, the 35 year old has led the league in hits twice and has had 5 seasons with a batting average over .280. Some other notable players added on include SP Spencer Turnbull and outfielder David Dahl.

On top of new signings, some top prospects and other young talent look to shine this season. Prospects such as SP Mick Abel, SP Griff McGarry, OF/1B Carlos De La Cruz, 1B/3B/OF Matt Kroon, and more have a chance to make a name for themselves at Spring Training in hopes of joining the major league roster this season. Orion Kerkerking, who was promoted to the MLB in September of last season, seems to be a very reliable arm in the bullpen. 

With the departure of 1B Rhys Hoskins to Milwaukee, Bryce Harper will now be the everyday first baseman going forward. His glove looked good last season in 36 games, complete with a bat which will allow him to contend for the NL MVP year after year. Younger players such as Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm will continue to grow, while established veteran stars such as Nick Castellanos, JT Realmuto, and Trea Turner look to succeed after poor performances last season. 

While the Braves, who have continued to build on to an already loaded roster, seem to be the NL East favorites by a long shot, getting the first wild card spot is a likely reality for the Phils. The National League will remain a tough and competitive landscape, loaded with talented teams such as the Braves, as well as the Dodgers, who added on Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and more. 

The Phillies remain one of the league’s top talents headed into the 2024 MLB Season, focused on getting their first ring since 2008. They will play in the Grapefruit League through Spring Training, starting their season on March 28th at home against the Braves. 

Via: The Boston Globe

The Philadelphia Phillies have been eliminated from the 2023 MLB Postseason with a game seven loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. After losing 3-2 in the World Series to the Astros in 2022, the Phils sought to win it all this year. They finished 90-72 and retained mostly the same roster with the additions of star shortstop Trea Turner, along with rookies Johan Rojas and Orion Kerkering. They settled for 2nd in the NL East after placing behind the 104-win Atlanta Braves.

After destroying the Miami Marlins in two games in the NL Wild Card Series, the Phillies moved on to face the division-rival Braves in the NLDS, the league’s quarterfinals. A dominant performance from Ranger Suarez in game one would give them the series lead in Atlanta, before the Braves would even things up at 1-1 in the series with a comeback win down 4-0 in game two.

Going back to Philly, the Phillies would win the next two behind Aaron Nola and Suarez, advancing to the NLCS. The first game back in Philly would be a dramatic one, becoming an all-time game for Bryce Harper. After making an error on the basepaths to end game two, Harper became a target of criticism in the Braves’ clubhouse, particularly with Orlando Arcia who chanted “Atta-boy Harper” repeatedly. Harper silenced them with two homers in the next game, staring down Arcia both times, This led to Arcia mocking Philly fans and complaining about the quote being reported on. 

The four-game victory over Atlanta would essentially be a repeat of last year’s NLDS, winning the first game, dropping the second, and returning to the “Philly faithful” to secure a trip to the next round. 

The Arizona Diamondbacks came into the NLCS 84-78, sweeping the Dodgers in the previous round. The Phils would lead 2-0 in the series after Nick Castellanos hit his 5th homer in just three playoff games, and more long-balls would power the offense to 5-3 and 10-0 wins in Philly. From here, things would go south literally and figuratively. 

As the teams headed to Phoenix for the next three games, the Phillies dropped two of three. The offense came to a grinding halt, and the bullpen couldn’t secure any leads. Craig Kimbrel would blow two leads, as the Diamondbacks would even up the series 2-2. Thankfully, they would win the final game before traveling back to Philly, meaning they were just one victory away from advancing to the World Series. 

Aaron Nola blew up in game six on Monday, allowing 4 earned runs in 4.1 innings. The offense couldn’t keep up, scoring just 1 run in the 5-1 loss. The series would head to a win or go home game 7 on Tuesday with Ranger Suarez on the mound. After Alec Bohm scored 2 runs in 4 innings, the Phillies went cold up 2-1. Their lead would vanquish the next inning, and the offense couldn’t rally back. They would lose 4-2, sending the Diamondbacks to the World Series, and eliminating the Phillies from the postseason. 

“Man, just not being able to come through in that moment just devastates me personally,” said Bryce Harper. “I feel like I let my team down and let the city of Philadelphia down as well. That’s a moment I feel like I need to come through,” continued Harper, remarking on his lackluster 0-4 performance in game seven. (Via: The Athletic)

In the final two games, the Phillies went 2-18 with runners in scoring position, a horrendous statline. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Nick Castellanos went 1-28 in the final two games, failing to come up clutch in any degree. The stars, bullpen, and manager Rob Thomson have faced heat for the losses. Thomson refused to change the lineup throughout the entire series, leading to big opportunities squandered by slumping players such as Bohm and Rojas. 

“I think just because the potential of this team is so much greater than going home before the World Series,” said Castellanos. “Last year, when we lost Game 6, I think obviously we were disappointed because we didn’t win the whole thing. But there was a lot of like, ‘We got here. Now we can build off of that.’ So knowing how we feel about this team, we came up short from what we did the year previous, it’s a disgusting feeling honestly,” he remarked. (Via: The Athletic)

“Nobody is happy,” noted Bohm. “We lost. It’s not what we wanted, but it’s what happened. So, we’ll be back next year. We worked all year to get here and it’s over. That’s really it. If this isn’t motivation enough, I don’t know what is.” (Via: The Philadelphia Inquirer)

”It’s very disappointing, it really is,” Thomson said. “I told the club if you asked me two days ago, two weeks ago, two months ago, if we’d be going home tonight, I would have said no, so that’s how much belief I have in this club.”  (Via: The Philadelphia Inquirer)

They return in March for Spring Training after the offseason. Thomson and most of the lineup are secured for the season, though Aaron Nola and the injured Rhys Hoskins will become free agents. Both seem to have intentions of staying in Philly. 

Sources:

https://theathletic.com/4996987/2023/10/25/phillies-game-7-loss/

https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/live/phillies-game-7-arizona-diamondbacks-nlcs-today-mlb-playoffs-live-updates-20231024.html

https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/phillies-score-game-7-loss-world-series-diamondbacks-20231025.html

This spring sports season has been one for the books. There have been many teams and individual athletes exceeding expectations. Finishing the season with a record of 6-0, winning the John H. Shaner Meet, and placing 3rd in BCIAA Firing Meet (or counties) -- the Exeter Boys Track and Field Team has exceeded these expectations. High-scoring runners include freshman, Lukas Peterson with 85 points, junior, Manny Boyd with 81, senior, Isaiah Choy with 57, junior, Kameron Mills with 55, senior, Jonathon Fisher with 34 points, freshman, Chase Choudhry with 30 points, junior, Slater VonStetten with 27 points, and junior, Jason Nester with 23 points. As for jumpers, sophomore, Jayden Zandier scored 34 points, sophomore, Pharrell Caceres 21, and freshman, Leo Brown 17. Lastly, thrower sophomore, Logan Wegman scored 73 points. This impressive season was led by 4 captains bringing in large sums of points as well. Sprinter, Ashton Fasig scored 18 points, distance runner, Nate Wentling scored 22, jumper, Cameron Neafcy scored 70, and thrower, Josiah Newman scored 35. 

The team placed 3rd in Berks County. Boyd placed 4th in the 100, and 5th in the 200. Peterson placed 3rd in the 400. Choudhry placed 7th in the 1600 and 5th in the 3200. Wentling placed 6th in the 3200. Mills placed 8th in the 300-meter hurdles. The 4 by 100 relay placed 3rd, the 4 by 400 relay placed 4th, and the 4 by 800 relay placed 3rd. Zandier placed 8th in long jump, Caceres placed 6th in triple jump, Neafcy placed 1st in pole vault, Newman placed 2nd in discus and 8th in shot put, Wegman placed 5th in discus and 3rd in shot put, and Riley Martinez placed 7th in discus. 

The county meet wrapped up the season for most athletes except the select few who qualified for districts and states. Boyd, Peterson, Choudry, Wentling, Neafcy, Zandier, and Wegman all qualified for districts along with 4 by 100 and 4 by 800 relay teams. Logan Wegman qualified for states as well placing 5th overall. 

When it comes to famous sporting events in America, there is nothing quite as special as the Rose Bowl. It is an NCAA College Football postseason game played in Pasadena, California around New Year’s Day each year. Usually, the teams that just missed the College Football Playoff in the BIG 10 and Pac 12 compete in this game. The Rose Bowl is the oldest currently operating bowl, granting them the nickname “The Granddaddy of Them All.” It was first played in 1902 and has been played annually since 1916. The long lasting tradition of the Rose Bowl Game plays a main role in why it is so special.

While the Rose Bowl is simply one of the greatest events College Football has to offer today, there have been some controversies surrounding it over the years. In February of 2022, the College Football Playoff committee could not reach an agreement to expand the playoff format in large part because of the Rose Bowl. In an expansion format, playoff games would be played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl, but the Rose Bowl had no interest whatsoever in changing the date and time in which the iconic game is played. The Rose Bowl is a special game, but can create obstacles for deals and agreements to be made in College Football. 

This year’s Rose Bowl game was played on January 2, 2023 at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, between the (10-2) Penn State Nittany Lions of the BIG 10, and the (10-3) Utah Utes of the PAC 12. Both teams came out sluggish offensively, as the score remained 0-0 until the end of the first quarter when freshman phenom Penn State running back Nick Singleton ran end for a touchdown to make it 7-0 Nittany Lions. Utah tied it up at 7 midway through the second quarter and the teams went into the locker rooms all even at 14-14. In the third quarter, Utah veteran quarterback Cameron Rising got injured and the Nittany Lions took off from there. Penn State would go on to win 35-21 in sixth-year quarterback Sean Clifford’s final collegiate game.

Winter Sports Season is finally upon us. Many people in PA are flocking to mountains like Blue, Elk, Montage, and Camelback, vying for their spot on the lifts. You may find yourself wondering “Is skiing and snowboarding right for me?”, “What is a slalom? ”, or “Why is everyone talking about pizza and french fries?” If these thoughts have crossed your mind, then you have found yourself in the right place! Here are the pros and cons of skiing and snowboarding, and the lingo that comes with them.

Pros of Skiing

1. Exiting lifts is easy and seamless

2. Poles can make it easier to pick up speed, gain control, and prevent falling.

3.  Skiing is typically easier to learn for beginners.

4.  It is easier to turn and stop in skis; more general control overall.

Cons of Skiing 

1.  Beginners can easily trip over their skis.

2.  Walking in ski boots is difficult.

3.  Ski gear is more expensive than snowboarding gear, and skiing requires more gear.

4.  Skiing can be very hard on your knees/shins.

Pros of Snowboarding 

1. Snowboarding boots are more comfortable and easier to walk in.

2. Less(Only one board, no poles!), and less expensive equipment.

3. Snowboarders are less likely to suffer knee/leg injuries.

4. Easier to master the technical skills of snowboarding after you've learned the basics.

Cons of Snowboarding

1. It is harder to learn the basics of snowboarding for beginners.

2. You have to strap in and out of your bindings every time you get on or off the lift. 

3.  No poles make it harder to pick up speed and move on flats.

4. Snowboarders find themselves falling more often, although getting up is easier than in skis.

Special Ski/Snowboard language that you might not know

• Pizza: When skiing, turning one or both of your ski tips to face each other, helps when stopping and turning.

• French Fries: In skiing, keeping both skis parallel to each other, the most neutral stance, best for picking up/maintaining speed.

• Carve: Digging the edges of your skis or snowboard into the snow, creating a “carved” line in the snow.

• Powder: Fresh fluffy snow.

• First Chair: The first lift chair of the day

• Slalom: A winding course where skiers and snowboarders navigate between sets of two poles.

• Green: (At most mountains) The easiest courses for both skiers and snowboarders, best for beginners.

• Blue: (At most mountains) Intermediate “middle of the road” courses for skiers and snowboarders.

• Black: (At most mountains) The hardest courses for skiers and snowboarders. May include slaloms, very steep declines, sharp turns, obstacles, and/or exposed cliffs and “off-road” terrain. Best suited for experienced skiers with high technical skills.

• White Out: When visibility and contrast on the mountain are severely reduced due to snow, clouds, fog, and wind, can make navigation, as well as awareness of surroundings difficult for skiers and snowboarders.

• Ollie: In snowboarding, jumping the entire board off the ground.

Bonus Tip! After a few trips to the mountain, if you find that neither skiing nor snowboarding are for you, you can always take up the much simpler winter sport of snow-tubing, suitable for all ages and activity levels.

On November 5, 2022, Exeter sent 5 runners, 3 girls and 2 boys, to Hershey, PA, where they competed in the PIAA state championship. These 5 runners included Carly Keith, Gabby Keith, Maddie Holbrook, Nate Wentling, and Slater Von Stetten. Each of these runners individually qualified for this race at the District meet the week prior. This is an extremely difficult accomplishment that each one of them seemed to do with ease. Carly, Gabby, Maddie, Nate, and Slater finished 38th, 45th, 132nd, 72nd, and 57th in their respective races. 

The state race was certainly not a predictable race. There was no way of telling who was going to do well until the finish line.  Slater Von Stetten, a junior,  reflected on the race saying, “at states before the first turn [he] was like 30 runners from the back, almost dead last, yet [he] finished 57th.” The state race has the ability to crush the hopes of the participants at the very beginning. The motivation of each runner to do well was needed to overcome the size of the race.

Each runner found their own motivation in different places. Although Exeter didn’t qualify for states as a team, Maddie Holbrook said that “[her] motivation during the state race and [her] season in general was that [she] had to try as hard as [she] could for [her] team.” Many members of both the girls and boys cross country teams made the trip to Hershey in order to cheer on their teammates running. Cross country may seem like an individual sport, but without the support of the team and coaches, many runners would not be successful.

Becoming a state qualifier takes a lot of work and dedication from all that participated. The sacrifices they made in hopes that they would succeed are unmeasurable. Gabby Keith expressed her sacrifices saying that over the summer she would wake “up early for every practice, six days a week every week since mid-June. [She] made sure to sacrifice [her] eating habits and eat less junk food.” Gabby has improved her performance significantly since last season and most, if not all of it can be attributed to these sacrifices. 

In addition to these 5 runners doing extremely well at states, Carly Keith achieved many individual honors. She was awarded Central PA Runners Rookie of the Year, Berks Athlete of the Year, BCIAA County Runner Up, and she now holds the school record for the 2 mile. Carly also finished 6th at the district meet followed by her older sister Gabby Keith who finished 7th. Carly is not done yet. As a freshman she said “ [she] wants to work hard to improve for next year.” Carly has three years to continue to improve as Exeter’s top runner. Congratulations to Carly, Gabby, Maddie, Nate, Slater, and both girls and boys cross country teams on a great season!

In sports, the ultimate goal is to be the last team standing having captured a championship. To get to that point, you have to go through much adversity and ups and downs throughout the season--and of course defeat all the teams you come across. Each major sport has their own championship competition to determine who will be crowned champions of that particular season. In Major League Baseball, two teams compete against each other in the World Series. 

The World Series this past season had the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros facing off against one another to decide a 2022 MLB champion. The Phillies were in the World Series for the first time since 2009, looking to capture a world championship for the city of Philadelphia, which hasn’t been done since 2008. The Astros, however, were back in the world series for the third time in the last 4 years, looking to win the World Series for the second time since 2017. 

The series began on October 28, 2022 with Game 1 taking place in Houston. Aaron Nola pitched for the Phillies while future hall of famer Justin Verlander took the mound for the Astros. The Astros jumped out to a 5-0 lead thanks in large part to two home runs hit by right fielder Kyle Tucker. By the fifth inning, the Phillies tied the game at 5 and then in extra innings, superstar catcher J.T. Realmuto propelled the Phillies to a 6-5 Game 1 win by hitting a solo home run deep into the Houston night. 

In Game 2, the Astros yet again jumped out to a 5-0 lead through five innings, and this time, thanks to a stellar pitching performance by Framber Valdez, they closed the door with a 5-2 victory to tie the series up at a game apiece. 

The scene shifted to Philadelphia for games three, four, and five. In Game 3, it was nothing but a Phillies offensive show as they put up 7 runs through 6 innings and never looked back to win 7-0 and take a 2-1 series lead. In Game 4, everything completely changed. Astros pitcher Christian Javier put up 6 no-hit innings and the bullpen did the same to go along with 5 runs scored by the offense in the 5th inning to put the game away ending with a 5-0 Astros win. This was the first combined no-hitter in World Series history. In Game 5, with the series tied 2-2, Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena blasted a solo home run to put the Astros in front 2-1 and ultimately led to them holding on to a 3-2 win to take 3-2 World Series lead.

In Game 6, the World Series went back to Houston, where the Astros were one win away from clinching their first world series title since 2017. Zack Wheeler and Framber Valdez pitched for the second time in the series, and through six innings, the pitching matchup did not disappoint as the game was scoreless for five full innings. In the top of the sixth, Phillies slugger outfielder Kyle Schwarber launched a home run into the right field seats giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Then in the bottom of the inning, the Astros put up four runs, including a three-run home run by designated hitter/ outfielder Yordan Alvarez to straight away center field. The Astros would not look back, and closer Ryan Pressly closed the door in the top of the 9th inning securing a 4-1 win and bringing the Astros a World Series title on November 5, 2022.

The 2022 MLB World Series was one of the most exciting, intense, intriguing World Series that we’ve seen in quite a while. The storylines were endless, and it made for great television. There aren’t many championship competitions as thrilling as the Major League Baseball World Series.

On a brisk fall afternoon 24 Exeter cross country runners (12 girls and 12 boys) made the trip to Kutztown University where they competed for the County Championship. Both teams were the 2021 Berks County Champions looking to defend their title from the year before.

The girls ran first focusing on their biggest competition, Governor Mifflin. Exeter beat Mifflin during the regular season 27-29. From the beginning of the race it was clear it was going to be close. However, Exeter managed to come out on top winning the County Championship by five points, 47-52. The team was led by Carly Keith (Fr), Gabby Keith (Jr), Maddie Holbrook (So), Kira Spencer (Jr), and Kate Ryan (Sr). These five girls finished 2nd, 5th, 6th, 17th, and 19th. The girls team went on to the district championship and placed 7th overall. Three girls, Carly Keith, Gabby Keith, and Maddie Holbrook will be competing in the State Championship on November 5th.

The boys ran second, focusing on their biggest competition, Twin Valley. Exeter beat Twin Valley during the regular season by one point. With Twin Valley taking 1st and 2nd place, it didn’t seem likely for Exeter to win. However, with Exeter’s tight spread, they beat Twin Valley, winning the championship as a team by one point. The team was led by Nathan Wentling (Sr), Chase Choudhry (Fr), Slater Von Stetten (Jr), Jack Sahaida (Sr), and Jason Nester (Jr). These five boys finished 6th, 7th, 8th, 12th, and 22nd. The boys team went on to compete at the district championship where they also placed 7th. Two boys, Nathan Wentling and Slater Von Stetten, will be competing at the State championship.

The Super Bowl is an event played annually that culminates the regular season and playoffs of the NFL. The Super Bowl determines who will be crowned NFL champions of the ongoing season. Each year, it is hosted by a different city and played in a different stadium. Every NFL season, the television networks of NBC, FOX, and CBS alternate the rights to host the big game. This year, the Super Bowl was broadcasted live on NBC. 

On Sunday, February 13, 2022, Super Bowl LVI was played to determine an NFL champion between the AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals and the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams. This game was played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood California. The Bengals won the coin toss to begin the game, and deferred to the second half, meaning the Rams started the game with the football. It was a slow start to the game for both teams, with 3 and outs being a key factor. Then, with about 6:22 remaining in the first quarter, the game’s scoring began when Rams QB Matthew Stafford found the talented Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for a 17 yard touchdown catch. The Bengals would eventually respond at the end of the first quarter with a field goal drive to get them on the board. The score was Rams 7, Bengals 3 at the end of the first quarter. 

 In the second quarter, the Rams responded when Matthew Stafford connected with star Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp for an 11 yard touchdown. A failed two-point conversion attempt put the Rams up 13-3 over the Bengals. With 5:47 left in the second quarter, the Bengals had a response of their own dialed up, with a little trickery to end it. Running Back Joe Mixon threw a 6 yard TD pass to Wide Receiver Tee Higgins to cut the lead to 13-10 Rams. 13-10 Rams remained the score heading into halftime. In the third quarter, the Bengals came out firing as 12 seconds into the quarter, young sensational QB Joe Burrow found WR Tee Higgins for a 75 yard touchdown reception. The score was 17-13 Bengals. On the next Bengals’ drive, after the Rams failed to do anything on offense, the Bengals put up a field goal to increase their lead to 20-13. The Rams got some points out of a rather lackluster third quarter for them, as kicker Matt Gay drilled for a 41 yard field goal to decrease the Bengals lead to 20-16, and that is where the score stayed after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, no one could do anything offensively. The Bengals and Rams kept trading back and forth possessions with each defense stepping up with the money on the line. However, when it really mattered most, 34 year old quarterback Matthew Stafford, needing a Super Bowl victory to cement his legacy, clutched up and led his team down the field culminating in one final touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp at the goal line. The score was 23-20 Rams, with 1:25 left in the game for Bengals QB Joe Burrow to go do something special. Ultimately, he and the Bengals were no match for the ferocious defense of the Los Angeles Rams, led by the one of the greatest defensive players of all time in Aaron Donald, and the great Von Miller. Stars such as Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Odell Beckham Jr, and most notably of all, Matthew Stafford, were finally able to capture their first Super Bowl victory. The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI by a final score of 23-20 over the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Not many have heard of winter track. Track and Field training during the winter? Not a popular sport, but an important part of training for Spring Track, Cross-Country, and athletes who do not play a winter sport. Winter Track runs from late November until Spring Track begins and gives athletes the opportunity to train, compete, and prepare during the winter, so they can be ready for Spring Track or other spring sports. During winter track season, practice is 4-6 days a week starting at 2:45 at the track. On Fridays and Saturdays, the athletes are given the opportunity to compete at indoor tracks at Alvernia, Lehigh, Penn State, and Glen Mills against many other schools.

A few years ago Coach Schaeffer helped restart winter track after it had been cut due to budget cuts. Since then, interest levels have picked up significantly and the results in Spring Track and Cross Country have improved.

Coach Schaeffer (one of the head coaches) says that during winter track, athletes “...compete weekly in the Greater Philadelphia Track and field league…” and “...the overall goal is to compete at States at Penn State University at the end of February.” He also “...personally enjoy[s] the work ethic that develops from competing and the experience and success of the athletes which is what it is all about…”

Caleb Jones, Cross Country, Winter Track, and Spring Track distance runner, says that “...[he] chose to do winter track because he wanted to keep running year round…” since “...long breaks in between seasons can really set you back…” He also says that winter track gives you important “...experience in racing so you know what to expect in the spring.” It’s also “fun to be able to come out and run with the team every day.”

Kate Ryan, also a Cross Country, Winter Track, and Spring Track distance runner, says that winter track “...has helped [her] get ahead, and run better than [she] ever could’ve had [she] chosen not to do it.” Kate is also “...not a big fan of running in the winter, but [she] does enjoy the memories [she's] made during winter track with teammates!” Kate also “would like to encourage anyone who is thinking about joining track or winter track to do it! With a little training, you will be amazed at what you can do!”

Winter track is a great way to stay in shape and continue training for other seasons during the winter. You will have a great time training, racing, and more with your teammates. You can also get ahead for other seasons and sports by doing winter track. If anyone has any interest in winter track, contact Mr/Coach Schaeffer.

Who is Tiger Woods? Tiger Woods is an American pro golfer. He is considered one of the best athletes in the world and the youngest and first African American man to win the U.S. Masters. He also is a 15 time major tournament winner. 

What happened to Tiger Woods? Tiger Woods was in a car accident on March 1, 2021. It was a single car rollover accident. He was rushed to the hospital and went through orthopedic surgery. His team put out a statement on Tuesday, March 2nd that he was “awake, responsive, and recovering in the hospital room.” 

What does this really mean for the future of Tiger Woods's career? It is unknown for sure if his injuries are “career ending” or not. We know that his right leg had most of the injuries and that doctors stabilized his tibia with a rod and his ankle and foot with screws and pins. Doctors said that Tiger Woods was “lucky to be alive” and that he had “a long road to recovery”. 

For more specific details and information on what happened to Tiger Woods check out: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sportingnews.com/us/amp/golf/news/tiger-woods-car-crash-accident-details/1uyc6a76dbo341b8etsoi0m98h. 

Women in sports are making history and breaking down boundaries. We see gender discrimination everywhere, but people like Sarah Fuller are tearing those boundaries down, one kick at a time. 

We have seen the unequal treatment between men and women. Unequal pay, unequal opportunities, sexual harassment, and racism. These are just a few examples of the inequalities between men and women today and why Sara Fuller is a good example of the efforts to help break down the inequalities.

According to the Census Bureau data of 2018, for every 82 cents a woman earns a man earns $1.00. This pay gap widens even more for women of color. African American women earn only 62 cents for every dollar a man earns. Gender discrimination based on pay has been illegal since 1963. I will do the math for you. It has only been 57 years since it has been ILLEGAL to discriminate pay based on gender. It is crazy to think that we are the strongest and most advanced country in the world, yet we have a hard time paying women the same amount we pay men. 

Sexual Harassment cases are way more frequent than you think. One in three women have been a victim of sexual assault in the workplace. Women that experience sexual harassment in the workplace do not usually report it for fear of being punished, fired, or fear of some form of retaliation. When women do report sexual harassment, only about half continue reporting because they are dissatisfied with the response. Sexual Harassment in the workplace affects women’s mental health and often leads to depression and anxiety. It can lead to affecting women’s career choices and their job performance. 

I think that we would all like to believe that we live in a world where things are earned and not given. However, as we can see, gender discrimination is real and it is happening today. We are starting to break through some of these boundaries. One way we are doing this is with women in sports. A good example of breaking these boundaries is the story of Sarah Fuller. 

Recently, Sarah Fuller made history for being the first female to play in a Power Five college football game. She kicked for Vanderbilt and is going to continue kicking for Vanderbilt. Sara Fuller is in good company with other females who have impacted athletics. There are female NFL coaches who have earned their spot coaching as well. One of these women is Jen Welter, who was the NFL’s first ever female coach. She coaches inside linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals. 

We still see gender discrimination in sports and in the workplace and in everyday life, but these women in sports are making history, and helping to close the gender gap.  I hope one day any woman who has worked hard enough and earned it can kick for the NFL or get any job they want and be paid the same as men. 

I have been gathering some information over the past few weeks about Fall sports.  More importantly, what the players have been dealing with and thinking about during these difficult times. I have talked to numerous people from various sports such as girls tennis, boys cross country, girls cross country, and field hockey. 

A couple common themes were expressed through the interviews with the athletes. The three things that people said over and over again were how they have to wear masks when they are waiting or just warming up, and how they wish there could be more spectators, but they understand why there can’t be more. 

The questions I asked were what their opinion is on having less spectators, how is Covid-19 affecting their sport, and what is their most memorable moment. I then added a chance that they could say anything that they wanted about their sport in general. 

Girls Tennis 

The first athletes I talked to played girls tennis. I talked to Saishree Mupparaju, a junior. She said: “ We’re undefeated so far, but we’re playing a lot less matches because of COVID. We’re only playing in Berks County. We’re the strongest we’ve been in a while, and we’re hoping we can make it to the playoffs.” 

Tori Dell'elmo, a Senior, said: “Our season is going so well all of the girls are doing amazing and we all have worked so hard it really pays off! I’m so proud of the team!!” 

The next person that I talked to was Risha Musuku, a Senior. What she had to say was “Tennis has been going great this year. Our team has finally made it to the playoffs for the first time in almost four years and the first time in my high school career! One big change this season for tennis, in particular, was not being able to do what we call a line up. It is basically where our team lines up across from the other team and our senior captains (which would’ve been me this year) would have called out who the varsity players were each playing. This was a really big team moment for us before each game that we missed  this year. As for spectators, that hasn’t bothered us too much. Tennis is a quieter sport and having our teammates and most of our parents  there has been like old times for us. Overall, I think my team and I were fortunate enough to have sports this year. We had some great memories like an ice cream truck for our senior night which was so much fun. All in all, I am happy to have had my senior season and I think playing under Covid - 19 has just made my team stronger!”  

One of the last people I have talked to was senior Danielle Wasner. “I feel that our team is pretty strong this year; we have only lost two matches. This year is definitely different.” Wasner said. “I feel that as a team we have become better at encouraging and supporting each other if we win or lose. I feel that this year for the team has been my favorite because even though things are different we are making the best of it. For me tennis isn’t all about winning, it’s also about meeting new people and because of the circumstances it’s hard to do that. In previous years before a match we would do a line up and announce the names of the players and clap for each other giving everyone some encouragement, but this year we weren’t able to. Tennis isn’t about the sport itself but the memories made. It is tennis and not many people came to see us anyway, so it didn’t change at all for us. Tennis changed my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. This sport has changed anyone who steps onto the court.” 

The last person I talked to on this team was Grace Miller, a Senior. She said, “So far the season has had a lot of ups and downs, but being able to experience them with my teammates has made for one of my favorite seasons so far. Last year we lost some of our top players, so we’ve had to really rise to the occasion and work extra hard to improve so we could try to fill their shoes (although they cannot be replaced). This year we have been so much closer as a team and it’s been really amazing having a team that feels so much like a family. We all really love each other and it seems like one of the first years that we have all clicked. Senior night was definitely one of my most memorable moments. There were a lot of tears. Being able to play with one of my closest friends is also such an amazing experience with so many memories that I’ll treasure for years to come. With corona, I feel like the spectators should be limited but aside from that, I’ve always personally played better when there’s more spectators, I feel that it makes me perform better. Overall I really love tennis and it’s been an amazing experience that I am truly grateful to have had.” 

Boys Cross Country

The next team is cross country. The first person that I talked to was Blake Smith, a junior who said, “I think as a team we’ve adapted really well to all the challenges the pandemic has thrown at us. We need to keep distance and wear masks while at practice, but otherwise it hasn’t changed all that much. The lack of spectors can be challenging since at the end of races, especially the really tough ones, it really gives you a big boost to hear all the fans cheering for you.” 

This made me feel sad, because I can put myself in their shoes and feel how much of a difference the ending is. The next person I talked to was junior, Caleb Jones. “Thankfully, our performance, training, and races are not affected at all by these precautions,” Jones said. “In our meet at Conrad Weiser, we beat Wyomissing and Conrad Weiser but lost to Twin Valley, and Kutztown. In our second meet, which took place at home last tuesday, we beat Wilson, Schuylkill Valley, and Kutztown. Both these races we have left. Some other memorable moments we have include running at local trails like the Schuylkill River Trail and hiking trails like Nolde Forest and Neversink Mountain.” 

Since I didn’t know where they ran. I found it interesting that they run at trails that I would hike on. The last person I talked to was Alex Holbrook, a Junior. What he wanted to say about this was,  “I think that the cross country team did a great job at overcoming the changes. Some changes include, our team is separated into two practice locations between varsity and  jv. We must wear masks at all times except for when we are running. And some of our big races were canceled. There is really no difference in spectators because it is usually just parents anyway. And parents are still allowed to come to the race. We are having one of the best seasons we ever had in recent years due to the dedication of everyone on our team. Everyone works extremely hard and shows up with a positive attitude everyday despite the changes.” 

Good job overcoming the challenges boys cross country! You guys got this!

Girls Cross Country

The second to last team I talked to was girls cross country. The first person I went to get information from was Megan Cano, a Senior. She said, “Races are now split between varsity and JV so that there are less people on the course at the same time. All of our invitational meets had to be canceled. One of the saddest changes is the end of the race. Exeter has built up a reputation over the years for handing out water to our competitors at the end of races. We aren’t able to do that this year. A fun moment from this season would be the day we tie-dyed our team shirts.” 

I found that it was so cool that they make tie-dyed t-shirts. It can be so much fun to make those. 

I then talked to Kira Marr, a Junior. She said, “The biggest difference is trying to social distance from teammates while running. When it rained the first time during practice this summer, we got really excited and spent our cooldown jumping in as many puddles as possible.” I can imagine people running close to each other. I see how it can be hard to social distance. 

The last person I talked to was Claire Samolewicz, a Senior. She said, “This weekend our team ran at the Hershey Invitational, which had a strict no spectator policy as there were over 50 teams competing at staggered start times. All the girls on my team agreed that it was really strange having no spectators as most of the race was run in dead silence. The most memorable moment from this year, personally, was Senior Night. Even though there are only two seniors on the girls cross country team, myself and Megan Cano, the ceremony was very touching and we were still able to celebrate while social distancing.” 

Field Hockey

The last team I talked to was Field Hockey. The first person I talked to was a senior, Ian Semo. He said: “We have to wear masks whenever we are not practicing or playing, and have to stay six feet apart on the sidelines. It is hard to imagine that this is what my senior year will look like, but we are trying to make the best of it.” 

I then talked to senior, Kylee Dwinal, about one of her favorite field hockey memories. She said, “A memorable moment would be playing under the stadium lights for the first time, the fun bus rides, and team parties! I had a great senior season full of memories I will never forget.” 

The last person I talked to was senior, Grace Murray. She said, “Coach McCoy knows what she’s doing and I see some success in our season. Spectators don’t really affect us. It will be upsetting to not have as many people in the stands, but we don’t need an audience to be successful. But what you will never see from us is coming off the field with frowns on our faces after a loss. We’ve been taught to never feel down after a game we’ve worked too hard for in our seasons.”

Over the past two weeks, I have gathered some information about sports. More importantly, what the players have been dealing with and thinking about during these difficult times. I have talked to numerous people from various sports such as girls soccer, boys soccer, football, and cheer. Other sports will be covered in the next submission. 

A couple common themes were expressed through the interviews with the athletes. The three things that people said over and over again was how they have to wear masks when they are waiting or just warming up, how there are less fans, and they wish there was more, but they understand how there can’t be more. Teams are not playing as many games as they did last year. The questions I asked were what their opinion is on having less spectators, how is Covid - 19 affecting their sport, and what is their most memorable moment. I then added a chance that they could say anything that they wanted about their sport in general. 

Girls Soccer 

I interviewed a few members on the girls soccer team: 

I asked Gwen Hettinger, a junior, what was one of her most memorable moments this year. Hettinger said, “A scrimmage and a game against Twin Valley (where) we won both.” 

Ella Gerhart, a junior, said “On September 23rd, we played our first game against Twin Valley, and we ended up coming together. Taylor Mentzer, a junior, scored in the last 8 minutes to break the tie. I think we have a very good chance of making the playoffs this year. I do miss the students that came and sat in the stands and cheered us on. Based on how we came together in the first game, I think we will accomplish getting to the playoffs.” 

When I heard these two people talk I was surprised because I felt like a lot of people enjoyed their game with Twin Valley. I went on to ask  Morgan Truckermiller, a senior, what she had to say about their sport. 

“Every game is bigger now and holds more meaning,” Truckermiller said. “We never know when it could be the last game because of coronavirus. Soccer overall is good and we are a good team when we play as a team and work together.” 

This felt very touching to me because you never know what is going to happen between this week and next week. You don’t know if sports will just stop because of COVID-19. The last person I talked to was senior, Ella Messner. 

“All around we have a strong mentality as a team and we connect really well with each other. I wish more people were able to see our games, but I understand that these guidelines are needed to make sure that we have a season,” Messner said.

Boys Soccer

Since I talked to the girls soccer team, what better way to go off and talk to the boys soccer team? The first person I talked to was junior Brady Hannahoe. 

“It can be a benefit to not have as many fans, as it makes most of us players less nervous,” Hannahoe said. “We do not allow covid to stand in the way of us becoming better players individually or as a team. This pandemic has allowed the soccer guys as well as every other student athlete to prove the motivation and passion we have towards our sport. I believe that we should think of high school as one big memory, that we will cherish forever.” 

I loved how he said that everyone is improving on their passion for their sport. It’s the most important thing to do to grow your love and passion for the things you do that you love. 

The next person I talked to was Sean Creamer, a sophomore. “Personally, I think having less spectators is beneficial to our team because nobody is trying to show off for fans in the stands. It is different when the crowd's roar after a goal isn't as loud as we're used to,” Creamer said. “COVID-19 is affecting our sport because we constantly have to spread out during practices and we have to do extra things like wear masks on the sideline during games. I know our team is very talented and quick along with a lot of heart in each and every one of our players.” 

I like how people are getting more focused, even if it is only because of COVID. 

Football 

I also talked to some of the Exeter football players. I talked to sophomore Joey Schlaffer. He said, “Well, we lost a lot of key starters from last year, but I think we’ve really overcome the adversity thrown in our face over the past six months and people have put in work day in and day out. We’re more of a team this year, by far.” 

Another teammate, senior Gavin McCusker, said, “Obviously with no fans it doesn’t feel the same, but the goal is the same. Not having spectors or a student body takes a toll on us as players but we love to see the support outside of the stadium.” 

I felt like this was really sad, because I remember my friends and me sitting in the stadium. But, now we can’t. Either people can sit on the hill or the others watch it from social media platforms. But, we all have to understand and now it’s for the good of the group to do all these social distancing things. 

The last person I talked to was Gio Nowotarski, senior: “We were hit with a lot of adversity this summer with us missing practices due to COVID cases and we really adapted and did the safety precautions to have the season we are having even if that means wearing masks on the sidelines! The most memorable moment was this year, as of now, against Hempfield for the home opener winning in overtime to start the season off to a good start! It is kind of weird seeing no one in the bleachers, but I love all the support from the hill and that just shows what a great community we have! I’m really gonna miss all my brothers next year and I love this team!” 

It was really sweet how Gio sees all the guys on his team as his family. 

These two photos were taken by my friend, Lena Croson,  Jack Renski states “Football is a great way to stay involved with school. My team is always working hard to be the best we can.” 

Cheer 

The Cheer team goes hand and hand with football. Haley Himmelriech, a junior varsity cheerleader, said, “We’re very glad to be back and get the opportunity to cheer at the home football games. With the new restrictions and guidelines, we have social distance during practice. We were able to learn all of our material before the first game, so we do cover the same amount and dances at the games. During dances, and cheers there is not a big change, we just make sure we stand six feet apart. Due to having to stay socially distant we were unable to start stunting until later in the season than usual. While stunting we have to wear masks. Although it’s strange, it’s important for our safety. Since we were unsure in the beginning of the school year whether or not a football season was going to occur, we had a very late start to the season. We have been able to overcome this setback, but a main event we missed out on was our summer cheer camp. We were unable to bond as a team like usual. Despite the unusual season, we are very happy to be back and cheering for our school.” 

I was glad to hear that they covered all their dances from, what  they would’ve done anyways, last year. 

Sophomore Morgan Cambria said,  “We all have to adjust and overcome our new normalcy. Our team gets stronger every day.” 

It’s good they are coping well with the pandemic because they are a key part of the football game. I talked with Julie Mulligan, a  senior. this is what she had to say: “This season is very different from our past seasons. We practice outside now, which we have never done in the past. Even with these changes the season is going great. Our first home football game this year was a blast. We all missed being out there under the lights and we’re so glad we could cheer again. I understand the reasoning behind not having a lot of spectators, but I do believe they can fill the stands up a little more while keeping everyone at a good distance. Luckily for the seniors, we get at least one parent that can come to the game. This year is extremely different from last year, but we are going to make the most of it and I am going to enjoy my last year as an Exeter cheerleader.” 

Student athlete interviews will continue in a later update.