A look back at 2015 in local sports.
It’s time for our annual look back in the year in local sports.
January
Todd Benner, Nicholas Hilton and Terry McNelis were inducted into the Exeter Township High school Athletic Hall of Fame. Benner, 1994 grad, was a three-year starter on the bowling team. Hilton, a 2007 grad, was a back-toi-back BCIAA champion in cross country. He set the school record in the 1,600 meter run (4:13.89) and was an all-state selection in 2007.McNelis, a 1999 grad, played varsity soccer, basketball and volleyball.
Both the Exeter and Governor Mifflin wrestling team qualified for the PIAA State Wrestling Team Tournament after both finishing in the top four at the District 3-AAA tournament.
February
The Governor Miff lin High School girls basketball team defeated Berks Catholi on Feb. 13, 67-53 to win the Berks League championship. Kylie Herman scored a career-high 26 points and Miff lin tallied 24 fourth quarter points to win the game played at Santander Arena in Reading. It was the Mustangs’ 10 league title and first since 2011. Mifflin met up with Daniel Boone in the semifinal round, defeating the Blazers, 56-35.
The Exeter High School girls team won 13 games overall during the season, but were unable to make the Berks League playoffs. They did get some redemption though, defeating Governor Mifflin in the first round of the District 3 tournament, 4233. Their season ended in the next round when Cedar Crest defeated the Lady Eagles, 59- 42.
The Exeter Youth Cheerleading Organization competed in the UCA World School Championships in Orlando, Florida. The Exeter girls placed first to win the wold championship.
Six local wrestlers advanced on to the PIAA state tournament. Exeter’s Austin DeSanto led the way by earning a gold medal at the Southcentral regional tournament in the 113 pound weight class. Teammate Ethan Stever was second in the 152 pound weight class, while Governor Miffllin’s Jan Johnson (195) and Keith Miller (285) both finished in third place, as did Exeter’s James Harkness (126). Exeter’s Brett Kulp (120) also advanced after finishing second at the regionals.
March
Governor Mifflins’ Gabriella Johnson finished 15th in the girls 100 yard breaststroke at the PIAA Class AAA Swimming Championships. She turned in a time of 1:05.78.
April
Behind the amazing pitching of Bekah Slattery, the Daniel Boone High School softball team breezed through the reg- ular Berks League season undefeated. In addition, the Lady Blazers played some tough competition at the Williamsburg Tournament, going 3- 0, defeating Delaware Valley (5-1), Endicott (15-0) and Williamsport (10).
Both the Exeter High School baseball and softball team ended the month in first place in their respective divisions, and ready for the upcoming league playoffs. The Exeter girls lacrosse team was a perfect 10- 0 as the regular Berks League season came to an end.
May
The Exeter Township High School girls lacrosse team scored seven second half goals in a 12-7 victory over Governor Miff lin on May 7, giving the Lady Eagles the Berks League championship. Lexi Einsig and Marissa Gottschall each scored two goals.
Although they only went 7-3 during the regular season, finishing second behind Exeter in Division 1, the Governor Mifflin baseball team turned it on at the right time, winning all three playoff games to win the program’s first league title since 2011. The Mustangs defeated Twin Valley and Exeter in the first two
rounds, then topped Daniel Boone in the championship game, 3-1. They went on to take third place in the District 3-AAAA tournament, qualifying for the state tournament for the first time in the program’s history.
After going undefeated in the regular season, the Daniel Boone High School softball team was upset in the Berks League semfinals by Twin Valley, 3-1. But the Lady Blazers rebounded well, advancing all the way to the District 3-AAAA champion- ship game before losing to Lower Dauphin, 3-1.
The Governor Miff lin boys volleyball team won its division with an 11-1 record. The Mustangs advanced on to the Berks League championship match, where they lost to Schuylkill Valley, 3-1. They went on to defeat Mechanicsburg in the first round of the District 3-AAA playoffs, but lost in the next round to Penn Manor.
June
The Daniel Boone High School softball team won the first two rounds of the PIAA state tournament, defeating Hazleton ( 10) and Penn Manor (3-1). But their season came to an end in the semifinals when the Lady Blazers lost to Parkland, 4-1. Daniel Boone ended its season with an overall record of 24- 4.
In the PIAA state tournament game, the Governor Miff lin High School baseball team lost to Council Rock in a pitchers dual, 1- 0. The Mustangs ended their season with an overall record of 20-8.