*Editors note: A full indepth story will appear in the upcoming Hometown Sports Scene Magazine By Kenny Varner HIGHLAND PARK – Members of the summer basketball team from Mifflin and Juniata County tuned up for its full Summer slate of action, taking on the Mount Union junior varsity. Here are some of the highlights…
By Kenny Varner HIGHLAND PARK – In a year of firsts for the Mifflin County High School, the history continues to build as the Huskies honored three of their own recently as Taylor Kuhns, Marissa Long and Zach Moon announced their future agendas, signing their letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the [...]
Here is some highlights of a recent Little League contest held at Rec Park..enjoy!
By Kenny Varner HIGHLAND PARK – Future track and field athletes competed this weekend, prepping for a possible future in their sport. Here are some of the highlights…
By Kenny Varner HIGHLAND PARK –It was a senor night celebration for the Mifflin County Huskies’ softball team, exploding for six runs in the first three innings and held onto beat a scrappy Juniata 6-3 in front of the home crowd Friday night. Offensively, the Huskies were led by Jordan Myers, Jess Lamberson and Emily [...]
May 18th, 2012 
Hometown Sports Scene Mifflin *Editors note: A full indepth story will appear in the upcoming Hometown Sports Scene Magazine
By Kenny Varner
HIGHLAND PARK – Members of the summer basketball team from Mifflin and Juniata County tuned up for its full Summer slate of action, taking on the Mount Union junior varsity. Here are some of the highlights…
May 17th, 2012 Hometown Sports Scene Mifflin By Kenny Varner
HIGHLAND PARK – In a year of firsts for the Mifflin County High School, the history continues to build as the Huskies honored three of their own recently as Taylor Kuhns, Marissa Long and Zach Moon announced their future agendas, signing their letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the colligiate level.
Wednesday afternoon, the Mifflin County Media Room was occupied by family, friends and media anxious to be a little part of history and also to celebrate the careers of the Husky athletes as the school year gets ready to come to a close.
First to sign the letter of intent was Taylor Kuhns. Kuhns, a stand-out field hockey player at Indian Valley and Mifflin County will be taking her talents to Lock Haven University. The Pennsylvania College sports one of the best field hockey programs in the state. She will be changing from a Husky to an Eagle as she heads to be a member of the Atlantic-10.
She will be coached by Pat Rudy and will be competing against Penn State, Cornell, Bucknell, St. Francis, Umass, St. Joes and Temple.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing division 1 and when Lock haven gave me an offer I took it right away,” Kuhns said.
When asked to look back at her high school career Kuhns, who is the daughter of Wade and Marsha Kuhns had nothing but good memories of her time in high school.
“When it was Indian Valley we were all so close. It was like a family. Every game, every practice would be fun. We really pushed each other,” Kuhns added. “But this year with schools combined I made so many new friends and they were like rivals. We all get along so well and play well together. There was a lot of good editions to our team that made it better than what it was I am very glad we combined.”
Long was the next up to the podium was Marissa Long. Long, who is the daughter of Terry and Rosie Long, also chose the road to Lock Haven as her destination, much like Kuhns.
Long will be getting a Division –2 scholarship for track and field and possibly cross-country. Her coach will be Aaron Russell and her foes on the track will be similar to team opponents that Kuhns will be facing.
“When I went there, I got to meet the team. It was just like it was here. You have a family here and they were much the same way,” Long said. “I thought it was a lot of fun and I just felt comfortable there.”
Finally, lone male athlete Moon chose Bucknell University, located in Lewisburg, Pa., where he will take up cross-country and track and field like he did as a member of the Lewistown Panthers and now as a Husky.
His coach for both cross-country and track will be Kevin Donner.
The Bisons compete in the Patriot League and play teams like Army, Navy, Colgate, Lehigh, Lafayette and Holy Cross.
“Originally, I was interested in the Naval Academy and went through the whole process. But then I visited Bucknell over the summer and really fell in love with campus and the education they give. It’s such a great school and has a great athletic program,” Moon said. “ I went there over the summer and I knew this was where I wanted to go.”
Good luck to those three as the head onto the next level.
May 17th, 2012 Hometown Sports Scene Mifflin 
Courtesy of the University of Virginia
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Seven student-athletes from the Virginia wrestling team have been named to the 2012 All-ACC Wrestling Academic Team, announced Thursday by the conference. Highlighting the seven honorees is Matt Snyder (R-Jr., Lewistown, Pa.), who was named the ACC Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Virginia’s seven honorees marked the most of any ACC program and accounted for more than a third of the 19-man all-academic team. Snyder was joined on the team by Jon Fausey (R-So., Dalmatia, Pa.), Shawn Harris (R-Sr., Cleveland, Ohio), Ethan Hayes (Fr., New Lebanon, Ohio), Ryan Malo (R-Sr., Georgetown, Mass.), Matt Nelson (R-Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Nick Nelson (R-Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.).
Snyder and Nick Nelson were honored on the team for the third time each, while Fausey and Harris each earned the distinction for the second time.
The 2012 ACC Champion at 125 pounds, Snyder plans to enter the medical field upon graduation. A kinesiology major who will earn his undergraduate degree next week, Snyder was assigned a room on The Lawn at the University of Virginia, one of the most prestigious honors at the University. In addition to his classroom achievements, Snyder earned the Cavaliers’ Mike Krafchick Academic Achievement Award last season and was a Capital One Academic All-District Second Team honoree.
Snyder finished the year with a 24-5 record, including a team-high eight falls. Snyder went 8-0 in duals, including a 5-0 mark in ACC duals. He was the No. 11 national seed at the NCAA Championships and went 2-2 at NCAAs, with both losses coming in narrow decisions to fellow seeded wrestlers.
A kinesiology major, Fausey claimed the ACC championship at 184 pounds. He was seeded 12th at the 2012 NCAA Championships and reached the round of 12, falling one win shy of All-America status. He posted a 24-5 record, including a 10-0 mark in dual matches and a perfect 5-0 mark in ACC duals. Over half of his wins resulted in bonus points.
Harris went 9-6 during his fifth year at Virginia. He earned his bachelor’s degree last year and currently is working on his master’s degree in education and leadership. A 2010 NCAA qualifier at 149 pounds, he earned 69 wins during his Virginia career. He also has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll three times in his career.
Hayes was 17-12 during his freshman season. He finished third at heavyweight at the ACC Championships and also took fourth place at the Body Bar Invitational. He has not yet declared a major.
Malo completed his college career with a 19-13 record in 2011-12, his first season at Virginia after transferring from Williams College where he was a three-time Division III All-American. He earned his undergraduate degree last year from Williams and currently is finishing up his master’s degree in education at UVa. Malo took third place at the ACC Championships at 197 pounds and finished his college career with a 143-29 record.
Matt Nelson had a remarkable season as he competed for the first time in nearly five years after sitting out because of concussion problems. An economics major, Nelson went 19-7 on the season, including a 7-2 mark in duals and a 4-1 record in ACC duals. He placed third at the ACC Championships in March to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Championships, where he posted a 2-2 record.
Nick Nelson earned the ACC crown at 141 pounds with a double-overtime win over All-American Darrius Little of NC State. The No. 7 seed at 141 at the 2012 NCAA Championships, Nelson (27-4) went 2-2 at the event. Nelson finished his UVa career with 91 wins, which is tied for 10th-most in program history. After earning his undergraduate degree in economics in 2011, Nelson is currently completing his master’s degree in commerce.
The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in September 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their career as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters.
To be eligible for All-ACC Academic Team consideration, a student-athlete must have earned a minimum 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a minimum 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career.
May 16th, 2012 Hometown Sports Scene Mifflin Here is some highlights of a recent Little League contest held at Rec Park..enjoy!
May 13th, 2012 Hometown Sports Scene Mifflin By Kenny Varner
HIGHLAND PARK – Future track and field athletes competed this weekend, prepping for a possible future in their sport. Here are some of the highlights…
May 12th, 2012 Hometown Sports Scene Mifflin By Kenny Varner
HIGHLAND PARK –It was a senor night celebration for the Mifflin County Huskies’ softball team, exploding for six runs in the first three innings and held onto beat a scrappy Juniata 6-3 in front of the home crowd Friday night.
Offensively, the Huskies were led by Jordan Myers, Jess Lamberson and Emily Tomasello, who all roped two hits apiece in the contest. Lamberson and Tomasello were the only Mifflin County hitters that had multiple hits.
Mikala Britt got the start for Mifflin County while Hayley Colyer suffered the loss. Reliever Rachel Zimmerman was tough in a long save situation, striking out three and allowing one run in three innings on the mound.
“That’s been our thing all year, Rachel is a very good pitcher. She comes in and throws hard. Obviously, she throws the hardest of all our kids so I think that changes things on what you can do defensively.”
Juniata’s Alesha Reed held the hot bat for the Indians, finishing with a game high 3-for-4 effort. Teammate Micheh Horning finished with a 2-for-3 performance to round out the game’s multiple hitters.
In the first inning, Mifflin County picked up two runs while holding the Indians scoreless.
With one out, Myers hustled out an infield hit and later scored on a Lamberson double, making it 1-0.
Lamberson, later scored as well when she scored on a wild pitch.
After holding Juniata scoreless in the second as well, the Huskies bats were at it again.
Tomasello led off the inning with a double of her own and then advanced on a fielder’s choice by Britt.
Brooke Wilson followed with a walk.
With one out, ninth batter Macy Lucas smacked the ball a ton but it was caught. However, it was long enough to score Tomasello from third, upping it to 3-0.
Leadoff hitter, Brandi Sherwood reached on a bunt single, starting some two-out lightning for the home team, scoring Wilson on the play.
Sherwood later scored to up the lead to five when Myers picked up her second infield single of the game, giving her the RBI on the play.
Mifflin County added a run in the third, upping the lead to 6-0.
Juniata fought back in the fourth, as Reed got the rally going with a lead off double to left field. Alyssa Graybill followed with a single that just plopped over the third baseman and into left.
The Indians showed patience at the plate as Megan Shoop and Coyler both walked, plating the first Indians run.
With two-out, Kristen Pray brought home another run via the base on balls, cutting into the Huskies lead at 6-2.
Juniata added one more in the seventh but it was too little too late as Mifflin County went onto pick victory number 13.
“We hit the ball pretty well and we executed our bunts well.” Said Juniata coach Brian Sheaffer. “I told them I was proud of them and that (Mifflin County ) was a quality team. We’re trying get tuned up and ready for districts.”
May 11th, 2012 Hometown Sports Scene Mifflin HIGHLAND PARK – Thursday afternoon, two teams ready to start page one of their rivalry met on the track as the Huskies went into battle against soon-to-be Mid-Penn rival, State College at the Mifflin County High School track.
Mifflin County was competing in just its second and final home contest of the 2012 season.
The young Huskies, who came into the contest with numerous injuries, came into the day sporting a perfect 6-0 records in both the boys and girls sides.
State College, no matter what the records, have always given Mifflin County teams a tough time and Thursday afternoon was no different, doubling up the Huskies.
The Mifflin County boys fell 105-45 while the girls lost 100-50 as it heads into the final part of the season.
“It was pretty much of what we expected,” said Mifflin County coach Scott Gantz said. “We were a little light as far competitors go. We have kids that are nicked up, we have some kids out for various reasons but State College is State College. We have been chasing them for years and we’re getting a little bit closer every year but we just not to the point we can give them a challenge.”
Individually, Mifflin County landed a combined 11 first place finishes on the day.
Leading the way on the boys’ side was Jake Shepherd. Shepherd took the top spot in three events winning the long jump (19’ 9”), the triple jump (42’ ½”) and finally the high jump (6”).
Jon Colwell contributed strong to the cause, placing first in the 1600-meter run and third in the 800-meter run with times of 4:33.6 and 2:06.2, respectively.
Colwell was joined in the top three in the 1600 by teammate, Addison Monroe. Monroe finished his race with a time of 4:39.6, well enough for third place.
Other finishing with first place finishes on the boys’ side were Zach Moon in the 400-meter dash (52.6) and Cole Welham in the javelin launching a throw of 167’ 4”.
Teammate Zach Long finished in third with a throw of 140’ 9”.
Mifflin County had only one second-place finisher in George Donahey. Donahey took second in the pole vault, finishing with a leap of 11’ 6”.
Rounding out the list of finishers were Jared Michaels who placed third in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 45.8, Chris Falkner who also placed third but in the 3200, finishing with a time of 10:57.5. Brandon Shawver placed third in the 400-meter with a time of 58.3.
The boys took the 4×800 relay event with a finishing time of 9:04.4.
Erika Shawver led the girls’ team as she finished in the top spots in two different events. Shawver swept the 100-meter and 3-meter hurdle events placing with times of 15.9 and 48.0, respectively.
Two of her teammates rounded out the first place finishes to help bump up the score and keeping the competition close until late in the race.
Whitney Strohecker ran a solid 5:31 in the 1600 while Makala Rearick won the shot put with a throw of 32’ ½”.
The girls also took the 4×800 relay event with a time of 10:19.5.
Marissa Long was consistent, placing second in 400 (1:01.8) and 200 (26.4).
Also placing second on the day were Halle Fisher in the high jump (4’ 6”), Elle Harpster in the discus (88’ 1”), Makayla Pearce in the javelin (95’ 0”) and Anna Aurand in the triple jump (32’ 1”).
Kezia Loht finished a close third behind teammate Long in the 400, placing with a time of 1:03.1.
Millers, Hannah and Jessica also captured third place finishes. Hannah finished with a jump of 14’ 7” in the long while Jessica finished with a time of 13:10.6 in the 3200-meter run.
Madilyn Walters finished the third-place place winners with a time of 12.6 in the 100.
Mifflin County will be back in action next Thursday as it travels to Altoona for the District 6 Class AAA meet.
May 3rd, 2012 Hometown Sports Scene Mifflin Courtesy of University of West Virginia
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (April 30, 2012) – Track and field athlete Heather Adams is the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week following her performances in the hammer and discus throws over the weekend at the Ashland Alumni Open in Ashland, Ohio.
The junior from Reedsville, Pa., placed third in the discus throw with a second-best career distance of 45.89 meters, just short of her personal best of 46.29 meters which ranks second on the WVU all-time best distances for the event.
She also came in eighth place in the hammer throw with a distance of 52.94 meters, the third-best mark of her career for the event.
May 3rd, 2012 Hometown Sports Scene Mifflin By Kenny Varner
MIFFLINTOWN –Mother Nature was looming but the held out long enough for one of the Special Olympics oldest traditions to be enjoyed once again.
Wednesday, old friends and new athletes gathered to Dietrick Field to participate in the annual Special Olympics Track and Field Day.
It’s a chance for old friends to make new friends and enjoy the true spirit of competition and the bottom line of the experience is to have fun.
This year was no exception.
Also, athletes competed for the chance to qualify for the Special Olympics State Games that will be held at Penn State University June 7th, 8th and 9th.
Athletes from both Mifflin and Juniata made the trek to Juniata High School, looking to compete in running events, wheelchair events, long jump, softball throw, tennis ball throws, standing jump and other field sports.
Smiles were aplenty the entire day as athletes, win or lose enjoyed the cool overcast day to show off their talent with the hopes of getting a ribbon.
Volunteers helped the athletes from Juniata, East Juniata and Mifflin County High Schools, chaperoning each athlete, making sure they get to their events and also a chance to make a new friend.
On this day, there are no losers, just a day for fun, excitement, friendship and most importantly. Sportsmanship.
That is something that makes sports so fun to watch. These athletes definitely did that. Here are some of the highlights…
May 2nd, 2012 Hometown Sports Scene Mifflin By Kenny Varner
MOUNT UNION – Offense set the tone for the Mount Union Trojan baseball team Tuesday afternoon, plating nine runs in the first two innings en route to a 9-6 victory over Class-AAA Hollidaysburg in a home contest.
The Trojans (13-3) got a strong punch from the bottom of the order as seventh hitter, Brandon Rogers and eighth batter, Zach Morgan both finished with a 3-run homerun each. Rogers was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle as he finished his night with a 3-for-3 performance while Morgan went 2-for-3.
“Got a good start today, got a good start yesterday. This was a good win for us because in district competition all the points count and beating a AAA team get us some bonus points,” Mount Union coach Nick Imperoli said. “Zach Morgan had a really big hit, a 3-run homer. He’s just a freshman, if they get confidence and they start feeling it, they’re going to hit. I thought Brandon Rogers was outstanding. He had three hits and had a great game in the field.”
Mount Union’s victory was a collective one on the mound as Thad Wakefield, Cory Kylor and Darrion Stapleton had what it took to keep the Tigers from making more than just one comeback in the contest.
In the first, Wakefield allowed a lead off double to Tanner Claar but left him stranded as he set batters 2-3-and 4 down in order.
Patience and timely hitting took the forefront in the bottom of the inning as the Trojans posted five.
Leading the inning off for Mount Union were Boomer Brown and Wakefield, both reaching on walks.
With one out, Trevon Walker hit an RBI single scoring pinch runner Brock Knable, making it 1-0.
Kylor kept the rally going, walking and landing runners on first and second with still only one out.
Wakefield scored on a fielders choice hit by Klayton Heffner, upping it to 2-0.
Rogers blasted his round tripper minutes later, scoring three and putting his team in a comfortable position, leading 5-0.
After starting the game, Wakefield handed the ball over to Kylor in the second inning after giving up three runs. Kylor finished things out, allowing two as both teams went into the bottom of the second inning tied at five.
However, a sign of a good team is how well they can deal with adversity and Mount Union did just that, rallying for four more runs in the bottom of the second inning, led by a 3-run homerun by Morgan that scored himself, Rogers and Kylor.
From there, the Trojans defense bent but didn’t break, coming up with the clutch plays when they needed it, allowing just one run in the final five innings.
“We hung in there. We made our share of mistakes but they keep hanging in,” Imperoli said. “It seems like we don’t play well until we’re on the brink and we’re always on the break it seems like. That’s the way we’ve been playing all year so I guess its going to continue.”
Mount Union is back in action on Thursday.
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