Latest news with #YorkSuburban
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Second school votes to leave Mid-Penn Conference for York-Adams league
The York-Adams athletic league could grow within the next week. Big Spring's school board voted unanimously on May 5 to leave the Mid-Penn Conference to play in the YAIAA. Now it's up to the league's athletic directors and principals to determine if the league will grow to 25. Advertisement League president Brian Ellis, principal at York Suburban High School, said in an email that there is a four-step process to joining the league. Because Big Spring put the presentation and vote on their school board agenda, the executive committee was able to proactively approve the request to apply and notify member schools of the vote. The remaining two steps, discussion and vote, will take place in the coming days in virtual meetings. 'We do not have any scheduled league meetings until the middle of June,' Ellis said, 'and it is in both Big Spring's interest and our league interest to make a determination well before that so that everyone can engage in planning for the next scheduling cycle.' The plan is to have the discussion meeting on May 8 and take the vote on May 12. Advertisement If Big Spring's request goes through, the Bulldogs will join James Buchanan and Shalom Christian as new league members in the 2026-27 school year. YAIAA high school spring scoreboard: Scores, schedules for May 5-10 Eastern York defeated Big Spring in 2024 to win their first District 3 boys basketball title. Who are the Big Spring Bulldogs? Nestled in rural Cumberland County midway between Carlisle and Shippensburg, Big Spring High School sits just outside the town of Newville. The Bulldogs have 19 high school teams, including unified bocce. With a total enrollment of 551 (256 female and 295 male) in the 2024-25 classification season, they participate in Class 4A in sports divided into six classes and 2A or 3A in the rest, except for field hockey, which is Class A. Advertisement Their enrollment would put the Bulldogs in the middle third of the league. The Bulldogs should be familiar to boys basketball fans, especially followers of Eastern York. The Golden Knights defeated Big Spring in the 2024 District 3 final and again in the 2025 semifinals. Big Spring teams have made district tournament appearances in eight sports, not including sports that offer individual competition. Cross country runners and swimmers and divers should be well acquainted with the Bulldogs. The district cross country meet is held at the school, and district diving has been held at their natatorium. Big Spring offers one of the most challenging high school cross country courses in central Pa. Mid-Penn Conference to YAIAA: Why make the move? In a presentation to the school board, Big Spring athletic director Scott Penner said the idea of changing leagues did not come lightly. It was brought up in 2016 when the Bulldogs contemplated joining the Tri-Valley League. Advertisement That idea fell through because of increased travel time, lack of support for sports not supported by that league and a more difficult route to District 3 tournaments because of playing much smaller schools. Travel time was also factored in with this move. Penner provided a detailed spreadsheet that broke down this year's travel times with times to potential YAIAA opponents, and in many instances, the new times were shorter. Trips to Susquehannock and Kennard-Dale would be the longest at around 80 minutes. Games at many Adams County locations would average about an hour roundtrip. But the decision really came down to alignment. Advertisement Active participants in the decision-making process, from student-athletes to parents to administrators and coaches, feel Big Spring is better aligned with the YAIAA than the Mid-Penn. They like the league's emphasis on academics, character and sportsmanship. 'We already play many YAIAA schools in our nonconference games and generally speaking, those contests have demonstrated YAIAA and Big Spring's philosophies,' the presentation said. They specifically pointed out the league championships held in every sport except football, recognition of academic all-stars and a newly approved realignment process that will take into consideration geography, competitiveness of programs and enrollment size. Advertisement 'This would allow struggling programs to rebuild, and those highly competitive programs the ability to compete at higher levels,' the presentation said. Shelly Stallsmith covers York-Adams high school sports for GameTimePA and the USAToday Network. Connect with her by email mstallsmith@ or on X, formerly Twitter, @ShelStallsmith. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: YAIAA: Cumberland County school Big Spring votes to join league
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hanover's Adam Mowrer approved as new York Suburban athletic director
York Suburban has a new face of its athletics department. Adam Mowrer will be stepping in as York Suburban's newest athletic director, following his confirmation by the York Suburban school board in early April. Advertisement Mowrer was previously the athletic director at Hanover, a position he held since 2018. He will succeed former Trojans AD Ron Coursey, who tended his resignation in February and officially left the school district in late March. "I have nothing but fantastic things to say about Hanover," Mowrer said. "I love this district. I've been both a coach and an athletic director here for the last eight years. By no means is there anything that is pushing me from Hanover, but the opportunity for me professionally at York Suburban is a little bit different than here at Hanover." Vote: Polls are open! Vote now for the April 28 to May 3 GameTimePA YAIAA Athletes of the Week Big Spring Votes to Leave Mid-Penn: Second school votes to leave Mid-Penn Conference for York-Adams league Advertisement The former Nighthawks AD submitted his resignation to the Hanover School Board on April 8, and it was approved at the board's April 28 meeting. "We are grateful for Adam's dedication and leadership as our athletic director," Hanover superintendent John Scola said. "We wish him all the best at York Suburban. I sincerely appreciate Mr. Mowrer's efforts on behalf of our student-athletes. I am sure that he will be successful in this new endeavor." Mowrer said that while he is beginning the move over to York Suburban, he will still be in the loop with Hanover throughout May for a handful of events and activities while the district searches for a new athletic director. "I'll be back here at Hanover for certain dates that have already been worked out between the two schools to kind of help Hanover stay moving in the right direction," Mowrer said. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Hanover's Adam Mowrer tabbed as newest York Suburban athletic director
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
York Suburban School District: Who are the 8 candidates vying for four seats on the board?
Eight candidates are seeking four seats on the York Suburban School Board in the May 20 primary. Four candidates are running together as part of Citizens for York Suburban School District, which vows to maintain the district's rigorous academic program, safeguard property values and ensure every child is represented, respected and valued, according to their website. The candidates are Danny Amon, Jim Polanzke, incumbent Ashley Turner and Steve Whiteley. Four candidates are running under the movement of Teachers Not Buildings, which has the goal of ensuring the best possible education for students without losing sight of fiscal responsibility, according to their website. The candidates are Michael Park, Andrew Ruth, Chris Sanders and incumbent James Sanders. All of the candidates have cross-filed for the four-year seats. The district has plans to renovate its high school and construct a new intermediate school, which has sparked a debate among residents about the cost, the impact to property taxes and the future of education in the district. Here are the candidates: Danny Amon, who is a personal training and fitness center manager at the York Jewish Community Center, has a daughter who soon will be entering the public school system, according to the website. He believes "good health is the foundation for effective learning and that schools play a crucial role in shaping lifelong health habits." "I think public health is one of our biggest issues we're currently facing," he said in a video, adding that children spend most of their time in school. "If we give them the best quality information, and the best quality exercise, the best quality start, they're going to have lives of good health." Jim Polanzke, a Lutheran pastor with decades of experience teaching youth and adults, has a daughter who graduated from York Suburban, according to the website. In a video, Polanzke said he's running for two reasons. He wants students to be prepared for their future, whether its military service, college or apprenticeships, and "York Suburban does an excellent job of doing that." He also wants to make sure that the needs of the community — not just the students and faculty — are heard. "We may not be able to make everyone happy — that's not possible — but to make everyone heard is something that I'm going to strive for as a school board member," he said. Michael Park, a 1988 graduate of Dallastown Area High School, is the owner of Wisehaven Event Center that he founded in 2012. In the past, Park has worked for various employers, including as a systems analyst for IBM, a capital asset manager for the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and an operations manager for Canton Ornamental Iron Works, according to the website. "Michael's varied background in these management assignments, for both large corporations and small businesses, has provided him with the perfect foundation for managing people and organizations," the website states. Park and his business have been sponsors of the York Suburban minithon and of the Indian Rock PTO. Andrew Ruth, a 2002 graduate of York Suburban, is a talent acquisition senior advisor for a government integrator. In his previous job, as a PGA Class A professional, he gained experience in leadership, operations, budgeting, and instruction. He and his wife, also a graduate of the district, lived across the country before returning to the area and it strengthened their appreciation for the quality education they received, the website states. The couple have two children who currently attend school in York Suburban. "He is committed to living a disciplined and healthy lifestyle, driven by a desire to be a positive role model for his family and his community," the website states. Chris Sanders, a retired small business owner, has three children who graduated from the district, and two of her grandchildren currently attend York Suburban. "The reason I'm running for school director is there is nothing better than to give a child when they walk in their first day of school the ... absolutely best education possible," she said in a video. "This is so important to the kids but also to the families." Sanders brings "practical leadership, financial responsibility, and real-world problem-solving skills to the table," according to the website. "She believes in the importance of education, empathy, and community — and she's ready to serve York Suburban with that same spirit," the website states. James Sanders, a 1993 graduate of York Suburban, is a managing partner at MPL Law Firm, where he helps clients navigate complex legal and business challenges. He previously worked as an equity analyst with firms like Standard & Poor's and Citigroup, a senior strategist with ITT Corporation. He also previously owned and led several Safeguard franchises, according to the website. Sanders currently is serving a second term as school director. He has a son who graduated from the district and two sons who are attending York Suburban. "James is passionate about community service and believes strongly in giving back to the district that helped shape who he is today," the website states. Ashley Turner, who was elected in 2023 to fill a two-year vacancy, is a K-12 education systems engineer who works with technology and curriculum departments in school districts in Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C. to ensure that technology is enhancing students' education, according to the website. In a video, Turner said she moved into the York Suburban School District for her two children, and she sees how they as well as their peers are benefitting from the education they are receiving. "I want to continue being on the board so that I can be part of those conversations and make sure that we continue the excellence we have in our district," she said. Steve Whiteley is a retired York Suburban teacher who taught earth science, environmental science, oceanography, and astronomy in the high school. He has two children who graduated from the district. York Suburban has been a leader in the community because of its commitment to focusing on the students, whether it be hiring the highest-quality teaching staff, providing the best services or offering the finest materials, he said in a video. Whiteley said he can help to support the district's mission to "Inspire a Bold Future," according to the website. "I plan to advocate for students and support teachers and staff, while being sensitive to the current financial challenges," he wrote. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York Suburban School District: 8 candidates vying for 4 seats in 2025
