At the midway point of the season things looked very good for Highland’s football. The Hornets overcame a three-point loss to Brunswick on opening night and reeled off four consecutive victories.
The second half brought three games against eventual playoff teams and Highland lost all three. That left the Hornets with a 6-4 overall record, 4-3 in the Suburban League American Conference, but outside of the Division II, Region 6 playoffs.
Now they will look ahead with a good group of returnees, but a number of key contributors moving on. Guys like Chris Petrilla (62 total tackles, including 6.5 for losses and 3 sacks), Chris Burnside (team-leading 697 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns), Michael Oriti (45 total tackles) and Jake Mall (42 total tackles) headlined the soon-to-be graduates.
“The senior class did everything that was asked of them,” Highland coach Mike Gibbons said. “I am proud of those guys and all they were able to accomplish in their four years.”
That class made the playoffs three times in four seasons. They Hornets flirted with the postseason this year but could have used one victory over a team that did make it.
The next wave includes juniors Max Beier (79 total tackles, including 7.5 for losses and 2 sacks), Ryan Frederick (19 receptions, 5 TDs; 48 total tackles), Evan Kasulones (302 yards, 9.2 per carry; 27 catches, 320 yards, 3 TDs) and Matthew Earnest, who completed 50 percent of his passes for 1,267 yards and 12 touchdowns against only four interceptions.
“We hope to take it one game at a time and compete for a conference championship and advance to the playoffs,” Gibbons said.
Volleyball
Jenna Pew knew she’d have her work cut out this year in her first season as Highland’s volleyball coach. Graduation left things a bit on the thin side where experience was concerned. The Hornets struggled through a 4-19 season, 3-9 in the SL-American partly as a result of that.
They’ll deal with it again next year, although on somewhat of a smaller scale.
Jenna Saunders, Julie Redman and Brittany Fleischer all will graduate. Fleischer was among the team leaders in kills. Saunders led the team in blocks and Redman was Highland’s setter and was among the digs leaders.
“The seniors pushed through a very emotionally challenging year,” Pew said. “Having never played much varsity, it was a learning experience for everyone involved. We will certainly miss Julie’s setting, Jenna’s blocking and hitting, and Brittany’s defensive aggression.”
Juniors Alyssa Sabol, Sarah Lyons and Madi Sima all were key contributors. Sabol and Sima were solid hitters. Lyons led the team in digs
Sophomores Mallory Doak, Lena Murphy, Allayna Wirebaugh and Hanna Zuro should be part of the nucleus next season. Zuro battled Fleischer for the team lead in kills.
The future of the program looks solid. The Hornets’ junior varsity was 14-5 and the freshman team was perfect in 13 matches. If a couple players can filter up toward the varsity, where there probably won’t be many available spots, so competition for them should be fierce. Another year in Pew’s system should benefit everyone and the Hornets should begin an upward arc in 2017.