Spring 2024 Summary: Abington Heights Athletics

The 2024 Spring season at Abington Heights was another example of how incredibly talented our Comets Athletes are in all sports! We’d like to recap this amazing season and all the accomplishments our teams have achieved:

Baseball 

11-3 league, 18-4 overall

The Comets finished 11-3 in league play to capture its fifth Lackawanna League Division I title during the regular season. AH earned the #2-seed in the District II/IV Class AAAAA Subregional tournament, winning the quarterfinal 3-1 on Tuesday, May 21st, against #7-seeded Crestwood. The Comets lost on Friday, May 24th, in the semifinals to #3-seeded Pittston Area, 10-0 in 5 innings. AH concludes 18-4 overall with an 0.818 win %. Jake Lenahan had his 100th career strikeout in the Comets’ game at PNC Field.

Boys Lacrosse

9-3 league, 14-6 overall

The Comets posted their best season yet, finishing 9-3 in WVC play and fourth place in the conference standings. AH earned the #3-seed in the District II Class AA tournament, winning the quarterfinal 14-4 on Thursday, May 16th, against #6-seeded North Pocono. The Comets lost on Monday, May 20th, in the semifinals to #2-seeded Crestwood, 10-9. AH concludes 14-6 overall with a 0.700 win %. Notable achievements this season include sophomore Gavin Anders’ 100th career goal which has set the school record for goals in a season of 69 & career goals of 105.  Freshman goalie Colton Naholnik’s 200th career save which set a single season school record at 214.   Six players were also named to the WVC Coaches’ All-Conference team: Luke Koar (Sr), First Team Defensive Midfield; Cameron Taylor (Sr), First Team Defense; Gavin Anders (So), Second Team Attack; Gavin Lindsay (So), Second Team Midfield; Hank Barbrack (Sr), Defense Honorable Mention; Colton Naholnik (Fr), Goalie Honorable Mention. 

Girls Lacrosse

13-1 league, 16-4 overall

The Lady Comets also posted their best season yet, finishing 13-1 in WVC play and second place in the conference standings. AH earned the #3-seed in the District II Class AA tournament, winning the quarterfinal 12-7 on Wednesday, May 15th, against  #6-seeded Dallas. The Lady Comets continued their postseason success with a 11-7 road victory at #2-seeded Wyoming Seminary in the semifinals on Monday, May 20th. Finally, AH got sweet revenge at #1-seeded Crestwood in the championship game, 10-8 final score, to become 2024 District II Champions. The team competed in the PIAA 2A State Playoffs, another program first, but unfortunately fell 11-9 to Upper Moreland HS from District 1. Notable achievements this season include junior goalie Sophia Santarsiero surpassing her 100th career save in her first-year starting at the position. Head Coach Becky Davis was also named the WVC Coches’ Coach of the Year. Eight players were also named to the WVC Coaches’ All-Conference team: Bella DeRiggi (So), First Team Attack; Allie Rothenberger (So), First Team Midfield; LeAnna Waters (Jr), First Team Defense; Rylee Yankow (So), First Team Defense; Sadie Gilbert (Jr), Second Team Attack; Kiera Crowell (So), Second Team Midfield; Sophia Santarsiero (Jr), Second Team Goalie; Caly Yankow (Sr), Honorable Mention. 

The team was also awarded the Sportsmanship Award voted on by the WVC officials for the second year in a row. 

Softball

10-4 league, 17-6 overall

The Lady Comets had another impressive season, finishing 10-4 in league play and third in the league standings. AH earned the #3-seed in the District II/IV Class AAAAA Subregional tournament, winning the quarterfinal 4-0 on Monday, May 20th, against #6-seeded Crestwood. The Lady Comets upset #2-seeded Wallenpaupack in the semifinal round on Wednesday, May 22nd, in a 7-5 road win. AH unfortunately fell short in the championship game against #1-seeded Pittston Area on Tuesday, May 28th, losing 3-0. The team finished as district runners-up and made their third championship game appearance in the past four seasons. AH was 17-6 overall with an 0.739 win %. Seniors Riley Knott and Lindsey Tasker were voted to play in the league all star game on June 30th at the University of Scranton. 

Boys Tennis

11-0 league, 14-1 overall

The Comets did not disappoint this season, finishing undefeated at 11-0 in league play, marking their 13th title in the past 14 seasons. AH was the #1-seed entering the District II tournament, sweeping the competition with a 5-0 win vs. #8-seeded West Scranton in the quarterfinals (Wednesday, May 1st), 4-0 win vs. #4-seeded Valley View (Friday, May 3rd) in the semifinals, and 3-0 win vs. #3-seeded Crestwood (Friday, May 3rd) in the championship to become 27x District II AAA champions. This season marks their 15th title in the past 16 seasons. The team advanced to the PIAA State Tournament, falling 5-0 to District I third-Place team Unionville in the first round on Tuesday, May 14th.  AH finished 14-1 overall as a team with a 0.933 win %. Praneel Mallaiah earned the District II AAA Singles Championship. He went on to win his first round match in the PIAA States Singles tournament before falling in the quarterfinal round. William Arp and Domenic Peters earned the District II AAA Doubles Championship over teammates Brady Comstock and Liam Farrell in the finals, but they unfortunately lost in the first round of States. Praneel Mallaiah was selected as the Times-Tribune Player of the Year, and he, along with William Arp and Domenic Peters, were selected as All-Region players.  

Boys Track & Field

5-1 league

The Comets finished 3-1 in league play (LIAA Division I) and second in the standings. In regular season meets, they were 4-1 overall, with a win percentage of 0.800. At the Spagna LIAA meet, the team finished as Class AAA Team Co-Champions with Scranton HS. In the District II meet, AH placed 8th out of 19 teams in Class AAA with 42 points. The team had two individual District II champions: DJ Rogers, 400m Dash; and Jack Sorensen, Hamza Mirza, Sean Rooney, DJ Rogers, 4x400m Relay. Rogers placed 18th/30thh in the Boys 400m Dash prelims with a time of 50.00 this time was a new school record. The 4x400m Relay team placed 27th/27th place in the prelims with a time of 3:38.61 at the PIAA State Championships. 

Girls Track & Field

6-0 league

The Comets finished 4-0 in league play (LIAA Division 1) and first in the standings, capturing the league title. Notably, AH also won its 100th-straight regular season league meet this year. In the regular season, they were undefeated as a team at 5-0. The girls were also team champions of both the Wallenpaupack Ice Breaker Relays and the North Pocono Twilight Invitational.  In competition at the Spagna LIAA meet, the team finished as Class AAA Team Champions. At the District II meet, AH placed second as a team with 111.5 points, just three behind Dallas in first place. The team had one individual District II champion: Anna Pucilowski, 3200m Run; Tomara Seid finished 3rd in the triple jump, but her distance also qualified her for the State Meet.; and Maggie Coleman, Emma Horsley, Reese Morgan, Mary Grace Sabatini in the 4x800m Relay. At the PIAA State Championship meet, Seid placed 27th/29th with a jump of 34-5.75. Pucilowski ran a 11:14.96 to place 22nd/31st in the 3200m Run, and the 4x800m Relay team finished in an outstanding 13th/29th place with a time of 9:29.68, a new PR for AH this year. 

Unified Track & Field

2-1 league, 2-1 overall

The Comets finished 2-1 in the regular season, with two first place finishes and one second place finish. AH competed in the Special Olympics Northeastern/Central PA Regional Meet, held at Lakeland High School on Wednesday, May 22nd, where they placed third overall. #CometProud

Boys Volleyball

9-1 league, 10-7 overall

The Comets finished 9-1 in league play, only falling short to rival Blue Ridge, and being second in the standings. AH entered playoffs as the #4-seed in the District II Class AA tournament, earning a 3-1 quarterfinal win (26-24, 25-22, 19-25, 25-15) against #5-seeded Scranton on Wednesday, May 15th. They then traveled up to Delaware Valley HS to face the host and #1-seed Warriors in the semifinals, losing 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-13) on Monday, May 20th. AH finishes 10-7 overall with a 0.588 win %.

Powerlifting*

The team concluded its season with a Powerlifting America PA State Championship for the girl's team and a second-place finish by the boy's team. The girl's team also won the team championship at the National Meet, and the girl's/boys' combined team took second in the Powerlifting America National Meet held in New Orleans. Recently, Amelia Gerken competed at the International Powerlifting Federation World Bench Press Competition in Austin, Texas. She finished fifth in her first competition in the Junior Division with three successful lifts in the 76 kilogram weight class, with a maximum lift of 75 kilograms (165 pounds).

*Not included in league/overall win-loss totals below

2 Team District Champions:

• Girls Lacrosse
• Boys Tennis

3 Team League Champions:

• Baseball
• Boys Tennis
• Girls Track & Field
   

8/All District Playoff Qualifiers:

• Baseball
• Boys Lacrosse
• Girls Lacrosse
• Softball
• Boys Tennis
• Boys Track & Field
• Girls Track & Field
• Boys Volleyball

5 District Championship Appearances:

• Girls Lacrosse
• Softball
• Boys Tennis (Team, Singles & Doubles)
• Boys Track & Field
• Girls Track & Field

7 Individual District Champions:

• Praneel Mallaiah, Boys Tennis / Singles
• William Arp & Domenic Peters, Boys Tennis / Doubles
• DJ Rogers, Boys Track / 400m Dash
• Anna Pucilowski, Girls Track / 3200m Run
• Tomara Seid, Girls Track / Triple Jump
• Jack Sorensen, Hamza Mirza, Sean Rooney, DJ Rogers; Boys Track / 4x400m Relay
• Anna Pucilowski, Emma Horsley, Reese Morgan, Mary Grace Sabatini; Girls Track / 4x800m Relay

League Spring Team Record:

• 76 wins - 14 losses (.844 win%)

Overall Spring Team Record:

• 101 wins - 30 losses (.771 win%)