We received this letter this morning from Bruce Weaver:
First I would like to thank you for taking on such an enormous endeavor in naming the ten greatest athletes from each York County High School. This is a project where it is impossible to satisfy everyone. To narrow the list to ten for each high school is basically impossible. With that said, I do think you have done a commendable job. I cannot recall another sports series that has created this much buzz and controversy. The number of responses in the Sunday Paper is proof of how passionate individuals feel about this. I do feel that many of the responses have been overly negative. Individuals must keep in mind how difficult this process has been.
In reading the lists over the last four weeks it seems that many individuals are being credited for their success in only one sport. Truly great high school athletes are those that excelled in multiple sports. However, athletes like Michele King and Cimmie Shahan who dominated their individual sports at the local, district and state levels deserve their high rankings. There also seems to be a bias towards athletes that participated in the more high profile sports such as football and basketball.
I will not go into my thoughts on who should or should not have been in the top ten all time Spring Grove Athletes. All the athletes profiled had exceptional high school careers and even more importantly were for the most part outstanding students and citizens. I would like to mention a couple of athletes that I thought you failed to mention.
Kelly Bortner (84): Kelly was an outstanding three sport athlete. She was a key member of both the volleyball and basketball teams. She played on arguably the two greatest teams for those sports. She was also an outstanding tennis player who won awards at the local, district and state levels. After college Kelly also was a local club champion in golf.
Emily Foltz (98): Emily was an all-county selection in Field Hockey and Athlete of the Year in Track & Field her senior year. She was a two-time state medalist in the 100 meter hurdles and won multiple county and district medals throughout her high school career. Emily was awarded a track scholarship to Kutztown University and is still the school record holder in the heptathlon.
"I will not go into my thoughts on who should or should not have been in the top ten all time Spring Grove Athletes.... I would like to mention a couple of athletes that I thought you failed to mention. "
then you go on to mention some!!!
just because you say that you understand how hard it is to please everyone, don't think that you're not like every other "where's my kid/fav player" poster. you're just more fake by pretending to understand.
The greatest athlete should be three-sport criteria. Someone who excels in three sports should be at the top of the list. Player of the year, districts, state medalists, and college scholarships should be included in your decision. This is about high school not what they did in college and many did well such as Brian Cozzens in Basketball at Shipp. Brian also played three sports. If you put in all your time and energy into one sport you should excel in high school. I feel the all-around athletes should be in the top ten. Ray, Class of 1978.