|
|
These are the best Knights of all
Vogel says it's safe to assume this Hempfield team is the school's best
ever
Monday, June 4 http://www.lancnews.com/sports/index.htm By Keith Schweigert SHIPPENSBURG
_ With Saturday's 12-15, 15-8, 15-11 triumph over Mount Lebanon in the state
title game, Hempfield boys" volleyball team accomplished two important
missions. First, the Black Knights realized their season-long goal of winning a
state championship. And second, they erased the painful memory of last year's disappointing
loss to Montour in the state semifinals. That defeat was a devastating blow to Hempfield, which had entered the
state semis riding a 68-match undefeated streak. The Knights were expecting
to finish the tournament on a high note, but they left the court in despair.
But the stunning loss might have worked out in the long run for Hempfield.
It served as the Knights" motivation this season, giving them the necessary
fire to win 59 straight matches and cement their status as the best team in
the program's history. Hempfield has won four state titles since 1994, including back-to-back
wins in 1996 and 1997. But none of those teams had the talent and depth of this year's model.
"I think it's safe to say that,'" said Hempfield coach Mike
Vogel, who was an assistant coach during Hempfield's last two title runs.
"In any sport, your teams get better and better every year _ and so does
the competition. Kids get bigger and stronger, and they're better athletes,
because they're working longer and harder." The senior trio of Ben Murray, Tony Spangler and Matt Baker were the main
cogs in Hempfield's attack, but the Knights also got valuable contributions
from seniors Matt Manning, Steve Mummaw and Keith Maurer. In addition, role players like freshmen Gary Vogel (the coach's son), Mike
Baker, Luke Murray and sophomores Steven Yeager and Tom Diehl rotated in off
the bench to provide help in key situations. Hempfield went 28-0 in match play this season _ 59-0 if you factor in the
Knights" wins in weekend tournaments. They played 124 games and lost
just two _ both times in the state playoffs. Hempfield's other three state championship teams went undefeated in
regular-season play, but this is the first team to make it through its
rigorous tournament schedule unscathed. "I never saw the other teams play, but I'd have to say we're right up
there,'" said Spangler. "We went 59-0. I don't know if anyone else
ever did that, so we have to be right near the top if we're not the best
ever." Ironically, Hempfield might have had a better team last year, but its
inability to get past Montour ends any argument on the subject.
It was fitting that when Hempfield's fans stormed the court on Saturday to
celebrate the Knights" triumph, the charge was led by several graduates
from last year's team. "Part of this celebration is for the guys in the stands today who
were here last year and let one slip through their fingers,'" said
Vogel. "We should have won one last year. I'm just glad we got the job
done this time." Hempfield has reached the state playoffs every year since Vogel took over
the coaching duties from Ryan Strait in 1998, but this is the first time the
Knights have won a title with Vogel at the helm. "(In '96 and '97) I was here as a JV coach,'" Vogel said.
"I was a cheerleader more than anything else. I was part of it back
then, but it's a different perspective when you're the head guy.
"When you're part of a program that consistently comes to States,
there's a tremendous amount of work that goes into it. Teams come and go, but
the ones that make it here every year are the ones who work at it all year
long. "And I'm not just talking about the work I put in. My assistants
(Scott Garman, Lee Addie and Craig Dyer) are right there with me, and the
kids are great. I never have to worry about getting everybody to practice."
Now that another state trophy is safely tucked away in Hempfield's case,
what does the future hold? The Knights will face an extensive rebuilding project next season, since
six seniors will leave and will take a large chunk of Hempfield's offense
with them. There are no juniors on this year's roster, so Vogel will have to rely
entirely on underclassmen next season. But that doesn't bother Hempfield's coach, who faced a similar rebuilding
project in 1998, when he took over a team that graduated all nine members of
its on-court rotation. "That's the beauty of high school sports,'" Vogel says.
"That's why you do it _ it's a challenge. We lost five players from last
year's team, and we lose six this year." The '98 team _ featuring young unknowns like Spangler, Murray and Baker _
finished as the District 3 runner-up and reached the state playoffs.
Vogel wasn't shy about using his young players this season, inserting
freshmen and sophomores in key situations. There were underclassmen on the
court for some white-knuckle moments in Saturday's state final.
Those players will be back next season, and Vogel will dip into
Hempfield's always-potent youth program to spackle the other remaining holes.
So don't count out the Knights next year. "Are we going to be as good next year?'" Vogel asked
rhetorically. "No, we won't. We're losing some guys you just can't
replace. But I think we'll be respectable.'" |
