Mid-Penn Colonial Division girls basketball: Predicted order of finish, key players, preseason MVP
By Eric Epler on 12/10/25
The 2025-26 girls basketball season is already a week old, so there’s just enough time to highlight the teams competing in the always tough Mid-Penn Colonial. We polled division coaches for their predicted order of finish and preseason MVP. Check it out. Teams are listed in descending order.
8. EAST PENNSBORO
Head coach: Paula Shermeyer
Last year: 3-17 (2-12 division, T-7th)
Key players: Riley Uhrich, sr. G; Sophie Livingston, so. G; Amina Alami, fr. F/C; Alyssa Briner, sr. F; Chelsea Hoover, sr. G/F; Mykelle China, fr. G.
Buzz: It’s certain a healthy climb back to “challenger” status in the division, although Shermeyer has a solid group to work with. Seniors Uhrich, Hoover and Briner have persevered through the tough battles, and the addition of forward Alami and Livingston should provide a needed boost offensively. That’s really the issue at hand, putting some more points on the board to have a chance deep in the second half.
7. WEST PERRY
Head coach: Shannon Dyer
Last year: 6-16 (4-10 division, 6th)
Key players: Mariah Blumenschein, so. G; Austynn Wolf, sr. F; Campbell Kolak, so. G; Haley Prowell, sr. F; Audrey Gardner, jr. G; Brooklyn Wolf, sr. G/F; Lilly Daneker, so. F.
Buzz: While it might be difficult to duplicate last year’s win total – Dyer could mix in nearly a dozen freshman to help the cause – a few seniors remain to bring the rookies up to speed. Wolf and Prowell represent the size, with both standing 5-9, and Wolf leading a deep list of guards. Dyer said the goal is merely to get one step better every time out.
6. GETTYSBURG
Head coach: Rick Keller
Last year: 6-16 (2-12 division, T-7th)
Key players: Izzy Sites, jr. G; Emma Rohrbach, jr. G; Alice Harnish, jr. G/F; Bailey Irvin, fr. G/F.
Buzz: Can the Warriors challenge day-to-day in one should be another brutish division schedule? Sites, averaging 8 ppg. as a sophomore, does represent the only returning full-time starter for coach Keller. However, Rohrbach is a splendid leader and defender while Keller is banking on getting the versatile Irvin back from injury at some point.
5. SHIPPENSBURG
Head coach: Clayton Stine
Last year: 10-12 (6-8 division, 5th)
Key players: Lilly Weller, sr. G; Cora Chamberlin, sr. G; Peyton Coy, jr. G; Azula Navarro, jr. C; Tressa Triplett, jr. G/F; Bryndley Henderson, so. G.
Buzz: Stine has been with the program for three seasons but this represents his first as head coach. The Greyhounds are in pretty good shape, too, but finding a bit more consistency in the early weeks is the goal. Shipp returns its entire starting 5 from last year’s up and down season. Navarro paced the MPC last year with a whopping 350 reobunds.
4. GREENCASTLE-ANTRIM
Head coach: Scott McKeever
Last year: 11-11 (8-6 division, T-3rd)
Key players: Sophie Fries, jr. F; Ellie Bigler, jr. G; Kiersten Swain, jr. G; Callie Izer, sr. G; Olivia Carey, sr. F; Braelyn Cordell, so. G.
Buzz: It might be wise to tighten up the game plan vs. the Blue Devils. For starters, Swain pitched in 9.5 points and three boards a game last year. Fries (6.4 ppg.) and Bigler (6.0 ppg., 5.2 rpg.) took turns playing leading roles. Izer and Carey provided a steady stream of rebounds, steals and whatever else G-A needed on a particular night. This group will apply pressure.
3. WAYNESBORO
Head coach: Tyler Stoner
Last year: 13-9 (8-6 division, T-3rd)
Key players: Braelynn Pearson-Moore, jr. F; Breanna McIlquham, sr. G; Madeline Nystrom, so. PG; Aly Shockey, sr. G; Kyla Hedin, jr. F; Haley Reynolds, sr. G/F.
Buzz: It was an abrupt finish for the Indians a season ago after shuffling into the division’s top 4 only to miss the postseason. The good news for Stoner is a couple of versatile talents are back to make another run. Between Pearson-Moore, averaging 12 points in the first week of the season, McIlquham, Nystrom and more, Waynesboro can be dangerous with a few more points on the board.
2. NORTHERN YORK
Head coach: Paula Clendaniel
Last year: 23-4 (13-1 division, T-1st)
Key players: Tae Townsend, sr. G; Liz Montgomery sr. F; Anika Mladdenoff, jr G; Kate Jayman, jr. G; MacKenna Bonner, so. F; Ava Ondecko, so. F.
Buzz: The Polar Bears, already running hot at 3-0, will attempt to capitalize on a pretty sound ’24-25 campaign. Northern earned a piece of the division title and then clawed its way into a fifth-place finish in districts. Returning starters Townsend (6.5 ppg.) and the 5-11 Montgomery (5.0 ppg.) were a big part of that surge.
1. MIDDLETOWN
Head coach: LaSonda Dixon
Last year: 23-4 (13-1 division, T-1st)
Key players: Jayla Koser, sr. G; Emma Cleland, sr. PG; Destiney Gassert, sr. F; Journee Stover, sr. G; Jaliyah Stover, sr. G; Riley Cavrich, jr. PG; Aja Rossum, jr. G.
Buzz: Yep, the Blue Raiders own the bullseye after sharing the Colonial crown with Northern a year ago, racing to a runner-up finish in D3, and making the PIAA second round. 1,000-point scorer Koser and Cleland, also a terrific defender, are among the best 1-2 combos in the conference. Those other gamers all played pivotal roles in those 23 victories in ’24-25
Colonial Division preseason MVP
Jayla Koser, G, Middletown
Koser is PennLive’s reigning player of the year and easy choice by division coaches. The versatile 5-11 guard and Mount St. Mary’s recruit surpassed the 1,000-point mark in January and capped the season averaging 18.4 points with 11 double-doubles during a 23-4 season.
