A-K Valley high school athletes of the week for week ending Nov. 15, 2025

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, November 15, 2025 | 7:11 PM

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Katie Koehler

School: Burrell

Class: Junior

Sport: Soccer

Claim to fame: Koehler scored a goal and had an assist as Burrell (15-8-2) defeated Bedford in the PIAA quarterfinals. She then scored a goal in the Bucs’ 2-1 win over rival Freeport in the semifinal round. Koehler and Burrell’s great season came to an end in the PIAA championship game in a 2-1 overtime loss to Archbishop Wood on Friday night.

Even though you didn’t win a state championship, how proud are you of the season the team put together?

We had a goal for ourselves to keep making it further and further each year. It’s great to see how our hard work has been paying off. Starting as the eighth seed in the WPIAL playoffs, no one thought we would make it as far as we did. It was great to prove them wrong. I’m very proud of my team.

What will you remember most about the PIAA run you guys had?

Definitely beating Freeport. We always knew we had the talent to beat them. It was more of a mental hurdle we had to clear and just having the belief that we could beat them.

Take me through the goal and assist you had in the win over Bedford in the PIAA quarterfinal match.

The goal started with Eva Wilson delivering a great corner kick into the box. From there it was a scramble as the ball slipped through the goalkeeper’s hands, and I just tried to get a foot on the ball. As for the assist, I played the ball in and my teammate Allie McMahon passed it back to me. We usually try to target our 10, which is McKenna Miller. I knew that if I played it to her, she would get a touch on it. When she turned and shot it, I was so happy to see it go in.

After losing to Freeport in the WPIAL title game, how did it feel to get a win over them in the state semifinals?

It was so incredible. Coach (Frank) Nesko kept telling us prior to that game to just believe in ourselves. We tried to use that as fuel, and it was an exciting moment for us to overcome that battle.

What adjustments did the team make in between the WPIAL loss and the PIAA win over Freeport?

We didn’t try to do many positional adjustments. We tried to focus on pressing as a unit and using a lot more communication.

Which was the most exciting upset you had in the WPIAL tournament?

The win over top-seeded South Park. No one thought we’d be able to win.

Once again you got the best of Mt. Pleasant. Do you feel like it’s almost a mental advantage you have over that team?

I remember I scored a goal against Mt. Pleasant, and it set the tone. I do believe that we’ve gotten in their head a little bit just by making it hard for them to execute how they want on the field. We really like high-intensity games like those against teams like Mt. Pleasant because it helps us lock in, makes us play better.

What goals did the team set before the season?

Coming off of last year where we lost in the WPIAL finals, we wanted to go as far as we could. We wanted to get back there and beyond that. Even though we didn’t win WPIAL or the section, we met our goals by exceeding how far we advanced compared with last year, making it all the way to the state finals after losing in the first round last year.

What personal goals did you set for yourself at the start of this season?

Just working on being more offensive. I’m a defender so sometimes it’s harder to get as many opportunities as the attackers. Just being able to anticipate more runs and working off the wingers.

How do you get in focus before a game?

I like to listen to music. My pregame routine involves eating my staple pregame meal, which is steak and sweet potatoes, take an ice bath, stretch and then visualize what I’m going to do while watching film.

Which opponent do you look forward to playing?

North Catholic. We’re both really good teams, and it’s always an even match. We never really know the outcome.

Do you play any other sports at Burrell?

I wrestle and play flag football.

How do you like wrestling?

I think I like it more than soccer. I joined a freestyle wrestling team over the summer and went to nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.

How did you do at nationals?

I went 1-2, which was better than I thought because there were over 2,000 girls there and most of them have been wrestling since they were really young. I started my freshman year.

What made you pick up flag football?

They did a trial run last year. I’ve always liked the sport and always wanted to play it. I was really happy I had the opportunity to play last year and to see that it’s now a sanctioned sport.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Outside of sports, I like to go to the gym; it relaxes my mind. I also enjoy cooking and baking.

What is your favorite subject in school?

Math. It comes easy to me, and I’m really good at it.

With Black Friday about two weeks away, is there anything you’re looking to score a deal on?

Probably just any clothing. I like a lot of hoodies.

Collin Rodgers

School: Deer Lakes

Class: Senior

Sport: Soccer

Claim to fame: Rodgers dished out a pair of assists and helped propel the Lancers (20-4-1) past Tulpehocken, 2-1, in the PIAA quarterfinal round. Deer Lakes then took on Fairview in the semifinal round Tuesday but lost 3-1. Rodgers scored the lone Lancers goal.

Another great season. What in your mind was the highlight, outside of the WPIAL title?

That’s a tough one. I think it has to be how we bounced back after not winning the section. That was pretty demoralizing, and some teams would have folded. Just coming together after that and finishing the season with 11 straight wins before the loss in the PIAA semifinals.

How many goals did you score this season?

I think I had 27.

Was that total close to the mark you might have set for yourself before the season started? Did you exceed your expectations?

I’ll be completely honest. I didn’t have any expectations. I really just wanted to do what it took to win at all costs. I had a down year my junior year, so anything to improve upon that. Individual statistics weren’t the primary focus for me. Getting another WPIAL championship was.

Tough loss once again to Fairview. How much does it sting that they once again prevented you guys from the ultimate goal?

It certainly hurt. The deficit was less this year, having lost 6-0 last year. Our coaches told us we were going to have to be near perfect. They were a very good team, and we gave them a few goals off our mistakes. It was painful, but at the end of the day, I would have preferred to lose to them over anyone else.

Take me through the assists you had in the quarterfinal round.

First one, we were about four minutes into the game. I received the ball out wide from one of my midfielders. I got past one defender and saw midfielder Jacob Orseno making a run through the box. I clipped one over to him, and he tapped it in. The second one happened about 10 seconds into the second half. I received it on the wing again and beat a defender down the line, made a cross with my left foot. The keeper spilled it a little, and our right winger Cuyler Crim was able to tuck it away.

How does it feel to be a WPIAL champion for the second time, having also won in 2022?

It’s great, especially as a senior. When you win as a freshman, it’s enjoyable, but you’re more of a role player, not one of the main dudes. To do it as a main dude and be a bigger part of it makes it mean so much more.

What were the emotions like on the team during that back-and-forth 3-2 win over Beaver?

I can’t speak for anyone else. I probably wasn’t as focused as I should have been. I was thinking, ‘what a game this is to watch right now.’ It surely was entertaining. I felt that with the run we were in the midst of that we were destined to win.

What can you say about how the team played all season long?

I thought we were pretty solid. We started the season humming but hit a few road blocks in the middle of the year. Come playoff time, of course nerves kick in because you don’t want to be a team that makes a lot of mistakes. But I thought we played really well, especially towards the end of the season when we picked it up and played a complete 80 minutes.

Which team has been the toughest you’ve faced in your high school career?

Apart from Fairview, I would say North Catholic. The past few years, we’ve played them on six separate occasions, especially those last two. They got us on our second trip through the section and then the nailbiter in the WPIAL quarterfinals for us to move on. They were one of the toughest teams because of them being a section opponent, and you know so much about each other.

How much rest are you going to get before the start of basketball?

We started practice yesterday. It would have been nice to skip one day of practice and get up to Manchester for the state finals, but it’s the final year — there is no rest. You have to get right into it and hope to make a deep run there. I had Wednesday and Thursday off, but those were days we had open gyms, so I went up there and started getting in shape.

Have you set any goals for that upcoming season?

As a team, we’ve been pretty storied the past few years, but you have to win the section first. Then the WPIALs and make a deep run in states. That’s set there by coach and by what the program has done in the past.

What are you looking forward to the most in your senior year?

Just soaking everything in and enjoying as much as I can. Don’t let the little things bring it down and look towards the bigger picture. If you can do that, you can be very successful.

If you could take on a new hobby or learn a new skill what would it be?

I used to be pretty good at drawing. I got out of it in middle school when we no longer needed to take an art class. You get to be creative.

What was the last thing you drew?

I think it was a portrait of Donald Duck or something like that.

With Black Friday about two weeks away, is there anything you’re looking to score a deal on?

I’m not a shopper at all. I don’t spend any money. If there are clothes that my mom wants to get me that would be about it.

What are your future plans?

I got accepted into Penn State and probably will attend there and major in actuarial science. I’m also waiting to hear back from Ohio State.

Tags: Burrell, Deer Lakes