Calvin Schneck will become a Leopard in the fall and he’ll be stalking the rest of the competition in the Patriot League once track season starts.

Schneck is headed to Lafayette College to compete in track and field. He said he chose Lafayette because of how comfortable the campus made him feel.

“It is a small and compact campus and it gave me a very similar feeling to Whitehall’s campus,” said Schneck.

He was also swayed by Lafayette’s recruiting process. He said that once they showed interest, they maintained communication, asking him about his seasons and how they were going.

Lafayette is coming off a season where they crowned two champions at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships last May, Stephanie Benko in the 3000 meter steeplechase and Dave McGriff in the discus. The team is led by head coach Michele Curcio who will be entering her fourth season this winter.

Schneck will be studying Mechanical Engineering at Lafayette. It was another selling point for the Whitehall senior.

“I was very impressed with their engineering facilities,” said Schneck. “The engineering program also seemed very hands-on and interactive, which was something I was looking for.”

Schneck leaves Whitehall as the record holder in the 800 meters, a mark he established at the league championships in May. He’s also part of the record-holding 3200 meter relay team at Whitehall, and will now look to make his mark as part of Lafayette’s track and field team.

Schneck said that once he arrives at Lafayette, the lesson he learned as a student-athlete at Whitehall will benefit him, especially when it applies to time management.

As a member of both the track and cross country teams, Schneck said that crossing the finish line at his home track to set the school record at the EPC Championships will remain a moment he’ll cherish forever.

Kieran Frankenfield is off to Kings College in the fall.

Frankenfield will be playing softball at Kings, continuing her athletic career at the next level. The Lady Monarchs compete in the Middle America Conference where they’re aligned with the Freedom Conference division of the MAC.

The team is coached by Lisa Gigliello who will be entering her 24th season at the helm. Last season the Lady Monarchs finished 23-18 and made it to the semifinals of the Freedom Conference Championships. Their appearance in this year’s conference tournament marked the 17th consecutive season in which they accomplished that feat, establishing a conference record.

Frankenfield said that she chose Kings for their strong academic credentials. They have an excellent business program and are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a particular draw for Frankenfield. She said that she also liked the smaller class sizes.

The decision to go to Kings was also influenced by a family legacy.

“The opportunity to play softball and follow in my mom’s footsteps playing at Kings was a deciding factor,” said Frankenfield.

Frankenfield will be studying accounting at Kings.

As a Whitehall student-athlete, Frankenfield said that balancing school with sports and other extracurricular activities is a lesson she’ll take with her to Kings. She said managing her time is extremely important, and that will be the case in college as well.

Finally, Frankenfield said that her family’s support provided her fondest memory. She said that “looking in the audience and seeing my parents and brothers faces cheering me on no matter what the event was” made the experience all the better.

Vanessa Hadeed will be arriving on the DeSales University campus in the fall. She decided to go to DeSales because it was a perfect fit.

“I just believe it’s a school that suits me well,” said Hadeed.

Hadeed will be studying sports and exercise science, citing DeSales excellent program in that field.

DeSales competes in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Last year the women’s team finished fourth out of a twelve-team field at the MAC Outdoor Championships. They are led by head coach Gordon Horning who will be entering his 20th season this year.

She will participate in track. She was a standout thrower during her track and field career at Whitehall. She will continue throwing the shot and discus at DeSales and credits Whitehall coach Jordan Strause for helping her become a top thrower in the Lehigh Valley.

Hadeed said he “taught her to get her technique down,” and as one of the smaller competitors in the throwing events, she has put those lessons to God’s use, relying on her lower half to get maximum into each throw. She was a consistent performer for Whitehall who would finish among the top three almost every meet.

She said her fondest memory was making it to the district finals this past season.

Hadeed also said her family played a big part in her athletic career.

“My family kept me going and helped get me where I am today,” she said.

Hadeed said that one lesson she learned as a student-athlete at Whitehall is that nothing is handed to you.

“You have to work hard for what you want,” said Hadeed.

Elliot Miller will soon be making the trek to Lebanon Valley College in the fall.

Miller said that the Dutchman coaching staff was a crucial factor in his decision.

“It reminded me of the family atmosphere we had at Whitehall,” said Miller. “It would be an easy transition.”

Miller will be enrolled in their Physical Therapy program.

Lebanon Valley competes in the Middle Atlantic Conference. They are led by head coach Melissa Byler who will be entering her 10th year this upcoming season. At the 2016 Middle Atlantic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, both their men’s and women’s teams finished second at Lehigh University’s Rauch Fieldhouse.

Miller, who competed in the pole vault, middle distances and the relays while at Whitehall, will concentrate primarily on the pole vault. However, if the team needs him in other events, he’s willing to help.

“I can do it if they need it,” said Miller.

Miller said he gravitated to the pole vault at a young age. He witnessed his cousin Kyle Miller, a former district champ, excel in the sport, and thought he would give it a try. It quickly took hold of him.

“There’s no better feeling than getting up there and clearing a good height,” said Miller.

Another cousin, T.J. Miller, is also his coach at Whitehall. He helped mold Miller into a consistent performer who would grab team points almost every meet.

Miller said that the most important lesson he learned while a student-athlete at Whitehall is leadership and accountability. He said it was important to show the underclassman how to be a Whitehall track athlete by word and deed. Also, he wanted to impart the love of the sport to them, something he felt very strongly about.

He said his goal is to clear 14-feet as a freshman, and then continue to excel in his studies, a tradition he established at Whitehall.

Miller said his fondest memory revolved around their final track meet at the Sports Complex.

“I looked around and it was kind of rewarding that I stuck with it for so long,” said Miller.

Correction

In last week’s part two edition of our series, we put an incorrect photo of Julia Solderitch with the article. The Press apologizes for the error.