Winter update

The end of the first semester is approaching shortly, and the Hurricanes have kept busy not only with classwork but with activities as well.

Winter sports have officially started, and teams hit the ground running.

Ava Kopetskie (’26) made Liberty basketball history by breaking the all-time scoring record. She reached a total of 1,344 career points during Saturday’s 50–29 win against Allentown Central Catholic, when she scored 21 points. This milestone secured her place in the Liberty record books and marked a major achievement for the program.

Although now an alum, Anijah Davis (’25) also made history for the team. She was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Michael Ann & Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation in recognition of her accomplishments while playing for Liberty. On Oct. 28, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley visited an open gym to present Davis with the scholarship. The girls basketball team is currently ranked third in the conference and holds a 4–3 record.

On the boys side, Jake Pukszyn (’26) has been making headlines as well. While he is committed to play football at Lehigh University, that hasn’t stopped him from excelling on the basketball court. On Dec. 12, Pukszyn scored his 1,000th career point during a game against Northampton, marking a major milestone in his high school basketball career placing him among only a handful in history to do so.

Liberty’s arts programs have also been thriving. The fall play, “Anne of Green Gables,” ran Nov. 13 and 15. I attended the show myself, and while the entire cast delivered strong performances, standout roles were performed by Erika Broesicke (‘26), Andrew Bays (’26) and Emma Hartzell (’25). Behind the scenes, stage manager Belle Kunkle (’27) and her crew brought the program to life.

The music department also celebrated several individual achievements. Students Jaxson Dorsey (’26), Jay Rupnik (’29), Juan Montero (’26) and Andrew Fortsch (‘26) earned seats in the PMEA District 10 Band. Montero and Fortsch also qualified for the District 10 Orchestra, alongside Hajin Chung (’28). Additionally, Cam Dunham (’26) was selected for the PMEA District 10 Choir. The choir festival took place at Berks Catholic HS Jan. 8 and 9, while the band festival is scheduled for Feb. 5 to 7 at Twin Valley HS. The orchestra festival will take place Jan. 22 to 24 at Allentown Central Catholic.

Anyone who has spent time in Bethlehem knows that Christmas celebrations are taken seriously, and Liberty’s winter choir and orchestra concert was no exception. The two December performances drew large audiences and showcased months of preparation. Directors Allen Frank and Julie Wydrynski have been working since August to put together a program that embodied the Christmas spirit, and, much like every year, their efforts clearly paid off.

On a less exciting note, students completed the Winter Keystone Exams this past week. Finals are scheduled for Jan. 15 and 16, and the new semester officially begins Jan. 19.

For more updates on events and achievements, follow @LHSLIBERTYLIFE on Instagram.