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It will come as no surprise that EAHS students have opinions about food. We surveyed students asking about their cafeteria favorites, any lunch suggestions, and pizza recommendations. Then, we put their taste buds to the test with a blind pizza taste test.
Eight-two students filled out the survey, and the top results are pictured in the graphs. Through this survey, many students shared thoughts they have about what the cafeteria should add to the menu and what they should consider changing. Multiple students agree that water should be free. A lot of students also agree that a vegetarian option should be added. One of the key questions in the survey asked students which pizza place they think serves the best pizza. To figure out, once and for all, which pizza is E-town students’ number one, we randomly chose a few students to be a part of a blind pizza test: Thomas Feguer, Emma Keener, Jacob Miller, Djemba N’Dikwe, Taidou N’Dikwe, and Janelle Schaeffer. The students were asked to taste four different pizza slices, rate the crust, cheese, sauce, and the pizza overall, and finally, to guess where it was from. The pizza provided, based on the survey’s top results, was from Papa John’s, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and the school cafeteria. Five out of six students said that Domino’s pizza had the best crust. Five out of six students said that Pizza Hut had the best sauce. Three students said Papa John’s had the best cheese, while three students said that Domino’s had the best cheese. Five out of six students said that, overall, Domino’s had the best pizza. What do you think? Did the survey capture your thoughts? Did we miss the hidden pizza gem that you order from every time? Let us know on Instagram by tagging @eahs_news! By: Liz Givens
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 Photo Credit: etownschools.org With an overall record of nine wins and thirteen losses, the girls’ basketball team faced a challenging season. Coping with the loss of several talented seniors and suffering player injuries, the team started the season in a difficult position. Captains Ainsley Raybold (grade 12) and Jade Love-Morris (grade 12) led their team in points, Love-Morris with 255 and Raybold with an even 200. Kallee Locker (grade 12) and Taryn Hummer (grade 11) contributed significantly as well with 123 points apiece. Love-Morris says, “As far as our last season went, we all made the best of what we could despite covid and injuries. In all, the past four years have gone by so fast and it’s been a fun run. There’s been a lot of accomplishments…and our program is not finished yet. I’m excited to see what the next years will have in store for the Lady Bears!” Head coach John Myers also achieved his 100th win with the team, ending his coaching career on a high. Ultimately, the girls finished third in L-L League Section Two, and Jade Love-Morris and Ainsley Raybold were both elected Section Two First Team All-Stars.  Photo Credit: etownschools.org After a riveting win over Palmyra, the boys’ basketball team advanced to the state tournament for the fifth time in the program’s history. During the Palmyra game, senior Patrick Gilhool stepped up to score 32 points, 12 from 3-pointers, to secure the boys’ 68-57 victory.
This season, the boys dominated the court with an overall record of 16 wins and 11 losses and a league record of 8 wins and 5 losses. Top scorers include brothers Patrick and Matthew Gilhool (grade 10), putting up 424 and 380 points, respectively. Starters Braden Cummings (grade 11) and Techeal Gonquoi (grade 12) surpassed the 200 mark as well; Cummings scoring 242 points and Gonquoi with 210. Before the state playoff game against Laurel Highlands, varsity head coach Lee Eckert said, “I am very proud of our team and the success we have had this season, we have been led greatly by our Seniors. At the start of the season we came up with three goals which were, to win more than 13 games, host a home district game and make states. We were able to accomplish all of those goals this season. I'm really excited to get on the bus to go to Pittsburgh and compete against one of the best teams in the state on Tuesday.” The boys put up a strong first half against Laurel Highlands, led by Matthew Gilhool with 11 points and 10 rebounds. However, boosted by an 8-0 run at the beginning of the third quarter, Laurel Highlands dominated the second half and ultimately won the game with a score of 55 to 33. L-L League Section Two All-Stars include Patrick Gilhool, unanimously elected to the First Team, and Matthew Gilhool, elected to the Second Team. The bowling team has had yet another successful season. Last year, in the 2020-2021 season, the Bears set a high bar for themselves, with a Section win, second and third place finishes in the Lancaster-Lebanon League women's singles, and sixth and seventh place finishes in the LL League men’s singles. The team made it all the way to the semi-finals of the LL League team playoffs, but were unable to beat Penn Manor, who went on to become the LL League champions of 2021. The bowling team didn’t rest on their laurels however, pushing this year to achieve even more.
The team defended their Section 2 win, making it all the way to the quarterfinals of the LL League team playoffs. Junior Zach Wentzel went on to win the LL League men’s singles championship, and seniors Alaina Telenko, Allison Evans, and Hannah Griffie placed fifth, seventh, and eighth respectively in the women’s singles championship. Individuals from the team made it farther than they had last year, going to regional and even state competitions. Senior Ayden Pope, Zach Wentzel, sophomore Derek Deardorff, and senior Daniel Eberle made the Section 2 All Star team. The highest series, or three game score, in the section went to Derek Deardorff, bowling 822 in three games. These many awards and accolades are impressive on their own, but on top of all of these, the team set a state record. The team set both a state and league record 3,617 series. This record-setting series allows the team to advance to the national championship, taking place in Louisville, Kentucky, from June 18-20. Freshman Ella Eberle also reached state playoffs and will progress to nationals in the women’s singles competition. The Elizabethtown Bowling team has been a dominant force in the area for the past decade, continuing to progress and improve year after year, with 2022 being no exception. By Ally Evans and Bryan Murray The 2021 Elizabethtown Bears Varsity Football season was one of significant ups and downs. The season started with a win over the rival Donegal Indians and a winning record in the first half of the season. There were great performances from many players including junior quarterback Josh Rudy, senior Patrick Gilhool, and junior Braden Cummings. Unfortunately, the Bears struggled when conference play started and they were winless in the second half of the year. Still, there are reasons to believe that the future is bright for this group with several key players returning and valuable lessons learned in 2021.
In their first game, the Bears had to deal with bad weather as well as a muddy field. They overcame these troubles and other costly errors to outlast their school’s rivals. In the two weeks that followed, the Bears dealt with offensive struggles and consecutive losses that put the success of the team in serious doubt. Over the next two weeks, the Bears faced challenges on and off the field. The offense struggled to put points on the board leading to losses against Mechanicsburg and Lower Dauphin. Despite all of this, the Bears maintained focus and strove for improvement. This hard work paid off in their week four home win over McCaskey. Gilhool’s quick return from injury personified E-town’s perseverance and resilience. Rudy’s three touchdown passes to Cummings helped to provide a blueprint for continued success through the air in the coming weeks. A week five defensive struggle at Cedar Crest allowed the Etown defense to show that they could seal a game for the team when necessary. They held Cedar Crest to just two scores, giving the offense the ball with less than four minutes left and a chance to win. The offense capitalized when Gilhool hit Cummings on a 55 yard completion to set up Hayden Haver’s second rushing touchdown of the night. The defense came through again on Cedar Crest’s last drive, forcing and recovering a fumble. The Bears ran down the clock and special teams sealed the win when punter Chaz Mower fielded a faulty snap and got the punt off under duress. There was to be no comeback in week six versus Conestoga Valley. However, it wasn’t for lack of effort. The Bears found themselves down by three touchdowns early and were never quite able to catch up. Still, because of their unwillingness to surrender and their continued fight, they pulled within a score late in the fourth quarter. They were able to carry this momentum into Warwick for a week eight matchup with the Warriors. Rudy threw three touchdowns and ran for another as the Bears put up the most points they scored all year. Unfortunately, a series of mishaps on special teams allowed Warwick to maintain their lead for most of the game. Despite this, Etown scored a dramatic last-minute touchdown to put them within two points. The call on the conversion was controversial, as the officials determined that while the Bears made a successful reception, they did not cross the goal line, leading to a heartbreaking loss. The losses continued over the next two weeks as the defense struggled to get other teams off the field. The offense kept it close against Cocalico, but could not do the same against Manheim Central, leading to the Bears’ worst loss of the season. Prior to the final game of the season against Solanco, the loss of a classmate under tragic circumstances puts into perspective the importance of a game. The Bears, however, knew that this game presented them with the opportunity to not only pay tribute to Colby Hall, but to honor his family and friends by putting their best effort forward in front of them in the last game of the season. With the rain coming down increasingly hard as the game progressed, the Bears came out fast and never slowed down, beating Solanco 32-14. This final win was a shining example of what the 2021 Bears football team was. They were a family who never stopped fighting for each other, no matter how challenging it could be at times. By: Meadow Winters
Due to the loss of a talented senior class and a schedule packed with formidable opponents, the Elizabethtown girls’ soccer team was in a tough position to start the 2021 fall season. With an overall record of seven wins, zero ties, and ten losses (four of which were devastating overtime losses), the season was not a success by the numbers. However, the girls persevered and finished the season on a winning streak of four games, including two wins over Manheim Central, reinforcing the team’s growth over the season. Captain Lily Heistand (grade 11) said, “Our season didn’t go exactly as we had hoped, but together we were able to finish strong. I think we are all looking forward to next year, and are excited for the great things that we have the potential and talent to accomplish.” Led by captains Kendall Davies (grade 12), Jena Witters (grade 11), and Lily Heistand, the girls’ soccer team finished third in section two, and missed district playoffs by one spot. Junior Taryn Hummer was named a section two first team all-star alongside sophomore Josie Spayd, and junior Jena Witters was named a second-team all-star as well.
Compared to their opponents, the Elizabethtown boys’ soccer team was fairly young, starting many underclassmen alongside veteran upperclassmen. However, this fall 2021 season the boys proved they can hold their own against more experienced teams. With an overall record of six wins, seven losses, and three ties, the boys were on the cusp of a winning season. Captains Mitchell Garber (grade 12), Chaz Mowrer (grade 12), and Dax Kelly (grade 11) led their team to a hard-fought win against Manheim Central, exemplifying the team’s discipline and drive. The boys’ soccer team finished fourth in section two and advanced to post-season play, facing off against Central Dauphin in the first round of district playoffs. Central Dauphin, currently ranked first in the state and thirteenth in the nation, beat Elizabethtown four to zero. Junior Dax Kelly was named a section two first team all-star, and sophomores Hayden Flory and Jason Stark were named second team all-stars. By: Andrea Rodriguez On the 24th of November, the School Board convened over Zoom to address a number of community concerns as well as an agenda of educational updates throughout the district. These meetings can seem like a lot to process, so we at the Etown Expression are here to compress all that was discussed into a few digestible points.
by Emma Creason, Staff Writer
The EASD school board convened for a meeting open to the public on Zoom on November 10th. While the meeting covered a variety of topics, we at the Etown Expression are bringing you the most important points of the meeting for students and community members. Point #1: COVID-19 Plans The district remains alert as we advance into flu season with this global pandemic. As it stands, the EASD administration and staff participates regularly in forums and conferences with state and federal health officials and makes decisions based on expert advice and information. Point #2: Community Voices At the meeting on November 10th, only one community member spoke to the board. A. Zahn spoke for over 200 local parents as he proposed the transition of 3rd grade to Bear Creek Intermediate School and the transition of 6th grade to Elizabethtown Middle School be postponed. He spoke of concern for the mental health both students and staff during a transition, stating that the changes are "unnecessary" and could cause undue stress during these already challenging times. Point #3: Physical vs. Distanced Instruction The board passed the continuation of current educational setups with grades K-6 in person, 7-12 on a rotating hybrid schedule, and EASD online options for all ages. The board reviewed information from public health officials that if grades 7-12 were to return to an all in person format, there would be an inability to properly distance students in the school buildings. Among other topics discussed by the board were finances and additions of clubs to the high school. Tune in to the next school board meeting by checking the district website: www.etownschools.org  Photo Credit: Abby Driesbach By: Lara Hummer
Staff Writer This year’s Mini-THON, held at the Elizabethtown Area High School, was a resounding success. Attendees enjoyed a variety of fun games and activities like nine square, basketball, and even a bouncy house. New this year were a bunny room and a video game tournament, both of which were well attended, especially during visiting hours. By: Beka Lashley and Zoey Noble
Staff Writers In 2019, the Elizabethtown Area School District began a new style of sport for students with an aspiration to play video games: the E-sports team. As the year has progressed, the new team has expanded its participation in tournaments as well as fundraisers like Mini-THON, where the team held a competition. Gamers were able to showcase their talents in popular Nintendo Switch games, with a portion of the funds raised benefiting the Four Diamonds Fund. By: Sarah Rhine Staff Writer The Democratic Primary train is rolling into the Nevada and South Carolina stations as candidates vie for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. This primary season began on February 3 and will go into early June; by the end, only one candidate will remain.
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