The final inductees won it all

There have been three teams in the outstanding history of Columbia basketball -- the 1959 team was crushed by Wampum and the Allen Brothers and the 1986 girls' team fell to a hot shooting Linesville team.
A year later, after being left for dead during the regular season and finishing fourth in the District 3 playoffs, not much expected when the Columbia boys' basketball team entered the state playoffs.
Well, those expectations became dreams when on a late March afternoon inside old Hersheypark Arena, the Tide shocked the basketball world and won a state Class AA title with a 49-43 win over Windber, touching off a celebration that stretched from Hershey to Columbia and into the wees hours of the morning.
The state champs will be the lone team inducted into the Columbia High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 17.
The team that won it all includes Mike Wisler, Brian Smith, Albert Ellis, Andy Fahringer, Keary Smith, Michael Burke, Chris Phiel, John Sheetz and Matt Phillips.
The coaches were Gary Sutton, "Flip" Rhoades, Kan Haverstick and Jeff Morral.
Their story will be chronicled toward the induction ceremony.

King Rat is next inductee

The fourth and final individual inductee into the Columbia High School Athletic Hall of Fame had an unusual nickname in high school -- "King Rat," the leader of the 1970 football team also known as Steve Ward.
Here is a brief biography of Ward's accomplishments at Columbia High School.

He won 10 varsity letters for football, basketball and baseball.


During his three years of football, the team was 26-3-1. The 1970 team was 10-0 and won the Lancaster County championship. That year, the “Big Red Machine” scored 371 points, while holding opponents to a total of 69 points. The team averaged 402 yards per game, while giving up just 169 yards a game. As a junior, his team was 8-2. As a halfback, he was the leading receiver with 514 yards and the 2nd leading rusher with 549 yards. He was fifth in scoring in the county with 68 points. Steve co-captained and quarterbacked the team his senior year. He compiled 1774 all-purpose yards, threw 18 touchdown passes and rushed for 7 TD’s. He also intercepted nine passes as a defensive safety. He was named firstst Team All County and Honorable mention All-State.

In basketball, Ward was a starter both his junior and senior years and was named All-County both seasons.

An outstanding shortstop on the baseball team, Steve earned three varsity letters and was name All-County two of his three seasons on the team.

Meet another CHS Hall of Famer

The second person to be elected to the Columbia High School Athletic Hall of Fame is Hilary Hershey.
Yesterday, we introduced Ken Haverstick as the first inductee.  The third annual Hall of Fame induction wll be held Friday, Sept. 17 during the Crimson Tide's football game with Daniel Boone.
Here is a look at Hershey's CHS athletic career.

Hilary played three sports at CHS – basketball, field hockey and track, lettering in all three sports during all seasons played.

Co-captained of all three sports during her senior year.
All-County 1st team for basketball (1981-82)
All-County 1st team for field hockey (1981).
County qualifier for the shot put and javelin in 1982.
Named MVP for both basketball and field hockey in 1981-82.
Awarded a scholarship to American University, a Division I college.