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Two words most often associated with Jill Witmer and Laura Gebhart, at least according to opposing L-L League field hockey coaches, are "amazing" and "dangerous."
That sounds about right, when you consider that both Witmer and Gebhart have been recognized nationally for their abilities on the hockey field.
For the second straight year, Witmer, a senior from Penn Manor, was named to the 2009 Harrow Sports/National Field Hockey Coaches Association High School All-America first team.
Joining Witmer on that squad is Gebhart, a junior at Donegal. Both were previously named to the Pennsylvania Field Hockey Coaches Association all-state first team.
"Jill is probably one of the most dangerous players I have ever seen in the L-L League," said Warwick coach Bob Derr, whose team has tried to contain the Comets speedster for the past four years.
Derr was equal in his praise for Gebhart, who helped Donegal defeat Warwick for the league tournament title in 2008.
"Laura is a player that is dangerous on both sides of the ball. She is not only strong with the ball and makes defenders look bad, but she does an excellent job of distributing the ball," said Derr, who has coached a league-best 13 first team All-Americans since 1998, as well as five second-teamers, one player to watch and 22 regional selections.
So it was no surprise to Derr that Witmer and Gebhart earned national recognition. They weren't the only two to receive All-America honors, though.
Cocalico junior midfielder Jordan Page (23 goals, 20 assists in 2009) and Manheim Central senior defender Cass Wagner (12, 9) both joined Witmer and Gebhart on the NFHCA All-Mideast Region Team, which is one step below the national team.
Witmer, a forward, has verbally committed to play for the University of Maryland and Wagner has committed to Old Dominion University, with both of those commitments becoming final on national signing day, Feb. 3. Both will receive scholarships to play for those nationally-ranked and historically outstanding Division I programs.
Page, meanwhile, committed to Syracuse University in the fall while Gebhart, also a midfielder, continues to explore her numerous options. Both have one more scholastic season on the horizon.
Suffice to say, Derr is not the only opposing coach happy to see Witmer exit the high school ranks. He's seen her do enough damage over the past four seasons.
Witmer netted a league-high 53 goals and 21 assists while leading the Comets to Section One, L-L League and District Three Class AAA tournament titles, as well as a berth in the PIAA Class AAA semifinals, in 2009. She helped Manor win the state title in 2008, and finished her career with 112 goals and 72 assists, according to PM coach Matt Soto.
Soto, for one, knows he will miss the services of Witmer, and also recognizes that he may never see another player of her caliber grace his sidelines.
"Jill is unquestionably the best high school field hockey player I have seen this year, maybe ever," said Soto. "Her ability to move with the ball and elude defenders is remarkable.
"She is a very clever and gifted goal-scorer as well. She has obviously rewritten the record books here at Penn Manor," he added.
Gebhart, meanwhile, finished the season with 27 goals and 20 assists while leading the Indians to their first outright Section Three crown, a runner-up finish in the league tournament after capturing the crown in 2008, and the school's first District Three Class AA crown since 1991.
"Laura Gebhart's field hockey skills combine great play-making ability and goal-scoring," said Soto. "She is intelligent and athletic beyond her years. Of all the players we played against this year, she was the one we prepared for the most."
Gebhart now has 57 goals and 34 assists for her career, according to Donegal coach Jessica Shellenberger, who watched her standout middie lead the Indians to their first berth in the state Class AA semifinals, where they fell in overtime to Selinsgrove.
