On the competitive front, the Keystone Division of the Mid-Penn Conference was a crowded house last season.
Once you stepped beyond the 2013 champion, Lower Dauphin, it was a crowded house with five teams all within five games of each other.
A similar scenario appears on the horizon in 2014 with Lower Dauphin once again earning the label as the team to beat. Second-place finisher Mechanicsburg also has plenty of parts back.
Palmyra, Susquehanna Township, Bishop McDevitt and Middletown all fall under that next tier of teams that all finished within a couple games of each other.
McDevitt and Susquehanna Township lost the most pieces of that group, so they’ll be navigating some early choppy waters. Palmyra and Middletown might be on the cusp of finding that next level with plenty of key returning players with experience.
MID-PENN KEYSTONE
School: Bishop McDevitt Crusaders
Head coach: Tim Bowen
2013 record: 10-11 overall, 6-8 Keystone
Key returning players: Liz Noss (Jr.), Abby Marzzacco (Jr.), Sara Phelan (Jr.), Sophie Lehigh (So.), Meghan Hartwell (Sr.)
School: Harrisburg Cougars
Head coach: Destry Mangus
2013 record: 5-13 overall, 4-10 Keystone
Key returning players: Lexus Allen (Sr.), Kira Waters (Sr.), Justina Cruz (Sr.), Danielle Hardman (Sr.)
School: Hershey Trojans
Head coach: Pam Reifinger
2013 record: 2-18 overall, 1-11 Keystone
Key returning players: Clare Collins (Sr.), Brittany Pugliese (Sr.), Stephanie Williams (Jr.), Alyssa Smith (Sr.), Alyssa Grubb (Jr.), Jenny Rizzo (Jr.), Hannah Ferrara (So.), Morgan Stapleton (So.)
School: Lower Dauphin Falcons
Head coach: Steve Alcorn
2013 record: 16-7 overall, 13-1 Keystone
Key returning players: Maddi Kotchey (Sr.), Jamie Knaub (Sr.), Tiff Grubb (Sr.), Sam Gorman (Sr.), Colleen Starsinic (Sr.), Shelby Alcorn (Jr.), Leah Decker (Jr.), Kaylee Stoner (So.), Madi Lilliock (So.)
School: Mechanicsburg Wildcats
Head coach: Gail Hiestand
2013 record: 15-5 overall, 10-4 Keystone
Key returning players: Morgan Minter (Sr.), Brooke Libhart (Sr.), Erica Molovich (Jr.), Kirstie Shay (Jr.), Maddie Garrick (Jr.), Taylor Clark (So.), Liz Wilgus (So.), Jordan Hertz (So.)
School: Middletown Blue Raiders
Head coach: Michael Thomas
2013 record: 10-10 overall, 7-7 Keystone
Key returning players: Sarah Gossard (Sr.), Emily Mattes (Sr.), Emilee Ernst (Sr.), Carlie Wolfe (Sr.), Halle Marion (Jr.), Cheyanne Frayre (So.)
School: Palmyra Cougars
Head coach: Kathy Wicker
2013 record: 11-9 overall, 7-7 Keystone
Key returning players: Catherine Wicker (Jr.), Hannah Phillippy (Jr.), Bekah Sell (Jr.), Kayla Bonawitz (So.), Kailey Werkheiser (So.)
School: Susquehanna Township Indians
Head coach: Patricia Buffington
2013 record: 12-10 overall, 8-6 Keystone
Key returning players: Allison Hartman (Jr.), Chellyn Perrin (Jr.), Kate Krawczuk (So.)
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