Southern Lehigh is one of the most successful schools in the valley, but not only when it comes to academics. Year in and year out Southern Lehigh Spartan athletics consists of the valley’s top teams that often go on to compete at the state level.  Each team practices every day in order to try and continue the success that Southern Lehigh has maintained over the last few years, and it pays off each team has accomplished huge goals this year.

Boys Soccer

Coming off of last year’s District XI championships Southern Lehigh boys soccer had high expectations for this year. Over the off-season the team was put into the hands of new head coach, Mike Evans. The Spartans got off to a hot start in the regular season amassing a record of 10-2 in the Colonial League with losses coming at the hands of Northwestern and Moravian Academy. Upon making the Colonial League playoffs, the Spartans were handed another defeat by Moravian in the semi-final. Despite an early playoff exit the Spartans still managed to secure a place in the District XI playoffs. The Spartans easily cruised past Easton in the first round. However, the Spartans then suffered a season-ending defeat in the district semifinals against Parkland, 2-0.

Girls Soccer

 The 2015 Spartan girls soccer was one of the most successful teams this season. The Spartans were 10-2 in the regular season with losses coming from Northwestern and Saucon Valley. However, once playoffs began the Spartans could not be stopped; they began the playoffs with 1-0 win over Palisades and then went on to beat Northwestern 3-1 in the Colonial League finals. Districts began and so did the goal-scoring barrage.  En route to a district championship, the Spartans outscored opponents including Salisbury, Palisades, and Notre Dame Green Pond, 11-1. After blowing out district opponents the Spartans’ season stopped abruptly in state playoffs in a 1-0 loss to Lansdale Catholic.

Field Hockey

Girls field hockey has always been one of Southern Lehigh’s most successful sports and that did not change this year. Despite losing six prominent seniors last year, the Spartans were undeterred and dominated this season. The Spartans finished regular season play with a 15-1 record in the Colonial League, with their only loss coming to a strikingly good Moravian team. Colonial League playoffs turned out to be a microcosm of the Spartans season with a semi-final victory over Pen Argyl, 2-1. However in the finals Southern Lehigh lost to Moravian for the second time that season, 3-0. Their runner-up league finish was enough to lift the Spartans in to district playoff contention. They went to the championship and lost to Moravian for the third time that season. However, they were again able to make state playoffs where they lost in the first round 2-0 to Archbishop Carroll.

Girls Volleyball

Spartan girls volleyball had a good season, just on the cusp of a great one. The team went 6-2 in Colonial League play with both of the teams’ losses coming to eventual Colonial League champions Notre Dame Green Pond. The Spartans went in to league playoffs as the number two seed and lost in the finals to 3-0 to Notre Dame Green Pond.

Girls Tennis

Girl’s tennis had a very strong season that saw several of its competitors go to districts and beyond into states. Nina DeLuna had one of the best seasons out of any Southern Lehigh athlete, winning the number one girls singles bracket in the Colonial League by beating Madeline Newsome of Palisades. DeLuna went on to roll through District XI AAA playoffs and beat Elessa Jacobs of East Stroudsburg North. She won her first state match to advance to the quarterfinals where she lost to North Allegheny’s Natalie Miller. Senior Katie Cole also had a very strong season in which she won the number two girls singles bracket Colonial League championship and advanced to the second round of districts. Both doubles pairs of Asselin/Mcloughlin and Zhang/Barnes made it district playoffs; however, they were defeated in the first round.

Cross Country

Boys and girls cross-country ran into a superb season. Spartan runners posted times that put them in contention with the top athletes in the area. Overall the Spartans were second in boys and girls events, with each team having a 23-1 record. In the Colonial League championship meet, Raahi Klar-Chaudhari had the best time out of all Southern Lehigh runners with a fourth place finish, Thomas Matsumura had a sixth place finish. In districts Matsumura finished 12th and Stephen Gray ended up 14th. On the girls side, Katherine George finished seventh in the Colonial League championship meet. Alissa Vandebunte came in as the next best Southern Lehigh finalist at 11th place. In districts Vandebunte earned a 28th place finish with George coming in at 32nd. Overall, the Spartans had a quite outstanding season for cross-country.

Golf

Southern Lehigh golf had a sensational season. To start, the team earned second place in the Colonial League team standings, amassing a record of 12-1 and only losing to Colonial League champs Moravian Academy. At districts Jimmy Gold, Michael Miller, Alex Albenzi, and Derek Barnes qualified for the championship. In the championships the Spartans faltered and Alex Albenzi had the best district finish where he ended being tied for 21st place.

Football

The team had a promising start to the regular season beginning 2-0 before losing to Saucon Valley . The team finished the regular season with a 7-3 record in which they lost close games to Saucon Valley, Northwestern, and Salisbury. The Spartans had three shutouts this season and one of the best defenses in the league. The Spartans did not make it into District XI postseason play; however, they did make the Eastern Conference playoffs where they won in the first round against Jim Thorpe.  At the time of publication, the Spartans had yet to face Allentown Central Catholic in the next round.

This fall was one of the best athletics seasons Southern Lehigh has had in quite some time, with league and district championships, and even a couple of state playoff runs. Southern Lehigh athletes plan to continue this success in the winter and spring seasons to come.