Trending
MIFFLINTOWN -- The Juniata High School softball team will have a new head coach in the spring, giving Craig Bubb a tough act to follow.
Bubb served as an assistant coach to head coach Erin Cressman, who resigned to return to New England to be closer to her family after leading the Indians to the PIAA Class 3-A Championship game appearance. Juniata went 25-4 overall in 2023, falling to Mid Valley, 1-0 in the title tilt at Penn State's Beard Field at the Nittany Lion Softball Complex.
"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity," the 51-year-old Bubb said. "We're going to embrace it."
Bubb was hired by the Juniata County School Board at its regular monthly meeting at the Administration Building in Mifflintown Thursday night. Assistant coaches Jack McCurdy and Jordan Shirey are also expected to return, pending school board approval. Bubb and McCurdy coached softball at Mifflin County High School from 2012 to 2019. Shirey played three years of varsity softball at Mifflin County and six years with Bubb on the Lady Patriots travel team.
"Being there with her (Cressman) for three years, it's still her program," Bubb explained. "The seniors this year will be the first class that came in when we started.
"I don't see a whole lot changing with our coaching philosophy or game management," he added. "It would be silly to mess with what has gotten us to this point. The core values will remain unchanged."
Cressman had held the Juniata post for the past three seasons. The Indians return state pitcher of the year in Elizabeth Gaisior and are expected to make another run at PIAA gold.
"That's a big help," Bubb said. "But we lost the right side of the infield. Last year, we kind of snuck up on people who didn't know who we were. Now, everyone knows us."
On Oct. 18, the team will travel to the State Capitol building in Harrisburg for a tour and citation presentation for its accomplishments last season.
Bubb has also been a long-time coach in the travel team circuit, coaching the Mifflin County Rockers from 2005 to 2007. In 2008, he joined the Lady Patriots as president and 12-U coach. Since 2012, he's coached the 18-U team and been the tournament director.
Juniata High School coaches
In other coaching news, Al Ream was approved as the boys basketball head coach at Juniata, along with assistant coach Erich Graybill. Ben Lauver was also named the coach at Tuscarora Junior High School, with Bryson Clark serving as his assistant.
In girls basketball, Jim Fosselman will be the head coach at Juniata, with Becca Zendt as his assistant coach.
In wrestling, Adam Barrick and Jarred Dressler are back as co-head coaches, with Ray Barrick and Anthony Conte as assistant coaches. Brandon Rowles with coach Tuscarora Junior High wrestling, with Dylan Treaster as his assistant.
In cheerleading, Marissa Boyer will serve as Juniata's varsity head coach, with Desiree Rhea as the coach at Tuscarora Junior High School.
East Juniata High School coaches
The school board approved Dontae Martin as a volunteer boys soccer coach at East Juniata. In boys basketball, Tyler Erhard was approved as an assistant coach with Wes Rickenbaugh as junior high boys basketball head coach.
In girls basketball, Travis Quici will be the head coach at East Juniata, with Wes Diehl as his assistant coach.
In air rifle, Danny Reed was approved as the head coach, and Kim Miller will be the varsity cheerleading head coach.
Extracurricular activities
The following positions at East Juniata High School were approved:
• Reesa Watto, junior class advisor and yearbook advisor
• Erin Cook, student council co-advisor
• Brandon Sheeler, student council co-advisor and National Honor Society co-advisor
• Steve McLaughlin, FFA advisor
• Ashlie Anderson, National Honor Society co-advisor
• Jacqueline Malocu, junior class play advisor and senior class play director
• Tina Kerstetter, senior play art director
• Jeremy Roush, senior play set director
Contracts and agreements
The school board approved an agreement with Merakey Pennsylvania, of Harrisburg, for providing educational services to students with autism or emotional disturbances.
They also approved an agreement with the Capital Area Intermediate Unit, of Enola, to provide school-age educational services.
The school board approved an agreement with Youth Advocate Programs Inc., of Harrisburg, for the provision of SAP mental health liaison services.
Other news
The school board approved facility-use requests by:
• Garrick Paden, of Cedar Grove Brethren in Christ Church, Juniata Elementary School parking lot, JAM Day pick-up and drop-off on Sept. 22 and Oct. 20, 2023, and Jan. 16, Feb. 16 and March 15, 2024.
• Maggie Shafferman, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Juniata Elementary School cafeteria, Good News Club, Mondays, Oct. 30, 2023, through March 4, 2024.
• Fred Powell, Juniata County Veterans Council, Juniata Elementary School grounds, parade formation, Nov. 11, 2023.
• Margaret McCann, Margaret McCann School of Dance, Juniata High School auditorium, dance performance, Nov. 18, 2023, and June 1, 2024.
They approved a donation of the use of a golf cart at East Juniata High School by Towsey Tent Rentals.
The school board approved the provision of shuttle service between Basom Park in Richfield and East Juniata Elementary School for holiday program attendees on Dec. 18, 2023.
They approved Keith Crawford, Robert Thomas and Ashley Zook as drivers.
The school board approved Pennsylvania School Boards Association officers and trustees:
• Allison Mathis, president-elect
• Sabrina Backer, vice president
• Marianne Neel and Michael Faccinetto, trustees
They approved the following field trips:
• East Juniata High School students, Career and College Fair, Juniata High School, Sept. 21, 2023.
• Juniata High School advanced biology students, Stream study, wildflower and tree identification, Little Buffalo State Park, Newport, Sept. 25, 2023.
• East Juniata High School FFA, pumpkin and gourd harvest, McLaughlin Farm, Mifflintown, Sept. 25, 2023.*
• Three East Juniata High School students, community-based instruction, Juniata County Food Pantry, Mifflintown, Mondays starting Sept. 25, 2023, through May 4, 2024.
• Juniata High School Yearbook Club, Josten's workshop, Dover, Del., Sept. 26, 2023.
• 1 to 5 East Juniata High School students, community-based instruction, Weis Markets, Mifflintown, Tuesdays starting on Sept. 26, 2023, through May 21, 2024.
• East Juniata and Juniata high schools FFA, career development events, Huntingdon, Sept. 27, 2023.*
• Juniata High School FFA, Fall Leadership Conference, Altoona, Oct. 3, 2023.*
• 23 Juniata High School advanced placement language students, Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, Manheim, Oct. 5, 2023.*
• 15 Juniata Elementary School students, field trip, Butcher's Family Fun Farm, Newport, Oct. 11, 2023.*
• East Juniata Elementary School PBIS Team, PBIS Youth Summit, Huntingdon, Oct. 12, 2023.
• Juniata and East Juniata high schools FFA and Juniata and East Juniata elementary schools fourth-graders, Agriculture Education Day, Reinford Farms, Mifflintown, Oct. 13, 2023.
• 8 Juniata High School FFA members, Youth Spotlight Award recognition, Mifflintown, Oct. 17, 2023.*
• Juniata High School softball players, Capitol Tour and citation presentation, Harrisburg, Oct. 18, 2023.
• Tuscarora Junior High School eighth-graders, historic landmarks, Gettysburg, Oct. 19, 2023.*
• East Juniata High School students, college visit, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Oct. 25, 2023.*
• Juniata High School FFA, National FFA Conference, Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 31, 2023, through Nov. 1, 2023.*
• 5 East Juniata High School students, science activities, Little Buffalo State Park, Newport. Nov. 8, 2023.
• Juniata High School advanced biology, medical terminology, anatomy students, workshop, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Nov. 13, 2023.
• Juniata High School Jazz Combo, St. John's Day Banquet performance, Union Lodge, Mifflintown, Dec. 16, 2023; and performance, Locust Grove Retirement Village, Dec. 19, 2023.
*Indicates trips for which transportation is not funded by the district.