Archbishop Wood’s Orihel repeats as state player of year to headline The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery all-state selections

Kaitlyn Orihel finished her career at Archbishop Wood achieving everything she wanted.

From her freshman year, the guard’s production and high level of play earned her recognition locally but also across the state. Capping her career with a PCL title, PIAA Class 4A championship and the program’s scoring record cemented her legacy at Wood and brought one final honor at the state level.

Orihel was named the PA Sportswriters Class 4A Player of the Year on Monday, following a Class 5A Player of the Year selection last year and headlining the local selections to the six all-state teams.

“I see videos from my freshman year and I feel like it’s a completely different person,” Orihel said earlier this month. “I think my IQ has improved a ton, playing in all these different situations, I feel so much more prepared for what comes at me in games.

“I kept saying throughout the year, we don’t get another shot at this, this is it for me so there’s no ‘we’ll get them next time for me. There were a lot of lasts, which was bittersweet, but being able to win them was great.”

The type of player who is at her best in the biggest games, Orihel went out in style, scoring 20 of her game-high 25 points in the second half of the state title game last month. It was the fitting capper on a strong close to her career that saw the Villanova-bound senior lift a PCL and state title for the first time in her time at Wood.

Orihel’s Player of the Year selection makes her a four-time all-state honoree. A third team pick as a freshman, she was named first team as a sophomore before being selected Player of the Year in Class 5A last year, a small consolation prize to a season ended early by COVID-19.

She was also a four-time first team All-PCL selection. Orihel leaves Wood with a program record 1,462 points

“That’s what sets her apart, that desire to be the best player on the court,” Wood coach Mike McDonald said. “She doesn’t just want to win games, she wants to win every play. If she misses a shot and is 90 feet from the basket, she wants to get the ball back so she can win the next play.

“That determination and drive to compete on every play is what drives her.”

Wood junior Ryanne Allen joined Orihel on the Class 4A first team. The 6-foot-1 wing was a second team selection in Class 5A a year ago and continued to impress this winter, averaging 16.6 ppg for the Vikings.

Allen picked up her second straight first-team All-PCL selection and was excellent in the postseason, scoring a game-high 22 in the PCL title game and 17 in the PIAA 4A final. She enters her senior year a highly regarded recruit with 25 Division I offers.

McDonald, who guided Wood to its first PCL title since 2016 and first state title since 2017, was named the Class 4A Coach of the Year. McDonald has won three state titles and two PCL championships as the Vikings’ head coach.

Once again, The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media and surrounding area were well-represented on the all-state teams across all classifications.

In Class 6A, Spring-Ford senior Lucy Olsen repeated as a first team selection. The Rams point guard, a Villanova recruit, helped lead Spring-Ford to the District 1 6A title and back to the PIAA title game for the first time since 2014 before falling to North Allegheny.

A second time all-state pick but first-time selection to the first team is Pennsbury junior Ava Sciolla. The Falcons’ leading scorer and top defender has committed to national power Maryland and averaged 17 ppg while helping Pennsbury win the SOL Patriot title and reach the District 1 6A quarterfinals.

Central Bucks East senior Emily Chmiel, a high-scoring center heading to Chestnut Hill College, was a second team selection in Class 6A. The Patriots went unbeaten in the SOL Colonial and reached the District 1 6A semifinals with Chimel, a third team all-state pick last year, leading the way with a 16.2 ppg average

Making her first appearance on the all-state teams is Plymouth Whitemarsh senior Anna McTamney, a third-team selection. A USciences recruit, McTamney led the district runner-up and SOL Liberty champion Colonials with 13.1 ppg and wrapped up a stellar four-year career.

McTamney was a four-year starter for PW and graduates ninth all-time in program scoring with 1,127 points. The forward was a first team All-SOL Liberty pick and her 800 career rebounds were the most in the last decade.

Rounding out the local selections in Class 6A is Archbishop Carroll junior Grace O’Neill. The Drexel recruit was a first team All-PCL selection and helped a young Patriots team to the PIAA quarterfinals.

In Class 5A, Mount Saint Joseph Academy’s Grace Niekelski was a second team all-state selection. The Dartmouth-bound senior was a third team selection last year and was the driving force for a Magic team loaded with sophomores.

Niekelski, who was also named first team All-AACA, finished her career with 1,329 points while averaging 17 ppg as a senior, her fourth straight year increasing her scoring average.

Wood’s duo of Orihel and Allen weren’t alone on the Class 4A all-state teams. The second team had a strong local foundation with two selections.

Gwynedd Mercy Academy senior Kaylie Griffin makes her first all-state appearance after leading the Monarchs with a 15.3 ppg average and helping GMA to the AACA’s regular season title, a fourth straight District 1 4A title and the PIAA quarterfinals before falling to Archbishop Wood.

Griffin, who was named the AACA’s MVP, will continue her career at St Joe’s where she will play for her mother in Hawks head coach Cindy Griffin.

Also making a first appearance on the all-state team is Lansdale Catholic sophomore Gabby Casey. While the Crusaders didn’t post many wins playing in the PCL Red Division, arguably the toughest division in the state with PIAA champions Wood (4A), Cardinal O’Hara (5A) and West Catholic (3A), Casey was a total force.

The forward posted eye-opening averages of 19.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game for LC while also adding four assists and five steals.

St. Basil Academy will have one final all-state selection before the school closes at the end of the academic year. Senior Denae Carter earned first team all-state honors in Class 3A after a second team selection as a junior.

The 6-foot forward, a Mississippi State recruit, averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds per game this season, which saw the Panthers win their fifth straight AACA and District 1 3A titles. Carter will graduate with the program scoring record of 1,304 career points.

State finalist Jenkintown landed a pair of players landed a pair of players on the Class A teams. Senior Carly Mulvaney earned first-team honors to cap a terrific run with the Drakes that included a game-high 22 in the PIAA A final. The forward, a second team selection a year ago, who will play at Catholic University, averaged 16.5 ppg as Jenkintown won its sixth straight District 1 title and surpassed 1,000 career points.

Katie McGrath, the only junior in the Drakes’ starting lineup, was selected third team all-state after averaging 14.1 ppg for the state runner-up.

Abington Friends School senior Zaniyyah Ross-Barnes was named second team all-state in Class A after earning third team honors last season.  The Kangaroos played a limited schedule but the versatile forward was among their most consistent performers.

CLASS 6A

First Team
Talya Brugler, Nazareth, 6-1, Sr., 15.3
Lizzy Groetsch, North Allegheny, 5-11, Sr., 16.2
Julie Jekot, Cumberland Valley, 5-10, Sr., 15.9
Lucy Olsen, Spring-Ford, 5-9, Sr., 19.4
Ava Sciolla, Pennsbury, 5-11, Jr., 17.0
Olivia Westphal, Bethel Park, 5-9, Sr., 24.6

Second Team
Lindsay Berger, Parkland, 6-2, Sr., 14.8
Emily Chmiel, Central Bucks East, 6-0, Sr., 16.2
Ashleigh Connor, Mount Lebanon, 5-10, Jr., 21.7
Caroline Shiery, Central Dauphin, 6-3, Jr., 18.0
Emily Strunk, Stroudsburg, 6-2, Sr., 20.9

Third Team
Jillian Jekot, Cumberland Valley, 5-11, Fr., 12.5
Anna McTamney, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 5-10, Sr., 13.1
Paige Morningstar, North Allegheny, 6-1, Sr., 11.0
Grace O’Neill, Archbishop Carroll, 5-7, Jr., 12.8
Emina Selimovic, McDowell, 6-0, Sr., 13.8
Jasmine Timmerson, North Allegheny, 5-7, So., 11.0
Makiah Shaw, Red Lion, 6-0, Sr., 16.0

Player of the Year: Lizzy Groetsch, North Allegheny
Coach of the Year: Spencer Stefko, North Allegheny

CLASS 5A

First Team
Anne Bair, Gettysburg, 5-7, Jr., 16.5
Maggie Doogan, Cardinal O’Hara, 6-2, Jr., 14.5
Talia Gilliard-Jackson, Mechanicsburg, 5-8, Sr., 14.7
Aislin Malcolm, Chartiers Valley, 5-11, Jr., 17.2
Kennedie Montue, Plum, 5-11, Sr., 23.6
Sydni Scott, Cardinal O’Hara, 5-7, Jr., 12.0

Second Team
Laila Campbell, Spring Grove, 6-0, Fr., 15.9
Courtney Dahlquist, Trinity (Washington), 6-1, Sr., 17.4
Grace Niekelski, Mount St. Joseph, 6-0, Sr., 17.0
Perri Page, Chartiers Valley, 6-0, Sr., 15.2
Peyton Pinkney, Woodland Hills, 6-0, Sr., 15.0
Emma Ruhlman, Warren, 5-10, Jr., 14.7

Third Team
Alexa Abbonizio, Springfield (Delco), 5-7, Sr., 13.9
Alexis Hess, Fleetwood, 6-0, So., 17.5
Maddie Knier, Manheim Central, 5-10, So., 21.2
Marin Miller, Hollidaysburg, 5-5, Jr., 24.5
Emma Theodorsson, Moon, 6-1, Jr., 18.0
Kourtney Wilson, Bethlehem Catholic, 5-9, Jr., 14.8

Player of the Year: Aislin Malcolm, Chartiers Valley
Coach of the Year: Chrissie Doogan, Cardinal O’Hara

CLASS 4A

First Team
Ryanne Allen, Archbishop Wood, 6-0, Jr., 16.6
Anajah Brown, Baldwin (Philadelphia), 6-1, Sr., 17.4
Cecelia Collins, Scranton Prep, 6-1, Sr., 16.5
Moriah Murray, Dunmore, 5-9, Jr., 16.5
Kaitlyn Orihel, Archbishop Wood, 5-10, Sr., 16.1
Rachael Rose, Scranton Prep, 5-7, Sr., 16.5
Ciera Toomey, Dunmore, 6-3., So., 15.3

Second Team
Gabby Casey, Lansdale Catholic, 5-9, So., 19.8
Taja Colbert, Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg), 5-5, Sr., 20.9
Kaylie Griffin, Gwynedd Mercy, 5-8, Sr., 15.3
Gianna Hoddinott, Delone Catholic, 5-9, Jr., 16.5
Lily Seyfert, Wyomissing, 5-8, Sr., 17.5
Skyler Searfoss, Jim Thorpe, 5-9, Jr., 17.9

Third Team
Carissa Dunham, Villa Maria (Erie), 5-7, Jr., 9.9
Jaida Parker, Tyrone, 5-9, Jr., 13.4
Emma Pavelek, Beaver, 5-8, Sr., 15.8
Ava Waid, Villa Maria (Erie), 5-6, Sr., 7.1
Corinne Washington, Quaker Valley, 5-11, Sr., 15.5

Player of the Year: Kaitlyn Orihel, Archbishop Wood
Coach of the Year: Mike McDonald, Archbishop Wood

CLASS 3A

First Team
Denae Carter, St. Basil, 6-0, Sr., 21.0
Kylie Lavelle, Riverside (Taylor), 6-1, Jr., 22.5
Destiney McPhaul, West Catholic, 5-8, Sr., 20.9
Summer McNulty, Loyalsock, 5-7, Sr., 14.6
Mariah Wilson, Lancaster Mennonite, 5-9, Sr., 23.6

Second Team
Antonia Bates, Notre Dame (Green Pond), 6-0, Jr., 12.4
Erika Dubosky, Panther Valley, 5-11, Sr., 18.7
Paige Julian, Mohawk, 5-8, Sr., 20.5
Ava Stevenson, Trinity (Camp Hill), 6-0, Sr., 15.5
Trinity Williams, Palisades, 6-1, Sr., 20.9

Third Team
Mihjae Hayes, Neumann-Goretti, 5-3, Jr., 18.1
Ciani Montgomery, West Catholic, 5-6, Sr., 18.0
Aslyn Pry, Moniteau, 6-0, Sr., 19.6
Haily Sherman, Susquenita, 5-9, Sr., 18.4
Janai Smith, Imhotep, 5-9, Jr., 14.7
Jordyn Smith, Forest Hills, 5-9, Sr., 17.4
Aleah Snead, Penn Charter, 5-11, So., 14.8
Lauren Trumpy, Trinity (Camp Hill), 6-5, Jr., 13.2

Player of the Year: Destiney McPhaul, West Catholic
Coach of the Year: Beulah Osueke, West Catholic

CLASS 2A

First Team
Mercy Ademusayo, Linden Hall, 6-5, Sr., 14.5
Olivia Ciullo, Old Forge, 5-8, Sr., 22.4
Mairan Haggerty, Neshannock, 5-11, So., 19.0
Kaci Kranson, Holy Cross, 5-10, Jr., 21.5
Dani Rae Renno, Mount Carmel, 6-3, Sr., 20.7
Grace Sundback, Westtown, 5-10, So., 16.3

Second Team
Alexis Brooks, Westtown, 5-10, Sr., 10.8
Claudia Clark, Mahanoy Area, 57, Sr., 13.7
Zahra King, Westtown, 5-10, So., 14.2
Maeve McErlene, Notre Dame du Namur, 5-10, Jr., 19.5
Neleh Nogay, Neshannock, 5-6, Jr., 17.5
Sanaa Redmond, Shipley, 5-6, Sr., 16.5

Third Team
Brie Droege, Columbia, 5-7, Fr., 18.6
Maizee Fry, United, 6-0, Sr., 17.5
Genesis Meadows, Lancaster Country Day, 5-5, So., 18.7
Nadia Moore, Winchester Thurston, 5-10, So., 18.8
Kassidy Smith, Penns Manor, 5-8, Sr., 15.8
Alicia Young, Sto-Rox, 5-11, Jr., 19.9

Player of the Year: Mercy Ademusayo, Linden Hall
Coach of the Year: Lisa Varano, Mount Carmel

CLASS 1A

First Team
Emily Garvin, Northumberland Christian, 5-6, Jr., 16.3
Teresa Haigh, Bishop Guilfoyle, 6-0, Sr., 18.0
Corynne Hauser, Rochester, 5-8, Jr., 20.0
Carly Mulvaney, Jenkintown, 5-10, Sr., 16.6
Kaliyah Myricks, George School, 6-2, Sr., 20.8
Andjela Pavicevik, Harrisburg Christian, 25.0
Alexis Robison, Rochester, 5-7, Sr., 19.6

Second Team
Sarah Chambers, Coudersport, 6-0, Sr., 17.7
Bellah DiNardo, Kennedy Catholic, 5-9, Jr., 15.9
Samantha Heenan, Nativity BVM, 5-8, Sr., 17.7
Leah Homan, Bishop Guilfoyle, 5-11, Jr., 17.7
Merit Innocent, Harrisburg Christian, 6-2, So., 18.0
Zaniyyah Ross-Barnes, Abington Friends, 5-11, Sr., 11.5

Third Team
Bree Garzel, Port Allegany, 5-8, Sr., 22.2
Serena Hartzler, Veritas, 5-7, Sr., 17.4
Katie McGrath, Jenkintown, 5-7, Jr., 14.1
Jenna Muha, Shade, 6-0, So., 20.5
Rylee Snyder, Shanksville Stonycreek, 6-0, Jr., 17.6

Player of the Year: Teresa Haigh, Bishop Guilfoyle
Coach of the Year: Kristi Kaack, Bishop Guilfoyle