The report says Ablov Bangura enters as one of the headline names after leading Susquehannock as captain and top scorer on a run to the District 3 3A final and the PIAA 3A tournament. That is the kind of team success voters usually remember.
At the back, Joey Kelchaw gives York Catholic a different kind of candidate profile. A central defender rarely grabs the same attention as a forward, but a league player-of-the-year honor, all-state recognition and a key role in league and district runner-up finishes make his case hard to ignore.
If one area dominates this watch list, it is midfield. Jonathan Stermer may have the most complete résumé after helping York Suburban reach its first District 3 semifinal since 1993, while also finishing with 12 goals and seven assists, according to the report.
Elsewhere, Dean Merrill was reportedly central to Northeastern’s league-title campaign, while Owen Gatchell helped Red Lion post its first winning season since 2018. Sam Jester looks more like a rise candidate: his team went 5-10-1 last year, but first-team division recognition suggests he could become the focal point of a rebound.
That leaves two more names with clear routes into the conversation. Dylan Funk is expected to be a reference point for Central York after its PIAA 4A push, while Brady Webb offers flexibility for West York after contributing four goals and three assists in a side that reportedly lost only two starters.
The next step is simple: turn last year’s promise into this year’s authority. Once the season opens, every district result, rivalry game and scoring run will start separating a crowded watch list from a genuine favorite.