About this series
Coming up with a short list and then ranking the 10 greatest athletes in the history of each YAIAA high school was a daunting task. For sure, there is no scientific approach. But after two years of interviews, research and roundtable discussions, we are presenting as fair an attempt as possible to create an objective list on a decidedly subjective topic.
OUR CRITERIA: 1. The only accomplishments considered were those achieved while competing in high school varsity athletics. If an athlete earned a college scholarship, that was also factored in. 2. Accomplishments outside the setting of high school varsity sports and accomplishments after high school were not taken into account. 3. Athletes who attended more than one local high school were only evaluated at the school where they had the most varsity success. 4. Female athletes were rated by how they dominated their own sports not how they would fare going head-to-head against male athletes.

Your turn
If you d like to comment or offer a differing opinion on this list, we d love to hear from you. Each Sunday, we ll present your feedback on opinions on page 2 of the York Sunday News sports section - The Rundown. E-mail your thoughts to Sports Editor Chris Otto at cotto@ydr.com or mail them to: Greatest Athletes, c/o Chris Otto, 1891 Loucks Road, York 17408.

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1. Jen German ('93)

She not only is the all-time leading basketball scorer in school history (1,694 points), she also earned all-state honors in volleyball and was one of the top track and field athletes around. She was the YAIAA's top scorer as a junior in basketball and was the Daily Record "athlete of the year" twice in track and field. She placed third in the state in the long jump as a junior, and third in the state in the javelin and fourth in the long jump as a senior. She won district gold medals in both events. She was recruited by Division I basketball schools such as Seton Hall and Georgetown but honored an early-signing commitment to Division II Bloomsburg.

2. Paul Snyder ('53)

The four-sport star

Jen German is now a guidance counselor at Octorara High School. (Submitted)
passed on signing a Major League Baseball contract out of high school to give college a try. He also was recruited for baseball by Penn State, but the fullback and defensive end/linebacker chose a football scholarship to Lebanon Valley College. He also was one of the better basketball scorers around. He was a track and field standout, winning a district title in the discus and finishing third in the high jump as a senior. He was best-known for baseball, though, where the center fielder was scouted hardest by the Brooklyn Dodgers.

3. Suzi Sutton ('00)

She did it all, scoring 1,124 career points in basketball and a school-record 61 career goals in field hockey to go with earning honorable mention all-league honors as a soccer player. In hockey, the senior scored a league-leading, school-record 30 goals and earned a Division I-A scholarship to Northwestern University.

4. Donnie Moore ('95)

The three-sport star made the most of his two years at Dallastown, highlighted by being selected in the 16th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. Entering his senior season the outfielder was ranked among the top 50 prospects in the nation by Baseball America magazine. He also was a standout running back and safety in football, earning recruiting interest from New Mexico State and others. The superb scorer in basketball earned honorable mention all-league honors twice.

5. Shannon Bortner Werner ('98)

She is arguably the best girls' volleyball player the area has ever seen. She was a two-time YAIAA player of the year and a two-time all-state honoree, which included being named as the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the the Year as a senior. She earned a full ride to Penn State. She was an honorable mention all-YAIAA pick twice in softball.

6. Chris Moore ('99)

The dominating running back also showed flashes of brilliance in track and field and on the wrestling mat. In football, he

Jen German played basketball, volleyball and track and field at Dallastown Area High School. (Submitted)
led the league in rushing as a junior (1,599 yards) and was second as a senior (1,426 yards). He broke the school single-game rushing record with 336 yards and six touchdowns on 34 carries against Central. He was recruited by Pitt, West Virginia and others but ended up going to Thaddeus Stevens Tech before transferring to the University of Charleston in West Virginia, a Division II school. He also was a high school track and field standout, ranking second in the YAIAA in the 100 (11.2) and the shot put (45-3¾) as a junior. He even was a starting wrestler at 189 pounds.

7. Dick Hartman ('70)

The wrestling state title winner also was a standout football player. He won district and state wrestling titles as a 180-pound senior and earned scholarship offers from the University of Maryland and others. In football, he was a dominating end on offense and defense and was recruited hardest by Division II schools. He did not attend college.

8. George Myers ('69)

He won district and state wrestling titles at 145 pounds as a senior and was a district runner-up as a junior. He earned a wrestling scholarship to the University of Maryland. He also was a standout center and linebacker on the football team.

9. Beth Sylvanus Barton ('96)

The two-time swimming All-American dominated in the 50 and 100 freestyle, winning four-straight YAIAA titles in both. She still holds those school records, too. She won district and state titles in the 100 free with a second-place state finish in the 50 free. She was the first female to win a state gold medal in any sport at the school. She earned a scholarship to Southern Cal.

10. Tracy Smith ('83)

The senior running back played on a 3-7 team that made his astounding numbers - a 7.4 yards-per-carry average and a 317-yard, five-touchdown performance against rival Red Lion - even more impressive. He gained 2,175 yards in his career, was recruited by Penn State and chose a scholarship to Duke over the Naval Academy. He earned a spot on the prestigious Big 33 team. He also was a second-place finisher in the shot put in the county track meet as a senior.