The weather is cooling off, but Northern athletes are warming up for another exciting winter sports season. Many teams have their first scrimmages  starting next week. Here is a preseason preview for each Northern winter sports team:

Boys Swimming: The boys swimming team must find a way to replace seven seniors who graduated last year. These seniors contributed to a final team record of 5-5. Two of those seniors were a part of the 200 yard medley relay team that finished 9th in PIAA District III last winter. The 2017 Polar Bears return with only two seniors who together average only 1 year of high school swimming experience.

Girls Swimming: On the girls side, the Lady Bears are excited to get their season underway. Expectations are high for a team that lost only five seniors to graduation in 2016-17 but returns seven seniors and one PIAA state 100 yard backstroke silver medalist, Kate Luft. As a team the Lady Bears finished 6-4 in 2016-17.

Both teams begin their seasons on December 12th at Central York.

Wrestling: The Northern wrestling team looks to continue its long history of excellence in the 2017-18 season. The Polar Bears had a difficult season as a team last year, but had individual success in the postseason sending seven wrestlers to PIAA regionals and beyond in the 106,132,138,145,170, and 195 pound weight classes. The good news for the Polar Bears is that each of those wrestlers will be returning for 2017-18. The Polar Bears open their season at the Cumberland Valley tournament on December 8th and 9th. 

Girls Basketball: The Lady Bears hope to improve from a 2016-17 season which saw them finish with a 9-12 record. The Lady Bears lost only four seniors last year but return with five seniors this season. Northern hosts the Northern Tip Off Tournament on December 8th and 9th which includes Northern's Girls Basketball team along with Dover, Mifflin County, and Northeastern. 

Boys Basketball: Boys Basketball will be up for an interesting 2017-18 season. The Polar Bears graduated eight seniors following last season. Those seniors combined to score the majority of the Polar Bear's points last season en route to an even 11-11 record. Northern only returns one senior this season but there are seven juniors, including the points per game leader from 2016-17, who are eager to fill the roles vacated by last year's senior class. The Polar Bears get their first chance to show what they can do at the Northeastern Senior High School Tournament on December 8th and 9th.

Stay tuned for weekly athletic updates and highlights as the winter season rolls along.

~Josh Micsky