State College junior OL Michael Dincher named to the 2021 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 6A All-State Team

State College junior offensive lineman Michael Dincher was named to the 2021 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 6A All-State Team on Wednesday.

Dincher was the lone football player from a Centre County team to earn All-State distinction.

The 6-foot-3, 295-pound junior’s return from injury was key to the Little Lions’ season turnaround, which ended in the program’s first PIAA semifinal berth since 2009. Dincher mauled defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs alike, paving the way for senior running back Brady Bendik, who had 222 carries for 938 yards and eight touchdowns.

Penn State football signee Beau Pribula, the quarterback for Central York, was the 6A Co-player of the Year, along with Mt. Lebanon’s Alex Tecza.

Penn State football signees had a big impact on the list, with Central Dauphin East’s Mehki Flowers being named to the 6A All-State team as a defensive back, La Salle College’s Abdul Carter and Northeast’s Kenneth Talley as linebackers and Manheim Township’s Anthony Ivey as a wide receiver. Pribula also made the team as a quarterback.

Additionally, Penn State signee Nicholas Singleton, running back for Governor Mifflin, was named the 5A Player of the Year, and Imhotep Charter’s Keon Wylie made made the 5A team as a defensive lineman.

While Dincher was the lone football player from a Centre County team to earn an All-State honor, he wasn’t the only athlete.

State College’s Phebe Herlocher and Molly Schreiner were previously named to the 2021 Pennsylvania High School Field Hockey Coaches Association All-State Second Team for Class 3A. Herlocher had a team-high nine goals this season, as well as five assists for a total of 23 points to lead the Little Lions on offense. Schreiner had 166 saves this season and 25 goals against for a saves cumulative percentage of .869, per the team’s statistics.

Bald Eagle Area outside hitter Maddie Perry, Philipsburg-Osceola setter Kalista Butler, Philipsburg-Osceola outside hitter Reese Hazleton and Philipsburg-Osceola libero Janey Johnson were named to Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association’s 2021 All-State team for Class 2A. And Penns Valley cross country’s state champion Anna Stitzer was named to the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association’s Girls All-State Second Team.

This story was originally published December 29, 2021 at 3:39 PM.