Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Lower Macungie area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in ...
Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Lower Macungie area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.
Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area.
Emmaus High School alumnus Keith Dorney played a key role in Penn State’s success from 1975-78, earning unanimous All-America honors in his senior year. He helped lead the Nittany Lions to an impressive 38-10 record during his collegiate career before being selected tenth overall in the 1979 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. After football, he dedicated himself to working with young people as a special education teacher and high school coach.
Meredith Sholder, a standout field hockey player from Emmaus High School, made history by representing the U.S. at the 2024 Paris Olympics. A first-team All-American at the University of North Carolina, she helped lead the Tar Heels to an NCAA championship in her final season in 2022. Sholder’s Olympic debut further cemented her status as one of the top players to come out of Pennsylvania, highlighting Lower Macungie’s strong tradition of field hockey excellence.
Another local field hockey great, Melea Weber of Macungie is continuing Emmaus High School’s legacy of producing elite athletes. A two-time state champion and Max Field Hockey All-American, she dominated her high school senior season with 65 goals and 156 points. Now playing for the University of North Carolina, Weber has also earned a spot on the 2024 U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team and competed internationally in Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, Mexico and Canada.
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A powerhouse running back from Macungie and Emmaus High School, Sone Ntoh has carved out a record-breaking collegiate career. After starting at Harvard, where he rushed for nearly 400 yards, Ntoh transferred to Monmouth University and quickly became a force in the Coastal Athletic Association. In 2023, he led Monmouth with 14 rushing touchdowns and averaged 7.3 yards per carry. He followed that up by setting the school’s single-season rushing touchdown record in 2024, finishing as the FCS leader in total touchdowns. Recognized for his dominance, Ntoh was recently named to the 2025 Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List, positioning him as a rising NFL prospect.
Gabe Castaño, a swimmer from Upper Macungie, represented Mexico in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Castaño moved to Pennsylvania with his family in 2009 and attended Allentown Central Catholic before competing for Penn State. His Olympic journey continued at the 2024 Paris Games, where he once again raced in the 50-meter freestyle for Mexico. Castaño’s success on the international stage highlights the region’s diverse athletic talent.