CLYMER, Pa. – A trio of Penns Manor Area High School seniors recently committed to continue their academic and athletic careers in college.
Alex Polenik will join the Bucknell University track and field team as a thrower of the discus and shot put. Allie Mumau will compete on the Shippensburg University basketball squad, and Connor James is set to play baseball at Mount Aloysius College.
Polenik is one of the most accomplished thrower in the region. He was a bronze medalist at the United States of American Track & Field Junior Olympics. Polenik was the 2024 PIAA Class 2A champion in discus and runner-up in shot put. He is a three-time District 6 and Heritage Conference champ in discus and two-time district shot put winner.
He holds the Penns Manor records for discus (173 feet, 6 inches) and shot put (56-101/4), which are also District 6 all-time marks. Polenik is a two-time Indiana County champion in discus and shot put. He was the most valuable thrower at the Giant Eagle Invitational in Bedford twice and holds the discus record at the West Central Coaches Association meet.
The Patriot League school in Lewisburg stood out to Polenik.
“What made Bucknell the right fit for me was the atmosphere and the people,” Polenik said. “Once I made my way onto campus, it felt as if I was at home. The campus was not massive, which made it easy to traverse. The track and field facilities were outstanding and I was impressed by their engineering program.”
Polenik will major in chemical engineering at the NCAA Division I school. Bucknell’s track and field teams are led by former St. Francis coach Kevin Donner.
“Signing with a Division I program was always a dream of mine when I was young,” Polenik said. “To finally be able to say that I will compete at the Division I level is both exhilarating and fulfilling. As I competed, I always felt as if I had the ability to participate at the collegiate level.”
Polenik is the son of Rich and Terri Polenik.
Mumau will major in secondary education and coaching at Shippensburg, a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division II level. The Raiders are 2-5 this season.
Her rapport with the coaching staff made a difference.
“The Shippensburg coaches, they are amazing,” Mumau said. “Then being on campus, it just felt like home.”
Shippensburg coach Kristy Trn is in her 27th season leading her alma mater.
Playing college basketball was always her goal.
“I started playing in third grade and since then, I knew I wanted to play in college,” said Mumau, also a member of the cross country team.
The 5-foot-10 center and power forward averaged 8.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as a junior at Penns Manor. She plays for the Western PA Bruins travel team.
Mumau is the daughter of Aaron and Lindsey Mumau.
James will be enrolled in the physician’s assistant program at Mount Aloysius, a member of NCAA Division III and the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.
“Mount Aloysius had the major I was looking for, and it has a friendly atmosphere,” James said. “Also, the baseball coaching staff is very competitive and nice to work with.”
The Mounties are led by Bishop McCort Catholic graduate and Athletic Director Kevin Kime. Mount Aloysius went 21-18 overall with a 11-5 mark in the AMCC for its first league regular-season title.
“Playing college baseball was always a dream of mine,” James said.
James also played football at Penns Manor. In 2024, the first baseman and relief pitcher hit .280 with four doubles and 12 RBIs. He posted a 2.54 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 411/3 innings. James has logged 85 innings over three seasons. He lettered three times. James also played for Flood City Elite, Super Swing and DC Diamond Academy.
James is the son of Michael and Julie James.
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