Lancaster Mennonite's Fred Winey named PIAA Class 1A boys soccer coach of the year

Guiding Lancaster Mennonite to its second PIAA boys soccer championship has earned Fred Winey recognition from his peers.

Winey was named Class 1A coach of the year by the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association, the school announced Thursday.

“Lancaster Mennonite holds a special place in my heart,” Winey said in a statement. “As I walk the halls and athletic fields, I am constantly reminded of my time as a student there. I can honestly say that those were some of the best years of my life.”

This was one of Winey’s greatest coaching efforts.

Mennonite entered the District Three tournament as the No. 8 seed and advanced to the championship game, where it lost to defending PIAA Class 2A champ Camp Hill.

The Blazers then reeled off four consecutive wins in the PIAA tournament, including a victory in the rematch against Camp Hill in the semifinals. They knocked off previously undefeated Bentworth 1-0 in overtime to claim the title.

Msafiri Amisi, one of three Mennonite players named to the Section Four all-star team in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, scored the golden goal.

Ethan Bell and David Lapp, the other all-stars, were integral parts of Mennonite’s midfield and back third. Jackson Harbaugh anchored the defense in front of freshman keeper Lucas Kratz. Cooper Halvorsen joined Amisi as the team’s leading scorers.

It added up to Mennonite’s first PIAA title in boys soccer since 2011. The Blazers also reached the championship game in 2012, 2014 and 2017.

Winey has steered the program through all of those postseason runs. He earned his 300th career win against Pequea Valley in September.

“Milestones are nice in that it helps you know you’ve achieved a certain level of success,” Winey said after that game. “It’s a reminder of all the players who have invested in the program. Guys who have put their trust in me, in my decision making, in the tactics I put out there.”

The L-L League has produced a PIAA coach of the year in three consecutive seasons. Lancaster Catholic’s Bryan Fossi won in 2022 and Warwick’s Matt Wagner was honored in 2023.