Antonio RossettI stories, Page 4
Sharp-shooting Cheswick Christian Academy wins back-to-back SWCAC titles
The Cheswick Christian Academy boys captured their second consecutive Southwestern Christian Athletic Conference basketball title Saturday with a 64-36 victory over Pittsburgh Christian Academy. It was CCA’s third straight trip to the title game and second time in a row playing the River Hawks for the championship. Joseph Rosio and...
Mt. Lebanon makes big plays late to beat Imani Christian in Class 6A quarterfinals
Liam Sheely scored 22 points, including 14 points and a key 3-pointer in the second half, to lead Mt. Lebanon to a 64-61 victory over Imani Christian in the WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinals Thursday night. “There’s never a time in the game where I’m thinking, ‘Oh, we’re gonna lose this...
Lower Burrell’s Nancy Caliguri celebrates 50 years in martial arts
Nancy Caliguri has been training in a dojo for 50 years and racked up a multitude of accomplishments. The Lower Burrell resident is celebrating half a century in martial arts this year. In October 1980, Caliguri became a first-degree black belt and worked her way to becoming a ninth-degree black...
Norwin’s Deacon Shannon takes shot at Pa. Golden Gloves title
Norwin’s Deacon Shannon walks into Boyce Boxing Gym in Plum and trains day in and day out in preparation for the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves finals. Fighting in the Bantamweight Division, he stands 5-foot-11 and fights at 132 pounds. He has a 76-inch reach and wears a size 12 shoe. Despite...
Top-ranked Montour closes out section schedule with win over scrappy Moon
Montour held off a Moon comeback at home Friday night, closing out its Section 4-5A schedule with a satisfying 60-50 win. “We’re trying to go as far as we can, and we’re trying to win everything this year,” Montour center Ama Sow said. “That’s the goal. That’s the mindset.” The...
Facing a rare halftime deficit, Class 5A No. 1 Montour rallies past Mars
Trailing by eight points at halftime, Class 5A No. 1 Montour went on a second-half scoring spree to defeat Mars, 68-55, on Tuesday night. The Spartans used a 45-24 advantage in the second half to turn a 31-23 deficit into a win. The Fightin’ Planets contained the Spartans in the...
After surpassing 100-point milestone, Burrell’s Mike Morascyzk turns focus to Penguins Cup
Mike Morascyzk walked into Brady’s Run Ice Arena and was suiting up for an important milestone of his career as the Burrell hockey team took on Central Valley. Morascyzk donned the dark blue and powder blue, laced up his skates and got his stick with the P92 curve all while...
Freeport boys, girls bowling teams constantly working toward bigger goals
The Freeport bowlers walk into Wildlife Lanes with confidence that they will better their craft and prepare for the big-time moments. Every pin is crucial, with games coming down to the wire. Bowlers are surrounded by teammates, coaches and family members with the game on the line. The pressure is...
With mix of experience, potential, Shady Side Academy swimmers expect exciting season
Shady Side Academy swimming is diving into the season with a veteran boys team and a girls team with a young but promising lineup. Coach Erika Cooper said the preparation for this year has been outstanding. “We have a handful of swimmers that swim with various USA swimming clubs in...
Fox Chapel girls motivated to reach WPIAL playoffs
Coach Marty Matvey and the Fox Chapel girls basketball coaching staff were one win away from 100 as a staff. Matvey is in his fifth year coaching the Foxes, who started the season 2-2 heading into last Friday’s meeting with Penn Hills in the Section 1-5A opener. He wouldn’t want...
Shady Side Academy boys look to overcome early-season injuries as section play begins
Shady Side Academy boys basketball started 2-4 last season, but rose up and finished 18-9 with an 11-2 conference record, earning the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. This season, the Bulldogs started 2-2 and want to push their way toward similar success. To get there, they will have to...
Vermont stuns Pitt in quarterfinals of NCAA men’s soccer tournament
Vermont advanced to the first final four in program history and spoiled No. 2 Pitt’s hopes of a national title in the regional final, defeating the Panthers, 2-0, on Saturday at Ambrose Urbanic Field. The Panthers dominated possession in the first half and were on the attack the majority of...
With 4 seniors leading way, Fox Chapel gymnasts show camaraderie, drive to improve
The Fox Chapel gymnasts walk into practice, yearning to beat their personal records. The Foxes flip through the air, showcasing their strength, flexibility and grace. Nonetheless, their performance is just one aspect of what makes gymnastics special. Gymnastics provides camaraderie and bonds that can’t be broken. For Foxes coach Nadine...
Shady Side Academy’s Karis Thomas reflects on scoring milestone
Shady Side Academy junior Karis Thomas prepared for what she thought was just another game. Little did she know she was on the brink of scoring 1,000 points. Thomas was leading the Bulldogs girls basketball team against Berlin Brothersvalley in a close, hotly contested game. She then made program history,...
Greensburg Salem hockey looks to build behind young talent
Greensburg Salem made a valiant run through the Penguins Cup playoffs last season. The Golden Lions were a play away from being crowned champions before Chartiers Valley defeated them 2-1 in overtime. It’s a new year as the Golden Lions lost the core from last year’s team to graduation, including...
Valley girls basketball team is hungry to be competitive
Tonya Norman is the new sheriff in town as the coach for Valley girls basketball. Although she is in her first year, she is familiar with Valley sports. Norman was a three-sport athlete at Valley and went on to play basketball at Duquesne after graduating in 1989. She said connecting...
Brice Flenory wants to turn back clock at Valley
Valley is looking to rejuvenate a basketball program that won a WPIAL championship in 1993 and was a force in the ’90s. New coach and A-K Valley Hall of Famer Brice Flenory is taking on the challenge. He graduated from Valley in 1998 after averaging 36 points and showcasing his...
New coach likes commitment he sees from Leechburg girls
The Leechburg girls basketball team made the playoffs with an 8-11 record last season. This year, the Blue Devils want nothing more than to make it back. The Blue Devils won four out of six games from Jan. 15 to Feb. 1, which helped punch their ticket into the postseason....
With additions to roster, Leechburg boys hungry to turn program around
Andrew McDermott is heading into his second year coaching a hungry Leechburg boys basketball team. The players, coaches and community are determined to turn the ship around. Last season, the Blue Devils finished 2-20, but with a big turnout, McDermott sees potential out of the program. “My primary goal is...
Avonworth stops Imani Christian to make 3rd straight trip to Acrisure Stadium
The Avonworth Antelopes galloped their way to Acrisure Stadium for the third straight year, defeating the Imani Christian Saints, 14-6, in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Friday night. After a first half dominated by defense, Avonworth broke the scoreless tie late in the third quarter. After forcing Imani Christian to...
Under new leadership, young Belle Vernon girls basketball team hungry to get on the court
Belle Vernon made the WPIAL girls basketball playoffs last season but lost to Knoch in the first round. With a young group of players back, first-year coach Cornelious Nesbit is prepared to see what this year’s team can do. “I’m just getting the girls to understand my culture, my standards...
Experienced Belle Vernon boys basketball team eyes deeper playoff run
The Belle Vernon boys basketball team finished second in Section 3-4A last season, posting a 12-9 overall record, along with a 7-3 section mark. Despite the success, the Leopards fell short of their goals, losing to South Allegheny in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. Coach Joe Salvino and...
Fort Cherry survives scare from scrappy Cornell to reach Class A semifinals
After an early scare, top-seeded Fort Cherry advanced to the WPIAL Class A semifinals Friday night with a 27-20 victory over No. 9 Cornell. The Rangers went down 12-0 in the first quarter after Cornell had two straight drives that ended in touchdowns from Khylil Johnson on a 56-yard run...
Young Deer Lakes aims to skate to deep playoff run
The Deer Lakes hockey team was one game away from contending for the Penguins Cup, losing last year in the semifinals. This season, the Lancers are determined to make it a step further. Though a large senior class graduated, the returning Lancers (2-2) have high hopes for the 2024-25 season....
Quaker Valley sweeps Hopewell for 1st WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship
Quaker Valley captured its first WPIAL girls volleyball title with a 3-0 win against Hopewell in the Class 2A final Saturday at Peters Township’s AHN Arena. Molly MacDonald spearheaded the Quakers with 17 kills and 13 digs. “I’m glad to help out,” MacDonald said. “I mean, we all did a...
