Josh Rizzo stories

‘Brothers’ face off as Franklin Regional wrestling continues its roll with win over Plum

Franklin Regional 152-pound junior wrestler Michael Ruane was rivals with Plum’s Owen Campbell for six minutes Wednesday night at Franklin Regional High School. Not long after Ruane’s 8-2 win during the Panthers’ 66-0 Section 9 victory, their friendship, which has spanned well over five years, resumed. Ruane said competing against...
Penn Hills boys run away with win over Plum

Penn Hills 6-foot-3 senior guard Amon Hawthorne was comfortable and confident Tuesday night at Plum High School. Collectively, the Indians played with the same mindset during a 67-39 Section 1-5A win. Penn Hills jumped out to a 15-3 lead and never trailed. The Indians were led by Hawthorne, who scored...
Plum girls keep cool, hold on to defeat Penn Hills in key section matchup

Taylie Auth didn’t hide that the Plum girls basketball team was nervous heading into a home Section 1-5A matchup with Penn Hills on Monday night. The Mustangs guard had ample reason to be nervous. With how tight the top half of the section is, there is little margin for error...
Glass-cleaning skills help Knoch boys get off to sparkling start

Teegan Finucan knows which skill set the Knoch boys basketball team needs to lean on to win games. The 6-foot-1 senior guard and his teammates aren’t afraid to employ it. “A lot of it comes from genetics,” Finucan said. “We have a lot of length, and we want to abuse...
Pitt men let lead slip away, lose at Miami in ACC opener

The Pitt men’s basketball team appeared ready Tuesday night to emerge from the other side of the enormous hole they had dug themselves with surprising losses during their nonconference schedule. The Watsco Center isn’t a place, however, where the Panthers have ever been able to get themselves right. Pitt led...
Timely 3-pointers send Highlands past host Mustangs in double OT at Plum tournament

Ty Hall missed the opportunity at the end of regulation to make a go-ahead 3-pointer. When the Highlands guard had another opportunity in the second overtime, he knocked one down to give the Golden Rams momentum. While Highlands’ 85-82 double-overtime win over the host Mustangs on Friday night at the...
Knoch boys handle Latrobe’s physicality, hold on for victory at Plum tournament

The Knoch boys basketball team has put together five straight victories by matching the profile of their opponent. The Knights were tasked with trying to beat a big, physical team in Latrobe on Friday night at the Plum tournament. Knoch survived a third-quarter lapse to earn a 54-46 win. “It...
NCAA wrestling greats visit Lower Burrell for Christmas week workout

Jason Nolf and Bo Nickal stopped by The Mat Factory in Lower Burrell this week in part because of their connection to owner Isaac Greeley. But both wrestlers also know they will be given an opportunity to work with quality training partners. “They are here to get some good work...
Springdale defense swarms Riverview in 2nd half to pull away for section win

Springdale boys basketball coach Scott Ruppert was clear with his instructions Tuesday night at Donald McGhee Fieldhouse. The Dynamos wanted to run Riverview off the 3-point line and try to meet them at the rim. Springdale’s shot blocking and length made the difference in a 48-29 Section 1-2A win. The...
Short-handed North Catholic girls rely on defense to overcome Burrell

North Catholic girls basketball coach Molly Rottmann knows battling Section 1-4A opponents is only part of the problem this time of year. The illness bug haunts nearly every program around Western Pennsylvania as students fall out of their routine as holiday break starts. The Trojanettes had four players out but...
Valley swim team overcoming fears, finding success

Mikayla Flory said many of the athletes on the Valley swim team are fighting their fears when they compete. The Vikings’ roster is filled with first-time swimmers learning how to successfully get off the blocks or to execute a flip turn. Some of Valley’s successes may have made things less...
Knoch boys use balanced scoring, physical approach to top Highlands

Roman DeFelice can see how the Knoch boys basketball team has been ready for the dialed-up intensity that comes with section play. The Knights’ demanding nonconference schedule already has put them through the ringer. Knoch leaned on its physicality on the boards to beat Highlands, 58-37, in a Section 1-4A...
Pitt volleyball wins hard-fought match against Michigan to advance to NCAA regional semifinal

Pitt women’s volleyball coach Dan Fisher would love more preparation between the first and second round of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament. All 32 coaches who advanced to the second round felt like that to some degree about the 24-hour or so turnaround they face. The Panthers found ways to...
Babcock sets record as Pitt women’s volleyball team rolls in 1st round of NCAA Tournament

Olivia Babcock didn’t realize her performance during the first round of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament gave her the Pitt record for most kills in a season. Babcock knew she met the previous record holder, Wendy Hatlestad, during alumni weekend. Babcock recorded 13 kills during the Panthers’ 25-10, 25-17, 25-13...
Better on the mat than on the mic, Spencer Lee gears up for Real American Freestyle bout

Spencer Lee hit a barrier that no amount of takedown drills would help him with. While promoting the Real American Freestyle wrestling event Nov. 29 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, the Franklin Regional graduate needed many takes to get the proper amount of “smack talk” committed to video. Lee, who...
Acrisure experience nothing new for Seton LaSalle, Steel Valley in WPIAL Class 2A title game

Having a good gameday experience at Acrisure Stadium for the WPIAL football championships isn’t always within the control of officials, players or coaches. Seton LaSalle coach Tim Storino would like to have a more regimented lead-up to the Class 2A title game on Saturday at 2 p.m. against No. 3...

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