Josh Rizzo stories, Page 11

Atia DiGioia fought the battle with uncertainty and nerves before she ever stepped on the wrestling mat. The Fox Chapel junior wasn’t entirely sure how wrestling would go for her. But having a close friend, Emma Srodes, to train with at practice made things easier. “The first week or so,...

There were plenty of moments during the fall sports season to give people in the Fox Chapel school district a reason to follow the action closely. First, Foxes sophomore Carson Kittsley stole the show with a cool performance at the Penn State White Course. By shooting 5-under par on the...

Apollo-Ridge forward Zane Beatty believes the Vikings boys basketball team learned an essential lesson during its season opener Friday night at the Leechburg Tournament. When the Vikings build double-digit leads, they want to stay on top of their opponents. Apollo-Ridge survived a late comeback from the host Blue Devils to...

Bradley Repovich’s resolve was consistently tested during his first season on the Penn Hills wrestling team. Wrestling isn’t a sport that is typically kind to newcomers, especially at the varsity level. Repovich, who will be a junior and wrestle at 145 pounds this season, went through his share of adversity....

Anthony Sipple enjoys the challenge of playing multiple sports, but the Penn Hills junior knows that swimming isn’t the one where it is possible to give a lesser effort. Sipple has the challenge of trying to return to the WPIAL Class 3A championships after qualifying for two individual events and...

Avonworth senior running back Nico Neal was itching to have one more opportunity to play at Acrisure Stadium. After two years of being champions in waiting, the fifth-seeded Antelopes battered down the door during a 17-0 win over Central Valley in the WPIAL Class 3A title game Saturday evening. Neal...

First-year Fox Chapel hockey coach Ryan Loebig believes the Foxes were at a perfect spot for a breather after five games. The Foxes proved they are an offensively gifted team that is capable of winning wild shootouts. But a pair of one-goal losses offered a chance for reflection. “We’ve been...

The Fox Chapel girls soccer team dealt with the immense pressure of being the defending WPIAL Class 4A champions all season. Dropping to Class 3A, Fox Chapel opened the season on 18-match unbeaten streak before ultimately advancing to the second round of the PIAA playoffs. “I thought the girls had...

Senior Serena Carnahan would like the Plum girls basketball team to be in the best position to make quick decisions. It’s a skill that will come in handy as the Mustangs lost their leading scorer and will have a group looking to blend youth and experience. To cultivate that skill,...

Belief, in and of itself, isn’t going to carry the Plum boys basketball team to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs for the first time since 2016. But the Mustangs have shown an immense amount of dedication to the sport in the offseason that senior guard Will Beckner believes will produce...

Ali Shareef doesn’t have to bear the burden of being saddled with the same high expectations as recent Highlands boys basketball teams. But not being paid the same amount of respect as previous seasons doesn’t sit right with the Golden Rams senior point guard, either. “I’m looking forward to competing...

First-year coach Dan LaGamba is open to all possibilities for the Highlands girls basketball program this season. The Golden Rams only have one starter — Tyarah Woody — returning from a team that reached the PIAA Class 4A playoffs. That means Highlands will need to grow together if it wants...

The Penn Hills girls basketball team will be challenged to continue a winning tradition when its season starts this December. The Indians reached the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs for the second straight season last year, winning a preliminary round game before being knocked out by Oakland Catholic. Penn Hills, which...

The Penn Hills Youth Football and Cheer Association cheerleading team won the Western Pennsylvania Youth Athletic Association Cheer Bowl championship for the third straight year in the big and little divisions. Cheer coach Ashley Blake said that she emphasizes to all the girls on the team that the judging isn’t...

Shaler girls wrestling coach Robert Taylor remembers when he found out there would be a program for the first time this season. The Titans coach was in a classroom when Lilly Conner burst in. “I remember it vividly,” Taylor said. “Lilly Conner came in and said, ‘Coach, are we going...

Stephen Adametz feels fortunate to be taking over the Shaler swim program at a time when it is full of promise. The girls team had its best result at the WPIAL Class 3A championships in a decade last season. Shaler finished in 17th place, and many of the top swimmers...

This season, the Shady Side Academy boys basketball team will reflect the way the modern game is played. The Bulldogs will have four players over 6-foot-3 in the starting lineup, but the largest players on the court won’t be anchored to the low block. Shady Side Academy’s best passer may...

Liam Wiseman hit a significant milestone for the Fox Chapel hockey team. During the Foxes’ 6-5 loss to Canon-McMillan on Nov. 4 at the Alpha Ice Complex, Wiseman scored three goals to reach the 100-goal mark for his career. Fox Chapel’s hockey team is off to a 3-2 start in...

South Park defensive lineman Troy Cunningham looked like he had all the answers to the test Friday night at Newman Stadium. Ellwood City quarterback Chris Smiley likely wished Cunningham wouldn’t have studied so hard before they met in a WPIAL Class 2A semifinal playoff game. Cunningham set a school record...

Springdale junior forward Hailey Marchlewski said her team prepared for if things went sideways during a PIAA Class A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday at Andy Kuzneski Field in Indiana. When the Dynamos allowed District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle to score a tying goal with five minutes remaining, Springdale seemed unbothered....

David Black spent most of his time during the PIAA Class 3A cross country championships attempting to dig out of a hole from the start of the race. The Fox Chapel senior needed a fast start to get on the medal stand. Black ended up two spots short but was...

Redeemer Lutheran junior outside hitter Anika Vanwyk felt some uncertainty even though the Rams were one point away from an appearance in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Athletic Alliance championship game. Junior setter Clarissa Tinkey rolled her ankle celebrating the point and Redeemer had to quickly reconfigure things on the fly. The...

The Penn Hills football team was focused on the task at hand during the first round at the WPIAL playoffs. The Indians have attempted to stay with that line of thinking all season. When things break down or go awry, Penn Hills wants to maintain a simple mantra: Do your...

The Fox Chapel girls soccer team clearly had hope after losing to South Fayette in the WPIAL Class 3A title game at Highmark Stadium. The Foxes wanted another shot at the now two-time defending champion Lions in the PIAA playoffs. Fox Chapel took a step toward that goal by beating...

Pine-Richland running back Mac Miller’s focus didn’t wane during the bye week. The top-seeded Rams were solely focused on self-improvement. When Pine-Richland returned to action during a WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal playoff Friday night at home, the Rams were ready to conduct business quickly and efficiently. The top-seeded Rams took...