Josh Rizzo stories, Page 19
Fox Chapel distance runner makes big strides in 3,200-meter run
Nicky Clump wasn’t intimidated by sliding his way through the pack at the start of races when he started with distance running. Ever since Clump can remember, he would go out running with his dad, David “Andy” Clump. Andy ran while attending high school in Doddridge County, W.Va., and continued...
Fox Chapel softball adjusts to speed of game to earn playoff berth
Fox Chapel’s young softball team passed the first major test of the season by qualifying for the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. The Foxes were then fortunate to have several nonsection tests against quality opposition to end the regular season. Fox Chapel (7-9 overall, 4-6 Section 1-5A) won two of three...
Penn Hills graduate sets example for this year’s softball team
Yasmine Logan was one of the more comfortable visiting players at Varabedian Field in Oakland when Ohio University came to town to take on Pitt softball. Logan, a Penn Hills graduate, was supported by a large contingent of Indians softball players who made the short trek down to the stadium....
3-sport path leads Fox Chapel senior to college lacrosse
Isaac Jacobs’ plan was to become a three-sport athlete. Lacrosse was going to be just one of those three for the Fox Chapel senior. When Jacobs committed to John Carroll University to play men’s lacrosse, he knew he was going to have to keep working to be able to get...
After navigating section grind, Fox Chapel baseball heads into playoffs with experience
Coach James Hastings knows that every game the Fox Chapel baseball team plays is going to be a grind in Section 1-5A. The fact that WPIAL baseball changed its scheduling a few years back to make those games back-to-back like a series added to the challenge. It now isn’t possible...
Penn Hills baseball looking to string hits together
Purchasing new equipment has helped the Penn Hills baseball team raise its collective batting average. If the Indians want to build on that success and win games, they will have to string those hits together. Penn Hills has only produced 23 runs in its first 11 games. “We have quite...
Penn Hills junior finds unexpected success in long jump
Ronald Porter didn’t think much about the long jump at first. Entering his first track and field season at Penn Hills, the junior wanted to help get his time in the 100 dash down to earn bragging rights with his football teammates. But Indians coach Lee Zelkowiz and his staff...
Plum girls lacrosse picks up pace, improves playoff positioning
The Plum girls lacrosse team has made adjustments as the season has progressed. When the Mustangs’ young attacks needed time to grow into their roles, Plum counted on its upperclassmen to help carry the fight in the midfield. The Mustangs have been scoring at an impressive clip this season. While...
Fox Chapel notebook: Track team collects medals at Butler Invitational
The Fox Chapel track team made the most of its trip to the 59th annual Butler Invitational. The Foxes had a healthy number of athletes earn top three finishes and get a boost of confidence. Both of Fox Chapel’s returning state qualifiers — Anna Troutman and Claire Conti — had...
WWE wrestler’s father, 64, ready to get back into boxing ring
Paul Vandale is nimble as he bounds through the ropes at Gloria’s Boxing Gym at the Monroeville Mall. The 64-year-old Penn Hills resident is full of energy, and confidence, as he bounces around the ring shadow boxing while sporting a black cut-off shirt with white lettering in the center featuring...
Penn Hills rugby program adds girls team
Matt Rosemeyer has consistently worked over the past few years to develop the rugby community in Penn Hills. The Big Red rugby team has added another wrinkle this season. Penn Hills now has a girls team for the first time. The Big Red girls will be participating in 7s, instead...
Girls flag football catching on at Shaler
The Shaler girls flag football team may not have everything figured out quite yet this season, but its all part of the process as coach Rob Heinrich helps the program adjust to rule changes. Flag football changed this season, going from a five-on-five competition to seven-on-seven. Heinrich started to get...
Fox Chapel grad reaching goals on Saint Vincent golf team
Brevin Urso put himself in position for a strong finish to his senior season during the fall. With how the Presidents’ Athletic Conference men’s golf championship is set up, one round is played in the fall while the other two are played in April. Urso, a Fox Chapel Area graduate...
Fox Chapel notebook: Golfing grad playing well for High Point
Gregory Meyer built up a nice wave of momentum heading into the Big South Championships. The Fox Chapel graduate closed the regular season with a strong performance at the Stitch Intercollegiate at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh. Meyer led High Point by finishing in a tie for 21st...
Penn Hills athletic director lauded for volleyball career by Juniata College hall of fame
Steph Strauss’ time at Juniata College had a large impact on her post-college life. But someone had to convince the 2007 Penn Hills graduate to head out east. Current Eagles volleyball coach Heather Pavlik, who was an assistant to Larry Brock at the time, felt like they needed more after...
Penn Hills junior not your average 3-sport athlete
Practicing for the Penn Hills physical fitness team is the easiest for Amaree’ Freeman. He can work out anytime with a pull-up bar and some weights in his basement. Attempting to practice his other two sports indoors would be reckless at best. The Penn Hills junior is a three-sport athlete,...
Fox Chapel notebook: Senior wins section tennis title
Will Siegel didn’t have a hard time protecting his seed at the WPIAL Section 3-3A boys tennis singles championship. The top-seeded Fox Chapel senior won the section title by beating Shady Side Academy’s Sai Chaudhry, 6-3, 6-1. On the way to the finals, Siegel beat Shaler’s Liam Creagh and Shady...
Led by senior midfielder, Fox Chapel boys lacrosse counts on explosive offense
Ryan Napolitan doesn’t have a shortage of responsibilities running the Fox Chapel boys lacrosse team’s offense. The senior midfielder isn’t responsible for only knowing where he’s supposed to be. Napolitan also will try to direct traffic for his teammates. What the Foxes, who are off to a 3-2 start to...
Penn Hills senior joins Point Park basketball at exciting time
Egypt Coleman didn’t consider playing women’s basketball at Point Park because the school is transitioning to the Division II level from NAIA. The Penn Hills senior wanted to be at a place where she felt comfortable. Being on campus in the city, plus building good chemistry with her teammates, was...
Brothers battle for top scores on Penn Hills fitness team
Bob Martini is happy the Penn Hills fitness team has a lot of intrasquad competition to push them to improve. However, the Indians also benefited from an inner-household battle to get the highest scores. Jadyn and Jacen Wright have been battling for the top spot on the Penn Hills physical...
Fox Chapel track gearing up for invitational season
Fox Chapel track coach Tom Moul enjoys having a few dual meets in the run-up to the major invitationals during the outdoor track season. The invite season traditionally kicks off at Butler High School, and that event will be April 19. In those dual meets, the Foxes boys and girls...
Fox Chapel notebook: With weather wrecking schedule, baseball, softball teams ready for anything
Rain is a fact of life for baseball and softball teams in the area. Nearly every year, the early part of the season is plagued by bad weather and difficulty finding facilities to play at. Even with more turf fields around, Fox Chapel senior Troy Susnack said the Foxes are...
Penn Hills seniors seek return to WPIAL softball playoffs
Missing out on the playoffs last season was a tough break for the Penn Hills softball team. The year before, the Indians had found a way back after a long hiatus from the playoffs. This group of seniors for Penn Hills is determined to get the program back on track...
Penn Hills notebook: Junior wrestlers capture state championship
The Penn Hills Junior Wrestling team claimed a championship at the Keystone State Championships in March. Logan Mutombo won the 61-pound weight class in the 6-and-under boys division. Mutombo beat Bald Eagle’s Rhett Rippey, 5-0, in the championship match. On the way to the finals, Mutombo had to collect three...
Versatile lineup helps Fox Chapel boys tennis to strong start
Ben Hallman didn’t want to coast during his senior season. When Hallman had the opportunity to compete for a singles spot with the Fox Chapel tennis team, he was happy to be locked into a competition with his fellow seniors for one of the three singles spots. Hallman, who previously...
