Josh Rizzo stories, Page 27
Unconventional coaching career leads former Fox Chapel soccer standout to hall of fame
Mike Babst made peace with being done with soccer more than once in his life. But circumstances kept the Davidson men’s soccer coach circling back to the game. When Babst took his first assistant coaching position at Washington & Lee in Lexington, Va., it was something he hardly scheduled. Babst,...
Penn Hills notebook: PH grad breaks school triple jump record
Penn Hills graduate Kemi Balogun was one of three Frostburg State athletes to earn all-region honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Balogun set the school record in the triple jump and went on to win the Mountain East Conference title. Balogun also had a...
Harry Jenkins, longtime Fox Chapel basketball coach, dies
Harry Jenkins’ time with Fox Chapel didn’t end when he stepped down as the boys varsity basketball coach in 2005. Jenkins wanted to find a way to keep the program moving forward and bring together players from different communities. Working with the school, Jenkins formed a four-team league for alumni...
Shaler notebook: Extreme sports athlete competes in Russian sky running event
Richard Burgunder III returned to competition this year and was one of the outsiders at the International Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race at Mount Elbrus, Russia. Burgunder, a 43-year-old Shaler native, was one of two Americans competing in the event. Following a seven-year layoff from competition, Burgunder placed 49th in...
Undefeated softball team highlights super spring at Shaler
Tom Sorce’s five-year plan is coming to fruition. The Shaler softball coach wanted to rebuild the program by starting from the youth program up. The Titans asked several former collegiate players to come and work with the middle school program. Not everyone was able to say yes — six or...
Penn Hills youth team wins street hockey national championship
Bradley Mazza’s trip to New Jersey provided some extra nerves. The Penn Hills Arsenal Penguins A team found itself in an unfamiliar position during the National Street Hockey Association tournament hosted by the Gloucester Township Hockey Alliance. Penn Hills was in overtime, fighting for a championship against the Marlton Chiefs....
Penn Hills notebook: Drew Schifino plans basketball camp
Drew Schifino enjoys that his family’s name has deep ties within the Penn Hills community. Schifino, who is the Indians’ all-time leading scorer with 2,320 points, went on to play at West Virginia collegiately and overseas professionally. Now, Schifino is prepping to watch his nephew, Indiana product Jalen Hood-Schifino, prep...
Fox Chapel notebook: Girls lacrosse, baseball teams open playoffs with win
The eighth-seeded Fox Chapel baseball team opened the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs on a winning note. The Foxes were able to take down Mars, 6-4, in a first-round game May 17. Fox Chapel pitcher Jeremy Haigh threw a complete game, striking out four batters to grab the win. Dom Cassol...
Fox Chapel girls soccer star learned life lessons during Hall of Fame career
Lily Feldman was eager to plot her own course after graduating from Fox Chapel High School in 2009. Instead of sticking with a program closer to home, Feldman ventured to Vermont to try her hand at living on her own and playing for the Catamounts’ women’s soccer program. “I think...
Penn Hills rugby team takes big step forward
Following several years of building the program from the ground up following the start of the pandemic, Big Red rugby coach Matt Rosemeyer got to see the fruits of his labor in 2023. The rugby team, which is a club sport, was able to get 23 players out for the...
Penn Hills notebook: Fitness team’s Jadyn Wright on winning streak
Jadyn Wright is providing new entries in the Penn Hills fitness team’s history book. Even longtime coach Bob Martini doesn’t recall having another athlete find this much success at meets. Wright recently won the BethPage Invitational on Long Island, N.Y. It was his third victory in as many meets this...
Hall of Famer’s running career took her from Fox Chapel to Franklin Field
Rachel Humphrey’s affection for distance running started thanks to her dad’s interest in the sport. The 2008 Fox Chapel graduate used her abilities in the sport to take her sporting career to the University of Pennsylvania. “My dad ran track and cross country in college,” Humphrey said. “I looked up...
Former Fox Chapel, Pitt distance runner Eric Burnett honored to join Foxes’ Sports Hall of Fame
Eric Burnett wasn’t an athlete who was highly coveted by the Pitt track program. Once Burnett found his way to Pitt, he attempted to walk on to the program twice before earning a spot on the cross country team as a senior. What kept Burnett, who was chosen as a...
Fox Chapel notebook: Hall of Fame class announced
Seven individuals and one team are being honored as part of the Class of 2023 for the Fox Chapel Area Schools Sports Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony and banquet are scheduled for June 3 at the Harmar House in Cheswick. The team being honored is the 1995-96 Fox Chapel...
Penn Hills notebook: Daemar Kelly earns all-state honors
Penn Hills guard Daemar Kelly was determined to finish his senior season with a WPIAL Class 5A championship in boys basketball. Kelly, who led Penn Hills in scoring, was able to help deliver that. As a result of the Indians’ success and Kelly’s achievement, the Indians were able to finish...
College coaches sing praises of Penn Hills junior lineman Kelsey Hundley
Being on stage doesn’t change much for Kelsey Hundley. The Penn Hills junior feels about as comfortable there as he does in football pads. After getting wrapped up in sports, Hundley had stepped away from the performing arts for a few years. He was convinced to get back into them...
Running a lifelong passion for Fox Chapel Hall of Famer
John Carroll University ended up being the perfect landing spot for Heather (Peltier) Melzer. The 1987 Fox Chapel graduate developed a love for distance running, which started with cross country and outdoor track in high school, that has stuck with her throughout her life. Melzer didn’t always feel like she...
Fox Chapel notebook: Hall of Fame class announced
Seven individuals and one team are being honored as part of the class of 2023 for the Fox Chapel Area Schools Sports Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony and banquet at scheduled for June 3 at the Harmar House in Cheswick. The team being honored is the 1995-96 Fox Chapel...
Penn Hills grad Yasmine Logan finding comfort, success at Ohio U
Building relationships and the ability to maintain them is something Yasmine Logan came by honestly. The 2020 Penn Hills graduate learned through life communication is easier when things are direct. When Logan went to Ohio University to play softball, not much changed about her approach. When things need to be...
Penn Hills grad heads south to continue college baseball career
Josh Zambito ventured up to the University of Maine for a semester, but didn’t find the right fit, so the 2021 Penn Hills graduate decided to hit the transfer portal. Zambito’s journey took him to Motlow State Junior College in Tennessee. After a strong fall, Zambito committed to Mississippi Valley...
Fox Chapel senior able to ‘relearn how to pitch,’ get team into playoff contention
Leading up to the Fox Chapel softball team’s season, Hunter Taylor knew the Foxes had a young roster and would need someone to step into the circle and do a lot of pitching. Despite primarily playing her first three seasons at shortstop, Taylor was asked to step back into the...
Fox Chapel senior reaches milestone, helps girls lacrosse team come together
Standing behind the goal provides Lindsay Scheffler with the right look at the field. The Fox Chapel senior girls lacrosse player is always looking for the best route to getting a shot on goal. Having developed the right vision has helped Scheffler knock down milestones. Scheffler recently topped the 100-goal...
Shaler sports help scholarship winner from Venezuela expand horizons
Alexandra Valentina Navas started learning how to speak English from Google Translate. Over a year-long process, Valentina Navas had many teachers, including Axl Rose. The Shaler senior moved to Etna from Venezuela in the sixth grade and quickly started learning how to adapt. Valentina Navas learned a new language by...
Penn Hills volleyball looks to build foundation with improved technique
Will Piccolino knows setting the standard for the Penn Hills boys volleyball program isn’t going to revolve around his players suddenly finishing highlight-reel kills. The Indians are in the process of laying the foundation for getting in position to make those types of plays possible. Penn Hills recently picked up...
Penn Hills senior relies on simple, effective approach on mound, at plate
Penn Hills senior pitcher/first baseman Kenny Boyle has a simple pitching philosophy. He’s a one-two-three guy: He throws a fastball, curveball and slider. When Boyle, who is committed to play at Penn State New Kensington, is on the field, he tries to pitch to contact. “It’s all about not walking...
