Josh Rizzo stories, Page 33
With eye on turning pro, Shaler grad grows golf game at University of Findlay
Dominic Guarnieri knows what to expect when he pulls up to the Beall Oilers Golf Center on the University of Findlay’s campus. If the weather is poor, with a 40-degree temperature, winds blowing and the rain pouring down, the Oilers’ men’s golf coach can expect to see Tanner Grzegorczyk working...
Penn Hills notebook: Golfer Lucy Brayton reaches state tournament goal
Lucy Brayton accomplished her goal of being the first Penn Hills golfer in over a decade to compete at the PIAA Class 3A golf championships at Penn State Unviersity’s White Course earlier this month. What Brayton proved at PIAAs that she was able to bounce back. After shooting a first-round...
Penn Hills girls soccer looks to build numbers after taxing season
Caroline McDevitt didn’t find the prospect of ironwoman soccer too taxing. When it comes to playing for the Penn Hills girls soccer program, McDevitt has become accustomed to having to play many minutes. The Indians, who finished the season 4-14 overall and 1-11 in Section 3-3A, couldn’t quite muster up...
Diabetes doesn’t stop Apollo youth Sloan Olbeter in quest for boxing success
Sloan Olbeter climbing between the ropes and squaring up with his opponents in the boxing ring is his choice. At first, the 12-year-old Apollo resident wasn’t sure. Olbeter’s first trip to the Sanctuary Boxing Club in New Kensington was at his mom’s insistence. “Honestly, my mom kind of forced me,”...
Cal (Pa.) coach, receiver have Penn Hills family ties
Sixty-six miles of a roundtrip drive from his home in North Versailles to the Cal (Pa.) campus didn’t deter Brian Tarrant from grabbing an opportunity. After serving as a Penn Hills coach under Jon LeDonne, Tarrant had initially planned to follow LeDonne to Pine-Richland when LeDonne took the job with...
Penn Hills notebook: Girls soccer team finds new section daunting
This season, section realignment wasn’t kind to the Penn Hills girls soccer team. With some of the added powers from the East suburbs coming into the picture, the Indians had difficulty keeping up. However, Penn Hills has found a way to pick up a few wins down the stretch. Goals...
Mt. Lebanon’s Mia Bhuta becomes 1st woman of Indian descent to play in World Cup for U.S. Soccer
Mia Bhuta’s family shut down the stadium at the Women’s U17 World Cup Tuesday in Bhubaneswar, India. Bhuta, a Mt. Lebanon native, made history by becoming the first woman of Indian descent to appear in a World Cup game for U.S. Soccer. Playing in her father’s home country, Bhuta pocketed...
Position changes help Penn Hills volleyball get into WPIAL playoff hunt
The Penn Hills girls volleyball team played most of the season with a lineup coach Jay Mitlo felt was creative. During the past few matches, however, the Indians have shifted their approach. Switching setters from Ava Adamski to Sarah Miller has Penn Hills in more traditional 5-1 formation. “We came...
After cutting it close on the tee, Penn Hills’ Lucy Brayton earns spot in PIAA field
Lucy Brayton received no practice swings, little time to relax on the putting green or time to find her focus. When Brayton’s mom pulled up in front of the first tee at Valley Brook Country Club, Lucy only had time to hop out, grab her clubs and head over to...
Penn Hills notebook: Lucy Brayton plays her way into WPIAL girls golf final round
Penn Hills senior Lucy Brayton earned a spot in the WPIAL Class 3A girls golf championship at Valleybrook Country Club. Brayton shot an 83 in the first round Sept. 26 at Youghigheny County Club to sit in sixth place heading into the final round at Valleybrook Country Club on Monday,...
Junior embraces competition, camaraderie of cross country
Sawyer Kinney can usually see the people he races against are feeling what he is feeling. After crossing the finish line, Kinney sees, and emphasizes with, the suffering. The Penn Hills junior cross country runner feels those moments are what build camaraderie in the sport. “I love cross country and...
After growing up in program, Lola Abraham becomes Riverview’s all-time leading scorer
When Nikki Polens went down for a pushup, Lola Abraham was clinging to her back. When Polens did situps, Abraham would be sitting on her stomach. Lola’s dad Sean Abraham coached Riverview’s junior high team and was an assistant for the Raiders varsity squad when Polens went through the program....
Shaler volleyball looks to continue success against new section opponents
Annie Bozzo was pleased to have a fresh start when taking over the Shaler girls volleyball program. The Titans, who lost six seniors from a team that finished 17-3 and made the PIAA Class 4A semifinals last season, were moved into a new section in realignment. Instead of being in...
With Haley Kostorick back, Shaler girls soccer has new enthusiasm
A year off has served Shaler soccer player Haley Kostorick well. Reinvigorated by time off to focus on basketball, the Clarion commit decided she wanted to give soccer another go during her senior season. “It was a last-minute decision,” Kostorick said. “I went up to Clarion, loved it there and...
Dedication pays off for Penn Hills’ Daemar Kelly with commitment to Quinnipiac
The transformation of Penn Hills senior guard Daemar Kelly wasn’t something that happened overnight. Long days and nights in the gym allowed the 6-foot-5 Indians senior guard to slowly progress into being a strong all-around basketball player. Kelly made his college choice last week, selecting Quinnipiac over Rider, Robert Morris...
Penn Hills heats up behind strong play from offensive, defensive lines
By the second half of a Week Zero loss to Seneca Valley, the Penn Hills football team appeared to be putting everything together. The Indians were running the ball better and thought they would be primed to succeed in short order. The Indians reeled off three straight wins — including...
Crossfit competitors value camaraderie at 13th annual Patriot Brawl
Sonny Litwiler doesn’t give himself the excuse of not being able to do his Crossfit training. Since classes run all day, the Northern Regional Police Officer can always find time for a workout. Due to the nature of shift work, Litwiler also usually can count on someone else holding him...
Multi-sport athlete holds her own at No. 1 singles on Penn Hills tennis team
Talia Russell knows when she glances across the net at her opponent on the tennis court, every match will be a challenge. Russell, who is a senior and the Penn Hills girls tennis team’s No. 1 singles player, doesn’t have nearly as much experience as many of her opponents. “It’s...
Penn Hills notebook: Girls soccer team learning on job
Inexperience has made the early season difficult for the Penn Hills girls soccer team. The Indians had to drop right into the snakepit that is WPIAL Section 3-3A play without any nonsection games to warm up. The Indians, who lost 7-0 to three-time defending WPIAL runner-up Plum on Wednesday night...
Penn Hills girls tennis team welcomes tough competition
Life isn’t easy for any Penn Hills girls tennis player taking over the No. 1 singles spot. With a team often as inexperienced as the Indians tend to be, there are a lot of potential pitfalls in a section with several deep teams. Talia Russell has stepped into that role...
Penn Hills boys soccer looking to stay on even keel
Entering a season with high expectations has the Penn Hills boys soccer team trying to reign in its emotions in the early going. The Indians were scheduled to enter a Section 3-3A match with Penn-Trafford last Thursday missing two of their top attacking players, neither due to injuries. Penn Hills...
Penn Hills notebook: Te’Shan Campbell joins coaching staff at Michigan State
Former Penn Hills wrestler Te’Shan Campbell will once again be involved with collegiate wrestling. Campbell, a 2015 PIAA champion at 170 pounds with the Indians, will join Michigan State’s coaching staff as a volunteer assistant. “Te’Shan brings a lot of experience as a competitor and as a coach,” Michigan State...
Penn Hills working out kinks in early part of season
Penn Hills kicker Owen Williams did what he had to do when a snap went sailing over his head during the Indians’ season opener Aug. 26 at NexTier Stadium. With less than 10 seconds left before halftime, Williams booted the football off the ground and through the back of the...
With experienced roster, Penn Hills volleyball ready to shake things up
The makeup of the Penn Hills girls volleyball team has Jay Mitlo approaching the upcoming season differently than in seasons past. Mitlo, who is in his 25th season as head coach, will be mixing and matching his lineups throughout the season. That versatility will allow him to have girls serve...
New Penn Hills girls soccer coach looks to keep pushing forward
Myron Cook is excited about the challenge in front of him. The longtime assistant coach of the Penn Hills girls soccer program is moving into the top job at a time when the program is trending in an upward direction. The challenge for Cook, who was an assistant coach for...
