Josh Rizzo stories, Page 4
With nod to past, Shady Side Academy boys soccer working to tighten up in future
Ed Ellsworth wants every group of Shady Side Academy boys soccer players to know that they have a strong support system in place. The goal is for the Bulldogs to become part of the pipeline once they move on in life. Ellsworth said Shady Side Academy had 12 alumni drop...
Old Dominion commit Emma DiRocco takes on multiple roles for young Fox Chapel volleyball team
Emma DiRocco feels most comfortable playing middle blocker. The 6-foot-2 senior for the Fox Chapel girls volleyball team is asked to do much more than that. DiRocco is the most experienced player on a Foxes’ roster that is filled with young players. During Fox Chapel’s Section 4-4A opening loss against...
Freshman ace fits right in on Fox Chapel tennis team
Zoey Liu feels fortunate to share a home with the sparring partner she has on the tennis court. Zoey, who is Fox Chapel’s No. 1 singles player as a freshman, will often play with her 11-year-old brother, Luca. “My dad used to hit with us a little bit,” Zoey said....
Kiski Area rally falls short as 1st-time varsity starting QB helps Gateway hang on
Gateway freshman quarterback Mayson Mitchell was hoping to lead a drive to close out a game. Instead, Mitchell saw a snap go over his head, forcing him to dive on the ball Friday night at Antimarino Stadium. While Mitchell, who was making his first varsity start, had ups and downs...
Highlands grad Julian Flenory applies lessons, wins MMA fight
Julian Flenory circled off the cage away from Jeremy Riley, trying to blink out the pain. Only moments into a heavyweight professional MMA fight Saturday at Sunny Days Arena, Riley had stung Flenory with a combination that made the Highlands graduate want to collect his thoughts. Instead of wading forward,...
With versatile veteran players, strong work ethic, Fox Chapel football off to solid start
The Fox Chapel football program has prided itself on its versatility since Dave Leasure took over. Max Melocchi and Nathan Johnson were both potential options at quarterback. But both were more focused on finding an opportunity to get on the field than worrying about what position came with that playing...
Amateur boxers get ready to rumble at Fox Chapel fight card
Jose Caraballo wants to find a way to keep amateur boxers busy and interested in pursuing the sport. The owner of the Ray Schafer Boxing Association in Sharpsburg is hoping his September event will provide another chance to give amateurs experience in the ring. The organization is planning to host...
Derry fights back for victory against host Deer Lakes
Noah Stough catching an 11-yard touchdown pass with 7 seconds remaining was a shining example of what Derry football coach Mike Arone knew all week. The Trojans long ago put behind them the 43-point beatdown against Freeport last week, enabling them to score a dramatic win on the road against...
Pitt women’s volleyball team sweeps Arizona State at PPG Paints Arena
Pitt women’s volleyball setter Brooke Mosher got the go-ahead from coach Dan Fisher to utilize her jump serve against Arizona State on Monday during the State Farm Volleyball Showcase at PPG Paints Arena. The Panthers senior wasn’t excited that she was asked to use a float serve Sunday against TCU....
‘Each moment matters’: Pitt rebounds to top TCU in volleyball showcase at PPG Paints Arena
The Pitt women’s volleyball team is working on recapturing its ruthless nature that took the Panthers to the national semifinals of the previous four NCAA Division I tournaments. Redshirt junior middle blocker Bre Kelley said Pitt is figuring things out. The No. 3 Panthers beat No. 25 TCU, 3-1 (25-23,...
Riverview settles down, pulls away for shutout victory over Valley
Kaden Levy thinks the Riverview football team’s offense can execute a myriad of plays well. It took the Raiders nearly 24 minutes to figure out which strategy worked the best against Valley. Riverview expanded its playbook Saturday at Riverside Park and found enough punch to pull away for a 35-0...
Shady Side Academy’s Cassie Sauer shakes off injury, makes college choice
The simple explanation for why Shady Side Academy senior Cassie Sauer’s basketball season ended last year was that she fractured her hip. A more complicated explanation of a “freak accident” paints a more complex picture. “The injury itself was terrible,” said Sauer, who is 6-foot-2. “It was a misstep that...
Shady Side Academy girls soccer leaning on strong senior captains, promising young talent
The Shady Side Academy girls soccer team is managing a roster that isn’t the deepest in program history. The Bulldogs have 17 players, and coach Mary Lynch will be faced with the task of make sure everyone can get some rest. The roster limitations haven’t hampered what the Bulldogs believe...
Fox Chapel Herald notebook: Shady Side Academy football coach wins dramatic debut
Andrew Geisler wanted to restore the reputation of the Shady Side Academy football program to be one that made a name off its grit. During Geisler’s first game as the varsity coach, the Bulldogs made their mark against Greensburg Central Catholic. After the Bulldogs fell behind by two scores, Shady...
Shady Side Academy steps on gas, beats Burrell
Javon Johnston made waves this summer by winning the triple jump in the freshman division at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. The Shady Side Academy sophomore quarterback is quickly adding items on the gridiron for what will be a diverse athletic resume. After leading a come-from-behind win over Greensburg Central...
After learning the hard way, heavyweight from Highlands ready to main event MMA card
Julian Flenory thought his game plan would end with his hand getting raised during his professional MMA debut last February. But the Highlands graduate got caught up in the moment at Mountaineer Casino Resort. Nelson Best caught Flenory with a left hook, earning a stoppage 74 seconds into their heavyweight...
Medal collection growing for 10-year-old Penn Hills sprinter
Kaleah Young started running on the Future Stars Athletic summer track team when she was 6. Now 10, the Penn Hills resident was always interested in going fast. Kaleah was naturally drawn to the sprints and short distance events, and she will be interested in stacking medals after a strong...
Penn Hills soccer teams optimistic about building process
Penn Hills junior Freddy Takou feels a different vibe during preseason practices than he did a year ago. The Indians played a lot of young players last year and they took their lumps in Section 1-4A. Takou, who transferred into the program from Obama Academy, said he thinks the experience...
Riverview overcomes mistakes to beat Beth-Center in opener
If the Riverview football program spent much more time trying to dig holes Saturday at Riverside Park, it might have bored a tunnel under the Allegheny River to Freeport Road. The Raiders shook off six turnovers to grab a 34-19 season-opening win against Beth-Center. Riverview not getting overwhelmed by mistakes...
Fox Chapel girls soccer faces new challenges, sets same championship goals
Fox Chapel girls soccer coach Carlo Prati spent the preseason searching for the right combination of players. With the environment the program has created, Prati believes the solutions will eventually work themselves out on the field. Fox Chapel reached the WPIAL Class 3A final last season but fell 4-0 to...
Shady Side Academy girls cross country team ready to put in hard work
Shady Side Academy girls cross country coach Jeff Perlis always wants to see his athletes excel in the psychology of races. During a cross country race, Perlis believes it is possible to prepare for nearly all of the scenarios the athletes will run into. “This is the mentality I try...
Fox Chapel Herald notebook: Shady Side Academy grad Skyy Moore dealt to 49ers
Shady Side Academy graduate Skyy Moore was traded to the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 20. The former Bulldog spent his first three seasons in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning Super Bowl championships in 2022 and 2023. Moore’s best production as a professional came during his rookie...
Fox Chapel cross country teams boast deep, talented lineups
The Fox Chapel girls cross country team isn’t going to be at a loss for depth this season. The Foxes will have a strong duo at the top — Cecilia Ressler and Ella Shevchuk are returning state qualifiers — that will be backed up by a group of athletes hoping...
New coordinator has Plum offense humming in victory over Franklin Regional
Plum junior quarterback John Nonnenberg believed in offensive coordinator Marty Steele. That’s why Nonnenberg didn’t fret when the Mustangs didn’t touch the ball for nearly nine minutes after halftime as Franklin Regional shaved its deficit from 21 points to eight. When Taivon Rupert and the defense gave the ball back...
Clairton ready to hit new gear, return to top of WPIAL mountain
Clairton senior quarterback Jeffrey Thompson wants to carve out his own space in the football program’s long record book. He thought last season was going to be the moment when the Bears climbed back on top of the WPIAL mountain. However, Thompson suffered a shoulder injury in the playoffs and...
