Josh Rizzo stories, Page 9
Latrobe’s Luke Willochell, Kiski Area’s Mark Gray help WPIAL to victory at Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic
Mark Gray didn’t want to be conquered by fatigue. But after a lifetime of bumps and bruises wrestling, competing for the WPIAL team at the Pennsylvania Wrestling Classic didn’t sound too enticing for the Kiski Area 189-pound senior. “I was just beat up, man,” Gray said. “My body wasn’t feeling...
Penn Hills notebook: Boys volleyball team shows competitiveness
The Penn Hills boys volleyball team has a team loaded with juniors and seniors. The Indians also have the benefit of having coach Will Piccolino back for his third season. Penn Hills is more capable of playing his system now. While the Indians dropped their first two matches of the...
Fox Chapel youth wrestler on championship track
Fox Chapel eighth grader Olympic Serrao has already shown the ability to learn from his mistakes. Serrao was disappointed with his results against Manheim Township’s Frank Leanza at the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling middle school championships. Serrao lost by technical fall, 20-5, to finish second at 132 pounds. When the two...
Veteran lineup has Fox Chapel boys tennis in section title race
The Fox Chapel boys tennis team has the luxury of having a roster filled with depth and experience. Other than Frank Siegel, the No. 3 singles player, everyone else on the varsity roster is a senior. That may make a big difference for the Foxes as they battle for first...
Penn Hills baseball looks for patience, confidence as program rebuilds
Joe Capobianco has never torn a baseball program down and built one back up before. The 1996 Penn Hills graduate is learning on the job with his alma mater. The Indians coach also admits that he may be learning things about himself. Penn Hills is off to an 0-4 start...
Saint Francis athletes, recruits left to ponder futures after school says it’s dropping to D-III
Montrell Johnson decided it was time to raise his grade point average. The Highlands senior spent a lot of time working to bring his average up to close to 3.0. When he verbally committed to play football at Saint Francis University last week, Johnson believed he had everything in place...
Penn Hills resident Emily Ruperto sets personal best at state swim meet
Emily Ruperto qualified for many events at the WPIAL Class 2A swimming championships. The Serra Catholic sophomore and Penn Hills resident chose the ones she felt most comfortable in. After qualifying for the PIAA meet in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, Ruperto also figured out what she wanted to...
Penn Hills’ Mike Ulyas helps Burrell hockey team reach PIHL Division 2 championship game
Mike Ulyas never felt like an outsider on the Burrell hockey team. The Penn Hills senior hopped onboard to play with a group that returned a lot of skaters who played for the PIHL’s Division 2 championship. “It feels like I was here last year even though I wasn’t,” Ulyas...
Burrell captures inaugural Division 2 Pennsylvania Challenge Cup
Burrell forward Luke Mink still feels the disappointment of not lifting a PIHL championship trophy. But the Buccaneers channeled their pent-up anger into performing well during the inaugural Division 2 Pennsylvania Challenge Cup on Saturday at RMU Island Sports Center. Mink scored two goals in the first period to help...
Relay team leads Shady Side Academy girls track squad into season with momentum
Jeff Perlis was eager to see his 3,200 meter relay team in action during the indoor season. The Shady Side Academy girls track and field coach knew the Bulldogs had the potential to have a strong team. The Bulldogs returned 75% of their starters — Charlotte Baker, Sarah Kushnir and...
Under new coach, Fox Chapel softball makes most of early season schedule
Larry Troutman hasn’t had to worry about some of the typical pratfalls that revolve around taking over a spring sports program. The first-year Fox Chapel softball coach has had excellent weather to get settled into the job. Following two years leading Leechburg, the Foxes’ new coach didn’t want to waste...
Resilient Shady Side Academy stops OLSH to reach state title game for 1st time
Karis Thomas leapt in the air and chest bumped a yelling Leah Buford in front of the Shady Side Academy bench as the time wound down Friday night at Fox Chapel. The Bulldogs’ junior guard and her teammates made adjustments on the fly to become a team capable of reaching...
Despite loss in Penguins Cup final, Burrell hockey team still has something to play for
Mike Morascyzk would have liked to lift the PIHL’s varsity Division 2 Penguins Cup championship trophy Tuesday night at UPMC Lemieux Complex. While the Buccaneers were denied making program history when Morgantown (W.Va.) picked up a 5-1 win, Burrell was comforted by having an opportunity to play in the first...
Morgantown beats Burrell in Division 2 finals, becomes 1st PIHL champ from West Virginia since 2011
Chantz Watkins can relate to the Burrell hockey team’s feelings following a 5-1 loss to Morgantown in the Penguins Cup Tuesday night at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. Watkins, a Buccaneers assistant coach, was on the ice for Burrell’s Division 2 Pens Cup loss to Neshannock the year before. Losing to...
Fox Chapel suffers heartbreaking overtime loss in Penguins Cup final
Tucker Cullen sat in the locker room Monday night at UPMC Lemieux Complex bawling next to Fox Chapel senior forward Dom Casile. Cullen, a sophomore, wanted to help Casile be a part of the first Foxes team to lift the PIHL’s Class 2A Penguins Cup. Cathedral Prep forward Ethan Cuningham...
Fox Chapel sees fruits of talent, coaching in lead-up to Pens Cup final
Ryan Loebig felt fortunate he didn’t have to build the Fox Chapel hockey program from the ground up. When Loebig took over before this season, his desire was to tinker with some small things to make the team more productive. The Foxes will see if that is enough to get...
Wightman family continues to make impact for Thiel women’s lacrosse
Thiel junior Hayden Wightman wasn’t sure she was even going to attend college. If Wightman did go, she wasn’t sure she wanted to follow the family tradition of playing lacrosse. While Wightman was in high school at Shaler Area, she didn’t play any varsity sports. But once her dad took...
Penn Hills notebook: Swimmers make improvements at WPIAL meet
The Penn Hills swim team recently competed at the WPIAL Class 3A championships at Trees Pool. While the Indians didn’t send anyone to Bucknell for the state championships, there was improvement throughout their lineup. Anthony Sipple placed 21st in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.76 seconds, which was...
Despite experienced lineup, Shaler softball remains work in progress
Even with nine starters returning, Shaler softball coach Tom Sorce was hesitant to describe exactly what this year’s team will be like. The Titans finished 15-4 last season and bowed out in the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals to Penn-Trafford. “We want to play one game at a time and get...
South Fayette controls Hollidaysburg in PIAA quarterfinals, earns rematch with Peters Township
South Fayette girls basketball coach Bryan Bennett always has the future in mind. The Lions work on some concepts that may not be employed for months, if ever. South Fayette showcased that Saturday during a 70-52 PIAA Class 5A quarterfinal against District 6 champion Hollidaysburg on Saturday at Armstrong High...
Aliquippa rolls past Forest Hills in PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals
Aliquippa guard Josh Pratt felt comfortable at the start of the PIAA Class 3A boys basketball quarterfinal Saturday against District 6 champion Forest Hills. Collectively, the Quips seemed businesslike in their approach. Aliquippa turned up the heat defensively from the opening whistle and cruised to a 73-34 win at Armstrong...
College offers piling up for Fox Chapel kicker
Harran Zureikat wants to give precise answers to questions about kicks. Anyone talking about the Fox Chapel junior kicker should be prepared for his thoughts to turn to game-like scenarios immediately. For example, ask him what the longest field goal he can make is, and he needs more details. “In...
Behind formidable pitching staff, Fox Chapel baseball expects big season
The Fox Chapel baseball team has the starting pitching to once again be in the mix for a section title. The Foxes hope the bats will follow. Fox Chapel’s rotation will be led by a one-two punch including West Virginia commit Blake Krushinski and Jeremy Haigh. “I think we have...
Early-season win over Morgantown gives Burrell confidence heading into Penguins Cup D2 final
The first meeting between Burrell and Morgantown (W.Va.) during the PIHL varsity Division 2 season seems like a long time ago. The Buccaneers went to Morgantown on Oct. 10 and rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to eke out a 6-5 win. Luke Mink scored the game-winner...
Burrell blasts past rival Deer Lakes in 3rd period to reach PIHL Division 2 finals
Jacob Rose lit the fire to the Burrell hockey team’s goal barrage 16 seconds into the third period. Once Rose’s breakaway effort found the back of the net, there was little Deer Lakes could do to wrestle back the momentum Thursday night at the RMU Island Sports Center. Julian Kemp...
