Ray Fisher stories, Page 13
Thomas Jefferson players reflect on school’s 11th WPIAL football championship
One for the other thumb? Definitely. Distinguished coach Bill Cherpak led the Thomas Jefferson football team to the apex of the WPIAL Class 4A mountaintop this season. The No. 1-seeded Jaguars defeated newly anointed rival and No. 3 seed McKeesport, 28-7, on Nov. 16 at Norwin to give Cherpak his...
Despite abrupt end, Thomas Jefferson piled up highlights during boys soccer season
The Thomas Jefferson boys soccer team lost its first game of the 2024 season in double overtime. The Jaguars did not lose another one in the regular season in ringing up a 10-1-3 record in Section 2-3A. TJ earned the section championship — its third in four years — ahead...
Thomas Jefferson boys planning encore after successful season
The Thomas Jefferson boys basketball team has a tough act to follow in 2024-25. Last year’s team enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history as the Jaguars advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A semifinal round and racked up a 21-6 record. “Our kids did everything I asked,” coach...
Bethel Park notebook: Coach enjoying middle school experience
Did you know that Bethel Park girls middle school volleyball coach Adam Foote is a social studies teacher at Baldwin High School? “I’ve been coaching girls middle school volleyball at Bethel Park the past three seasons and last year coached the boys JV team,” said Foote, who formerly coached volleyball...
With 11 returning starters, Bethel Park wrestling has high expectations
Bethel Park’s wrestling team advanced to the WPIAL semifinals last year and finished with an impressive 19-3 record. The Black Hawks placed fourth in Class 3A in the Trib HSSN final rankings after defeating North Hills, 39-15, and North Allegheny, 26-19, in the first two rounds of the WPIAL tournament....
Sadie Orie, Ella Sabatos return to lead Bethel Park girls basketball
The players on the Bethel Park girls basketball team are legitimate gym rats. That’s a positive thing. Bethel Park second-year coach Steve Norman has enjoyed watching the dedication displayed by the girls on the 2024-25 team. “We’re going to be much younger than last year,” Norman said, “but we’ve had...
QB Tanner Pfeuffer wraps up Bethel Park career with super senior season
Tanner Pfeuffer eclipsed 6,000 yards passing in a distinguished three-year career as Bethel Park’s starting quarterback. The 6-foot-6, 195-pound senior completed 156 of 260 tosses for 2,656 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2024, giving him 6,044 yards and 66 TDs in his career. “I am super happy what our team...
Under new coach, Bethel Park boys hope to build on playoff momentum
Dante Calabria coached the Bethel Park boys basketball team for two years. In July, Calabria informed his players and the Bethel Park School District that he was resigning to take a position as head coach of Pistoia Basket 2000 of the Lega Basket Serie A in Europe. Calabria is a...
Young Sewickley Academy girls roster has plenty of potential
No fewer than 14 players on the Sewickley Academy girls basketball team this season are underclassmen. Sewickley’s third-year coach Jill Capozzi is unfazed. “After only six practices, I can see the effort of this very young squad,” Capozzi said. “We will take it one game at a time and give...
In 1st season as Sewickley Academy boys coach, Mike Iuzzolino likes team’s competitive drive
Mike Iuzzolino is head coach of the Sewickley Academy boys basketball team. To basketball fans, his name rings a bell. Iuzzolino played college basketball at Penn State and St. Francis (Pa.). He competed scholastically at Altoona and was a high school teammate of Doug West, who went on to have...
Quaker Valley wrestling has growing roster, championship goals
The Quaker Valley wrestling program keeps winning — and growing. “This is the biggest roster we’ve had in program history with 24 wrestlers,” QV coach Austin Heinl said. The leaders of the pack are the returning starters, which consist of seniors Jack Diemert (160 pounds), Marcus Richey (172) and Sebastian...
Quaker Valley girls soccer builds legacy in WPIAL championship season
A soccer legacy has been initiated in the Quaker Valley girls soccer program. It was actually kicked off four years ago when Rachel Loudermilk and Maggie Behun took over as co-head coaches, but the legacy took a giant leap in 2024. “We are so proud of the girls and what...
Quaker Valley girls build team around dynamic Mimi Thiero
She’s an attention-getter, for sure. Mimi Thiero is a 6-foot-4 junior guard/forward and third-year starter on the Quaker Valley girls basketball team. “When you have a dynamic player like Mimi, you know that she will get a lot of attention every night,” QV coach Ken Johns said. “I really like...
Quaker Valley boys plan to mix youth, experience to earn another playoff trip
The recipe for success for the Quaker Valley boys basketball team in 2024-25 appears to be a substantial blend of youth and experience. The Quakers’ master chef is veteran floor boss Mike Mastroianni. “We have a unique mix as we are still a very young team but have a good...
Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy athletes proud to be chosen for WPIAL Sportsmanship Summit
The 15th annual WPIAL Summit on Sportsmanship took place Nov. 13 at the Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. Student-athletes from the schools in attendance listened to keystone speakers discuss topics related to the importance of sportsmanship in athletics, and the league recognized Cornell and Moon,...
Sewickley Herald notebook: Quaker Valley girls soccer honors supporters
Quaker Valley’s girls soccer team finished with a splendid 19-3-2 overall record in 2024 that included a 6-1 mark in the postseason. The Quakers ran the table at 4-0 in winning the WPIAL Class 2A championship, then went 2-1 in the PIAA playoffs to reach the state’s final four. “Throughout...
Quaker Valley stands atop PIHL Class A after sizzling start
Quaker Valley has jumped to the top of the PIHL gold division as well as the entire Class A thanks to its early 8-0 record. The Quakers racked up 56 goals while allowing just six. “I have been pleased with our start,” QV coach Kevin Quinn said. “We have played...
WPIAL champion Quaker Valley girls see season end in state semifinals
The Quaker Valley girls soccer team gave up just one goal in three PIAA Class 2A playoff games. But the second-half tally by Erie Cathedral Prep cost the Quakers a chance to participate in the state championship game. Instead, Cathedral Prep advanced to the finals thanks to its 1-0 victory...
Eden Christian rower taking talents to Syracuse
It appears Eden Christian Academy senior Grant Brauer has the ideal build to begin his college rowing career next year. Brauer, 17, will take his 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame to upstate New York in 2025 as a freshman member of the Syracuse men’s rowing team. “Yes, I am a very good...
Thomas Jefferson puts up big numbers en route to WPIAL championship game
The numbers just kept piling up for the Thomas Jefferson football team this season. The top-seeded Jaguars took a perfect 12-0 record into the WPIAL Class 4A championship game with former conference rival McKeesport, the No. 3 seed. And TJ’s legendary Bill Cherpak was going for his 10th district championship...
Baldwin volleyball teammates taking talents to Pitt-Johnstown
Baldwin seniors Avery Barrett and Kaylee Smolko hardly could wait for Nov. 13 to finally arrive. Both were scheduled to officially commit that day to Pitt-Johnstown where they will continue their athletic and academic careers. They were the only two seniors on the Baldwin girls volleyball team in 2024. “I...
Quaker Valley cross country champ sets standard for siblings
Cecilia Montagnese’s high school legacy in cross country is firmly in place. The Quaker Valley senior was the gold medalist at the WPIAL Class 2A girls individual championship race Oct. 24 at White Oak Park in McKeesport. Montagnese’s time was a career-best 17.56.2 as she ran at a 5:46 mile...
Mother-daughter WPIAL champs show soccer’s hold on Quaker Valley
The groundwork for the 2024 Quaker Valley girls WPIAL Class 2A soccer championship was laid back in 1991-92. Maybe even earlier. “Soccer runs deep in Sewickley,” said 1994 QV graduate Ashley Miko. “Most of the girls and boys grew up playing Sewickley Area Soccer, which has been around for 50...
‘Pride and joy:’ Quaker Valley girls soccer revels in 1st WPIAL title in 32 years
Lily Baker is only a freshman at Quaker Valley, but she played like a savvy veteran in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game. Baker knocked in the shot that gave the QV girls soccer team its first WPIAL crown in 32 years. The No. 2-seed Quakers hung on to beat...
Fisher’s Files: Quaker Valley adds to haul to trophy case during fall season to remember
Mike Mastroianni, athletic director at Quaker Valley, undoubtedly had an extra-wide smile on his face on the first weekend in November. And no, it wasn’t because he was counting down the hours to Election Day. Mastroianni was gleeful over the performances of so many of the Quaker Valley athletes and...
