Ray Fisher stories, Page 18
After reaching PIAA tournament, expectations high for Quaker Valley girls volleyball
The Quaker Valley girls volleyball team is looking to hit the jackpot this season. “I’m looking forward to getting started with this group,” coach Mike Vavrek said. “It’s always fun to see the newer girls compete and work every day. As long as they continue to develop, I think we...
Quaker Valley to induct dominant 1968 football team into hall of fame
The 1967 football team was inducted into the Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. It is only appropriate for the 1968 squad to also receive HOF recognition. Quaker Valley’s talented 1968 football team will be honored for its achievements and inducted into the HOF. The QV Sports HOF...
Ahead of senior tennis season, Quaker Valley’s Kristen Close hosting empowering women program
A free program entitled “Empowering Women Around the World” will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Sewickley Valley YMCA Walter J. Brannon Community Center. MePower United of Sewickley, Women of the Cloud Forest of Pittsburgh and Local Women’s Handicraft of Nepal will present the program. Kirsten Close, Amy...
Loaded with experience, Bethel Park sets championship goals
Bethel Park was in the fight for first place all season in the Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference in 2023. Same as the previous year, the Black Hawks ended up tied for second with Upper St. Clair and Moon with a 3-2 record in conference play. Despite going 4-7 overall,...
Baldwin aims to change fortunes with turnaround season
Baldwin has not reached the football postseason since 2019. Since then, the Fighting Highlanders have generated records of 2-3, 2-8, 1-9 and 1-9. They are hoping they are able to change their fortunes on the gridiron this year, although it may prove to be an uphill climb. Dana Brown had...
New coach set to lead Sewickley Academy boys golf team
Sewickley Academy’s Severin Harmon is the reigning WPIAL Class 2A champion in boys tennis. He’d like to add another prestigious title to his resume this fall, joining Sewickley grads Jason Li (2015), J.F. Aber (2019) and Tim Fitzgerald (2020) as WPIAL individual golf champions. “Personally, my goal is to improve...
2002 champion girls track and field team to enter Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame
The Quaker Valley girls track and field team hit a grand slam in 2002, winning a fourth consecutive WPIAL team championship. And some of QV’s underclassmen would go on to capture three more WPIAL titles over the next five years. “The 2002 team was deep in talent, certainly with a...
Track teams highlight year filled with championship gold at Quaker Valley
Quaker Valley ended the 2023-24 school year with eight WPIAL champions in Class 2A, including two team, four individual and two relay titlists. “Every school year is unique in terms of accomplishments and this year’s strength was found in outstanding performances across the board from a majority of our teams,”...
Sophomore golfer eager for return of Sewickley Academy girls team for 2024 season
Emily Milanovich cannot wait for the fall sports season to begin. Milanovich will be a sophomore at Sewickley Academy in 2024-25 and looks forward to the opportunity to compete against other girls in the WPIAL this season. The 15-year-old golfer competed as a freshman with the boys team last year,...
After school’s 1st girls state title, Thomas Jefferson softball has summer to celebrate
It’s been a summer like no other for the Thomas Jefferson softball program. For the first time in the high school’s 65-year history, TJ has a state champion in a girls team sport. The WPIAL Class 5A runners-up Jaguars made an improbable run through the PIAA playoffs before attaining their...
Adventurous Baldwin softball alum to spend year in Thailand
Gemma Stypula has been dreaming of this trip for what seems like forever. She started to lay the foundation when she was 15 years old. Now, 17, the 2024 Brentwood graduate is only days away from seeing it become a reality. A four-year softball player at Brentwood, Stypula will be...
Baldwin grad making name for himself in sports broadcasting
There appears to be no limit to what Austin Bechtold can accomplish in his professional career. The 2019 Baldwin graduate is already climbing the ladder in the radio broadcasting field. Bechtold, 23, is a producer and part-time host at 93.7 The Fan. He has been putting in some long days...
Sewickley Herald notebook: Freshman makes all-section for Panthers lacrosse team
The Sewickley Academy boys lacrosse team was led in 2024 by freshman Nick Neavin, who was rewarded for his season-long efforts by being named first team all-section. Neavin was complemented by freshmen Eli Stephan and Jake Donesec, among others. Stephan and Donesec were second team all-section selections. There were no...
Bethel Park’s Ryan Petras wraps up highly decorated junior year
The postseason accolades have been pouring in for Bethel Park superstar athlete Ryan Petras. As a junior shortstop in 2024, Petras recently was named the Trib HSSN Class 5A Baseball Player of the Year. Petras overcame a wrist injury to hit .452 (33 for 73) this spring with one home...
Sewickley Academy restarts girls golf program
The girls golf program at Sewickley Academy has been revamped. It is one of eight new girls golf programs in the WPIAL, including five in Class 2A — Belle Vernon, Beaver, Ellwood City, North Catholic and SA. The three new teams in Class 3A are Latrobe, Plum and Trinity. “Sewickley...
Sewickley notebook: Quaker Valley’s Lucy Roig earns All-American honors
Quaker Valley’s standout lacrosse player, sophomore Lucy Roig, picked up another impressive postseason award. Along with being chosen All-WPIAL for a second time, the talented 5-foot-5 midfielder was tabbed as an All-American by USA Lacrosse. “I’m extremely grateful to be named an All-American,” Roig said. “I worked really hard this...
Sewickley Academy baseball overcomes obstacles to earn playoff berth
The Sewickley Academy baseball team produced a successful squeeze play in 2024 at the end of its section schedule. Sewickley won consecutive games against Clairton twice and Carlynton once down the season’s home stretch to clinch a WPIAL playoff berth in Section 3-A. The Panthers finished fourth in the section...
Quaker Valley announces hall of fame Class of 2024, induction weekend festivities
The 2024 Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame weekend will take place in October. Four former QV athletes, one current coach and two teams will be inducted into the hall of fame this year. The 2024 class consists of the following former athletes: 2013 graduate Spencer Caravaggio Granger (girls tennis),...
Eden Christian’s Caleb Emswiler caps memorable season with Class A player of the year honors
Caleb Emswiler capped an outstanding baseball career at Eden Christian Academy with a top individual honor. Emswiler, a talented senior pitcher/corner infielder, was named Class A player of the year by Trib HSSN following the 2024 postseason. The right-handed hurler led the Warriors to a section title and WPIAL and...
Thomas Jefferson’s state softball title capped special season in memory of former coach
The 2024 season is one players and coaches on the Thomas Jefferson softball team will never forget. For the first time in the 65-year history of the high school, there is a state champion at TJ in a girls team sport. Thomas Jefferson ended an improbable postseason run June 13...
Thomas Jefferson baseball team reflects on 2024 season
Thomas Jefferson’s baseball team started out 12-0 this year and ended the regular season with a 17-2 overall record. The Jaguars were ranked No. 2 in Class 4A and received the No. 2 seed for the WPIAL playoffs. After defeating No. 15 Ringgold, 11-3, and No. 7 Chartiers Valley, 4-3,...
Zach Wuenschell, Mia March earn Brentwood’s top senior athletes awards
Zach Wuenschell and Mia March have at least two things in common. The recent high school graduates received top billing at Brentwood after being recognized as the leading senior athletes for the Spartans in 2023-24. Oh yes, both also are 18 years old. Wuenschell was named as the Mark Reider...
Wrapping up the Thomas Jefferson, Baldwin boys volleyball seasons
The Thomas Jefferson boys volleyball team had high expectations and an elevated enthusiasm around the program for the 2024 season. Then, one of the Jaguars’ key starters, 6-foot-7 senior outside hitter William “Will” Stewart, suffered a wrist injury that sent the team scurrying to a lineup change on the eve...
Eden Christian baseball team primed for bright future
Eden Christian Academy’s baseball team finished as the Class A runner-up in the WPIAL and PIAA this spring. The Warriors, who reached the state finals for the second time in four years, finished 20-6 overall, 5-2 in the postseason and 12-0 in Section 3A. Great things appear to be on...
Fisher’s Files: Reflections on Jerry West and basketball Mt. Rushmore
The death of former NBA great Jerry West prompted some reflection on my part. West, a 12-time All-NBA selection at the guard position, was one of my all-time favorite basketball players. He enjoyed a legendary career both on the court and in the front office, and was well-respected around the...
