Ray Fisher stories, Page 23
Senior guard Joe Coyle, Quaker Valley boys start season on right foot
Joe Coyle is back for his senior year in the Quaker Valley boys basketball program. And what a splash he made to start the season. A talented 6-foot-1 guard, Coyle was the Quakers’ leading scorer and a first-team all-section selection last year. Much is expected of him this season; he’s...
Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy athletics did you know?
Went up to the attic and pulled this column idea out of the dusty cedar chest: Did you know that? • Nora Hammond is a two-sport athlete at Quaker Valley, competing in girls volleyball and softball. A 5-foot-6 junior outside hitter, she was all-section selection and boasts a 4.22 GPA....
Senior 3-sport standout leads young Sewickley Academy girls basketball roster
Libby Eannarino is a preeminent three-sport standout at Sewickley Academy. She is a senior guard in basketball and a midfielder in lacrosse and soccer. SA’s second-year hoops coach Jill Capozzi sees big things for the 5-foot-9 Eannarino on the basketball floor in 2023-24. “Libby will play a huge leadership role...
Quaker Valley wrestling aims to reach new milestones
The strong just keep getting stronger. Quaker Valley’s wrestling team compiled a 15-6 record in 2022-23 that included a section title with a 6-0 mark. And the Quakers have eight wrestlers — including WPIAL Class 2A champion Jack Kazalas — back from last year’s winning group. “We expect to be...
Sophomore trio helps Quaker Valley hockey team to 8-0 start
Let’s tag them as sophomore sensations. Through two months of PIHL action, the Quaker Valley hockey team — led by an all-sophomore top line of Jace Vasbinder, Max Modrovich and Colin York — was undefeated at 8-0 in the Varsity A Gold Division. “Obviously, record-wise we are quite satisfied,” coach...
Thiero, Chapman hope to guide Quaker Valley girls basketball back to WPIAL playoffs
There will be several new players in the Quaker Valley girls basketball lineup this season. However, two returning starters will be instrumental to any success experienced by the team, which was placed fifth in Class 4A in the Trib HSSN preseason rankings. Oumou “Mimi” Thiero is a dynamic, 6-foot-4 sophomore...
Senior Laekyn Flinn sets standard for Thomas Jefferson girls basketball
One of the team leaders for the TJ girls basketball team is 5-foot-9 senior guard/forward Laekyn Flinn, who will continue her career after high school at Frostburg State. Frostburg State is a member of the NCAA Division II Mountain East Conference. “I chose Frostburg because it had everything to offer...
With 4 starters back, Thomas Jefferson boys poised for big season
Thomas Jefferson’s boys basketball team has experience on its side for 2023-24. “We have four out of the five starters back from last year and several good young players that need to step up for us,” coach Dom DeCicco said. “We expect to be competitive. “For us to have success,...
Behind veteran frontcourt, Brentwood girls in position to contend
The Brentwood girls basketball team’s recipe for success includes a little height mixed in with a solid dose of experience. Experience-wise, the Spartans have three returning starters in Mia March, Jessica Yee and Paige Boehm, along with last year’s top reserve, Ay’Maree Henry. As for frontcourt height, March is a...
Veteran Brentwood boys roster aiming for bounce-back season
The 2022-23 season was an anomaly for the Brentwood boys basketball program. A regular WPIAL playoff participant — Brentwood qualified for postseason action for a fifth consecutive season in 2021-22 — the Spartans sat out last year’s playoffs thanks to a 5-16 record and only minimal success against section opponents....
Baldwin boys making strides toward breakout season
Baldwin boys basketball wrapped up the 2022-23 season above .500 with a 12-11 record. The Highlanders lost a tough 80-75 decision to eventual WPIAL champion Central Catholic in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. Coach Jeff Ackerman and his players are expecting better results in 2023-24. “I think...
Lineup loaded with WPIAL qualifiers breeds confidence for Bethel Park wrestling
Nine members of the Bethel Park wrestling program have been WPIAL qualifiers in their careers. It’s an impressive list: Mason Kernan (139 pounds), Ethan Higgins (145), Landon Hartman (215), Jaden Palombine (107), Aiden Bench (127), Aden Stout (133), Hunter Goelz (172), Seth Miller (127) and Maksim Miller (160). A.J. Tomaino...
1st-year coach ushers in new era for Bethel Park girls basketball
There’s a new face on the bench and a new system on the floor. Steve Norman is in his first season coaching in the Bethel Park girls basketball program. “I’m really excited to be part of the Bethel Park program,” Norman said. “We expect to be very competitive in 6A....
Boasting lineup with size, experience, Bethel Park boys expect successful season
Height isn’t an issue for the Bethel Park boys basketball team. At least not when 6-foot-4 junior Tanner Pfeuffer and 6-6 senior Paul Digbeu are paired together in the frontcourt along with 6-3 senior forward Shawn Davis. “We want to continue building on what was started last season and continue...
Quaker Valley Wrestling Association building girls program from ground up
The Quaker Valley Wrestling Association appears to have a solid game plan. And QVWA has a prototype to follow off its own successful experience. “We are thrilled to be starting the youth team for girls this year,” president Jason Richey said. “In 2012, we started a boys youth team. It...
Karate instructor hits the road with Team USA
Sensei Dustin Baldis is a true world traveler. His latest adventure as he celebrated his 30th year representing the Team USA karate program took him to Saudi Arabia from Oct. 20-22, Hungary from Oct. 22-30 and Chile from Oct. 30-Nov. 5. “I was traveling (overseas) for three weeks solid,” Baldis...
Playoff season builds excitement for future of Quaker Valley girls soccer
Quaker Valley’s girls soccer team finished as a WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinalist this season. The Quakers ended up 11-6-1 overall after going 6-5-1 in Section 1. “Rachel and I couldn’t be prouder,” said Maggie Behun, QV’s co-head coach with Rachel Loudermilk. “These girls stepped to the plate and exceeded our...
Quaker Valley boys add to school’s soccer legacy with WPIAL, PIAA championship appearances
Quaker Valley boys soccer is one of the most renowned programs in WPIAL history, thanks to 10 WPIAL and nine PIAA championships. The Quakers have won the most state titles in soccer among WPIAL schools. And the program’s irrefutable reputation wasn’t tainted a bit in 2023 as the Panthers advanced...
Sewickley Academy girls tennis season highlighted by section title, state playoff berth
Sewickley Academy had little difficulty defeating District 5 champion Bedford in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A girls tennis playoffs. The Panthers, coached by the legendary Whitney Snyder, won by a 4-1 margin. It was a bit of a different outcome in Round 2, as Scranton Prep, the...
Sewickley Academy girls soccer makes playoffs with young roster, looks to bright future
The Sewickley Academy girls soccer team landed in the WPIAL playoffs once again in 2023. Coached by Dale Giovengo, Sewickley posted a 6-4 record in Section 3-A to end up third behind Freedom (10-0) and Eden Christian (7-3). The Panthers received the No. 11 seed for the postseason. “I am...
Quaker Valley athletes focus on sportsmanship at WPIAL summit
Quaker Valley athletics was in vogue at the 14th annual WPIAL Summit on Sportsmanship held Nov. 8 at the Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. More than 400 student-athletes from schools throughout Western Pennsylvania gathered at the event, which was presented by The Wilson Group and...
Thomas Jefferson’s Evan Berger, Zoe Krizan, Laekyn Flinn sign with college programs
The NCAA early signing day for high school athletes took place Nov. 8. Three students at Thomas Jefferson — seniors Evan Berger, Zoe Krizan and Laekyn Flinn — took advantage of the opportunity. Berger, a fourth-year starter in basketball for the Jaguars, signed with NCAA Division II Penn West Edinboro...
Despite loss in WPIAL quarterfinals, Thomas Jefferson had another statistically strong season
Thomas Jefferson and Aliquippa have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for 29 consecutive years. And that extraordinary streak remained intact for both teams in 2023. The Jaguars tied for second place with Trinity and Latrobe in the Class 4A Big Seven Conference this year and received a No. 6 seed...
Bethel Park girls tennis makes history during championship season
Expectations were soaring through the roof for the Bethel Park girls tennis team this year. And the Black Hawks jumped aboard the jet stream. Bethel Park won the first WPIAL team championship in school history, and the tandem of freshman Cami Fisher and senior Lily Sierka captured the first WPIAL...
Bethel Park football sets foundation for future, makes playoffs in successful season
The Bethel Park football team advanced to the WPIAL playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Black Hawks tied for second with Moon and Upper St. Clair in the Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference with a 3-2 record in league play. The Bethel Park gridders lost to defending WPIAL champion...
