Ray Fisher stories, Page 29

Kiski Area girls tennis made some waves this season as the Cavaliers qualified for the WPIAL Class 3A team playoffs for the first time in more than a decade. “Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better season,” coach Trent Goerk said. “These were some of the best girls to...

Quaker Valley veteran girls volleyball coach Mike Vavrek knew his team was talented this season. The QV netters finished third in Section 4-2A with an 11-3 record behind only Avonworth (13-1) and Central Valley (12-2). “At the start of the season, I expected this team to work hard and improve...

Sewickley Academy was a PIAA finalist in boys golf for the seventh time in nine years. The Panthers took third place in Class 2A with a 322 team score, finishing behind Lake-Lehman (296) and Devon Prep (308). West Shamokin (327) and Delone Catholic (333) rounded out the top five teams...

The Freeport hockey program knows success. Although Freeport finished with an 8-10-0-1 record last season, the Yellowjackets racked up a 16-4 mark in 2020-21. Both teams corralled second place in the Varsity A Blue division, and the 2020-21 squad advanced to the semifinal round of the PIHL playoffs. Freeport was...

The Thomas Jefferson girls cross country team claimed the Big South Conference championship this season in a close race with Ringgold. Sparked by senior Kiley Dorrian’s overall winning time of 21:29.9, the Jaguars captured the title with a clutch 40-42 decision. “Our girls team put in the work to be...

Back-to-back. That’s been the theme of the Thomas Jefferson boys soccer season. The Jaguars won their second consecutive section championship with a near-perfect 13-1 record, fighting off a strong challenge from runner-up Bethel Park (11-3). “Up to this point, our team has been playing very well,” TJ coach Michael “Doc”...

One competes in volleyball in the fall; the other plays football. But there’s a connection between the two whether in the gym or on the gridiron. Thomas Jefferson juniors Eliah and Elias Lippincott are twins who celebrated their 17th birthdays in late August. “Elias and I have always been close,”...

Sewickley Academy’s boys golf team captured its 12th WPIAL title since 2006 in a thrilling sudden-death playoff with Belle Vernon. The district championship was the third won by the SA seniors. “It was an awesome day,” senior Joey Mucci said. “By far, it is my favorite WPIAL championship out of...

The Sewickley Academy boys soccer team finished in a tie with Eden Christian atop the Section 1-A standings this season. The teams split decisions this fall. SA won the first game Aug. 30 by a 2-1 score, then held possession of first place the rest of the season. Eden Christian...

Bethel Park’s football team was unranked and seemingly unnoticed at the start of the 2022 season. That’s now ancient history. The Black Hawks won seven of their first eight games to climb to No. 1 in Class 5A in the Trib HSSN High School Football rankings. The team was averaging...

Offseason workouts have paid big dividends for the Bethel Park boys soccer team. After losing their first three games of the season, the Black Hawks won 12 in a row and 13 of 14 to finish as the Section 3-3A runner-up with an 11-3 record. With one game remaining on...

It was a highly emotional and intense game, to say the least. Quaker Valley’s boys soccer team defeated rival Sewickley Academy, 3-1, behind junior midfielder Nick Allan in a nonsection matchup Oct. 4 at Quaker Valley. Allan netted two goals for the Quakers, who improved to 11-2 overall with their...

The building blocks appear to be in place. Hampton’s girls junior varsity tennis team racked up an impressive 11-2 record this season, offering hope for a firm playoff push by next year’s varsity squad. “The future looks great,” coach Milt Squires said. “The players are excited and are planning to...

Both have been involved in Quaker Valley soccer since their freshman season. Both have developed into accomplished high school athletes. They are vocal and determined but also can be humorous and quick-witted at times. The brother-sister duo of Isaac and Grace Waller are goalkeepers on the QV boys and girls...

Eva Bulger is a uniquely talented golfer. This season, the Quaker Valley senior became just the second girl in history to win four consecutive WPIAL titles. The left-handed hitting Bulger did so by defeating senior Claire Konieczny of Geibel by three strokes at the WPIAL Class 2A girls final round...

Quaker Valley’s girls volleyball team has been dominant in the first half of the season. The QV girls won seven of their first eight matches and all seven victories were by 3-0 scores. The Quakers stood in second place in Section 4-2A with a 5-1 record with their lone loss...

Quaker Valley and Sewickley Academy have dominated play in Section 9-2A boys golf this season. The defending section champion Quakers were 10-0 in the section and overall as of Sept. 27. Sewickley, which lost to QV twice, was 10-2 in league action and 14-6 overall. Nine members of the two...

Thomas Jefferson girls volleyball coach Ron Kelly didn’t shy away from offering his expectations for this year’s team. “I am looking forward to having a great season,” he said. “We will develop daily with hard work and should be a contender by year’s end. “We have an experienced group of...

Thomas Jefferson’s boys soccer team has been near unbeatable in 2022. The Jaguars racked up wins in eight of their first nine games and stood atop Section 3-3A with a sparkling 6-0 record, two games ahead of Trinity, Connellsville and Bethel Park. TJ outscored the opposition by a 26-5 overall...

Sewickley Academy’s Ashley Close took the first step toward what’s expected to be another compelling playoff run this season. Close defeated junior Chloe DeSanzo of Beaver, 6-1, 6-0, in the Section 4-2A finals Sept. 15 at Beaver High School. Close also beat Central Valley junior Rachel Hardek in the semifinals...

There was little if any doubt she’d be chosen. Quaker Vally senior Ellie Graham recently was named to the United States Rowing’s Class of 2023 Scholastic Honor Roll. It’s a prestigious honor. Each year, USRowing selects 100 students throughout the country who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements and success on...

Thomas Jefferson’s boys soccer team has been near unbeatable in 2022. The Jaguars racked up wins in eight of their first nine games and stood atop Section 3-3A with a sparkling 6-0 record, two games ahead of Trinity, Connellsville and Bethel Park. TJ outscored the opposition by a 26-5 overall...

Brooke Muraco is in her fifth season coaching the Bethel Park girls volleyball team. “It has always been a goal of mine since I was in high school to become an elementary teacher and a high school head volleyball coach,” Muraco said. “Two things I can proudly say I have...

The Bethel Park girls soccer team has climbed into WPIAL elite territory this season. The Black Hawks were ranked second in Class 4A in the Trib HSSN WPIAL girls soccer rankings for the week ending Sept. 18. Bethel Park started out 6-0 with five shutouts and 4-0 in Section 2...

Quaker Valley’s boys cross country team celebrated in style at the 20th annual Red, White & Blue Classic on Sept. 9 at White Oak Park. The Quakers zeroed in on third place with 132 team points, slightly behind first-place Hampton (121) and runner-up Blackhawk (131). Uniontown and North Catholic tied...