Ray Fisher stories, Page 37
Sewickley Academy girls basketball comes together during challenging season
After reaching the WPIAL semifinals the past two seasons, the Sewickley Academy girls basketball team hoped to make another strong run in the playoffs this year. But the SA girls team, much like the SA boys, had to replace five starters from 2020-21. The team finished sixth in Section 1-2A...
Second-half improvement makes tough season ‘enjoyable’ for Sewickley Academy boys
It was a rough year for Sewickley Academy basketball. SA’s boys team lost six of its last seven games to end up 3-13 overall and 1-8 in Section 1-2A. “Due to covid concerns, we had only two practices and no games for over two weeks,” SA coach Win Palmer said....
‘Undermanned’ Thomas Jefferson wrestling team finds ways to win
Heavy graduation losses deemed it a rebuilding year for the Thomas Jefferson wrestling team. The Jaguars scraped together a 4-1 section record and were 10-9 overall Feb. 9 following their 39-30 loss to Bethel Park. “Losing seven seniors has hurt us. The team has been undermanned all year,” TJ coach...
Baldwin, TJ, Brentwood boys make strides during playoff seasons
Here is a rundown on the 2021-22 regular season for boys basketball teams in the South Hills: Baldwin Baldwin junior James Wesling had a record-setting performance that was heard loud and clear around the WPIAL. Opposing players and coaches immediately took notice. A 6-foot-1 guard, Wesling connected for 48 points...
Bethel Park wrestlers look forward to individual postseason
Bethel Park’s wrestlers were hoping to make some noise in the postseason. Loud noise, if possible. “Individually, we’re looking forward for the postseason,” coach Tim Crawford said. “Our season has been going very well. We are happy to have made the WPIAL team tournament. We rebounded to beat Peters Township...
Bethel Park basketball teams power through ups, downs to earn playoff berths
Both teams at Bethel Park qualified for the WPIAL basketball playoffs. Here is a rundown of their 2021-22 regular seasons: Bethel Park girls Bethel Park’s girls team displayed significant improvement in the second half of the season. The Black Hawks won eight of their last 10 games to end up...
Clutch performances helped carry Quaker Valley to 1st WPIAL wrestling title
Patrick Cutchember ignited the engine; Justin Richey drove the Quakers over the finish line. Quaker Valley’s wrestling team won a decision that was noticed around the Western Pennsylvania, as well as the state. The Quakers, seeded third in Class 2A, edged 15-time defending champion Burrell, 30-28, on Jan. 5 at...
Quaker Valley swimmers hitting peak as WPIAL meet approaches
The Quaker Valley girls swim team opened the 2021-22 season with a nonsection loss at Northgate. Since then, the Quakers won six of seven meets to go to 6-2 overall. “The season has gone well and we are happy with where the teams are at right now,” coach John Nemeth...
Quaker Valley hockey rebounds from 3-game skid, looks forward to postseason
Quaker Valley’s hockey team stopped the bleeding. The Quakers ended a three-game losing streak by winning three of its last four games in January, skating past Wheeling Catholic, 9-3, Blackhawk, 4-1, and Chartiers Valley, 4-3, in a shootout. QV improved to 10-4 to maintain its firm grip on first place...
Led by high-scoring Vinnie Cugini, Aquinas Academy having historic season
Aquinas Academy’s boys basketball team has emerged on the WPIAL radar this season. Led by the prolific scoring of 6-foot-2 junior guard Vinnie Cugini, the Crusaders are one of the top teams in Class A. After jumping out to a 6-0 start that included winning their own tip-off tournament championship,...
Quaker Valley great Andy Wormsley inducted into Pittsburgh Basketball Club Hall of Fame
Andy Wormsley has added another prestigious honor to his hall-of-fame basketball career. The Quaker Valley and Westminster College graduate is a member of the sports hall of fame at both schools. He was inducted at Quaker Valley in 2012 and in the Titan Hall of Fame in 2010. On Feb....
Quaker Valley girls basketball team coming together in season’s home stretch
The Quaker Valley girls basketball team is resilient if nothing else. After a 4-4 start, the Quakers lost three straight section games but rebounded by winning their last six contests in January. Entering this month, the QV girls were 7-5 in Section 2-4A and 10-7 overall. “The team has shown...
Quaker Valley duo taking WPIAL by storm
Quaker Valley basketball players Adou Thiero and Markus Frank have established themselves as one of the top tandems in Western Pennsylvania. They are two of the premier players in the WPIAL. Both are 6-foot-5 and both are 1,000-point career scorers. As of Jan. 25, Thiero and Frank led QV to...
Assistant AD a driving force for Sewickley Academy sports
Heather Border and athletics go hand in hand. She has spent almost her entire life dedicated to sports, first as a three-sport athlete, then as a coach, and now as an administrator and coach. Border, 45, is the assistant athletic director at Sewickley Academy, a role that began in 2001....
Much improved from last season, Hampton boys basketball still has work to do
After treading water through the first half of their Section 4-5A basketball schedule, the Hampton Talbots were looking to make a big splash and strong playoff push down the season’s home stretch Hampton posted a 3-3 section record through mid-January, flip-flopping wins and losses against Plum, Highlands, Armstrong, Shaler, Indiana...
Rolling 300 game an ‘amazing feat’ for Greensburg Salem’s Luke Shevchik
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Greensburg Salem junior Luke Shevchik. Although, in hindsight, he hopes not. Shevchik tossed a perfect 300 game Jan. 7 at Main Bowling Center against section rival Latrobe, sparking the Golden Lions to a 7-0 victory. “As a coach it was a wonderful experience to...
Quaker Valley wrestling crowns pair of county champs
Quaker Valley wrestlers Mason Diemert and Jack Kazalas displayed their tenacity and mettle at the Allegheny County championships held Jan. 14-15 at Fox Chapel. Both won county titles in impressive fashion. Diemert, a senior, secured a pin in 1 minute, 49 seconds against Montour’s Aaron DeLuca in the 172-pound final...
Quaker Valley hockey looks to shake off midseason slump
It was an inauspicious start to the new year for the Quaker Valley hockey team. After reeling off nine consecutive victories in the first half of the season, QV dropped consecutive decisions to Moon, 5-1, North Catholic, 4-3, and North Hills, 4-3, in early January. The Quakers, nonetheless, maintained a...
Hitting 1,000-point milestone a dream come true for Thomas Jefferson’s Graci Fairman
It was a much-anticipated night at Thomas Jefferson. TJ hoopster Graci Fairman eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for career scoring Jan. 7 during her team’s 49-23 section win at home against Uniontown. The 5-foot-5 senior point guard connected on a trey from the corner early in the third quarter to become...
Baldwin, Brentwood boys basketball teams in playoff hunt
The Baldwin boys basketball team registered one of its biggest wins in recent memory, socking host Bethel Park, 86-66, on Jan. 18 in a pivotal Section 2-6A game. James Wesling, a 6-foot-1 sharp-shooting junior guard, was sensational for the Highlanders, pouring in a career-high 48 points. The Highlanders’ 20-point victory...
Fisher’s Files: Bethel Park athletic department, students deserve praise
Bethel Park athletics is a top-level organization. I have been covering high school sports for more than 40 years, mainly in South Hills communities, but one of the schools outside my coverage area was Bethel Park. Not anymore. The Bethel Park monthly is in its rookie season, and I’ve been...
Kernan leads way for improving Bethel Park wrestling team
Bethel Park’s Mason Kernan kept his sensational sophomore season intact at the Allegheny County championships held Jan. 14-15 at Fox Chapel. Kernan, competing at 120 pounds, captured a county title with a 6-5 win against Pine-Richland’s Dominic Ferraro in the championship bout. With the victory, Kernan extended his record this...
Depth, height help Bethel Park boys basketball to strong start
Bethel Park’s tall and talented boys basketball team made noise on the court early and often in the first half of the 2021-22 season. The Black Hawks won 10 of their first 11 games, including a 48-44 section victory Jan. 11 at home against Upper St. Clair. “Our greatest strength...
Burrell swimmers take aim at WPIAL qualifying times
The Burrell swim teams still are recovering from last year’s pandemic. “We are just happy to have a full season,” coach Samantha Callen said. “Last year was quite challenging. Our swimmers have been working extra hard to achieve the goals that were not met last year. This season is going...
Strong leaders have Sewickley Academy girls basketball on right track
Desirae Nance and Rinnie Jardini have something in common. Both lead by example. The two talented hoopsters led the Sewickley Academy girls basketball team to a successful 2-1 start in Section 1-2A this season. Sewickley coach Mark Gaither is highly appreciative of having Nance and Jardini in leadership roles on...
