Ted Sarneso stories, Page 10
Yough moves to Class 3A where old rivals await
When the WPIAL released the new conference alignments for the 2024 football season in February, there were a lot of changes with teams switching conferences or moving up or down in classification. The Yough Cougars are one of the teams moving up this year from Class 2A to 3A, and...
Cutrell overcomes shaky start to capture title at Westmoreland County Senior Amateur
It was another close finish to the Westmoreland County Golf Association’s Senior Championship on Wednesday at Latrobe Country Club. Arnie Cutrell had a three-shot lead over 2023 champion Sean Knapp heading into the nine-hole third round and was clinging to a one-shot lead as they made their way to the...
Bushy Run Legion team loses 1st game at state tourney
Sometimes, all it takes is one hit or one pitch to win or lose a game. For the Bushy Run American Legion baseball team, it was one bad inning. Quakertown (26-2) scored 11 runs on nine hits in the top of the third inning to defeat the Beavers (21-5), 11-6,...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Burrell’s Allison Smola
In last year’s PIAA track and field championships, Burrell’s Allison Smola got hurt in the preliminaries for the 100 hurdles. This year, she was looking for redemption and it started with her offseason training. “I know she did a lot of lifting at the local gym, and that was her...
PIHL girls division’s 3rd season highlighted by more teams, close games
Expansion and parity were the name of the game for the PIHL Girls Division in the league’s third year of existence. The popularity of girls hockey in the area had grown so much that two new teams were added — the South and Northwest squads — bringing the total number...
Upper St. Clair classmates provide heroics in 3rd PIHL girls championship game
In the third annual PIHL hockey girls division championship game, the Southwest and West teams played a close game to the very end. With 37 seconds left in regulation, Southwest forward Kayla McCarthy scored the game-winning goal and senior Alexa Carney added an empty net goal with eight seconds left...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Highlands’ Kyan Chambers
Highlands senior high jumper Kyan Chambers wants to leave high school knowing he’s made an impact. One way he’s left his mark is how he’s coached and given pointers to the other jumpers. “That’s Coach Kyan right there,” Highlands track and field coach Mike Foster said. “It’s not just our...
Mohawk’s bats come alive in WPIAL Class 3A championship victory over South Park
Going into the WPIAL Class 3A championship game at Lilley Field at Cal (Pa.), Mohawk knew it needed to be ready to face the most dominating pitcher in 3A. The Warriors were well-prepared, having been in the cage since immediately after their semifinal win against Avonworth. With the postponement of...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Freeport’s Abby DeJidas
Freeport senior shortstop Abby DeJidas was not pleased with her performance in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. “I felt I could have had more hits,” DeJidas said. “I had two strikeouts. I was upset about those because it’s rare for me to strike out.” Perhaps DeJidas is her own worst...
Rain Athletics’ Aqua cheer team captures 2nd straight world championship
In 2013, Caleigh Epolito, Jacob Parker and Jordan Thomas needed a name for a competitive cheer gym they were opening in McKeesport. They came up with Rain Athletics and based the name off an inside joke. “We realized anytime something good was happening in life, we always made the joke...
Undefeated Mars boys volleyball beats Armstrong to reach WPIAL championship goal
Coming into the season, the Mars boys volleyball team had a goal of going undefeated and winning a WPIAL championship. On Friday night, the top-seeded Fightin’ Planets accomplished their goal with a 3-0 sweep of No. 6 Armstrong in the Class 2A title match at AHN Arena at Peters Township....
In another ‘slugfest’ between rivals, Shaler tops North Allegheny to repeat as WPIAL boys volleyball champs
When they met in the regular season, top-seeded Shaler and No. 2 North Allegheny split a pair of matchups. When they squared off in the WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball finals Thursday at AHN Arena at Peters Township High School, they battled all night. When it all was over, the...
Unstoppable Mars wins 8th straight WPIAL boys lacrosse championship
There’s no stopping the offensive onslaught once Mars starts rolling. Once the Fightin’ Planets get up on a team, they don’t let off the pedal. In a rematch of last year’s championship game, Mars cruised to a 16-5 victory Wednesday over South Fayette in the Class 2A finals at Joe...
Burrell wins pitchers’ duel with Neshannock in Class 3A quarterfinals
In their WPIAL Class 3A first-round games, Burrell and Neshannock scored six runs apiece and manufactured runs by stealing bases. The Bucs swiped six, and the Lancers stole five. In the quarterfinal matchup, neither team had many runners as the top pitcher for each squad was on the mound. Burrell...
Plum senior Rayla Smith sets near unbreakable school record for goals
Senior Rayla Smith set the all-time goals record for Plum girls lacrosse last season and has added to her total. The record of 179 goals was set by Plum graduate Sam Casile in 2010. Going into last season, Smith had 121 goals and went on to lead the team with...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Burrell’s AJ McLafferty
Stealing bases is a small chess match in the middle of a baseball game between the pitcher and the runner. Burrell senior center fielder AJ McLafferty enjoys the mental game as the Bucs leadoff hitter. “I have fun when I’m on base,” McLafferty said. “There’s a lot of little things...
Moon wins 2nd girls flag football title in a row over North Allegheny
Given the spirited nature of WPIAL football during the fall, it came as no surprise that the third annual girls flag football championships, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Steelers, were just as exciting. Athletes from 15 high schools showed off their skills on a beautiful, sun-drenched Sunday afternoon at Carnegie Mellon’s...
Deer Lakes hoping to send large contingent to WPIAL track and field championships
Going into the WPIAL Class 2A team championships on May 1 at Shenango, Deer Lakes’ boys track and field team was hoping to put on a good showing and maybe come away with a split. “We didn’t go into the meet thinking we could defeat section champions Hopewell and Shenango,”...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Springdale’s Owen Scheuring
As the regular season wound down, the Springdale baseball team was in the midst of fighting for a playoff spot in Section 2-A. Senior shortstop Owen Scheuring said the team was focused on what it needed to accomplish to get in. “We want to take care of our own business...
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Sasha Hoffman organizes 5K to benefit homeless
In her last two years at Greensburg Central Catholic, junior Sasha Hoffman has been successful both in and out of the classroom. Her weighted GPA sits at 4.3, which is tops in her class. She is taking two AP classes and three CHS Pitt classes. She excels both on the...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Highlands’ Brooke Signorella
Trying new things has become something of a habit for Highlands senior Brooke Signorella. She was an outside hitter on the volleyball team, which is a relatively new program for Highlands, having started up only three years ago. Currently, she competes on the Golden Rams track and field team, participating...
Emotions run high during 53rd Alle-Kiski Valley Hall of Fame induction ceremony
In a night filled with excitement, gratitude and memories, Brice Flenory was the last inductee to speak. His speech was heartfelt and a testament to his journey. He thanked his wife, his coaches, his teachers and the leaders in his community while also quoting scripture. “Just staying true to myself...
Freeport boys lacrosse finds its sting as program trends upward
For the first time in their lives, the players on the 2024 Freeport lacrosse team have a coach who has played the game. Devin Wolford took over after a year as offensive coordinator for La Roche’s lacrosse team. He played high school lacrosse for Hampton and won a WPIAL championship...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Fox Chapel’s Mitchell Epstein
The Fox Chapel baseball team has all the trust in the world in senior catcher Mitch Epstein. “When we lost our catcher, he stepped in and has been starting ever since,” said Foxes coach Jim Hastings. “Mitch’s teammates pick up and feed off his confidence, and that’s big.” Epstein performed...
North Allegheny boys lacrosse is looking for consistency ahead of postseason
North Allegheny’s boys lacrosse team began the season with five consecutive losses. Since April 5, they’ve won six of their last seven, but according to coach John Rullan, they still have yet to play a full 48 minutes. “We weren’t putting that full four quarters together,” Rullan said. “We always...
