Ted Sarneso stories, Page 11
Skillz and Drillz offers youth football option to players in New Kensington
When the covid pandemic hit in 2020, people had a lot of free time and used it in myriad ways. James Threatte of New Kensington used his free time to come up with a solution to a problem he observed in his community. Threatte looked at the Burrell and Deer...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Plum’s Sophie Anderson
For second-year Plum girls lacrosse coach Dom Barnabei, having senior defender Sophie Anderson has been a blessing. “Most high school players are just playing lacrosse,” said Barnabei. “Sophie thinks lacrosse. Her ability to analyze and explain to the younger players the thought process as to why she made her decisions...
Washington Township’s Chris Rozewicz runs 5K in every state
Chris Rozewicz set out to run a 5K in every U.S. state, looking to complete the task before he would be beyond able to finish. “As I aged, the body was not what it used to be with arthritis and that type of thing,” said Rozewicz, 68, of Washington Township....
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Apollo-Ridge’s Camdyn Kowalczyk
Apollo-Ridge senior Camdyn Kowalczyk thought she had done some major damage to her knee, possibly tearing her meniscus. Luckily, she received good news. “I got an MRI, and it’s just swelling,” Kowalczyk said. “I have to do physical therapy twice a week for a month before I can start getting...
Allegheny Valley YMCA Gators shine at district, state swim championships
The Allegheny Valley YMCA Gators were well represented at the district championships and had 11 swimmers qualify for the state championships. They also broke multiple team records across both championship weekends. The districts were held at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, on March 7-9, and the Gators sent 33...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Knoch’s Brady Wozniak
After making the all-section team last season, Knoch’s Brady Wozniak has switched positions from third base to shortstop. Wozniak is used to playing different positions. He has played up to four on the Mid-Atlantic Red Sox, a traveling team he plays on during the summer. “I always want to play...
A-K Valley basketball stars light up scoreboard at Cager Classic
Those attending the 27th annual Alle-Kiski Valley Cager Classic on Saturday evening at Highlands High School were there to see some basketball between East and West All-Star teams. The girls game looked more like a track meet, and there’s a good possibility the burn marks are still present on the...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Leechburg’s Laney Aul
Laney Aul is a key player for the Leechburg softball team, but that’s just a small part of her story. Aul has maintained a 4.1 GPA and participated in the Leechburg Clean-Up Day, singing to the elderly and helping with the ASA Softball team for younger kids. “She’s an extremely...
After last season’s tough losses, Penn-Trafford volleyball aims to again contend
Members of the Penn-Trafford boys volleyball team feel they still have enough talent to compete in Class 3A, despite the loss of solid players Daniel Tarabrella, Andrew Kessler and Carson Good to graduation. “We had some good guys and did a lot of winning,” coach Jim Schall said. “Daniel was...
Championship WPIAL soccer coach to follow father into A-K Valley Sports Hall of Fame
Throughout his life, Mark Perry has followed in his father’s footsteps. On May 4, he will do it once again as he joins his father in the Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame. “My father was the soccer coach at Fox Chapel when I was in high school,” Perry said....
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Valley’s Jacob Staraniec
Valley baseball senior pitcher Jacob Staraniec is a team captain and one of the leaders on the Vikings pitching staff. He cites his guidance with his younger brother as an example of how he has come to mentor the young players on the team. “Having a little brother, I’m trying...
Gateway boys volleyball refuels, gets ready to take next step
A year after grabbing the school’s first boys volleyball section championship in 36 years with an 8-0 record in Section 2-2A, the Gateway boys volleyball team fell short of its goals in 2023. “We’ve had a nice run here the last couple years,” said coach Phil Randolph. “It felt, to...
A-K Valley HOF inductee Paganelli has storied baseball past
Every Sports Hall of Famer has stories about the great plays they made or a number of championships they won. For Fred Paganelli, who grew up in Natrona Heights and will join the A-K Valley Sports Hall of Fame in May, his sports life was filled with many memories, championships...
State medals cap off successful season for Plum girls wrestlers
The Plum girls wrestling team met a lot of the expectations coach Dave Miller had for the 2024 season. No matter how high those expectations may have seemed. “I expected two girls to at least make it to states and I was hoping for three to get there,” said Miller....
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Redeemer Lutheran’s Jesse Van Wyk
Jesse Van Wyk never thought he would win the MVP of the South Western Pennsylvania Athletic Alliance his sophomore season. “I was kind of surprised when I heard I got it,” Van Wyk said. “I really thought someone else would have gotten it. I was at practice when I found...
Gateway boys get ‘comfortable being uncomfortable’ during up-and-down year
When Gateway’s season ended in a 60-52 loss against Mechanicsburg in the PIAA Class 5A first round, coach Alvis Rogers told his team not to hang their heads. “I told them they should be proud,” said Rogers. “They did some good things this year and put in a lot of...
New coach brings new approach to pitching-rich Gateway baseball team
Last season did not end the way Gateway baseball expected. After starting hot with a 4-1 record, the Gators lost nine straight before splitting their last six games. They finished 7-13 overall and 3-9 in Section 1-5A and missed the playoffs. The 2024 season starts a new chapter as Luke...
A-K Valley HOF inductee Scott Higgins left mark at Riverview, Westminster
Scott Higgins is no stranger to Sports Hall of Fame inductions. He was in attendance when teammates such as Jay Kumar and coaches Chuck Wagner, Jack Schmitt and Bob Rukavina were selected for the A-K Valley Sports Hall of Fame. So he was surprised when board member Freddy Soilis called...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: St. Joseph’s Maggie Bernat
The St. Joseph girls basketball team has been blessed with height and length from its four senior starters. Julie Spinelli is a 5-foot-11 guard, Emma Swierczewski is a 5-10 swing forward and Anna Kreinbrook is a 6-2 center who can clog the middle. Throw in junior point guard Gia Richter,...
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Jacob Hannah
As most hockey fans are aware, Pittsburgh Penguins great Jaromir Jagr had his No. 68 jersey retired by the organization Feb. 18. One Latrobe IceCat was glad to see it go up in the rafters alongside Mario Lemieux’s 66 and Michel Briere’s 21. “Watching him get his number retired shows...
Canon-McMillan dominates girls 2A wrestling regional; Norwin advances 4
In the first PIAA girls Western Regional championships, held at Canon-McMillan High School, schools from around the WPIAL had solid representation in the final matches. No school had more of a presence than the host. The Big Macs had three wrestlers win gold in their respective weight classes and had...
New champs crowned as Kiski Area, Indiana take WPIAL Class 2A team titles
There was no repeat champion in the WPIAL Class 2A swimming championships Friday afternoon at Pitt’s Trees Pool. The girls WPIAL Class 2A swimming championship came down to the last event of the day. Leading by two points over second-place Quaker Valley and 10 points over third-place Mt. Pleasant, Kiski...
North Allegheny again sweeps WPIAL Class 3A swimming championships
Another year, another pair of WPIAL swimming trophies for North Allegheny to add to its impressive case. The Tigers once again swept the boys and girls Class 3A championships Friday at Pitt’s Trees Pool, making it the 16th consecutive title for the girls team and back-to back for the boys....
Records fall left and right at WPIAL Class 2A swimming championships
Mt. Pleasant began the WPIAL Class 2A swimming championships at Pitt’s Trees Pool in the same manner North Allegheny did in Class 3A. The only difference was the Vikings added another layer of dominance by breaking some records. The Vikings posted a 1:47.32 in the 200 medley relay with a...
North Allegheny swimmers claim 8 gold medals on 1st day of WPIAL Class 3A swimming championships
North Allegheny continued its dominance on the first day of the WPIAL Class 3A swimming championships at Pitt’s Trees Pool. The Tigers bookended the day by sweeping the relays in both the boys and girls competitions. Seniors Natalie Sens and Greta Mott and sophomores Tori Tieppo and Dani Hinkson won...
