Ted Sarneso stories, Page 12
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...
3rd straight WPIAL team swimming title within grasp of Mt. Pleasant girls
The past two WPIAL Class 2A championship showings for the Mt. Pleasant girls swim team have been filled first-place finishes and shattered records. The Vikings hope this year’s competition will bring more of the same. Anchored by the tandem of juniors Lily King and Kiersten O’Connor, who are seeded first...
Hempfield competitive spirit caps season at national championships
Hempfield competitive spirit coach Suzannah Mayer trusts her team has gotten the routine down. The Spartans have attended the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) national championships held in Disney World every year since competitive spirit returned to Hempfield in 2013. They make sure to take an early flight a couple of...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Burrell’s Chloe Walton
Handling the rigors of a high school sport and maintaining a 4.0 GPA is a tough balancing act. Burrell’s Chloe Walton achieved her 4.0 by managing her time wisely between academics and swimming. “Chloe is someone that always places academics first and athletics second,” coach Samantha Callen said. “I, as...
Hampton swimmers to bring competitive fire to WPIAL meet
Swimmers by their nature are super competitive, both in practice when challenging teammates and at meets against other schools. The Hampton swim team has added another outlet in which to stoke that competitive fire — the video game Fortnite. “Before the high school season would start, we would play three...
Playoff heartbreaker ends eventful season for Hampton girls
A season of ups and downs came to an end for the Hampton girls basketball team Feb. 20 with a loss to No. 2 seed McKeesport in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. “Our girls put forth a great effort after a good week of preparation,” said...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Burrell’s Leah McCandless
When someone accomplishes a feat no other person has, it’s said they’re in rarefied air. Leah McCandless of the Burrell bowling team is breathing that air after she became the only girl in the WPIBL this season to roll a 300 game. McCandless’ perfect game came in the third match...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Springdale’s Jackson Pribanic
Coming into basketball season, Jackson Pribanic set three goals for the year. The first was to be named a team captain. He was voted to the position by his Springdale teammates at the start of the season. “He leads by example, from the front,” coach Kobe Phillippi said. “It was...
Hempfield bowlers prepare for postseason competitions
For Hempfield bowling coach Robin Ross, the message to his bowlers is the same as it has ever been. “Strikes are going to come; you have to make spares to keep yourselves in the match. If you stay on top of making your spares, we’re going to win,” Ross said....
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Apollo-Ridge’s Mia Ament
There is no one with more passion and fire for the sport on the Apollo-Ridge bowling team than senior Mia Ament. “She cares so much about the sport; she wants to help everybody out,” girls bowling coach Michelle Cominos said. “She wants the same drive from everyone else on the...
For Hempfield swimming, the present is solid, but future looks bright
Kevin Clougherty is coaching his 27th season for the Hempfield swimming teams. This is the youngest roster he’s had. “Most years, you always teach, but you focus more on work,” Clougherty said. “This year has been a lot of teaching, instruction and refining.” This year’s young swimmers have a lot...
Latrobe swim team driven by last year’s results, looking to finish even better
The only way last season could have been improved for the Latrobe swim team is if the Wildcats had done just a little better in the WPIAL and PIAA championships. The girls team went undefeated at 13-0 overall and 5-0 in section meets, and the boys finished 8-5, good for...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Kiski Area’s Abby King
Abby King has learned much in her four years with the Kiski Area swim team. Her progression, mentally and physically, has given her a better understanding of how to swim, but more importantly, how to keep things in perspective. “I got real beat down when I didn’t qualify for WPIALs...
Mt. Pleasant, Franklin Regional swimmers shine at WCCA championships
Another year, another captivating performance from the Mt. Pleasant girls swim team at the WCCA championships. The Vikings won 12 of 22 events to claim the 2A trophy in the boys and girls competitions Saturday at Derry. Franklin Regional won both 3A titles. “Everyone knew this season was going to...
