Ted Sarneso stories, Page 13
Valley youth wrestling built on family, community
Valley youth wrestling had meek beginnings when Moe Quin started the program in 1968 at a local YMCA. Today, the growth of the program has led it to be a feeder system for Valley’s middle school and high school wrestling teams. “Consistency and communication have helped drive our increase in...
The Kiski School builds on success, wins 4th straight PAISAA championship
Going into the season, The Kiski School boys soccer team was expected to have a down year. Seemed surprisingly odd considering the program had won a Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) championship last year, its third in a row. Losing 14 seniors from the previous year’s team was a...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Cheswick Christian’s Grant Rochkind
Grant Rochkind and his teammates have enjoyed success together playing basketball for Cheswick Christian Academy. “Our teams have gotten better over the last few years,” Rochkind said. “A lot of the guys have been playing together for the last few years, and we’ve been able to build a good chemistry.”...
2nd annual We Serve First girls volleyball classic at Kiski Area draws rave reviews
Saturday’s second annual We Serve First girls volleyball classic at Kiski Area was another successful evening orchestrated to support local athletes. The all-star event, put together by Tim Toy and the We Serve First foundation, assists those who desire to play volleyball at the next level or play club volleyball....
With something to prove, skilled North Allegheny boys taking different approach
When a new high school sports season dawns, many coaches are asked what the goals are for their team in the upcoming season. Many give the same responses: “Our goal is to win the section.” “We’re out to make the playoffs.” “We want to lift that WPIAL trophy at the...
Greensburg Central Catholic girls doubles pair proud of state medal
The 2023 season was one of success for the top Greensburg Central Catholic tennis doubles team. It culminated with medals and a fourth-place finish in the PIAA Class 2A doubles championships. “I feel really accomplished. Not many teams have brought home a state medal,” sophomore Stella Bossert said. Added junior...
Lower Burrell’s Mat Factory ‘not a huge gym’ but finding ways to train variety of competitors
If you’re not actually looking for the Mat Factory, you may drive right by it. Situated at 2827 Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell, the Mat Factory has a mat space of just 22 feet by 75 feet, which is just fine with founder Isaac Greeley. “I’ve always loved that atmosphere...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Springdale’s Ashley Ross
Ashley Ross was disappointed not to play with her teammates in the final game of the year. She suffered an ankle injury in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs and was unable to go for the team’s quarterfinal match against rival Riverview. “She was a huge loss with the...
Former players remember football coach Al Mauro, who led Plum and Burrell teams to WPIAL titles
Coaches are teachers without the classroom. Al Mauro, a career middle school and high school teacher, certainly fit the bill. “Abby” as he was known by family, friends and players, died Nov. 11 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 80. In his career as high school football...
Hempfield grad Joe Sunder glad to sharpen players’ skills at volleyball clinic
When Joe Sunder got the phone call from coach Sheron Watson asking him to help facilitate a volleyball clinic in Hempfield earlier this month, he couldn’t say no. It helped that he happened to be in the area. “I was in town for a wedding, so I immediately said yes,”...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Riverview’s Gwyn Fichte
Cross country isn’t about individual accomplishments for Gwyn Fichte. “It’s never about her and never has been,” coach Palma Ostrowski said. “Her No. 1 priority this year was to get this team to states, and she wanted to train right from the start of summer.” The Riverview girls cross country...
Hit hard by graduation, Belle Vernon girls basketball team will lean on youth
The Belle Vernon girls basketball team heads into the season needing to adjust. After losing in last season’s WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals, the team had to say goodbye to five seniors who played the bulk of the minutes. “Last year, we were a veteran team. We’re going to have to...
Belle Vernon boys basketball might be without college football commits Martin, Laux for season
The Belle Vernon boys basketball team could be without its star player for 2023-24. Quinton Martin committed in April to play football at Penn State next year and might leave early for Happy Valley. “I haven’t talked to him yet. I’ll talk to him after football’s over and go from...
Mat Factory’s Chris Dempsey brings home bronze in World Combat Games
When Chris Dempsey traveled to Saudi Arabia to compete in the World Combat Games, he was surprised at his experience. “It was not what I expected,” Dempsey said. “Saudi Arabia and Qatar were beautiful places. Everything was brand new, clean, and the people were really nice. Completely the opposite of...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Deer Lakes’ Aaron Haney
Aaron Haney set his sights on starting for the Deer Lakes hockey team last year. He lost out to senior goaltender Benjamin Korol but got a chance to show what he could do in a game against Wilmington in January. Haney stopped all 20 shots he faced, and the Lancers...
Mason Childress’ leg helps Mars defeat Central Valley in Class 4A quarterfinals
Field position can sometimes make or break a football game. In the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal between Mars (10-2) and Central Valley (8-4) at Moe Rubenstein Stadium at Ambridge on Friday night, field position played a key factor. Mason Childress used his leg to help the Fightin’ Planets to a...
Window still open for Greensburg Salem hockey
Entering his fifth year as hockey coach at Greensburg Salem, Corey Mentch knows the window of opportunity for a Penguins Cup still exists for his team. His Lions missed a shot to lift the cup last year, but this year affords the team another chance. “We realized a few years...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Freeport’s Grace Beach
When the Freeport girls volleyball team faced off with Mars on Oct. 16, the team thought it would be without senior setter Grace Beach. Fifteen minutes before the bus was set to leave, Beach’s grandfather died. Coach Tom Phillips heard the news and told Grace to stay with her family....
Pine-Richland finally solves Peters Township in OT to win 5th straight WPIAL field hockey crown
If anyone was looking for an evenly matched contest with a marvelous display of skill, the WPIAL Class 3A field hockey final was the game to watch. Goals? That would be a luxury the crowd at Cameron Stadium at Washington and Jefferson College would have to wait for. The match...
Penn-Trafford beats Fox Chapel for 8th WPIAL field hockey title in row
If seven is heaven, eight must be something spectacular. One thing is for certain: What Penn-Trafford coach Cindy Dutt has produced as the field hockey coach is nothing short of remarkable. The Warriors attack proved too much for Fox Chapel as Penn-Trafford won its eighth consecutive WPIAL Class 2A championship...
Shady Side Academy scores OT winner to beat Aquinas Academy for 5th WPIAL field hockey title in 6 years
After neither team scored in the first overtime of the WPIAL Class A field hockey championship game Saturday at Washington & Jefferson, Shady Side Academy senior Alexa Karet stepped into the spotlight. Karet worked hard to get the ball down into Aquinas Academy’s circle and as her team kept possession,...
Mohawk’s quick-strike offense stings Burrell in Class 2A 1st round
Mohawk’s offense was quick and efficient in its 42-0 first-round win over No. 12 Burrell in the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs. On each of their scoring drives, the Warriors ran four plays or less. “Really?” said senior running back Justin Boston. “We’ve been pretty explosive all year,” said senior quarterback...
South Park returns to top of WPIAL heap with 1-0 win over Quaker Valley in 2A title game
After struggling in recent playoffs, the South Park boys soccer team is WPIAL champion again for the first time since 2014. “It’s never easy to get out of the semifinals,” said Eagles coach Jon Cantwell. “We had been the No. 1 seed the last few years, we just fell short...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: St. Joseph’s Emma Swierczewski
Emma Swierczewski and her fellow seniors have seen and done a lot as volleyball players at St. Joseph. This year is the best work they have done, and it propelled the Spartans to the playoffs for just the second time ever and the first time in 10 years. “A lot...
11th-seeded Franklin Regional wins again, shocking Moon in OT in WPIAL quarterfinals
Franklin Regional junior midfielder Tyler Pipon scored both goals for the Panthers, including the golden goal about four minutes into the second overtime Wednesday night, to propel the Panthers to a 2-1 win over Moon and into the next round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. “Very surreal. It didn’t...
