Ray Fisher stories, Page 22
Senior Laekyn Flinn sets standard for Thomas Jefferson girls basketball
One of the team leaders for the TJ girls basketball team is 5-foot-9 senior guard/forward Laekyn Flinn, who will continue her career after high school at Frostburg State. Frostburg State is a member of the NCAA Division II Mountain East Conference. “I chose Frostburg because it had everything to offer...
With 4 starters back, Thomas Jefferson boys poised for big season
Thomas Jefferson’s boys basketball team has experience on its side for 2023-24. “We have four out of the five starters back from last year and several good young players that need to step up for us,” coach Dom DeCicco said. “We expect to be competitive. “For us to have success,...
Behind veteran frontcourt, Brentwood girls in position to contend
The Brentwood girls basketball team’s recipe for success includes a little height mixed in with a solid dose of experience. Experience-wise, the Spartans have three returning starters in Mia March, Jessica Yee and Paige Boehm, along with last year’s top reserve, Ay’Maree Henry. As for frontcourt height, March is a...
Veteran Brentwood boys roster aiming for bounce-back season
The 2022-23 season was an anomaly for the Brentwood boys basketball program. A regular WPIAL playoff participant — Brentwood qualified for postseason action for a fifth consecutive season in 2021-22 — the Spartans sat out last year’s playoffs thanks to a 5-16 record and only minimal success against section opponents....
Baldwin boys making strides toward breakout season
Baldwin boys basketball wrapped up the 2022-23 season above .500 with a 12-11 record. The Highlanders lost a tough 80-75 decision to eventual WPIAL champion Central Catholic in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. Coach Jeff Ackerman and his players are expecting better results in 2023-24. “I think...
Lineup loaded with WPIAL qualifiers breeds confidence for Bethel Park wrestling
Nine members of the Bethel Park wrestling program have been WPIAL qualifiers in their careers. It’s an impressive list: Mason Kernan (139 pounds), Ethan Higgins (145), Landon Hartman (215), Jaden Palombine (107), Aiden Bench (127), Aden Stout (133), Hunter Goelz (172), Seth Miller (127) and Maksim Miller (160). A.J. Tomaino...
1st-year coach ushers in new era for Bethel Park girls basketball
There’s a new face on the bench and a new system on the floor. Steve Norman is in his first season coaching in the Bethel Park girls basketball program. “I’m really excited to be part of the Bethel Park program,” Norman said. “We expect to be very competitive in 6A....
Boasting lineup with size, experience, Bethel Park boys expect successful season
Height isn’t an issue for the Bethel Park boys basketball team. At least not when 6-foot-4 junior Tanner Pfeuffer and 6-6 senior Paul Digbeu are paired together in the frontcourt along with 6-3 senior forward Shawn Davis. “We want to continue building on what was started last season and continue...
Quaker Valley Wrestling Association building girls program from ground up
The Quaker Valley Wrestling Association appears to have a solid game plan. And QVWA has a prototype to follow off its own successful experience. “We are thrilled to be starting the youth team for girls this year,” president Jason Richey said. “In 2012, we started a boys youth team. It...
Karate instructor hits the road with Team USA
Sensei Dustin Baldis is a true world traveler. His latest adventure as he celebrated his 30th year representing the Team USA karate program took him to Saudi Arabia from Oct. 20-22, Hungary from Oct. 22-30 and Chile from Oct. 30-Nov. 5. “I was traveling (overseas) for three weeks solid,” Baldis...
Playoff season builds excitement for future of Quaker Valley girls soccer
Quaker Valley’s girls soccer team finished as a WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinalist this season. The Quakers ended up 11-6-1 overall after going 6-5-1 in Section 1. “Rachel and I couldn’t be prouder,” said Maggie Behun, QV’s co-head coach with Rachel Loudermilk. “These girls stepped to the plate and exceeded our...
Quaker Valley boys add to school’s soccer legacy with WPIAL, PIAA championship appearances
Quaker Valley boys soccer is one of the most renowned programs in WPIAL history, thanks to 10 WPIAL and nine PIAA championships. The Quakers have won the most state titles in soccer among WPIAL schools. And the program’s irrefutable reputation wasn’t tainted a bit in 2023 as the Panthers advanced...
Sewickley Academy girls tennis season highlighted by section title, state playoff berth
Sewickley Academy had little difficulty defeating District 5 champion Bedford in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A girls tennis playoffs. The Panthers, coached by the legendary Whitney Snyder, won by a 4-1 margin. It was a bit of a different outcome in Round 2, as Scranton Prep, the...
Sewickley Academy girls soccer makes playoffs with young roster, looks to bright future
The Sewickley Academy girls soccer team landed in the WPIAL playoffs once again in 2023. Coached by Dale Giovengo, Sewickley posted a 6-4 record in Section 3-A to end up third behind Freedom (10-0) and Eden Christian (7-3). The Panthers received the No. 11 seed for the postseason. “I am...
Quaker Valley athletes focus on sportsmanship at WPIAL summit
Quaker Valley athletics was in vogue at the 14th annual WPIAL Summit on Sportsmanship held Nov. 8 at the Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. More than 400 student-athletes from schools throughout Western Pennsylvania gathered at the event, which was presented by The Wilson Group and...
Thomas Jefferson’s Evan Berger, Zoe Krizan, Laekyn Flinn sign with college programs
The NCAA early signing day for high school athletes took place Nov. 8. Three students at Thomas Jefferson — seniors Evan Berger, Zoe Krizan and Laekyn Flinn — took advantage of the opportunity. Berger, a fourth-year starter in basketball for the Jaguars, signed with NCAA Division II Penn West Edinboro...
Despite loss in WPIAL quarterfinals, Thomas Jefferson had another statistically strong season
Thomas Jefferson and Aliquippa have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for 29 consecutive years. And that extraordinary streak remained intact for both teams in 2023. The Jaguars tied for second place with Trinity and Latrobe in the Class 4A Big Seven Conference this year and received a No. 6 seed...
Bethel Park girls tennis makes history during championship season
Expectations were soaring through the roof for the Bethel Park girls tennis team this year. And the Black Hawks jumped aboard the jet stream. Bethel Park won the first WPIAL team championship in school history, and the tandem of freshman Cami Fisher and senior Lily Sierka captured the first WPIAL...
Bethel Park football sets foundation for future, makes playoffs in successful season
The Bethel Park football team advanced to the WPIAL playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Black Hawks tied for second with Moon and Upper St. Clair in the Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference with a 3-2 record in league play. The Bethel Park gridders lost to defending WPIAL champion...
Sisters from Quaker Valley lead Pennsylvania charge at national youth wrestling tournament
Dublin Parnell, representing Quaker Valley in the 8U/50-pound division, kicked off October as an All-American wrestler. Dublin participated for Team PA Red at the War of Roses Midwest National Duals Tournament in Indianapolis and was the only team member to go undefeated at the weekend event. The talented youth grappler...
Quaker Valley junior spearheads charity to benefit women in El Salvador
Kirsten Close is not your average transfer student. The standout tennis and lacrosse athlete launched a unique program almost immediately upon walking through the doors of her new school, Quaker Valley. Close, a 16-year-old junior who transferred from Sewickley Academy, has dedicated much of her time over the past year...
Shady Side Academy freshman bursts onto WPIAL tennis scene
Shady Side Academy freshman Meriwether McCargo upset the apple cart. That is to say, the 14-year-old McCargo won the WPIAL Class 3A girls tennis championship Sept. 21 at North Allegheny by upsetting the reigning champion. “I was super excited to win the WPIAL championship,” McCargo said. “As a freshman, I...
Quaker Valley cross country teams accomplishing goals in postseason
It’s been a sweet season for the Quaker Valley boys cross country team. The Quakers qualified as a team for the PIAA Class 2A race, which was set for Nov. 4 in Hershey. “We know there are many strong teams in the 2A race of the PIAA championships, especially those...
Quaker Valley greats gather for 2023 hall of fame induction weekend
The celebratory Sports Hall of Fame weekend returned to Quaker Valley this fall after a three-year pause due to the covid pandemic. Six individuals and two teams were inducted on the weekend of Oct. 13-14, increasing the number of HOF individuals at Quaker Valley to 103 and HOF teams to...
Quaker Valley junior’s coat drive, other efforts help new arrivals to Western Pa.
Quaker Valley junior Molly MacDonald combines her athletic skills with a strong sense of altruism. MacDonald is a 5-foot-11 outside hitter and third-year starter on the section-winning QV girls volleyball team. She started a charity last winter called Brazos de Bienvenida, which when translated means “Welcoming Arms.” She collected clothing,...
