Ray Fisher stories, Page 41
Bethel Park grad Chiccitt honored with Courage Award from WPIAL Hall of Fame
Bethel Park product Anthony Chiccitt has determination chiseled in granite, as well a firm dose of patience. Chiccitt was presented with Courage Award at the 14th annual WPIAL Hall of Fame induction banquet May 28 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Green Tree. In February 2019, Chiccitt was diagnosed with...
Bethel Park softball reflects on historic season
Bethel Park’s softball team enjoyed a historic run through the 2021 season, winning a WPIAL title in softball for the first time ever at the school. “We couldn’t be prouder of this group of girls,” coach Heather Semplice-Scott said. “Their performance throughout the season never ceased to amaze us. They...
Bethel Park alum, NFL player Nick Kwiatkoski helps give football locker room facelift
Nick Kwiatkoski hasn’t forgotten his roots. Not by a long shot. The Las Vegas Raiders linebacker and former West Virginia standout recently funded the costs to renovate the football locker room at Bethel Park, his alma mater. The planning process took place over a period of months; the actual physical...
Thomas Jefferson baseball achieved goal of daily improvement
Thomas Jefferson’s baseball team advanced to the WPIAL playoffs in 2021. The Jaguars finished with a 5-10 record after losing to eventual WPIAL champion Franklin Regional, 14-3, in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. “We preach that we need to get at least a little better each day....
Quality wins provided plenty of highlights for Baldwin baseball
All in all, Baldwin first-year coach Steve Bucci termed his team’s 2021 season as successful. The Highlanders won three of their final four games to end up 2-8 in Section 2-6A and 8-12 overall. “I think this season was a success,” Bucci said. “I realize outside of the program they...
Banner season peaks with WPIAL title for Bethel Park softball
Bethel Park’s softball team ended its WPIAL season on the highest of high notes. The Black Hawks reeled in the Class 6A title June 3 with a 9-2 win against Canon-McMillan in the championship game at Cal U.’s Lilley Field. Then came the grim, unfathomable low note. Four days later,...
Playing at Wild Things Park gives Bethel Park baseball a taste of pro game
While WPIAL football championship hopefuls often talk about making it to Heinz Field or basketball players dream of playing at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center, the district’s baseball players aspire to play at Wild Things Park in Washington. Playing at the beautifully maintained 3,200-seat, synthetic turf venue was a treat for...
Baldwin grad Maddi Sgattoni completes decorated college volleyball career at Navy
After a blockbuster Navy volleyball career, Baldwin graduate Maddi Sgattoni commissioned May 28 and now is a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Sgattoni was a four-year starter as an outside hitter — her same position in high school — for the Naval Academy, and graduated with a degree...
All-section selections, playoff win highlight Thomas Jefferson boys volleyball season
Five members of the Thomas Jefferson boys volleyball squad were rewarded for their performance this season by being named all-section. Shawn McSwiggen, a 6-foot-6 junior outside hitter/defensive specialist, and seniors Joaquin Gardner-Gotera, a 6-2 middle hitter, and Brayden Andrisko, a 5-9 libero, were voted to the first team. McSwiggen also...
Baldwin softball hopes to learn from rebuilding year
Baldwin advanced to the WPIAL softball playoffs in 2021 for an 11th consecutive season, although the youthful Highlanders were able to win only four games all year. The team lost to section rival Bethel Park, 9-1, in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs to finish 4-10 overall....
Bethel Park girls lacrosse sees effort pay off with 1st section title in 9 years
What goes around comes around. “The last time I won a section championship, one of my assistant coaches, Taylor Connors, was a senior on that team,” said Becky Luzier, Bethel Park’s girls lacrosse coach. “It was special to get to have this experience with her this year as a peer.”...
‘Championship atmosphere’ made WPIAL finals memorable for Bethel Park baseball
WPIAL Class 5A runner-up. It’s not what they were striving to achieve. It is, nonetheless, a worthy feat that capped a sensational season for the Bethel Park baseball team. The top two squads in 5A met June 1 in the league championship game at Wild Things Park in Washington. Top-seeded...
Baldwin senior peaks at WPIALs, wins gold in 800
Lena Barakat is one of the smaller athletes in the Baldwin girls track and field program. But she was a giant of a competitor — all 5 feet, 2 inches of her — at this year’s WPIAL Class AAA championships. A senior runner, Barakat logged a career-best time of 2:16...
Section title caps successful season for Baldwin boys track
Baldwin’s boys track and field team capped its spring season by winning the Section 6-AAA championship in nail-biting fashion. The Highlanders posted a 5-0 section record and were 7-1 overall, claiming the 21st section title in boys track and field in school history and first since 2017. “Both the boys...
Bethel Park boys lacrosse looks forward to promising future
Bethel Park’s boys lacrosse team ended the regular season in third place in Section 1-AAA at 6-2, behind only Mt. Lebanon (8-0) and Upper St. Clair (7-1) and ahead of Peters Township (5-3) and Canon-McMillan (4-4). The Black Hawks landed the sixth seed for the WPIAL playoffs, then edged No....
Bethel Park senior turns focus to pole vault, reaches new heights
Megan Malecki gave up the hurdles this season to concentrate on her pole vaulting career. It proved to be a wise decision. A senior at Bethel Park and a Millersville University recruit, Malecki took first place in the pole vault at the WPIAL Class AAA championships May 19. “I loved...
Fisher’s Files: Between rain, covid shutdowns, ADs had tough job this spring
Nobody watches the daily weather report in the spring months moreso than high school athletic directors. It seems the spring season has developed more turbulence weather-wise over the years than what we experience in the fall. The 47th annual Baldwin Invitational was held May 7-8 under weather conditions far worse...
Brentwood softball, baseball teams reflect on highlights from unusual season
Brentwood’s softball team hit the reset button and was able to end the season with an impressive six-game winning streak. The Spartans captured their season opener against Northgate, 15-0, but lost eight of their next nine before going on the late-season tear. Brentwood finished 8-8 overall and 5-7 in Section...
Baldwin boys tennis program shows growth under new coach
Emily Maerz is a new fixture in the Baldwin athletic program. She coached the Highlanders tennis team this spring, her first season coaching at the high school level, as well as coaching a boys squad. “I was very pleased with our performance, especially since we had a small team —...
Seniors took Baldwin hockey program to remarkable heights
The seven seniors on the Baldwin hockey team have a combined 87 years of experience on the ice. That experience paid off greatly in 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. After skating to a 19-1 record and two PIHL playoff wins, Baldwin saw its 2019-20 season shut down by covid-19 pandemic concerns....
Bethel Park girls lacrosse celebrates 1st section title since ’12
Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair battled for first place in Section 1-AAA in girls lacrosse all season. So perhaps it was only fitting the three South Hills rivals ended up in a three-way tie atop the standings, all with 9-1 records. The Black Hawks clinched a share...
Mother-daughter duos coach Bethel Park softball to spectacular season
The Bethel Park coaching staff is unique in WPIAL softball. It is made up of a pair of mother-daughter tandems. Heather Semplice-Scott is head coach; her daughter, Geana Scott, is an assistant and statistician. Donna DeCarlo, the team scorekeeper, and Carly Schoenstein, Donna’s daughter, are assistants. “It’s exciting to have...
Thomas Jefferson hockey bids farewell to coach Bill Crousey, welcomes former NHL player
Bill Crousey’s legacy as Thomas Jefferson’s hockey coach is firmly cemented. After 12 fulfilling years behind the bench, Crousey has stepped aside from the coaching ranks. Former TJ hockey player John Zeiler was hired to take over. Zeiler led the Jaguars to three state titles from 1998-2000, then eventually went...
Hurdles a natural fit for Brentwood multi-sport standout Cesia Garcia
Cesia Garcia has hurdled her way to a rewarding career in the Brentwood track and field program. She has been competing in track since the seventh grade and is a top hurdler for the Spartans. “In middle school, we encourage the kids to try every event,” Brentwood coach Mike Cramer...
Bethel Park pole vaulter Nirella continues to raise the bar
Isaac Nirella, a junior at Bethel Park, has made great strides in just his second year of pole vaulting competition. “It’s really his first (outdoor season) since he lost last year,” coach Mark Jacobs said. “Isaac has improved so much from last year — over 3 feet so far —...
