Ray Fisher stories, Page 45
Second straight WPIAL title continues long run of winning football for Thomas Jefferson
The more things change, the more they remain the same. Thomas Jefferson won its ninth WPIAL football title under coach Bill Cherpak, and 10th all-time, when the Jaguars edged Aliquippa, 35-28, in overtime Nov. 14 at North Allegheny. Cherpak captured his first WPIAL crown in 2004 at age 36. Longtime...
Senior defensive backs brought physicality to Baldwin football
Two undeniable stalwarts on the Baldwin football team this season were senior standouts Connor Lavelle and C.J. Robbins. Both were four-year starters and team leaders for the Fighting Highlanders, who ended up 2-3. Lavelle, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver/defensive back, ranked among the WPIAL’s leading receivers. A Lehigh recruit, he...
Jump to Class 2A had benefits for Brentwood volleyball
Records can sometimes be deceiving. Brentwood’s girls volleyball team finished 3-10 this season. Two of the wins came in Section 2-2A. “Our record did not reflect our talent this year, especially moving from A to 2A,” coach Kayla Hubsch said. “(Class) 2A volleyball is much more competitive, which we actually...
Baldwin volleyball shows competitiveness during difficult season
It was a season unlike any others in the Baldwin girls volleyball program. First, there was the coronavirus pandemic to deal with. Then, after the Highlanders incorporated proper precautions to the virus, they were not able to find their mojo on the court. Baldwin finished 3-9 in Section 2-4A and...
Brentwood’s Aiden Wardzinski leaves lasting mark on program
Aiden Wardzinski will be missed in the Brentwood football program. A four-year starter, Wardzinski accounted for more than 3,000 offensive yards since his sophomore season. The dynamic 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior running back/linebacker ran for 795 yards and 13 touchdowns this season and also had 11 receptions for 138 yards. He...
Successful Thomas Jefferson football season not without its hiccups
Nightmarish is defined as “frightening or unpleasant.” Exasperating is another word that comes to mind. For the Thomas Jefferson football team, the start and finish of its 2020 regular season aptly fit the definition, albeit for very different reasons. Its season opener was postponed because of covid-19 issues. At the...
Condensed season proved challenging for Baldwin football
One word that perhaps aptly defines the Baldwin football season is “condensed.” Due to postponements as a result of covid-19 shutdowns, the Fighting Highlanders played an abbreviated schedule of only five games. After a promising 27-7 nonconference win Sept. 11 against Hollidaysburg, the purple and white went 1-3 in Class...
Playoff berth caps successful season for Baldwin boys soccer
The Baldwin boys soccer team compiled a 6-2-1 regular-season record to clinch a WPIAL Class 4A playoff berth for a second consecutive season. “Considering the number of injuries and other circumstances we dealt with this season, I think getting into the playoffs ended up being a good achievement,” said Dave...
Hampton girls volleyball continues recent run of success
New coach. New section. New adjustments. It all added up to an outstanding regular season and section championship for the Hampton girls volleyball team. The Talbots (11-3, 9-3) finished in a four-way for first place in Section 5-3A along with Mars, Armstrong and Freeport. “A key to the team’s success...
Liberto brothers boost Hampton football into playoffs
The Hampton football team made a valiant playoff push down the season’s home stretch. Hampton won five of its final six games to finish third with a 5-2 record in the Greater Allegheny Conference. The Talbots, making their first playoff appearance since 2015, landed the No. 8 seed in Class...
Thomas Jefferson girls ride momentum into WPIAL soccer playoffs
Thomas Jefferson posted a sparkling 10-2 record in league play in Sean Richter’s first season as head coach. Unfortunately, both losses were to Section 3-3A champion Plum, which finished undefeated at 12-0. The Jaguars ended up 13-2-1 and took an 11-game unbeaten streak into the WPIAL playoffs. “Hopefully, we can...
Scoring surge lifts Thomas Jefferson boys soccer team into WPIAL playoffs
Thomas Jefferson’s boys soccer team exudes confidence. One reason behind it is the offensive punch displayed by the Jaguars in 2020. TJ racked up an 11-4-1 regular-season record and a third-place finish in Section 3-3A behind co-champs Belle Vernon and Trinity. The Jaguars were confident they will enjoy a successful...
Latrobe sweeps singles, beats Upper St. Clair for WPIAL girls team tennis title
The distance from Latrobe to Bethel Park is around 50 miles. The trip proved to be well worth it for the Latrobe girls tennis team. “Absolutely,” said coach Chad Kissell. “We didn’t care how far we had to drive to play for the WPIAL championship. Our girls rose to the...
Thomas Jefferson girls tennis players look forward to future of program
Thomas Jefferson recently wrapped up a winning 2020 season in girls tennis. Behind a lineup dominated by juniors and seniors, the Jaguars ended up 7-6 while competing in Section 3-3A. “I thought we were very competitive this season and were very close to winning in several matches,” said Chuck Correll,...
Brain power: Baldwin quarterback among WPIAL’s top passers
Baldwin’s starting quarterback is a brainiac, for sure. At 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, Colton Brain is on the smaller-scale of quarterbacks in Western Pennsylvania. His know-how and athletic ability, however, more than make up for his undersized stature. “Colton has been great in so many ways for our football team,” Baldwin...
Baldwin boys soccer facing challenges, staying in playoff contention
The Baldwin boys soccer team has had its share of issues to contend with the past two years. Last season, due to the late-summer stadium renovation project, the Highlanders played all of their games in September on the road. Then Baldwin, like all teams, has dealt with the coronavirus pandemic...
New-look Thomas Jefferson girls soccer team building momentum
The Thomas Jefferson girls soccer program has enjoyed notable success in recent years. The Jaguars qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for a sixth straight year in 2019. Jason Vozar resigned as head coach following the season, and his assistant, Sean Richter, was hired. Richter, 46, took over a team that...
Brentwood boys soccer aiming to remain among section’s elite
The Brentwood boys soccer team has become accustomed to hitting double digits in the win column in recent seasons. The Spartans ended up with 11-6-1 and 10-7 records in 2016 and 2017. They improved to 11-3-2 in 2018 and advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinal round. Last season, Brentwood posted a...
New-look Thomas Jefferson volleyball squad out to keep section title streak going
Thomas Jefferson has won eight consecutive section championships in girls volleyball. The Jaguars under coach Ron Kelly long ago established themselves as annual WPIAL playoff and title contenders. This year’s team is a work in progress. The Jaguars suffered heavy graduation losses — 10 seniors — from last year’s WPIAL...
Thomas Jefferson football notebook: Dynamic seniors lead receiving corps
Seniors Preston Zandier, a Youngstown State commit, and Ian Hansen, along with Rex Miller and Shultz Reinhart and junior McClain Flinn, lead the Thomas Jefferson receiving corps this season. The 5-foot-7, 163-pound Hansen reeled in eight receptions for 195 yards and two scores against Trinity in Week 2 in a...
Baldwin girls soccer looks to improve in season unlike any other
Baldwin second-year coach Tom Dongilli is looking for continued growth by the girls soccer team. The Highlanders finished 3-12-1 overall and 3-11 in Section 2-AAAA last season. Dongilli is seeking improvement in 2020 “We are still evolving,” he said. “I am encouraged at what we are doing, our work efforts...
Brentwood grad Ian Thomas lands in linebacker spot at John Carroll
Ian Thomas is a well-rounded athlete — a three-sport standout at Brentwood competing in football, basketball and track and field. But football is his favorite sport, and his best. As a result, he is continuing his football career at the next level at John Carroll. “Ultimately, what led to my...
Seniors energize Brentwood volleyball team
Two impact players on the Brentwood girls volleyball team are seniors Sidney Wuenschell and Calli Kammermeier. Coach Kayla Hubsch offered her appreciation for both talented athletes. “Sidney and Calli have stepped up in the hitting positions this year and should make a big impact with both their blocking and hitting,”...
Thomas Jefferson boys soccer to rely on depth, defense in move to Section 3-3A
The overriding factor in all facets surrounding the Thomas Jefferson boys soccer program — as at all area schools — is the coronavirus pandemic. “Up to this point, everyone is healthy and ready to play,” coach Michael “Doc” Kulish said. “We follow all state and district policies from the beginning...
Chapla, Johnston return to lead Baldwin girls volleyball
Two mainstays in the Baldwin girls volleyball team are Alexa Chapla and Heidi Johnston. Both are juniors and third-year varsity players. Chapla and Johnston are the only returning starters from the 2019 playoff team; seven seniors graduated from that squad. “I am excited about the team this year,” coach Chris...
