Ray Fisher stories, Page 46
New coach set to lead Hampton girls volleyball
The 2020 season will be most memorable for Hampton coach Annie Bozzo. In fact, it already is. Bozzo, a Shaler graduate, took over as bench boss of the Hampton girls volleyball team this summer, replacing former coach Mike Hansen. “Being new to the program and being in a new section,...
Newcomers step into key roles for Hampton girls tennis
The coronavirus pandemic has had a dramatic effect on the Hampton girls tennis program. The Talbots are starting almost from scratch this season. “For a variety of different reasons, we had a number of returning players not try out this year. It certainly could have been covid-related,” coach Grant McKinney...
Baldwin teammates make impact on college softball scene
They grew up as best friends, a pact that continued through their high school careers at Baldwin. College sophomores Taylor Dadig and Carly Santillo, teammates since the first grade, opted to travel in different directions for their college careers. Dadig is a fleet shortstop/center fielder at George Mason while the...
Thomas Jefferson football program honors accomplished senior class
The senior class racked up astonishing numbers in the Thomas Jefferson football program. Over the past four years, the Jaguars won 50 games with just four losses, posting a 29-1 record in conference play and winning three championships. They lost just one regular season game, going 36-1 and tacking on...
Riverview softball team wants to continue playoff streak
(Editor’s note: The PIAA has postponed the start of the spring sports season because of concerns over the covid-19 pandemic.) Riverview has qualified for the WPIAL softball playoffs for five consecutive seasons and 11 times in the past 12 years. The Raiders are looking to maintain that streak this spring....
Riverview aims to contend in challenging Section 3-2A
(Editor’s note: The PIAA has postponed the start of the spring sports season because of concerns over the covid-19 pandemic.) The Riverview baseball team has playoff aspirations in 2020. Veteran coach Bill Gras is optimistic the Raiders will be able to snap their five-year non-playoff streak this season. “Last year...
St. Gabriel’s girls come together, win Diocese of Pittsburgh championship
It genuinely was a team effort for the diocesan champion St. Gabriel girls CYO basketball team. The Gators rolled past St. Bernard’s, 45-31, in the Diocese of Pittsburgh championship game and wrapped up their season with a sparkling 15-2 record. “The team did really well this season,” said Ashley Shanahan,...
St. Gabriel’s boys capture CYO state title
Chalk up another championship season for the St. Gabriel’s boys CYO basketball team. In 2019-20, the Gators won their second consecutive Diocese of Pittsburgh championship and their second state title in three years. “This year’s team was more resilient than any team we’ve had in the last four years,” coach...
Franklin Regional softball blending youth, experience
Franklin Regional’s softball team is hoping to carry its momentum from last season. The Panthers advanced to the WPIAL semifinals in Class 5A last spring, when they lost 4-2 to West Allegheny. The Indians went on to claim their third straight championship. Franklin Regional finished 13-9 overall and 10-4 record...
After winning section title a year ago, Franklin Regional baseball has bigger goals
The Franklin Regional baseball team sailed into uncharted waters in 2019. After a run of four consecutive second-place section finishes, the Panthers made the jump to the top spot. FR captured the Section 1-5A championship with a 12-0 record, leapfrogging Gateway (9-3), Fox Chapel (7-5) and Kiski Area (6-6). Not...
Thomas Jefferson’s Findlan claims 1st WPIAL swimming title in program history
Hallie Findlan has been rewriting the Thomas Jefferson record book in girls swimming for three years. Findlan, a junior, added another historic chapter to her distinguished career by becoming the first TJ swimmer in school history to win a WPIAL championship. Findlan finished first in the 100-yard freestyle at the...
Thomas Jefferson’s Werderber honored with Breisinger Award
Thomas Jefferson senior Nathan Werderber officially enlisted Dec. 30 with the U.S. Marines Corps. One of the toughest athletes in the starting lineup for the TJ football team last fall, Werderber will leave Sept. 14 for basic training at Parris Island in South Carolina. Not only was Werderber known for...
Baldwin gymnasts earn 9th state championship
Baldwin can add another year on the state championship banner for gymnastics in its high school gym. The Highlanders finished first in the silver division team competition at the Pennsylvania Classic last month at Moon. The classic is representative of the state championship meet in gymnastics. Baldwin took first place...
Norwin girls focus on season’s highlights after playoff exit
Norwin has a well-respected history in girls basketball. The Knights have been regular WPIAL playoff participants — Norwin has advanced to the postseason 31 times — and annual contenders for section championships. The Knights maintained both rich traditions in 2019-20. Norwin tied for first with rival North Allegheny in Section...
Youth movement leads to optimism in Brentwood basketball program
The Brentwood boys basketball program, stacked with seven seniors, will suffer heavy graduation losses this year. Nonetheless, help appears to be on the way. Chase Rosing, a 5-foot junior guard, and Riley Brendel, a 6-3 junior forward, were integral members of the 2019-20 team. There are six sophomores, along with...
Tough playoff loss can’t dampen strong season for Penn-Trafford girls basketball
Penn-Trafford’s girls basketball team experienced a two-tone finish to the season. The Warriors won their final four regular-season games — and eight of their last 10 — to sew up a WPIAL Class 5A playoff berth. The Warriors then lost a disappointing 37-36 decision to Gateway in the first round...
Norwin athletes shine at Tri-State indoor championships
Norwin’s boys distance medley relay unit stepped into the spotlight Feb. 22 at the Tri-State Track Coaches Association indoor championship meet. The DMR runners took first place with a school-record time of 10 minutes, 41.28 seconds, 7 seconds faster than their seeded time of 11:04.17. “Overall, the race went as...
Pleasant Hills Middle School varsity cheer team places sixth in nation
The Pleasant Hills Middle School varsity cheer team was a national finalist this season. The PH girls qualified for the National High School Cheerleading Championship, held Feb. 7-9 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. A total of 28 teams competed in the varsity division; 12 qualified for the semifinals....
TJ gymnast Moore writes perfect ending with 10 on vault at WPIAL meet
Thomas Jefferson senior gymnast Natalie Moore capped her career with rare perfection — a 10.0 score on the vault from one of the judges at the WPIAL championships. Moore placed second in the all-around in the advanced division with 37.133 points at the WPIAL finals Feb. 15 at Moon. She...
Dominant Baldwin hockey team gearing up for playoffs
One of the magic numbers for the Baldwin hockey team this season is “15.” Baldwin won 15 consecutive games before suffering a disappointing 4-3 loss Feb. 10 to West Allegheny at Ice Castle Arena. The Highlanders opened their PIHL schedule Oct. 3 with a 9-1 victory against Montour, then skated...
Brentwood’s Ziegler reaches scoring milestone
C.J. Ziegler recently enlisted in an exclusive club at Brentwood. Prior to this season, only 10 boys basketball players had attained 1,000 career points. Ziegler joined that posh group. The 5-foot-11 senior guard logged his 1,000th career point Jan. 24 in a 67-52 section win at Carmichaels. He finished with...
Senior captains drive Seton LaSalle girls to successful season
Seton LaSalle’s girls basketball team has been driven by the force of three seniors in its lineup this season. The leading scorers for the playoff-bound Rebels consist of seniors Chloe Lestitian (11.9), Sarah Merlina (11.4) and Vanessa Hudson (11.1), who average close to 35 points per game between them. Lestitian...
Sole senior Jenna Lutz energizes Baldwin girls basketball program
It has been a frustrating yet gratifying senior season for Baldwin hoopster Jenna Lutz. She is a three-year letterwinner in the girls basketball program at Baldwin and plans to continue her career at Allegheny College as an environmental science major. A 6-foot forward, Lutz has spent most of the 2019-20...
Derry girls basketball team makes sure history doesn’t repeat
History was not going to repeat itself. The Derry girls basketball team saw to that. The Trojans missed the WPIAL playoffs a year ago by one game. This year, there was little doubt the team would return to the postseason for the first time in four years. “Early in our...
Seton LaSalle boys bolstered by all-senior starting lineup
Veteran coach Mark Walsh is a staunch Seton LaSalle advocate, and is fully committed to the boys basketball program. As the saying goes, Walsh “bleeds green and gold.” His Rebels qualified for the WPIAL playoffs as the second-place team in Section 2-3A. In fact, the Rebels have advanced to the...
