Ray Fisher stories, Page 48
Franklin Regional girls relying on underclassmen early on
Franklin Regional’s girls basketball team is one of the youngest in Class 5A, if not the WPIAL. There is only one senior — 5-foot-6 forward Noelle Boyd — on the Panthers’ team roster, which has been flooded by a large group of freshman athletes in 2019-20. “Our expectations for this...
Hempfield swim teams pool their talent
The Hempfield swimming program is more than a pool experience. “As with every year,” coach Kevin Clougherty said, “we have two main, overarching goals: One, for the kids to get as close to their potential as possible and, two, that they learn some life lessons about focus and work ethic...
Thomas Jefferson football star Nathan Werderber set to join Marines
Thomas Jefferson senior Nathan Werderber fulfilled a lifelong goal with his teammates in 2019. The Jaguars won the PIAA Class 4A title Dec. 5 with a 46-7 championship-game victory over Dallas at Hersheypark Stadium. Soon, Werderber will be tackling another longtime dream to join the military and enlist with the...
Senior Michael Silvio plays inspirational role for Brentwood football team
Michael Silvio quietly but effectively worked hard, went about his business and enjoyed an outstanding season on the Brentwood football team. Silvio, a 5-foot-11, 150-pound senior, manned a wide receiver slot on offense and a safety position on defense. He was part of a nine-man receiving corps that accounted for...
Brentwood’s Schwartz nabs pair of postseason awards
Brentwood’s Jaden Schwartz was a double award-winner after the girls volleyball season. Schwartz, an athletic 5-foot-3 senior libero, was named third-team All-WPIAL and first-team all-section. “Jaden is a level-headed defensive specialist,” Brentwood coach Kayla Hubsch said. “She rarely lets her emotions get to her and plays focused through (the) entire...
Baldwin celebrates reopening of indoor golf practice room
It has been a labor of love for former Baldwin golf coach Jim Stanko. Not only did he have tireless passion for the game of golf and the Baldwin boys golf team, he also developed a bond to the indoor golf room located in the Wallace Building. Stanko, who retired...
Thomas Jefferson caps dream season with program’s 4th PIAA football title
The last time Thomas Jefferson advanced to the PIAA football championship, this season’s seniors were in first grade. The upperclassmen were determined to end an 11-year drought, and they did with a resounding 46-7 victory against Dallas on Dec. 5 at Hersheypark Stadium. “I’ve been dreaming (about) this since I...
7 Thomas Jefferson athletes make college choices
Seven Thomas Jefferson athletes representing five sports officially made college commitments Nov. 13 on national signing day. Senior softball players Bella Bucy and Mackenzie Zang committed to Indiana (Pa.) and Seton Hill, respectively. “So much drew me to Seton Hill,” Zang said. “I will for sure be pursuing a health...
Baldwin tennis standout Bethany Yauch leaves lasting legacy
Not only was Bethany Yauch a four-year starter at Baldwin, she ended her outstanding career knowing she is the best female tennis player in school history. Yauch was a two-time section champion and runner-up once. She placed second in the WPIAL twice and earned third place as a freshman. She...
Pair of golfers provides Baldwin boys team ‘solid 1-2 punch’
Baldwin’s golf team was led this year by a talented tandem at the top of its lineup: senior Matt Fediaczko and junior Connor Woods. The Highlanders’ home course was located across the highway at South Hills Country Club. Fediaczko, the team captain, averaged 39.8 and qualified for the WPIAL Class...
Thomas Jefferson volleyball team proud of section title, playoff run
Chalk up yet another successful season for the Thomas Jefferson girls volleyball program. In 2019, the Jaguars: • Won their eighth consecutive section championship and 10th in 11 years. • Earned tournament titles at Derry and South Fayette. • Advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA finals for a second year...
Thomas Jefferson notebook: Seniors lead Jaguars on both sides of ball
The Thomas Jefferson football program keeps reloading. There were eight senior starters on offense and seven on defense in the WPIAL Class 4A championship game Nov. 16 at Heinz Field. Shane Stump (QB/S), Dan Deabner (WR/CB), James Martinis (TE/DE), Nathan Werderber (FB/ILB), Logan Danielson (RG/DT) and Mike Huber (LT/DT) started...
Brentwood seniors proud of playoff run
Brentwood wrapped up a banner football season, making a semifinals appearance in the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs. The Spartans dropped a tough 20-14 decision to Washington in the semifinals to finish with a 10-3 record. “I thought we played really tough against (Washington),” John Milcic, Brentwood senior quarterback/defensive back said....
Penn-Trafford girls expect late-season momentum to carry over
Penn-Trafford’s girls basketball team ended last year by going 7-2 down the season’s home stretch. The Warriors advanced to the WPIAL playoffs as a third-place team in Section 3-5A, marking the 11th time in 12 seasons that P-T was a postseason participant. There were two juniors, six sophomores and two...
Thomas Jefferson to meet gutsy Lampeter-Strasburg squad in state semifinals
Thomas Jefferson is ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 4A with a glittering 14-0 record. The Jaguars cleared a formidable hurdle last week in a thrilling 28-13 quarterfinal win against Cathedral Prep. Lampeter-Strasburg (11-3) climbed from No. 8 to No. 4 in this week’s PIAA rankings after socking...
Senior class put stamp on Penn-Trafford girls soccer program
Sarah Nguyen, Megan Giesey and Emma Rain are familiar faces in the Penn-Trafford girls soccer program. The seniors were four-year starters for the Warriors, who took second place in Section 3-AAAA, advanced to the WPIAL playoffs and finished with a 12-7 record. “Having three girls that have started since they...
Memorable moments from a championship night for Thomas Jefferson
The Thomas Jefferson football team won its fourth WPIAL title in five years with a 41-7 victory over Belle Vernon in the Class 4A championship game Nov. 16 at Heinz Field. Here’s a chronological look from the sidelines at the game’s most memorable moments. FIRST QUARTER • The game’s opening...
Thomas Jefferson makes itself at home at Heinz Field
Heinz Field has become a second home for the Thomas Jefferson football program. The Jaguars have advanced to the WPIAL finals five years in a row and 11 times in Bill Cherpak’s legendary 25-year coaching career. The top-seeded TJ gridders, who own a remarkable 85-1 record with 34 shutouts since...
Thomas Jefferson runs into nemesis Cathedral Prep again
Round 4. Thomas Jefferson has won WPIAL Class 4A titles at Heinz Field in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019. Each postseason, the Jaguars were knocked out of the PIAA playoffs by Cathedral Prep in the first round. TJ (13-0) and the District 10 champion Ramblers (11-2) again will clash in...
South Hills soccer, volleyball coaches praise unsung heroes
There usually is at least one of these athletes on every team. These are the players who quietly and efficiently go about their business to help their team achieve its goals. They are unsung heroes. “Ours is (senior) Ray Thomas,” Baldwin boys soccer coach Dave Zinski said. “He’s a team...
South Hills notes: Brentwood’s Aiden Wardzinski has memorable playoff opener
Brentwood junior Aiden Wardzinski was a one-man wrecking crew in his first taste of the WPIAL playoffs. Wardzinski scored all four Brentwood touchdowns — two rushing, one receiving and another on an interception return — to lead the fifth-seeded Spartans to a 28-19 win Nov. 1 against No. 12 East...
Baldwin’s 1999 football team remembered for heart, toughness
The groundwork for the conference championship was laid at preseason camp at Slippery Rock. The Baldwin football team stormed out of the gate in 1999, rolling to a 5-0 record then finishing with an 8-2 regular-season mark. The Fighting Highlanders, a nickname established by then-football coach/athletic director Don Yannessa, captured...
Washington faces challenge from surging Brentwood in Class 2A semis
Washington, a regular fixture in the WPIAL playoffs for the past nine years, has been on a mission in 2019. The Little Prexies are determined to reclaim the WPIAL Class 2A championship after taking the title two years ago. No senior class at Washington has won two WPIAL football crowns,...
Three Baldwin runners finish season as state cross country qualifiers
Three top runners in the Baldwin cross country program — senior Teddy Boehm, junior Gina Bolla and sophomore Dominick Ditoro — qualified for the PIAA finals held Nov. 2 in Hershey. “All three are great athletes but better young adults,” coach Rich Wright said. “All three are well liked by...
A by-the-numbers look at Baldwin’s football season
Several players on the Baldwin football team enjoyed outstanding statistical seasons. Many have been three-year starters for the Highlanders, who advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs with a 5-5 record this season. A four-game winning streak against Woodland Hills (30-27), Chartiers Valley (42-35), West Allegheny (23-0) and Bethel Park...
