Ray Fisher stories, Page 50
Q&A with 40-year South Hills Record sports reporter Ray Fisher
The 2018-19 school year marked my 40th year covering high school sports at the South Hills Record. Where did the time go? Over the years, I’ve done my fair share of Q&A interviews with local sports figures, ranging from grandparents, parents, children (student-athletes) and now grandchildren. Recently, it was suggested...
Franklin Regional volleyball joins fight against breast cancer with Dig Pink event
The Franklin Regional girls volleyball players kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Oct. 1 with a Dig Pink fundraiser on their home floor. The Panthers topped rival Kiski Area, 3-1, to remain undefeated at 9-0 in Section 1-AAA. Franklin Regional was ranked No. 5 in Class AAA in the...
South Park girls soccer sets sights on section title, return trip to WPIAL finals
South Park is the defending section and WPIAL Class AA champion in girls soccer. The Eagles’ first order of business in 2019 is to clinch a 23rd consecutive section title. Possession of first place in Section 3-AA will be on the line Wednesday when Yough visits the Eagles for a...
Peters Township a force to be reckoned with in WPIAL girls soccer
Pat Vereb has been coaching in the Peters Township girls soccer program since 2007. During that span, the Indians have been extremely successful, qualifying for the playoffs every season and advancing to seven WPIAL finals and four PIAA finals. Peters Township has won three PIAA championships and two WPIAL crowns...
Under new coach, Seton LaSalle boys soccer remains section title contenders
There is new regime in place in the Seton LaSalle boys soccer program, as Nick Balzer has taken over as head coach. Balzer, a 2007 Seton LaSalle graduate, served as a captain on the Rebels’ first state championship team during his senior season. He also enjoyed a productive four-year career...
Long drive helps Baldwin secure win against Woodland Hills
The Drive. Baldwin secured its 30-27 conference win Sept. 20 against visiting Woodland Hills thanks in large part to a crucial 18-play, 93-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mason Stahl. It was the most important drive of the season so far for the Highlanders. “I thought...
TJ athletes give new facilities rave reviews
The Thomas Jefferson football and girls volleyball teams are talent-laden. Each finished as a WPIAL runner-up last season. The eight all-conference players on the 2019 football squad consist of WR/DB Dan Deabner, OL/DL Logan Danielson, TE/LB James Martinis, OL/DL Mike Huber, OL/DL Mac Duda, QB/DB Shane Stump, RB/LB Nathan Werderber...
Brentwood football lays foundation for special season with solid first half
The Brentwood football team is on the cusp. With a 4-1 overall record at midseason, the Spartans were tied for first with defending champion Burgettstown at 3-0 in the Three Rivers Conference. “So far, so good. We’re playing decent,” coach Kevin Kissel said. “We’re coming up on the tough part...
Bye week helps Franklin Regional regroup, heal for Gateway game
Much like an NFL schedule, the Franklin Regional football slate includes a bye week. It took place for the Panthers last week and was created when Albert Gallatin dropped out of the WPIAL after last season. “Yes, a bye week in high school football is rare,” FR coach Greg Botta...
Mars boys soccer chasing 6th straight section championship
The beat goes on for the Mars boys soccer program. Under the guidance of veteran coach Chris Knauff, the Fightin’ Planets have advanced to the WPIAL playoffs 12 years in a row and won eight section championships during that span. It appears to be more of the same in 2019,...
Highly successful Mars girls soccer team off to another fast start
Over the past decade, the Mars girls soccer program has experienced a tremendous run on the pitch. The Fightin’ Planets have advanced to the WPIAL playoffs 10 times, won nine consecutive section titles, racked up four WPIAL championships and finished as a WPIAL runner-up three times, qualified for the PIAA...
Hempfield tennis set to battle rival Latrobe for section title
The date is circled. Hempfield’s girls tennis team plays Sept. 30 at rival Latrobe with sole possession of the Section 1-AAA title on the line. Both teams are 7-0. The Spartans have rolled past Norwin, Franklin Regional, Armstrong, Connellsville, Kiski Area, Gateway and Penn-Trafford in section play. “I wanted our...
Pair of seniors lead Thomas Jefferson girls soccer in different ways
The Thomas Jefferson girls soccer team is dealing with a unique situation this season. The Jaguars are operating with one on-the-field captain and one off-the-field captain. The reason? Senior midfielder Dalaney Ranallo is a fourth-year starter and third-year captain. She been the team’s leading goal scorer since her freshman season....
Brentwood boys soccer program building momentum
The Brentwood boys soccer team is hoping to build off the success of 2018. A year ago, Brentwood finished as the Section 4-A runner-up, advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals and posted a sparkling 11-3-2 overall record. “We had a great season,” coach Ron DiNardo said. “We made it to the...
Gateway golf teams enjoying successful seasons
Abigail Secrist is a four-year starter on the Gateway girls golf team. For Gators coach Andrew Estok, it’s been an enjoyable time. “This is my fourth year being the girls coach, and it has been awesome,” Estok said, “with my booster parents supporting me each year, and especially with the...
Thomas Jefferson girls volleyball returns plenty of offense
Thomas Jefferson girls volleyball coach Ron Kelly exudes confidence, and with good reason. TJ won its seventh consecutive section title and finished as the WPIAL Class AAA runner-up last season. Many of last year’s starters are back. “This year’s team will be really good,” Kelly said. “We will be built...
TJ, Brentwood show second half superiority
Two area football teams won huge Week 2 conference games, both on their home turf. Thomas Jefferson roared to a 34-7 victory against rival Belle Vernon, while Brentwood rallied to win a 34-23 decision against rival Seton LaSalle. TJ and Brentwood combined to outscore their opponents by a 49-0 margin...
Baldwin’s Brain earns top marks in starting assignment
Colton Brain has stepped into a starting role at quarterback for the first time at Baldwin. The Fighting Highlanders faced Butler at Art Bernardi Stadium in a Week 1 nonconference matchup. Brain, a junior filling in for an injured Mason Stahl, who is a third-year starter, led the Class 5A...
Brentwood volleyball hopes to contend with new lineup
The starting lineup for the Brentwood girls volleyball team will look different this season. With only one returning starter — 5-foot-10 senior hitter Mandy Race — the Spartans are facing an enormous renovation project. “Although we lost six senior starters from last year, we are having an exciting time with...
Baldwin girls soccer enters season with new coach, enthusiasm
Tom Dongilli has embraced a basic yet enthusiastic approach to his first year as coach of the Baldwin girls soccer team. “Work hard, learn our new system and roles, and the scores will take care of themselves,” Dongilli said. The Highlanders went 2-15 last season. They were shut out 13...
Baldwin boys soccer takes it step by step
Success for the Baldwin boys soccer team appears to be a step-by-step process. “We have a very talented but inexperienced team,” second-year coach Dave Zinski said. “We are replacing six starters from last year due to graduation. While many of the players who have stepped into starting roles played some...
Thomas Jefferson football players reflect on legacy
The majority of athletes on the Thomas Jefferson football team — if not all of them — grew up dreaming of donning a Jaguars uniform. I asked some of the older guys on the team about what it means to be a TJ football player. Here are a few responses:...
Big roster gives Thomas Jefferson girls soccer plenty of optimism
The Thomas Jefferson girls soccer team has lofty goals for 2019. “The expectations are extremely high,” coach Jason Vozar said. “We have 29 players, which is the most our program has ever had. This is really the first year we can field a full JV team, which bodes well for...
TJ boys soccer returns plenty of experience for another run at PIAA playoffs
With 16 returning lettermen, the Thomas Jefferson boys soccer team has great expectations for the 2019 season after reaching the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA first round last year. “As always, our focus will be to qualify for the playoffs and compete for a section championship,” coach Michael Kulish said. “Our...
Southmoreland boys soccer team expects bigger things
Last season was a learning experience for Jeremy Niemiec in his first year as Southmoreland boys soccer coach. Niemiec has made some adjustments going into his second season. “Our biggest goal, as it has been in prior years, is to contend for a section title,” Niemiec said, “as well as...
