Ray Fisher stories, Page 51
Southmoreland girls soccer hoping to end playoff drought
Southmoreland has not qualified for the WPIAL postseason in girls soccer since a five-year playoff run from 2008-12. After finishing 2-14 last year, the Scotties go into the 2019 season hoping to end that drought. Their early-season goals are more straightforward. “My expectations are to roster a disciplined, fit, organized...
Derry boys, girls soccer squads combine forces
It definitely is a rebuilding season — in more ways than one — for the Derry boys soccer program. First-year coach Austin Main has a new group of players to work with as there were 12 seniors on last year’s squad with many filling integral positions. But last week, the...
Cherpak’s record at TJ speaks for itself
He is considered by many to be the Michaelangelo of high school football in Western Pennsylvania, if not the state. Much like the Italian artist’s masterpiece on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, Bill Cherpak’s exemplary performance as coach of the Thomas Jefferson football program for two-and-a-half...
MVP lineman Bauer in leading role for Brentwood
The centerpiece of the Brentwood football team is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound senior lineman. Luke Bauer, along with being named first-team all-conference on offense and defense last year, was voted as the most valuable lineman in the Class 2A Three Rivers Conference. “He won it hands down,” coach Kevin Kissel said....
Trinity looking to climb back into WPIAL football playoffs
Jon Miller is embarking on his fifth season as Trinity’s football coach. Miller and the Hillers are looking for a return to the WPIAL playoffs after missing out last season. “We have a veteran team coming back, with some nice younger skill,” Miller said. “We are hoping to be much...
Thomas Jefferson focused on regaining title
New high school. New year. New rivalry. The grand opening was Aug. 18 for the newly built $95 million, 300-square-foot Thomas Jefferson High School. TJ’s first football game will take place Aug. 23 against Canon-McMillan at home. Classes begin Aug. 26. After breezing through the 2018 regular season and plowing...
Baldwin strong at skill positions
Their priority is to win, and keep winning. With halfback Angelo Priore and quarterback Mason Stahl in the backfield once again, Baldwin’s quest to secure a playoff berth appears doable. Priore is a 5-foot-10, 220-pound senior and third-year starter. He is all muscle and he has speed, posting a 4.52...
Thomas Jefferson notebook: Kulish coaches prep for boys soccer opener
News from around the Thomas Jefferson campus: • Michael “Doc” Kulish is beginning his 27th year as coach of the boys soccer program. He has 364 wins in his career at TJ. His son, Michael Jr., is starting his 18th season as the junior varsity coach. Michael Jr. has registered...
Former Thomas Jefferson volleyball players recap busy summers
Three senior volleyball players at Thomas Jefferson from last season — defensive specialists Julia Fiedor, Mia Como and Julia Micklo — were lauded in April as Outstanding Young Citizens by Trib Total Media. Fiedor and Micklo were three-year letter-winners in volleyball. Como earned two varsity letters. I was able to...
TJ grad Fairman wraps up successful baseball career at Cal (Pa.)
The phrase “Big Man on Campus” could have applied to Eric Fairman at Cal (Pa.) this year. Also, possibly, the “Big E.” Fairman, a former three-sport standout at Thomas Jefferson, recently wrapped up an outstanding four-year career with the Vulcans baseball program. And he elevated it to sensational level this...
New turf, refurbished track part of renovations at Baldwin Stadium
It was time for a summer facelift. Baldwin Stadium has a new and refreshed look to it, accented with a deep, rich purple color. By the end of July, new stadium turf — with new logos from the district — and a new surrounding asphalt sidewalk had been installed. The...
Baldwin’s Baloh, Avonworth’s Gavin play volleyball in Croatia
Baldwin senior Anna Baloh has taken her game to another level. Baloh, an athletic 5-foot-5 outside hitter and third-year starter on the girls volleyball team, recently competed with BIP Chicago at the 15th annual Global Challenge held in Pula, Croatia. “I’m actually in Croatia playing in the Global Challenge with...
After narrowly missing out on postseason, Baldwin football is motivated
The Baldwin football team is highly motivated. Moreso than most. The Fighting Highlanders’ 2018 season ended with a bitter taste, as they missed out on a WPIAL Class 5A playoff berth by one game. They are laser-focused on advancing to the postseason this fall. “We have been doing just about...
West Point Little League softball team readies to defend crown
They are the reigning 11U state champions, and they are eager to defend their crown. The girls on the West Point Little League softball team will kick off their quest for back-to-back titles soon. Beginning Friday, West Point Little League of Pennsylvania Section 2, District 26, is hosting the 11U...
Baldwin girls volleyball sets sights on WPIAL championship
As sophomores, they captured a section title, advanced to the WPIAL second round and posted 12-2 record. In their junior season, the Baldwin netters again won a section crown, advanced to the WPIAL finals and PIAA first round, and finished 15-3. The Highlanders, loaded with experience and depth, will be...
As she retires, Stephanie Campano reflects on long career as TJ athletic secretary
For years, students entering the Thomas Jefferson athletic office were greeted by secretary Stephanie Campano. Campano worked in the athletic office alongside athletic director and football coach Bill Cherpak, cordially known as Cherp, from 2002-19. She seemingly always greeted anyone going into the office with a smile or kind word....
Renegades Elite baseball players benefit from travel tournaments
Mike Huber is fixated on his senior season with the Thomas Jefferson baseball team. Even in the summer months. Huber, a junior first baseman at TJ this past spring, competed recently for the Renegades Elite 17U team, traveling to tournaments in Atlanta, Cincinnati and Columbus. Along with Huber, the Renegates’...
Accamando and Winkowski named Brentwood scholar athletes of the Year
Sporting a 4.101 GPA and top-10 class rank while serving as Technology Student Association president, Simon Accamando wasn’t flummoxed by much during his 2018-19 senior year at Brentwood. However, he was pleasantly surprised by the announcement at the Brentwood High Athletic Boosters all-sports banquet that he was named senior male...
Christopher continues hometown dominance at Brentwood Firecracker 5K
The final tally is in for the borough winners at the 36th annual Brentwood Firecracker 5K Run. For the fourth consecutive year, Neil Christopher, 24, took first place in the male division. His time was 18 minutes, 19 seconds. His best mark (17:53) was attained in 2017 . He also...
Bolla family makes Firecracker 5K ‘yearly traditional run’
One of the leading competitors at the 2019 Brentwood Firecracker 5K Run was diminutive Gina Bolla, a Whitehall resident and a rising junior at Baldwin. Bolla, 16, placed second in 15-18 female age division with a time of 20 minutes, 27 seconds, behind only Gionna Quarzo, 16, of Vanderbilt, who...
John Hughes, Roberta Groner capture titles at annual Brentwood Firecracker 5K
Two things that can be counted on to take place on the morning of the Fourth of July holiday are: 1) the Brentwood Firecracker 5K Run and 2) that it will be hot and humid. It was more of the same in 2019 at the 5K race Thursday that annually...
Plum Junior Legion confident entering playoffs
Plum’s Junior Legion baseball team prepped for the playoffs in fine fashion. The Junior Mustangs blanked Riverview, 16-0, and Lower Burrell, 9-0, last week to end the Westmoreland County Youth Legion regular season with a 14-2 record. Plum and Monroeville finished with identical records atop the North Division, but Monroeville...
Monroeville Junior Legion chasing league championship
The Monroeville Junior Legion baseball program hopes to end the summer season batting .500. Monroeville won its first Westmoreland County Youth Legion championship last year in the program’s third year of existence. Another title this summer will make it two in four years. “It was a highly successful season, and...
Scholar-athlete distinction surprises Brentwood’s Winkowski
Julianna Winkowski participated in two sports in high school. But there’s no doubt about which one she enjoyed the most. “My favorite sport was swimming,” said Winkowski, a recent Brentwood graduate. “The amount of peace and relaxation that being in the water brings me is impossible to describe. I love...
South Hills notebook: Baldwin graduate Dadig dazzles as George Mason shortstop
Notebook items from around the Baldwin campus: • Baldwin graduate Taylor Dadig secured a starting job at shortstop in her freshman season on the George Mason softball team. A four-year starter in high school, she led all shortstops in the Atlantic 10 with a .960 fielding percentage on 179 total...
