Ted Sarneso stories, Page 5

Franklin Regional’s bowling team dealt with a major change before the season began. The Panthers, last year’s Northeast section and WCCA champions, were moved to the more competitive East section. “That raised a lot of eyebrows in our area because it puts us in the same section with two strong...

Going into his senior season, Mason Wilkes knew there would be challenges ahead for the Plum hockey team. First, the team would have a new coach in Jon Gratton. Second, the Mustangs would be a young, inexperienced unit coming off a disappointing 3-14-1 record a season ago. But Mason has...

Last season, current Highlands senior guard Jordyn Tavarez was a versatile role player for the Golden Rams. Tavarez was the point guard and best defender on a squad that made the WPIAL semifinals two years in a row: in Class 5A in 2021 and 4A a year ago. “Jordyn knew...

Practice makes perfect. But what happens when you’re perfect in practice? Junior Dylan Megliorino of the Greensburg Salem bowling team has the answer. On Dec. 6, Megliorino bowled his first 300 game for the school, but it wasn’t the first time he had rolled a perfect game. His first came...

Valley senior wrestler Charles Perkins comes from a family steeped in wrestling. His father, Chuck, runs the Valley Youth Wrestling program. His three younger brothers wrestle in the program or did when they were younger, and his sister handles the media for the program. Charles even helps referee the program’s...

As a 5-foot-11 freshman, Olivia Vigna was going to be a focus of the Leechburg girls basketball team right from the start of her varsity career. However, a dislocation of her kneecap in her freshman and sophomore years delayed her chance at playing. “Olivia is like a unicorn,” said Blue...

The beginning of Section 3-3A play was a tough, low-scoring affair between Shady Side Academy and host Burrell. The Bucs came into the game allowing only 39.7 points a game and were faced with a challenge in shutting down a Bulldogs offense led by Eli Teslovich. “We preach defense. Our...

Highlands forward Jocelyn Bielak quietly has become a leader on a team striving to bring home a section title for the first time in 48 years. “She is a joy to coach. Her work ethic and commitment to improve is on an extremely high level,” coach Shawn Bennis said. “She...

Valley youth wrestling had meek beginnings when Moe Quin started the program in 1968 at a local YMCA. Today, the growth of the program has led it to be a feeder system for Valley’s middle school and high school wrestling teams. “Consistency and communication have helped drive our increase in...

Going into the season, The Kiski School boys soccer team was expected to have a down year. Seemed surprisingly odd considering the program had won a Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) championship last year, its third in a row. Losing 14 seniors from the previous year’s team was a...

Grant Rochkind and his teammates have enjoyed success together playing basketball for Cheswick Christian Academy. “Our teams have gotten better over the last few years,” Rochkind said. “A lot of the guys have been playing together for the last few years, and we’ve been able to build a good chemistry.”...

Saturday’s second annual We Serve First girls volleyball classic at Kiski Area was another successful evening orchestrated to support local athletes. The all-star event, put together by Tim Toy and the We Serve First foundation, assists those who desire to play volleyball at the next level or play club volleyball....

When a new high school sports season dawns, many coaches are asked what the goals are for their team in the upcoming season. Many give the same responses: “Our goal is to win the section.” “We’re out to make the playoffs.” “We want to lift that WPIAL trophy at the...

The 2023 season was one of success for the top Greensburg Central Catholic tennis doubles team. It culminated with medals and a fourth-place finish in the PIAA Class 2A doubles championships. “I feel really accomplished. Not many teams have brought home a state medal,” sophomore Stella Bossert said. Added junior...

If you’re not actually looking for the Mat Factory, you may drive right by it. Situated at 2827 Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell, the Mat Factory has a mat space of just 22 feet by 75 feet, which is just fine with founder Isaac Greeley. “I’ve always loved that atmosphere...

Ashley Ross was disappointed not to play with her teammates in the final game of the year. She suffered an ankle injury in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs and was unable to go for the team’s quarterfinal match against rival Riverview. “She was a huge loss with the...

Coaches are teachers without the classroom. Al Mauro, a career middle school and high school teacher, certainly fit the bill. “Abby” as he was known by family, friends and players, died Nov. 11 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 80. In his career as high school football...

When Joe Sunder got the phone call from coach Sheron Watson asking him to help facilitate a volleyball clinic in Hempfield earlier this month, he couldn’t say no. It helped that he happened to be in the area. “I was in town for a wedding, so I immediately said yes,”...

Cross country isn’t about individual accomplishments for Gwyn Fichte. “It’s never about her and never has been,” coach Palma Ostrowski said. “Her No. 1 priority this year was to get this team to states, and she wanted to train right from the start of summer.” The Riverview girls cross country...

The Belle Vernon girls basketball team heads into the season needing to adjust. After losing in last season’s WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals, the team had to say goodbye to five seniors who played the bulk of the minutes. “Last year, we were a veteran team. We’re going to have to...

The Belle Vernon boys basketball team could be without its star player for 2023-24. Quinton Martin committed in April to play football at Penn State next year and might leave early for Happy Valley. “I haven’t talked to him yet. I’ll talk to him after football’s over and go from...

When Chris Dempsey traveled to Saudi Arabia to compete in the World Combat Games, he was surprised at his experience. “It was not what I expected,” Dempsey said. “Saudi Arabia and Qatar were beautiful places. Everything was brand new, clean, and the people were really nice. Completely the opposite of...

Aaron Haney set his sights on starting for the Deer Lakes hockey team last year. He lost out to senior goaltender Benjamin Korol but got a chance to show what he could do in a game against Wilmington in January. Haney stopped all 20 shots he faced, and the Lancers...

Field position can sometimes make or break a football game. In the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal between Mars (10-2) and Central Valley (8-4) at Moe Rubenstein Stadium at Ambridge on Friday night, field position played a key factor. Mason Childress used his leg to help the Fightin’ Planets to a...

Entering his fifth year as hockey coach at Greensburg Salem, Corey Mentch knows the window of opportunity for a Penguins Cup still exists for his team. His Lions missed a shot to lift the cup last year, but this year affords the team another chance. “We realized a few years...