Ray Fisher stories, Page 10

The Sewickley Academy boys lacrosse team was led in 2024 by freshman Nick Neavin, who was rewarded for his season-long efforts by being named first team all-section. Neavin was complemented by freshmen Eli Stephan and Jake Donesec, among others. Stephan and Donesec were second team all-section selections. There were no...

The postseason accolades have been pouring in for Bethel Park superstar athlete Ryan Petras. As a junior shortstop in 2024, Petras recently was named the Trib HSSN Class 5A Baseball Player of the Year. Petras overcame a wrist injury to hit .452 (33 for 73) this spring with one home...

The girls golf program at Sewickley Academy has been revamped. It is one of eight new girls golf programs in the WPIAL, including five in Class 2A — Belle Vernon, Beaver, Ellwood City, North Catholic and SA. The three new teams in Class 3A are Latrobe, Plum and Trinity. “Sewickley...

Quaker Valley’s standout lacrosse player, sophomore Lucy Roig, picked up another impressive postseason award. Along with being chosen All-WPIAL for a second time, the talented 5-foot-5 midfielder was tabbed as an All-American by USA Lacrosse. “I’m extremely grateful to be named an All-American,” Roig said. “I worked really hard this...

The Sewickley Academy baseball team produced a successful squeeze play in 2024 at the end of its section schedule. Sewickley won consecutive games against Clairton twice and Carlynton once down the season’s home stretch to clinch a WPIAL playoff berth in Section 3-A. The Panthers finished fourth in the section...

The 2024 Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame weekend will take place in October. Four former QV athletes, one current coach and two teams will be inducted into the hall of fame this year. The 2024 class consists of the following former athletes: 2013 graduate Spencer Caravaggio Granger (girls tennis),...

Caleb Emswiler capped an outstanding baseball career at Eden Christian Academy with a top individual honor. Emswiler, a talented senior pitcher/corner infielder, was named Class A player of the year by Trib HSSN following the 2024 postseason. The right-handed hurler led the Warriors to a section title and WPIAL and...

The 2024 season is one players and coaches on the Thomas Jefferson softball team will never forget. For the first time in the 65-year history of the high school, there is a state champion at TJ in a girls team sport. Thomas Jefferson ended an improbable postseason run June 13...

Thomas Jefferson’s baseball team started out 12-0 this year and ended the regular season with a 17-2 overall record. The Jaguars were ranked No. 2 in Class 4A and received the No. 2 seed for the WPIAL playoffs. After defeating No. 15 Ringgold, 11-3, and No. 7 Chartiers Valley, 4-3,...

Zach Wuenschell and Mia March have at least two things in common. The recent high school graduates received top billing at Brentwood after being recognized as the leading senior athletes for the Spartans in 2023-24. Oh yes, both also are 18 years old. Wuenschell was named as the Mark Reider...

The Thomas Jefferson boys volleyball team had high expectations and an elevated enthusiasm around the program for the 2024 season. Then, one of the Jaguars’ key starters, 6-foot-7 senior outside hitter William “Will” Stewart, suffered a wrist injury that sent the team scurrying to a lineup change on the eve...

Eden Christian Academy’s baseball team finished as the Class A runner-up in the WPIAL and PIAA this spring. The Warriors, who reached the state finals for the second time in four years, finished 20-6 overall, 5-2 in the postseason and 12-0 in Section 3A. Great things appear to be on...

The death of former NBA great Jerry West prompted some reflection on my part. West, a 12-time All-NBA selection at the guard position, was one of my all-time favorite basketball players. He enjoyed a legendary career both on the court and in the front office, and was well-respected around the...

The Eden Christian Academy baseball program was wrapped in silver this season. Eden finished as the runner-up in both the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs, losing to undefeated Faith Christian, 4-1, in the Class A state championship game June 14 at Penn State. The Warriors, who reached the PIAA finals for...

The inaugural Western PA Softball All-Star Game between Team Gold and Team Black took place June 18 at Plum High School. Team Black won the game, 7-4. Many of the WPIAL’s top senior players participated in what was termed “a celebration of the 2024 spring season.” Two girls from Bethel...

Bethel Park advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A baseball championship round riding a five-game winning streak and with a 9-2 record in the second half of the regular season. Penn-Trafford, the Black Hawks’ opponent, strung together a 13-game winning streak this season and had won 17 of its last 19...

Quaker Valley’s boys tennis team hit the daily double in 2024. The Quakers had a banner season thanks in large part to the performance of their doubles players. “In PIAA high school tennis, you only need a 60% to win,” QV coach Christi Hays said. “That would not even be...

The Eden Christian Academy baseball season escalated from outstanding status to an awesome experience June 6 with the Warriors’ 11-4 playoff win over Avella in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals at Ross Memorial Park at the Washington & Jefferson Sports Complex. It then moved from awesome to sensational thanks to...

Sewickley Academy announced the hiring of Mike Scerbo as the school’s new director of athletics March 4. He is currently assisted by Heather Border and Kelly Carioto. Scerbo was formerly an associate athletic director for sport and facilities operations at Duquesne University. He spent 11 years coaching women’s lacrosse and...

Ellie Cain recently wrapped up a distinguished four-year career in the Quaker Valley track and field program. A senior team leader in 2024, Cain amassed 14 WPIAL and six PIAA medals with the Quakers and was an important member of the three district championship squads at QV since 2022. “I...

Jessica Jing McCann illustrates what it means to be a preeminent student-athlete. She recently earned all-region honors as a record-setting throwing specialist for the Cal (Pa.) women’s track and field program. A Fox Chapel graduate, McCann is Cal’s first female thrower to earn all-region accolades since the inception of the...

One Quaker Valley relay team placed third at the PIAA Class 2A track and field championships; another secured seventh. The QV boys 3,200-meter relay team, consisting of juniors Clark LaLomia and Jackson Pethel, freshman Jonah Montagnese and sophomore River Capek, clicked for a time of 8:01.1 to take third place....

The Sewickley Academy boys tennis team had its season-long goal of a WPIAL playoff run firmly entrenched. Sewickley looked to make it two in a row in 2024 as the Panthers were the defending champions in Class 2A. Sewickley and Quaker Valley advanced to the WPIAL championship round off their...

Mia Gartley is only a sophomore at Quaker Valley. Yet in her two years on the QV girls track and field team, she has won two WPIAL individual titles in the Class 2A girls high jump. Gartley claimed first place May 15 at Slippery Rock University by clearing a height...

Altoona native Mike Iuzzolino’s has had a distinguished basketball career. Iuzzolino’s proficiency on the basketball court has taken him all over the globe. Most recently, he worked for eight years on the Robert Morris men’s basketball staff, including the last three as associate head coach. Iuzzolino, 56, is settling in...