Ray Fisher stories, Page 16

Both are talented tennis players. One is a freshman at Bethel Park. The other’s a senior. Together, they’ve developed into quite the dynamic duo on the tennis courts. Bethel Park’s Cami Fisher and Lily Sierka this season became the first WPIAL doubles champions in girls tennis in school history. “Lily...

Bethel Park didn’t lose a section game in boys soccer this season. The Black Hawks rang up a 13-0-1 mark in Section 3-3A to narrowly finish first ahead of runner-up Thomas Jefferson (12-1-1). And perhaps most impressive, Bethel Park allowed just seven goals in 14 section games with seven shutouts...

The Quaker Valley cross country program is having a magical season. QV’s boys team recently took first place in the 5,000-meter Class 2A race at the Bald Eagle Invitational on Oct. 7 at White Oak Park. The Quakers also won the River Trail and Blue Devil invites this season along...

The Quaker Valley girls volleyball team picked up where it left off last season. In 2022, Quaker Valley won 11 of 14 section decisions, advanced to the WPIAL semifinals, finished fifth in the PIAA Class 2A playoffs and ended up 18-5 overall. This year, through Oct. 9, the Quakers were...

Quaker Valley held its celebratory sports hall of fame weekend for the first time since 2019. Three former QV athletes — Justin Hughes (basketball), Darren Rogers (football) and Catherine Stewart (tennis) — and three teams were lauded that year. The 2006 boys hockey and girls tennis teams also were inducted...

The captain’s role on the Sewickley Academy girls soccer team has proven invaluable for the younger players this season. Behind co-captains Libby Eannarino, Katherine Varghese and Quincy Sirko, the Panthers recently won four games in a row by a whopping 34-2 margin after an 0-2 start. “I am very happy...

It had been more than a decade since Quaker Valley won a section title in girls tennis. But the Quakers rolled through league play this season to claim their first section championship since 2012. “To say this season from the very beginning back in August to now has been a...

John Gaetano took over as Quaker Valley’s boys basketball coach in 1987-88. He was employed as a guidance counselor at Northgate and brought 26 years of coaching experience with him. “I was a different type of coach than they were used to (at QV),” Gaetano said. “I wasn’t easy to...

Quaker Valley and Sewickley Academy have well-established golf programs and traditions. Another chapter in the long rivalry took place Sept. 20 when the QV golfers defeated the Panthers, 200-211, in a critical section match at Allegheny Country Club. With the win, QV clinched a tie for first place with Eden...

The covid-19 pandemic in 2020 delayed Dr. Christa Rogers-Pettie’s entrance into the Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame. Inductions for the HOF were shut down for three years from 2020-2022 because of the pandemic. The 2008 QV graduate waited patiently for that much-anticipated phone call from her former track coach,...

Thomas Jefferson has won 25 section titles in girls volleyball in school history. The Jaguars are well on their way to No. 26 this season thanks to a fast start in Section 3-3A. They are seeking their third straight section crown and 11th in the past 12 seasons. TJ was...

Thomas Jefferson football aficionado Jim Smoyer is like most high school fans. He rarely misses a game on Friday nights. But Smoyer, a 1988 TJ grad and a former football player for the Jaguars, doesn’t attend a myriad of games involving his alma mater. Instead, Smoyer checks out the team...

Thomas Jefferson, expected to be a contender for a section title in boys soccer, found itself reeling from injuries in the first month of the season. Two returning starters and a top underclassman expected to be a big contributor missed the early part of the schedule recovering from offseason knee...

The 2023 season would be considered a time to rebuild for most soccer programs after losing nine seniors to graduation. Not so at Sewickley Academy. The Panthers, minus co-section player of the year Adin Zorn and three other graduated all-section players — midfielders Hudson Colletti, Michael DiSantis and Lucas Mendoca...

Furman South’s brilliant hockey career has been filled with a series of firsts. • The 2006 Quaker Valley graduate skated on the first state championship hockey team in program history. • South ranks first in numerous statistical season- and career-long categories, including most goals in a season, career goals, most...

Bethel Park was a veteran girls volleyball squad in 2022 with eight seniors and three juniors. The Black Hawks finished 10-6 overall and 6-4 in Section 2-4A as Peters Township and Canon-McMillan tied for first at 9-1. “This year’s team is young but competitive,” coach Brooke Muraco said. “We are...

If the first month of the season was any indication, the Bethel Park boys soccer team was looking at a fantastic finish in 2023. As of Sept. 17, Bethel Park was undefeated at 6-0 and in first place in Section 3-3A, one game ahead of Thomas Jefferson (5-1) and Ringgold...

Justin Shegog was a mover and a shaker in the gym as well as for the entire Quaker Valley boys basketball program. Athletic director Mike Mastroianni, who doubles as the coach for the QV boys hoops team, coached Shegog from 1996-2000. Mastroianni said Shegog laid the foundation for success for...

Two of the stars on last year’s boys soccer team at Quaker Valley are back for their senior season. Defensive specialist Nick Allan, the reigning player of the year in Section 4-2A, and midfielder Matteo Castellini were named section all-stars in 2022. The 5-foot-9 Allan is third-year starter, second-year captain...

The 2021 season was an aberration for the Sewickley Academy boys golf program. The Panthers won WPIAL championships for eight consecutive years starting in 2013 only to have the impressive streak end in 2021. The Sewickley golfers returned to championship status last year as they claimed their ninth team title...

He has received the highest of praise and is considered one of the best in his profession. For almost three decades, Dr. Jeff Mulholland has provided a level of medical coverage for the Quaker Valley athletic program that rivals both collegiate and professional teams. He is regarded as one of...

Six former Quaker Valley students — all 2023 graduates — are continuing their athletic careers at the next level, including Nora Johns, who will compete in basketball and track and field at Ohio Wesleyan. Jakub Pickett is playing football at Cal (Pa.). A four-year starter in high school, Pickett led...

Dean Cvitkovic graduated from Quaker Valley almost 50 years ago. His name still is well-known and respected in area football circles. A 1974 QV grad, Cvitkovic is considered one of the most accomplished football players in school history. As such, he will be inducted into the Quaker Valley Sports Hall...

Quaker Valley’s girls soccer team finished with an 8-7-2 record in 2022, a slight improvement from its 7-9-2 mark the season before. With seven returning starters, the Quakers, coached by Maggie Behun and Rachel Loudermilk, are hopeful for a bigger step forward in 2023. “We have a handful of experienced...

One of the best ways many describe Win Palmer is that he was a gentleman’s gentleman. Palmer, athletic director at Sewickley Academy for the past 22 years, died Thursday at Allegheny General Hospital at age 65 from cardiovascular complications. . Palmer left an indelible mark on the Sewickley Academy and...