Ray Fisher stories, Page 38

One word that perhaps aptly defines the Baldwin football season is “condensed.” Due to postponements as a result of covid-19 shutdowns, the Fighting Highlanders played an abbreviated schedule of only five games. After a promising 27-7 nonconference win Sept. 11 against Hollidaysburg, the purple and white went 1-3 in Class...

The Baldwin boys soccer team compiled a 6-2-1 regular-season record to clinch a WPIAL Class 4A playoff berth for a second consecutive season. “Considering the number of injuries and other circumstances we dealt with this season, I think getting into the playoffs ended up being a good achievement,” said Dave...

New coach. New section. New adjustments. It all added up to an outstanding regular season and section championship for the Hampton girls volleyball team. The Talbots (11-3, 9-3) finished in a four-way for first place in Section 5-3A along with Mars, Armstrong and Freeport. “A key to the team’s success...

The Hampton football team made a valiant playoff push down the season’s home stretch. Hampton won five of its final six games to finish third with a 5-2 record in the Greater Allegheny Conference. The Talbots, making their first playoff appearance since 2015, landed the No. 8 seed in Class...

Thomas Jefferson posted a sparkling 10-2 record in league play in Sean Richter’s first season as head coach. Unfortunately, both losses were to Section 3-3A champion Plum, which finished undefeated at 12-0. The Jaguars ended up 13-2-1 and took an 11-game unbeaten streak into the WPIAL playoffs. “Hopefully, we can...

Thomas Jefferson’s boys soccer team exudes confidence. One reason behind it is the offensive punch displayed by the Jaguars in 2020. TJ racked up an 11-4-1 regular-season record and a third-place finish in Section 3-3A behind co-champs Belle Vernon and Trinity. The Jaguars were confident they will enjoy a successful...

The distance from Latrobe to Bethel Park is around 50 miles. The trip proved to be well worth it for the Latrobe girls tennis team. “Absolutely,” said coach Chad Kissell. “We didn’t care how far we had to drive to play for the WPIAL championship. Our girls rose to the...

Thomas Jefferson recently wrapped up a winning 2020 season in girls tennis. Behind a lineup dominated by juniors and seniors, the Jaguars ended up 7-6 while competing in Section 3-3A. “I thought we were very competitive this season and were very close to winning in several matches,” said Chuck Correll,...

Baldwin’s starting quarterback is a brainiac, for sure. At 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, Colton Brain is on the smaller-scale of quarterbacks in Western Pennsylvania. His know-how and athletic ability, however, more than make up for his undersized stature. “Colton has been great in so many ways for our football team,” Baldwin...

The Baldwin boys soccer team has had its share of issues to contend with the past two years. Last season, due to the late-summer stadium renovation project, the Highlanders played all of their games in September on the road. Then Baldwin, like all teams, has dealt with the coronavirus pandemic...

The Thomas Jefferson girls soccer program has enjoyed notable success in recent years. The Jaguars qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for a sixth straight year in 2019. Jason Vozar resigned as head coach following the season, and his assistant, Sean Richter, was hired. Richter, 46, took over a team that...

The Brentwood boys soccer team has become accustomed to hitting double digits in the win column in recent seasons. The Spartans ended up with 11-6-1 and 10-7 records in 2016 and 2017. They improved to 11-3-2 in 2018 and advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinal round. Last season, Brentwood posted a...

Thomas Jefferson has won eight consecutive section championships in girls volleyball. The Jaguars under coach Ron Kelly long ago established themselves as annual WPIAL playoff and title contenders. This year’s team is a work in progress. The Jaguars suffered heavy graduation losses — 10 seniors — from last year’s WPIAL...

Seniors Preston Zandier, a Youngstown State commit, and Ian Hansen, along with Rex Miller and Shultz Reinhart and junior McClain Flinn, lead the Thomas Jefferson receiving corps this season. The 5-foot-7, 163-pound Hansen reeled in eight receptions for 195 yards and two scores against Trinity in Week 2 in a...

Baldwin second-year coach Tom Dongilli is looking for continued growth by the girls soccer team. The Highlanders finished 3-12-1 overall and 3-11 in Section 2-AAAA last season. Dongilli is seeking improvement in 2020 “We are still evolving,” he said. “I am encouraged at what we are doing, our work efforts...

Ian Thomas is a well-rounded athlete — a three-sport standout at Brentwood competing in football, basketball and track and field. But football is his favorite sport, and his best. As a result, he is continuing his football career at the next level at John Carroll. “Ultimately, what led to my...

Two impact players on the Brentwood girls volleyball team are seniors Sidney Wuenschell and Calli Kammermeier. Coach Kayla Hubsch offered her appreciation for both talented athletes. “Sidney and Calli have stepped up in the hitting positions this year and should make a big impact with both their blocking and hitting,”...

The overriding factor in all facets surrounding the Thomas Jefferson boys soccer program — as at all area schools — is the coronavirus pandemic. “Up to this point, everyone is healthy and ready to play,” coach Michael “Doc” Kulish said. “We follow all state and district policies from the beginning...

Two mainstays in the Baldwin girls volleyball team are Alexa Chapla and Heidi Johnston. Both are juniors and third-year varsity players. Chapla and Johnston are the only returning starters from the 2019 playoff team; seven seniors graduated from that squad. “I am excited about the team this year,” coach Chris...

The 2020 season will be most memorable for Hampton coach Annie Bozzo. In fact, it already is. Bozzo, a Shaler graduate, took over as bench boss of the Hampton girls volleyball team this summer, replacing former coach Mike Hansen. “Being new to the program and being in a new section,...

The coronavirus pandemic has had a dramatic effect on the Hampton girls tennis program. The Talbots are starting almost from scratch this season. “For a variety of different reasons, we had a number of returning players not try out this year. It certainly could have been covid-­related,” coach Grant McKinney...

They grew up as best friends, a pact that continued through their high school careers at Baldwin. College sophomores Taylor Dadig and Carly Santillo, teammates since the first grade, opted to travel in different directions for their college careers. Dadig is a fleet shortstop/center fielder at George Mason while the...

The senior class racked up astonishing numbers in the Thomas Jefferson football program. Over the past four years, the Jaguars won 50 games with just four losses, posting a 29-1 record in conference play and winning three championships. They lost just one regular season game, going 36-1 and tacking on...

(Editor’s note: The PIAA has postponed the start of the spring sports season because of concerns over the covid-19 pandemic.) Riverview has qualified for the WPIAL softball playoffs for five consecutive seasons and 11 times in the past 12 years. The Raiders are looking to maintain that streak this spring....

(Editor’s note: The PIAA has postponed the start of the spring sports season because of concerns over the covid-19 pandemic.) The Riverview baseball team has playoff aspirations in 2020. Veteran coach Bill Gras is optimistic the Raiders will be able to snap their five-year non-playoff streak this season. “Last year...