Josh Rizzo stories, Page 20
Pieces fitting into place for Fox Chapel girls soccer
The Fox Chapel girls soccer team is figuring out the puzzle pieces to compete in a section filled with unfamiliar opponents. The Foxes were tasked with replacing their top defensive player, Anna Troutman, and assembling a roster that would be battle-tested by the time the postseason rolled around. Fox Chapel...
Glenn shakes off early injury to score 6 TDs in Freeport’s romp over Valley
Freeport junior running back Amos Glenn was doing pushups on the sideline. He got advice from his dad. When Glenn returned to the game, he ran harder as requested. “My shoulder popped out of place,” Glenn said. “It was dislocated. I thought my season was over. The trainer came over...
Shaler girls soccer aims to break 37-year playoff drought
Zoey Cieslak didn’t have to spend extra time bonding with two of her teammates on the backline of the Shaler girls soccer team. Zoey, a junior, has the benefit of playing with her sophomore twin sisters, Ava and Allie. “It’s fun, sometimes,” Zoey said. “I can talk to them. They...
Veteran lineup puts together solid season for Shaler golf team
The Shaler boys golf team couldn’t follow up the first section title in school history with a title defense, but the Titans still figure to feature in the WPIAL team and individual playoff pictures. Shaler beat Highlands on Sept. 17 in a dual match to improve to 7-2 in Section...
Riverview uses varied offensive attack to roll to 41-0 win over Springdale
Riverview quarterback Rio Stotts believes in watching game tape and thoroughly preparing for each week’s game. But when it comes to implementing the game plan, Stotts likes having the opportunity to make decisions on the fly. Stotts and his teammates kept Springdale guessing Saturday at Riverside Park. The Raiders put...
Fox Chapel notebook: Fox Chapel, Shady Side Academy golfers dot leaderboard
The Fox Chapel girls golf team had a strong day at the WPIAL Section 4-3A tournament. The Foxes had three golfers hit the target score and qualify for the WPIAL championships. Fox Chapel sophomore Clara Koteski won the section by shooting an 82 at the Murrysville Golf Club. Foxes junior...
Timely offense, stingy goalkeeping boost Fox Chapel field hockey
Fox Chapel field hockey coach Kellee Cribby was happy to get a chance to coach her favorite sport again. While Cribby played lacrosse at Allegheny College, she always had a deep appreciation for field hockey, which she played while growing up in Maine. When Cribby, who coached the Foxes’ lacrosse...
Penn Hills notebook: Soccer team takes positives from defensive improvement
The Penn Hills boys soccer team is searching for positives in every result this season. The Indians are rebuilding, and they are seeing turnover in the program from last year to this year. Penn Hills coach Kevin Truman was proud of how the Indians recently played against Norwin in Section...
Penn Hills getting healthier, building confidence as section schedule approaches
The Penn Hills football team got plenty of reinforcements back on defense for its Northeast Conference opener against Fox Chapel. Following three straight close calls to start the season, playing a clean game and getting the band back together helped the Indians earn their first win of the season. Darrell...
Deer Lakes makes program history, going 5-0 for 1st time with win over East Allegheny
Deer Lakes wide receiver Zach Grant demonstrated Deer Lakes’ pursuit of school history will come down to precise performance. Winless East Allegheny stood between the Lancers and opening the season with five straight victories for the first time Friday night at Churchman Stadium. The Wildcats gave Deer Lakes an idea...
Springdale takes GCC’s best shot, still dominates
Springdale senior forward Briana Ross wasn’t shaken when the Dynamos allowed a goal for the first time in five matches Wednesday night. What Ross was most concerned about following a goal from Greensburg Central Catholic forward Riley Kerr was the next segment of the game. “It’s the next five minutes...
Penn Hills girls volleyball working to turn the corner
Ray Ager wants to see the Penn Hills girls volleyball team learn to weather the storm. When the skies opened up during the Indians’ first four matches, they hadn’t found a way to battle their way to shelter. With a young team, Ager expected there to be learning pains. “They’ve...
Penn Hills grad Hollis Mathis thriving as captain, hybrid offensive weapon at William & Mary
Williams & Mary’s football program would have difficulty having a captain that fit one of their offensive mottos better than Hollis Mathis. Effort, Adaptability and Toughness (EAT) is one of The Tribe’s mantras for this season. There may not be many athletes across college football as adaptable as Hollis, a...
Fox Chapel girls volleyball team leaning on experience in quest to return to playoffs
The Fox Chapel girls volleyball team is fortunate to have so much experience at the top of the lineup. The Foxes returned eight seniors this season and will hope to see that group grow together as they seek a return trip to the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs. Fox Chapel coach...
Strong start has Fox Chapel girls tennis in hunt for Section 3-3A title
Fox Chapel girls tennis coach Alex Slezak is glad his veteran group of players have a close rival in-section to push them. This season, the Foxes and Shady Side Academy are on a collision course to play for the Section 3-3A title on Sept. 23. Both teams are undefeated in...
Highlands continues to churn out points in victory over East Allegheny
Menage Lucas can promise plenty of excitement from the Highlands football team’s offense on a weekly basis. The senior quarterback has proven he, and his teammates, have a nose for the end zone. The Golden Rams continued to show they are of the most prolific offenses in the WPIAL by...
Coach with hall of fame credentials recruiting runners for Penn Hills cross country team
Mike Diano is happy to be back coaching at his alma mater. The 2000 Penn Hills graduate hopes a few more athletes will choose to join the cross country team. Right now, the Indians have only four athletes to open the season. Penn Hills has four boys and one girl...
In early season, Penn Hills working to fit pieces together
Charles Morris recognizes the early-season struggles the Penn Hills football team has been forced to battle through. The Indians coach knows the program has new faces, and everyone is still figuring out how to work together. Penn Hills was too generous to its opponents during its first two games of...
Washington Wild Things roar into Frontier League Championship Series
Washington Wild Things catcher Ricardo Sanchez chose to come to Southwestern Pennsylvania because liked what the team had to offer. Following two seasons with the Trois-Rivieres Aigles, Sanchez believed he had a purpose with the Wild Things. During Washington’s 10-0 win over the Lake Erie Crushers on Saturday night in...
Fox Chapel cross country boosts confidence with strong showing at Gateway Invitational
Tom Moul likes setting up the Fox Chapel boys and girls cross country teams with a confidence builder to start the season. Competing at the Gateway Invitational before the Red, White & Blue Invitational the following weekend has been a staple of the Foxes schedule for years. Fox Chapel opened...
Fox Chapel rewarded with streak-snapping win
Suffering through consecutive 0-10 seasons left Victor Nernberg with plenty to think about in the offseason. The Fox Chapel senior running back/linebacker focused all of his energy on becoming the fittest he has ever been. Nernberg was focused on working back from a torn MCL and partially torn PCL he...
Defensive adjustment, Cole Chatfield’s big run lead Mt. Pleasant past Burrell
Mt. Pleasant quarterback Cole Chatfield feels like 42 seconds is an eternity. Even if his team had less time, the Vikings quarterback believes it could operate efficiently. Mt. Pleasant needed that confidence during its 23-13 nonconference win over Burrell on Friday night at Vikings Stadium. The Buccaneers bullied the Vikings...
Penn Hills girls soccer aiming to take practice lessons into games
Myron Cook knows the Penn Hills girls soccer team was tantalized by the movement and pace of the Fox Chapel soccer team. On Aug. 28 at Nate Ferraro Field, the defending WPIAL Class 4A champions defeated Penn Hills, 10-0. “Even though we try to do the keep-away game, you’re trying...
Penn Hills boys soccer working to build communication, confidence
Building strong communication with teammates isn’t a major mystery to Penn Hills junior midfielder Chase Delahanty. Sometimes, figuring out how to better mesh with your teammates means asking questions. Following a 10-0 loss to North Hills on Aug. 27, Delahanty and his teammates wanted to learn about how passes should...
Young players get chance to shine as Fox Chapel girls soccer starts strong
Emily McKee has much to live up to during her sophomore season for the Fox Chapel girls soccer team. The pressure is different after pocketing 24 goals during her freshman season. She’s grabbed people’s attention, and now McKee is faced with challenging herself to get better. “There’s pressure, but it’s...
