Karen Kadilak stories, Page 3

North Allegheny alum and Pitt freshman swimmer Jerry Chen made the most of an opportunity to compete on long and short courses in the same meet. Chen, 19, posted career-best times Jan. 31 against Ohio State at home in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke (2 minutes, 21.29 seconds), 100-meter breaststroke (1:04.38)...

Diving is a strength again for Derry, and longtime swimming and diving coach Jeff Kelly said it is among the most cohesive groups he has overseen. Junior Alison Cowan, seniors Jakob Riggle and Cameron Washburn and freshman Ashley Baker qualified for the WPIAL Class AA diving championship Feb. 21 at...

After competing in gymnastics, Ligonier Valley sophomore Nick Roddy took up swimming, then diving, and has had success in both, especially diving. Roddy earned a gold medal in the boys 1-meter event at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association championship meet Jan. 24 at Derry. Ligonier Valley coach Chelsea Brant said...

A lot has been expected of Franklin Regional alum Mason Fishell in his first season on the Kenyon men’s swimming and diving team. A diver, Fishell ranks among team leaders with scores of 301.27 points on the 1-meter board and 300 on the 3-meter. “(Coming) to Kenyon, I knew that...

Central Catholic senior Colson Poillucci, who gave up football to row, is headed to one of the country’s top men’s lightweight rowing teams. Poillucci, 18, of Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, committed to compete for Navy next season. Before this season, Poillucci rowed only part of the year. He decided he needed...

A lot has been expected of Franklin Regional alum Mason Fishell in his first season on the Kenyon men’s swimming and diving team. A freshman diver, Fishell ranks among team leaders with scores of 301.27 points on the 1-meter board and 300 on the 3-meter. “(Coming) to Kenyon, I knew...

Quaker Valley freshman Alex MacDonald is shining as a first-year rower. MacDonald, 14, earned a bronze medal in the under-16 boys final in the Pittsburgh Indoor Rowing Championship meet Jan. 25 at Carnegie Mellon. One of 28 finishers, he did 2,000 meters on an erg in 7 minutes, 21.6 seconds....

Quaker Valley freshman swimmer Ella Fuener is not super-competitive, coach Alexis Glenn said, but she’s still among the team’s best performers. Fuener has qualified for the WPIAL Class AA championship meet in late February in two events individually. Her time of 26.41 seconds in the girls 50-yard freestyle is on...

Penn-Trafford junior swimmer Austin Prokopec considered himself lucky to set a meet record in the Westmoreland County Coaches Association championship Jan. 25. Prokopec came in first in the 500-yard freestyle in 4 minutes, 49.22 seconds. Franklin Regional senior Ryan McFaden (4:49.67) and Kiski Area freshman Levi Hansen (4:49.89) were less...

Norwin senior swimmer Ethan Tulenko went into the Westmoreland County Coaches Association championship Jan. 25 expecting to set a meet record, and he did. Tulenko came in first in the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 41.81 seconds, close to three seconds faster than the pace set by Hempfield’s Zack Rulli...

The honors keep rolling in for North Allegheny alum Alex Adams after a wonderful freshman season on the Carnegie Mellon women’s soccer team. A forward, Adams was named third-team all-America by D3soccer.com. She is only the third first-year player to be honored by the site. The teams were chosen by...

North Allegheny senior Rick Mihm was recently named to a list of the country’s top 18-and-under male swimmers by USA Swimming. Mihm ranks 72nd on the 2019 18 & Under World 100. His time of 2 minutes, 3.02 seconds in the 200-meter individual medley is 31st in the world. The...

The Franklin Regional swimming and diving teams had mixed outcomes at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association championships Jan. 24-25 at Derry. The boys won their first Class AAA title since 2008, and the girls saw their four-year reign end. The boys dominated with 393.50 points in a 15-team field. Senior...

After winning its third straight county Class AA title, the Mt. Pleasant girls swimming team has high hopes for the WPIAL championship meet in late February at Pitt. “We have a strong team and a great group of girls,” senior Heather Gardner said. “We are excited to see how we...

Upper St. Clair junior swimmer Josh Matheny is focused on this year’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials after earning a top honor recently from USA Swimming. Matheny, 17, was named to the organization’s 2019 18 & Under World 100 list as one of the best 18-and-under male swimmers in the country....

Quaker Valley freshman swimmer Alex Wagner favors the breaststroke but found he is good at other strokes, too. The 14-year-old qualified for the WPIAL Class AA championship meet in late February in the boys 200-yard individual medley. His time — 2 minutes, 16.05 seconds — is on the list of...

The South Fayette swimming and diving teams traveled to south-central Pennsylvania for the Big 8 Invitational meet Jan. 17, where they competed against only two schools, including one from their backyard. The girls dominated with 649 points. Central York and West Allegheny placed second and third. The boys came in...

To Penn State Behrend men’s golf coach Erik Barzeski, North Allegheny alum Ryan Meyer is the ideal player. Meyer, a freshman, was named the 2019 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Newcomer of the Year. He made second team all-conference. “He’s dependable, competitive and even-keeled,” Barzeski said. “He works hard, shows up...

North Allegheny freshman Christina Shi is such an accomplished diver, Tiger diving coach Patti McClure forgets how young she is. Shi placed fourth in the 2018 USA Diving Junior National Championships in the 12-13 girls 1-meter final. She was a regional champion in the 14-15 girls 1-meter and platform events...

At least three records seem destined to fall in the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday and Saturday at Derry. Norwin senior Ethan Tulenko is seeded first in the boys 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 42.97 seconds. His time is close to two seconds faster than...

The Greensburg Salem girls swimming team has faced the difficult task of replacing its top performer from last season, but depth has kept the Golden Lions afloat. Erica Steele placed fourth in the WPIAL in the 50 freestyle and was on the 200 medley relay team that took eighth. She...

Since he was a young boy, Chatham University freshman Abdul Malik Khan has had a dream of being one of the top squash players in the world. The 20-year-old Pakistani will get to face some of them in the Pittsburgh Open this week at the Rivers Club in Downtown Pittsburgh....

Derry alum Zach Baum is having another fine season on the Saint Vincent men’s swimming team but said all that matters is making the NCAA championship. A junior, Baum made a “B” cut of 48.69 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly. The time ranks him among the top Division III performers...

On a Quaker Valley team with a lot of new members, junior swimmer Halle Wagner is a mainstay. Wagner qualified for the WPIAL Class AA girls championship in two events individually in each of the past two seasons. Last season, she went to the PIAA meet in a relay. “My...

Quaker Valley alum Ryan Jackovic saw no playing time as a freshman on the Army football team, but the season was not wasted. “The (upperclassman) players have been great mentors on and off the field,” he said. “That will help me better focus on the things I need to improve.”...