Ray Fisher stories, Page 43

The Thomas Jefferson football and girls volleyball teams are talent-laden. Each finished as a WPIAL runner-up last season. The eight all-conference players on the 2019 football squad consist of WR/DB Dan Deabner, OL/DL Logan Danielson, TE/LB James Martinis, OL/DL Mike Huber, OL/DL Mac Duda, QB/DB Shane Stump, RB/LB Nathan Werderber...

The Brentwood football team is on the cusp. With a 4-1 overall record at midseason, the Spartans were tied for first with defending champion Burgettstown at 3-0 in the Three Rivers Conference. “So far, so good. We’re playing decent,” coach Kevin Kissel said. “We’re coming up on the tough part...

Much like an NFL schedule, the Franklin Regional football slate includes a bye week. It took place for the Panthers last week and was created when Albert Gallatin dropped out of the WPIAL after last season. “Yes, a bye week in high school football is rare,” FR coach Greg Botta...

The beat goes on for the Mars boys soccer program. Under the guidance of veteran coach Chris Knauff, the Fightin’ Planets have advanced to the WPIAL playoffs 12 years in a row and won eight section championships during that span. It appears to be more of the same in 2019,...

Over the past decade, the Mars girls soccer program has experienced a tremendous run on the pitch. The Fightin’ Planets have advanced to the WPIAL playoffs 10 times, won nine consecutive section titles, racked up four WPIAL championships and finished as a WPIAL runner-up three times, qualified for the PIAA...

The date is circled. Hempfield’s girls tennis team plays Sept. 30 at rival Latrobe with sole possession of the Section 1-AAA title on the line. Both teams are 7-0. The Spartans have rolled past Norwin, Franklin Regional, Armstrong, Connellsville, Kiski Area, Gateway and Penn-Trafford in section play. “I wanted our...

The Thomas Jefferson girls soccer team is dealing with a unique situation this season. The Jaguars are operating with one on-the-field captain and one off-the-field captain. The reason? Senior midfielder Dalaney Ranallo is a fourth-year starter and third-year captain. She been the team’s leading goal scorer since her freshman season....

The Brentwood boys soccer team is hoping to build off the success of 2018. A year ago, Brentwood finished as the Section 4-A runner-up, advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals and posted a sparkling 11-3-2 overall record. “We had a great season,” coach Ron DiNardo said. “We made it to the...

Abigail Secrist is a four-year starter on the Gateway girls golf team. For Gators coach Andrew Estok, it’s been an enjoyable time. “This is my fourth year being the girls coach, and it has been awesome,” Estok said, “with my booster parents supporting me each year, and especially with the...

Thomas Jefferson girls volleyball coach Ron Kelly exudes confidence, and with good reason. TJ won its seventh consecutive section title and finished as the WPIAL Class AAA runner-up last season. Many of last year’s starters are back. “This year’s team will be really good,” Kelly said. “We will be built...

Two area football teams won huge Week 2 conference games, both on their home turf. Thomas Jefferson roared to a 34-7 victory against rival Belle Vernon, while Brentwood rallied to win a 34-23 decision against rival Seton LaSalle. TJ and Brentwood combined to outscore their opponents by a 49-0 margin...

Colton Brain has stepped into a starting role at quarterback for the first time at Baldwin. The Fighting Highlanders faced Butler at Art Bernardi Stadium in a Week 1 nonconference matchup. Brain, a junior filling in for an injured Mason Stahl, who is a third-year starter, led the Class 5A...

The starting lineup for the Brentwood girls volleyball team will look different this season. With only one returning starter — 5-foot-10 senior hitter Mandy Race — the Spartans are facing an enormous renovation project. “Although we lost six senior starters from last year, we are having an exciting time with...

Tom Dongilli has embraced a basic yet enthusiastic approach to his first year as coach of the Baldwin girls soccer team. “Work hard, learn our new system and roles, and the scores will take care of themselves,” Dongilli said. The Highlanders went 2-15 last season. They were shut out 13...

Success for the Baldwin boys soccer team appears to be a step-by-step process. “We have a very talented but inexperienced team,” second-year coach Dave Zinski said. “We are replacing six starters from last year due to graduation. While many of the players who have stepped into starting roles played some...

The majority of athletes on the Thomas Jefferson football team — if not all of them — grew up dreaming of donning a Jaguars uniform. I asked some of the older guys on the team about what it means to be a TJ football player. Here are a few responses:...

The Thomas Jefferson girls soccer team has lofty goals for 2019. “The expectations are extremely high,” coach Jason Vozar said. “We have 29 players, which is the most our program has ever had. This is really the first year we can field a full JV team, which bodes well for...

With 16 returning lettermen, the Thomas Jefferson boys soccer team has great expectations for the 2019 season after reaching the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA first round last year. “As always, our focus will be to qualify for the playoffs and compete for a section championship,” coach Michael Kulish said. “Our...

Last season was a learning experience for Jeremy Niemiec in his first year as Southmoreland boys soccer coach. Niemiec has made some adjustments going into his second season. “Our biggest goal, as it has been in prior years, is to contend for a section title,” Niemiec said, “as well as...

Southmoreland has not qualified for the WPIAL postseason in girls soccer since a five-year playoff run from 2008-12. After finishing 2-14 last year, the Scotties go into the 2019 season hoping to end that drought. Their early-season goals are more straightforward. “My expectations are to roster a disciplined, fit, organized...

It definitely is a rebuilding season — in more ways than one — for the Derry boys soccer program. First-year coach Austin Main has a new group of players to work with as there were 12 seniors on last year’s squad with many filling integral positions. But last week, the...

He is considered by many to be the Michaelangelo of high school football in Western Pennsylvania, if not the state. Much like the Italian artist’s masterpiece on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, Bill Cherpak’s exemplary performance as coach of the Thomas Jefferson football program for two-and-a-half...

The centerpiece of the Brentwood football team is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound senior lineman. Luke Bauer, along with being named first-team all-conference on offense and defense last year, was voted as the most valuable lineman in the Class 2A Three Rivers Conference. “He won it hands down,” coach Kevin Kissel said....

Jon Miller is embarking on his fifth season as Trinity’s football coach. Miller and the Hillers are looking for a return to the WPIAL playoffs after missing out last season. “We have a veteran team coming back, with some nice younger skill,” Miller said. “We are hoping to be much...

New high school. New year. New rivalry. The grand opening was Aug. 18 for the newly built $95 million, 300-square-foot Thomas Jefferson High School. TJ’s first football game will take place Aug. 23 against Canon-McMillan at home. Classes begin Aug. 26. After breezing through the 2018 regular season and plowing...