Other Local category, Page 11

If you’re not actually looking for the Mat Factory, you may drive right by it. Situated at 2827 Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell, the Mat Factory has a mat space of just 22 feet by 75 feet, which is just fine with founder Isaac Greeley. “I’ve always loved that atmosphere...

The Quaker Valley Wrestling Association appears to have a solid game plan. And QVWA has a prototype to follow off its own successful experience. “We are thrilled to be starting the youth team for girls this year,” president Jason Richey said. “In 2012, we started a boys youth team. It...

Sensei Dustin Baldis is a true world traveler. His latest adventure as he celebrated his 30th year representing the Team USA karate program took him to Saudi Arabia from Oct. 20-22, Hungary from Oct. 22-30 and Chile from Oct. 30-Nov. 5. “I was traveling (overseas) for three weeks solid,” Baldis...

Hero. Mentor. Teacher. “If you can go through life and have someone say those three words about you, then you are a miracle, and you, are a miracle,” said Tim Grgurich, of Bill Shay, who dedicated his career to the basketball program at Community College of Allegheny County on Pittsburgh’s...

When Joe Sunder got the phone call from coach Sheron Watson asking him to help facilitate a volleyball clinic in Hempfield earlier this month, he couldn’t say no. It helped that he happened to be in the area. “I was in town for a wedding, so I immediately said yes,”...

In his three seasons as a wrestler at Bucknell, Kiski Area grad Nick Delp has had his moments. As a sophomore, when the Bison visited perennial power Oklahoma State, Delp scored a 7-5 decision over the Cowboys’ Wyatt Sheets at 157 pounds. Sheets had been an All-American the previous season...

Mark Goetz secured future starts on the Korn Ferry Tour, but he wants more. The 25-year-old Greensburg native and Hannastown Golf Club member tied for first in the second stage of tour Q-School with a 19-under-par total of 269 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Highland Oaks —...

When Chris Dempsey traveled to Saudi Arabia to compete in the World Combat Games, he was surprised at his experience. “It was not what I expected,” Dempsey said. “Saudi Arabia and Qatar were beautiful places. Everything was brand new, clean, and the people were really nice. Completely the opposite of...

Sahara Robinson found herself riding her dirt bike with a purpose, looking for her first Grand National Cross Country Series national championship. It was the 11th of 12 rounds of the series in Newburg, W.Va., and the Ligonier youth was determined, no matter the circumstances nor the condition of the...

Dublin Parnell, representing Quaker Valley in the 8U/50-pound division, kicked off October as an All-American wrestler. Dublin participated for Team PA Red at the War of Roses Midwest National Duals Tournament in Indianapolis and was the only team member to go undefeated at the weekend event. The talented youth grappler...

The Pennsylvania Karate Championships are golden in 2023. They also have expanded to two days. The 50th championships, a keystone event in the region since the early 1970s, will be Friday and Saturday in the grand ballroom of the Quality Inn in New Kensington. It is where the event began...

Zach and Nate Dlugos are taking sibling rivalry to another level. On Saturday, the Greensburg Central Catholic grads will be on opposite sides of “The Biggest Little Game in America” when the football teams from Amherst and Williams clash. It is the fourth-most played matchup in all of the NCAA...

New Zealand’s Matt Baxter was looking for a race that would be a good test for him as he ramps up his marathon training. When looking at the schedule, Baxter decided to participate in the 11th running of the EQT Pittsburgh 10-miler. Even though Baxter, 29, of HOKA Northern Arizona...

Only two programs in the Big East Youth Football League had all four of its teams — flag, ages 7-8, ages 9-10 and ages 11-12 — qualify for the season-ending league playoffs. One was Penn-Trafford, and the other was the Gateway teams: the Midgets (11-12), Mites (9-10), Termites (7-8) and...

Already a world-class athlete, Bridget (Guy) Williams became a world champion with a victory at the Pan Am Games. The Hempfield and Virginia alum soared to a gold medal in the pole vault Friday at Julio Martinez Pradanos National Stadium in Santiago, Chile with a vault of 4.6 meters (15...

Five professional fights and one exhibition were a part of a competitive night of boxing at Fall Fisticuffs VI, presented by Integrity Fighter Management from the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows on Saturday. The Battle of The Northside II was the match of the night. Michael “The Pittsburgh Bull” Manna...

Ross Township’s Nathan Smith, a decorated amateur golfer and six-time USGA champion, is going to get used to having the word captain in front of his name. Smith was selected as captain of the East team for the 2024 East West Matches to be played Nov. 1-3, at Maridoe Golf...

Greensburg’s Mark Goetz is through to the next stage of qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour, a minor-league type feeder to the PGA Tour. Goetz, 25, finished tied for 10th at a first-stage tournament last week at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove-Crossings in Semmes, Ala. with...

Boxing, at its core, is a sport built from differences. Usually, two guys who grew up together and trained together never square off in the ring for more than sparring. “We’re doing something that’s typically not being done,” said Michael Manna (6-5, 4 KO), 40. “I think 100% that it’s...

The inaugural class of the Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame will be inducted later this month. A banner with the names of the inductees will be raised high into the rafters of the Linden Gym during halftime of the youth basketball game between the Sharpsburg Wolves and Caveman AAU on...

Johnny Johnston grew up playing soccer in the Penn Township programs. That’s where he was taught how to play the game and learned valuable lessons about growing up from the men who coached him. Now the 2001 Penn-Trafford grad and Harrison City native is doing the same in Oxford, a...

Over the years, the Pittsburgher has been dubbed as the “Super Bowl” of super late model dirt racing in Western Pa. The race has held local importance, but on Saturday, the 35th annual competition at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway (PPMS) in Imperial will welcome a new heightened level of significance...

When the Commonwealth Clash A-Main rolled to green Tuesday night at Lernerville Speedway, it looked as if brothers-in-law and co-owners of the High Limit Sprint Car series, Brad Sweet and Kyle Larson, were going to have a duel for the win. But David Gravel and a treacherous cushion in turn...

With a large group of people around him, hoping for a picture or an autograph, Dale Earnhardt Jr. walked along the front of the grandstands at Lernerville Speedway. It was a major moment in the long, storied history of the Buffalo Township racetrack, and it brought out a standing-­room-only crowd....

Fans will again swarm a racetrack to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. Though he won’t be returning to racing, the 26-time NASCAR Cup Series winner will likely draw quite a crowd Tuesday night at Lernerville Speedway. He will attend the $50,000-to-win Commonwealth Clash as part of the High Limit Sprint Car...