Josh Rizzo stories, Page 19
Shaler grad Colleen ‘Chaos’ Davis develops into ‘boxer with attitude’
Colleen “Chaos” Davis initially saw her entrance into boxing as a way to channel her aggression as a teenager. But when Davis went from a more fitness-oriented routine to a professional mindset, there were changes that had to be made. Davis, 33, felt like she already had a few pieces...
Penn Hills Midget Football Association going strong
Penn Hills Midget Football Association CEO James Bradley has seen plenty of action at Turner Friendship Park this summer. Bradley, who works to help maintain the football field in addition to other volunteer duties, has been amazed by the increased attendance at the park after a splash pad was installed...
New technology approved for high school softball, but Fox Chapel isn’t buying in just yet
Fox Chapel softball coach Chris Olbrich doesn’t anticipate being among the first teams to use the one-way communication devices given the go-ahead nationally. The National Federation of State High School Associations approved a rule change in early July that would allow high school softball coaches to use one-way communication devices...
3 Pittsburgh Elite teams headed to NFL’s flag football national championships
The Pittsburgh Elite flag football team will be well-represented at the NFL Flag National Championships on July 18-21 in Canton, Ohio. Three of the organization’s travel teams, the 9U, 12U and 13U teams, all won regional championships. The organization, which runs an in-house league that plays at Linton Middle School,...
Fox Chapel girls basketball coach pleased to host summer league
Marty Matvey has the tools at his disposal to be ambitious when it comes to the Fox Chapel girls basketball team’s summer league. The Foxes coach is appreciative of how the district supports his desire to grow what has become a burgeoning fall and summer league for basketball players looking...
Penn Hills’ new boys soccer coach Kevin Truman seeks to make impact beyond the pitch
Kevin Truman would like to win soccer games when he takes over as head coach of the Penn Hills boys soccer team this fall. However, Truman believes his job will go beyond what happens in the field. Truman, who is the senior pastor at McKeesport Alliance Church and has five...
Fox Chapel notebook: David Fuhrer captures C.R. Miller Memorial Match Play Invitational
David Fuhrer didn’t have it easy. But after five playoff holes, Fuhrer won something several other family members accomplished last Wednesday at Fox Chapel Golf Club. Fuhrer, a Fox Chapel graduate and incoming freshman at George Mason, became the third member of his family to win the C.R. Miller Memorial...
Enthusiasm growing in Fox Chapel football program
Dave Leasure saw a referendum on how the Fox Chapel community was responding to the rebuilding process. During the early part of summer, Leasure said the high school program saw more kids come out for workouts and commit to playing than last year. During Leasure’s first summer in charge, he...
Penn Hills Eagles track club runner smashes record, leads contingent to regional meet
Londyn Tomman was nervous and excited for the USATF Three Rivers Championship at Slippery Rock University. The uncertainty of an event with such a deep field of competitors was an exciting challenge for her. Sure, it’s possible to do some research with many club teams posting times and information online....
Shaler grad Anthony Venezia building toward professional career in boxing
Anthony Venezia dreamed of being a professional athlete. Venezia’s initial hope was that he could carve out a path to Major League Baseball. While Venezia was a solid college player at Cal (Pa.), he found out baseball wasn’t going to take him there. Instead, Venezia picked up boxing in October...
Penn Hills Eagles track club looks forward to regional, national competitions
Penn Hills Eagles track and field coach Chuck Carter knows from experience that the young athletes in his program respond well to any weather conditions. Having to train and compete in the recent heat wave won’t dampen their spirits at all. “The kids just like summer, there’s something about it,”...
Shady Side Academy’s Chelsea Hartman, Fox Chapel’s Rowan Gwin test mettle at New Balance nationals
The strategy for the transition from high school to college track wasn’t going to be one that Shady Side Academy track coach Jeff Perlis wanted Chelsea Hartman to take lightly. Competing at the New Balances Outdoor Nationals was a good first step toward adjusting to Brown University. Hartman competed in...
64-year-old Penn Hills boxer ‘Papa Chainsaw’ scores easy win in Atlantic City
Paul VanDale was honored to have a fight night held in Oakmont for his celebrity boxing match. Vinnie’s Tavern, owned by VanDale’s sponsor, the John Keefe Restaurant Group, hung a banner outside and showed his match on its televisions. VanDale, a Penn Hills resident also known by his ring name...
Already honored for soccer, Fox Chapel grad makes conference all-decade team in lacrosse too
Fox Chapel graduate Jessie Thiessen was honored to be named to the North Coast Athletic Conference 40th anniversary all-decade team in two sports. Thiessen, who played lacrosse and soccer, starred for both teams during a busy four years at Allegheny. Thiessen, a 2017 graduate, was chosen for the award, which...
Shady Side Academy senior overcomes injuries to cap career with state track gold
Chelsea Hartman wanted to run more, but she wasn’t sure if her body would allow it. The Shady Side Academy senior was plagued by chronic pain during her freshman and sophomore seasons. First, Hartman battled shin splints. Then, she dealt with stress fractures in her feet. But Hartman persisted, winning...
Fox Chapel graduate Zoe Skirboll sets big goals at Olympic swimming trials
Zoe Skirboll feels fortunate to have the weight of the University of Virginia swim program behind her as she prepared for the U.S. Olympic team trials this weekend in Indianapolis. The Fox Chapel graduate and Cavaliers swimmer feels she will be more prepared for the competition than when she competed...
Swimming standouts named Penn Hills athletes of the year
Luke Hoolahan saw the academic and athletic part of being a student at Penn Hills High School go hand in hand. Hoolahan played soccer, swam and was a member of the boys volleyball team. Thanks to his all-around effort, Hoolahan was named school’s male athlete of the year. Hoolahan, who...
Girls soccer team’s WPIAL title run highlights year in Fox Chapel sports
The Fox Chapel girls soccer team never stopped pushing each other. The Foxes were blessed with a freshman class that featured many players who could immediately battle for spots. Despite finishing in third place in a competitive Section 1-4A race, Fox Chapel caught fire in the postseason to bring a...
Relay team’s scratch keeps Penn Hills hurdler from claiming state medal
Penn Hills senior hurdler Achan Green did what he needed to do. After attending the prom Thursday night, Green’s dad drove him to the PIAA Class 3A state track meet at Shippensburg University on the Friday before Memorial Day. While Green grabbed the last qualifying spot in the finals of...
Coach proud of Penn Hills fitness team’s 2nd-place finish at nationals
Bob Martini can’t properly condense the words needed to describe how he feels about the Penn Hills fitness team this year. The Indians set a goal of being national champions at the Marine Physical Fitness National Champions in Little Rock, Ark. Penn Hills didn’t quite reach the top, but Martini...
Fox Chapel’s Rowan Gwin part of WPIAL distance running dominance at state meet
Rowan Gwin learned from experience when planning his race strategy in the 1,600-meter run during the PIAA Class 3A Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University. Butler senior Drew Griffith is one of the greatest distance runners to ever come out of Western Pennsylvania. Gwin didn’t want to burn himself...
Fox Chapel team savors trip to national rowing finals
A rowing machine was always located in Fox Chapel sophomore Niko Vavpetic’s basement. But he didn’t know much about his dad’s time competing while he was attended Harvard. When Vavpetic showed an interest, his dad worked with him to help keep him on track for success in competition. So far,...
Perseverant Penn Hills sends contingent of runners to state meet
Paris Bey, Tymere Alston, Tindah Mofor and Achan Green came together as a strong 1,600-meter relay team during the South Fayette Invitational in late April. When they put up a time of 4 minutes, 28 seconds during their first race together, Indians coach Lee Zelkowitz was excited to see what...
Penn Hills notebook: Fitness competitor wins back-to-back national titles
Jadyn Wright continues to build on the legacy he has created on the Penn Hills fitness team. When Wright went to the Marine Corps Youth Physical Fitness National Championship in Little Rock, Ark., he once again brought home top honors. Wright finished slightly short of a perfect score while capturing...
Fox Chapel track goes above and beyond at WPIAL meet
Anna Troutman could have made a few more attempts to extend her winning height at the WPIAL Class 3A championships. But with Troutman as the only competitor left and the rough conditions that day in Slippery Rock, she was halted at 5 feet, 5 inches, which gave the Fox Chapel...
