Josh Rizzo stories, Page 20
Fox Chapel rowers develop chemistry, qualify for nationals
There are a lot of things that Lucas Gravina enjoys about rowing. When the Fox Chapel senior competes for the club team, he feels a sense of belonging with the people who share the boat. This year, Gravina qualified for the Scholastic Rowing Association of America National Championships in Pennsauken,...
Shaler grad travels difficult path to success with Westminster women’s lacrosse
Jade Hromanik held her hand out so her friend’s family’s dog would feel comfortable. But the dog didn’t stay cool. The chaotic seconds that followed left everyone scrambling. The dog leaped forward, biting Hromanik on the arms and legs. Hromanik needed assistance to pull the dog off her. The Westminster...
Penn Hills boys volleyball team sees wins on horizon
Junior setter Anthony Collins is encouraged about the future of the Penn Hills volleyball team. The Indians didn’t get the results they wanted this season, but Collins is encouraged about the potential growth for the next crop of kids coming up through the program. “They are promising. A few did...
Penn Hills notebook: Hurdler gets redemption with WPIAL gold
Achan Green’s redemption story happened right at Slippery Rock University on May 15. Green missed out on qualifying for states last year due to an injury he suffered at the WPIAL Class 3A track championships. But Green was healthy this year and took advantage while competing at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Green...
Shaler athletes find their niche on track team
Hannah Sahr and Liam Kelley started track and field with an idea of what events they thought they may like. But the Shaler juniors both adjusted once they got some hands-on experience. Hannah Sahr wanted to be a distance runner like her cousin, Cheyenne. Kelley wasn’t sure what events he...
Fox Chapel thrower fights through finger injury to get his hands on PIAA berth
Mason Miles never stopped looking for ways to be more comfortable. The Fox Chapel senior was injured during the first track meet of the season, hyperextending his finger when throwing the shot put. “My pointer finger hyperextended, and I decided to push through the meet,” Miles said. “I kept doing...
Defense helps Fox Chapel boys lacrosse to playoff win
The Fox Chapel boys lacrosse team didn’t stray from what allowed it to advance to the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. During the first round against Norwin, the Foxes leaned on their defense to collect a 10-7 victory and move on to the quarterfinals. Fox Chapel only allowed 54 goals during...
Top performers for Penn Hills track team aim to peak at right time
Strategy was at the forefront of the last-chance meet for Penn Hills track and field. Entering the race, coach Lee Zelkowitz said the Indians were not only hoping to qualify more athletes. Zelkowitz said he wanted to see his top performers improve their seed time to get into faster heats...
Penn Hills notebook: Basketball alumnus Daemar Kelly heads to St. Francis
Daemar Kelly was a 1,000- point scorer and catalyst for the Penn Hills boys basketball team that won the Class 5A WPIAL championship. After a year at Quinnipiac, Kelly announced he would be transferring. Kelly recently announced he will be playing for St. Francis (Pa.) in the Northeast Conference. The...
Fox Chapel distance runner makes big strides in 3,200-meter run
Nicky Clump wasn’t intimidated by sliding his way through the pack at the start of races when he started with distance running. Ever since Clump can remember, he would go out running with his dad, David “Andy” Clump. Andy ran while attending high school in Doddridge County, W.Va., and continued...
Fox Chapel softball adjusts to speed of game to earn playoff berth
Fox Chapel’s young softball team passed the first major test of the season by qualifying for the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. The Foxes were then fortunate to have several nonsection tests against quality opposition to end the regular season. Fox Chapel (7-9 overall, 4-6 Section 1-5A) won two of three...
Penn Hills graduate sets example for this year’s softball team
Yasmine Logan was one of the more comfortable visiting players at Varabedian Field in Oakland when Ohio University came to town to take on Pitt softball. Logan, a Penn Hills graduate, was supported by a large contingent of Indians softball players who made the short trek down to the stadium....
3-sport path leads Fox Chapel senior to college lacrosse
Isaac Jacobs’ plan was to become a three-sport athlete. Lacrosse was going to be just one of those three for the Fox Chapel senior. When Jacobs committed to John Carroll University to play men’s lacrosse, he knew he was going to have to keep working to be able to get...
After navigating section grind, Fox Chapel baseball heads into playoffs with experience
Coach James Hastings knows that every game the Fox Chapel baseball team plays is going to be a grind in Section 1-5A. The fact that WPIAL baseball changed its scheduling a few years back to make those games back-to-back like a series added to the challenge. It now isn’t possible...
Penn Hills baseball looking to string hits together
Purchasing new equipment has helped the Penn Hills baseball team raise its collective batting average. If the Indians want to build on that success and win games, they will have to string those hits together. Penn Hills has only produced 23 runs in its first 11 games. “We have quite...
Penn Hills junior finds unexpected success in long jump
Ronald Porter didn’t think much about the long jump at first. Entering his first track and field season at Penn Hills, the junior wanted to help get his time in the 100 dash down to earn bragging rights with his football teammates. But Indians coach Lee Zelkowiz and his staff...
Plum girls lacrosse picks up pace, improves playoff positioning
The Plum girls lacrosse team has made adjustments as the season has progressed. When the Mustangs’ young attacks needed time to grow into their roles, Plum counted on its upperclassmen to help carry the fight in the midfield. The Mustangs have been scoring at an impressive clip this season. While...
Fox Chapel notebook: Track team collects medals at Butler Invitational
The Fox Chapel track team made the most of its trip to the 59th annual Butler Invitational. The Foxes had a healthy number of athletes earn top three finishes and get a boost of confidence. Both of Fox Chapel’s returning state qualifiers — Anna Troutman and Claire Conti — had...
WWE wrestler’s father, 64, ready to get back into boxing ring
Paul Vandale is nimble as he bounds through the ropes at Gloria’s Boxing Gym at the Monroeville Mall. The 64-year-old Penn Hills resident is full of energy, and confidence, as he bounces around the ring shadow boxing while sporting a black cut-off shirt with white lettering in the center featuring...
Penn Hills rugby program adds girls team
Matt Rosemeyer has consistently worked over the past few years to develop the rugby community in Penn Hills. The Big Red rugby team has added another wrinkle this season. Penn Hills now has a girls team for the first time. The Big Red girls will be participating in 7s, instead...
Girls flag football catching on at Shaler
The Shaler girls flag football team may not have everything figured out quite yet this season, but its all part of the process as coach Rob Heinrich helps the program adjust to rule changes. Flag football changed this season, going from a five-on-five competition to seven-on-seven. Heinrich started to get...
Fox Chapel grad reaching goals on Saint Vincent golf team
Brevin Urso put himself in position for a strong finish to his senior season during the fall. With how the Presidents’ Athletic Conference men’s golf championship is set up, one round is played in the fall while the other two are played in April. Urso, a Fox Chapel Area graduate...
Fox Chapel notebook: Golfing grad playing well for High Point
Gregory Meyer built up a nice wave of momentum heading into the Big South Championships. The Fox Chapel graduate closed the regular season with a strong performance at the Stitch Intercollegiate at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh. Meyer led High Point by finishing in a tie for 21st...
Penn Hills athletic director lauded for volleyball career by Juniata College hall of fame
Steph Strauss’ time at Juniata College had a large impact on her post-college life. But someone had to convince the 2007 Penn Hills graduate to head out east. Current Eagles volleyball coach Heather Pavlik, who was an assistant to Larry Brock at the time, felt like they needed more after...
Penn Hills junior not your average 3-sport athlete
Practicing for the Penn Hills physical fitness team is the easiest for Amaree’ Freeman. He can work out anytime with a pull-up bar and some weights in his basement. Attempting to practice his other two sports indoors would be reckless at best. The Penn Hills junior is a three-sport athlete,...
