Josh Rizzo stories, Page 34
After cutting it close on the tee, Penn Hills’ Lucy Brayton earns spot in PIAA field
Lucy Brayton received no practice swings, little time to relax on the putting green or time to find her focus. When Brayton’s mom pulled up in front of the first tee at Valley Brook Country Club, Lucy only had time to hop out, grab her clubs and head over to...
Penn Hills notebook: Lucy Brayton plays her way into WPIAL girls golf final round
Penn Hills senior Lucy Brayton earned a spot in the WPIAL Class 3A girls golf championship at Valleybrook Country Club. Brayton shot an 83 in the first round Sept. 26 at Youghigheny County Club to sit in sixth place heading into the final round at Valleybrook Country Club on Monday,...
Junior embraces competition, camaraderie of cross country
Sawyer Kinney can usually see the people he races against are feeling what he is feeling. After crossing the finish line, Kinney sees, and emphasizes with, the suffering. The Penn Hills junior cross country runner feels those moments are what build camaraderie in the sport. “I love cross country and...
After growing up in program, Lola Abraham becomes Riverview’s all-time leading scorer
When Nikki Polens went down for a pushup, Lola Abraham was clinging to her back. When Polens did situps, Abraham would be sitting on her stomach. Lola’s dad Sean Abraham coached Riverview’s junior high team and was an assistant for the Raiders varsity squad when Polens went through the program....
Shaler volleyball looks to continue success against new section opponents
Annie Bozzo was pleased to have a fresh start when taking over the Shaler girls volleyball program. The Titans, who lost six seniors from a team that finished 17-3 and made the PIAA Class 4A semifinals last season, were moved into a new section in realignment. Instead of being in...
With Haley Kostorick back, Shaler girls soccer has new enthusiasm
A year off has served Shaler soccer player Haley Kostorick well. Reinvigorated by time off to focus on basketball, the Clarion commit decided she wanted to give soccer another go during her senior season. “It was a last-minute decision,” Kostorick said. “I went up to Clarion, loved it there and...
Dedication pays off for Penn Hills’ Daemar Kelly with commitment to Quinnipiac
The transformation of Penn Hills senior guard Daemar Kelly wasn’t something that happened overnight. Long days and nights in the gym allowed the 6-foot-5 Indians senior guard to slowly progress into being a strong all-around basketball player. Kelly made his college choice last week, selecting Quinnipiac over Rider, Robert Morris...
Penn Hills heats up behind strong play from offensive, defensive lines
By the second half of a Week Zero loss to Seneca Valley, the Penn Hills football team appeared to be putting everything together. The Indians were running the ball better and thought they would be primed to succeed in short order. The Indians reeled off three straight wins — including...
Crossfit competitors value camaraderie at 13th annual Patriot Brawl
Sonny Litwiler doesn’t give himself the excuse of not being able to do his Crossfit training. Since classes run all day, the Northern Regional Police Officer can always find time for a workout. Due to the nature of shift work, Litwiler also usually can count on someone else holding him...
Multi-sport athlete holds her own at No. 1 singles on Penn Hills tennis team
Talia Russell knows when she glances across the net at her opponent on the tennis court, every match will be a challenge. Russell, who is a senior and the Penn Hills girls tennis team’s No. 1 singles player, doesn’t have nearly as much experience as many of her opponents. “It’s...
Penn Hills notebook: Girls soccer team learning on job
Inexperience has made the early season difficult for the Penn Hills girls soccer team. The Indians had to drop right into the snakepit that is WPIAL Section 3-3A play without any nonsection games to warm up. The Indians, who lost 7-0 to three-time defending WPIAL runner-up Plum on Wednesday night...
Penn Hills girls tennis team welcomes tough competition
Life isn’t easy for any Penn Hills girls tennis player taking over the No. 1 singles spot. With a team often as inexperienced as the Indians tend to be, there are a lot of potential pitfalls in a section with several deep teams. Talia Russell has stepped into that role...
Penn Hills boys soccer looking to stay on even keel
Entering a season with high expectations has the Penn Hills boys soccer team trying to reign in its emotions in the early going. The Indians were scheduled to enter a Section 3-3A match with Penn-Trafford last Thursday missing two of their top attacking players, neither due to injuries. Penn Hills...
Penn Hills notebook: Te’Shan Campbell joins coaching staff at Michigan State
Former Penn Hills wrestler Te’Shan Campbell will once again be involved with collegiate wrestling. Campbell, a 2015 PIAA champion at 170 pounds with the Indians, will join Michigan State’s coaching staff as a volunteer assistant. “Te’Shan brings a lot of experience as a competitor and as a coach,” Michigan State...
Penn Hills working out kinks in early part of season
Penn Hills kicker Owen Williams did what he had to do when a snap went sailing over his head during the Indians’ season opener Aug. 26 at NexTier Stadium. With less than 10 seconds left before halftime, Williams booted the football off the ground and through the back of the...
With experienced roster, Penn Hills volleyball ready to shake things up
The makeup of the Penn Hills girls volleyball team has Jay Mitlo approaching the upcoming season differently than in seasons past. Mitlo, who is in his 25th season as head coach, will be mixing and matching his lineups throughout the season. That versatility will allow him to have girls serve...
New Penn Hills girls soccer coach looks to keep pushing forward
Myron Cook is excited about the challenge in front of him. The longtime assistant coach of the Penn Hills girls soccer program is moving into the top job at a time when the program is trending in an upward direction. The challenge for Cook, who was an assistant coach for...
New coach focuses on fundamentals, teamwork at Summit Academy
Anthony Becoate thought this was the right time to take his first job as a head coach. The McKeesport and Clarion graduate had previously coached junior varsity football at Summit Academy seven years ago but took time away from coaching after having a child. Stepping back into coaching by taking...
Father-son coach-quarterback duo out to earn elusive playoff win for Chartiers-Houston
Terry Fetsko Jr. started in Chartiers-Houston’s program as a ballboy. Often Fetsko would travel with the team coached by his dad, who is in his 18th year as coach, to see away games. Playing quarterback for the program, as Fetsko did last season, was a nice honor. “I was always...
Victory at CrossFit Games culmination of recovery for Penn-Trafford grad Charles Pienaar
Charles Pienaar and his wife Stephanie attended the CrossFit Games together in 2021 just for their enjoyment. The trip turned into a motivational one. After watching a few events, Stephanie turned to Charles and said you should do this. Pienaar, a 2003 Penn-Trafford graduate, was eager to take on the...
Deer Lakes grad Brett Horchar named Fittest Man on Earth at CrossFit Games
Competing in the CrossFit Games doesn’t provide a clearly defined path for athletes. Brett Horchar, who competed in the men’s neuromuscular division, knows that Crossfit is always working to involve what fitness means. Being able to find different ways to work out is a perfect challenge for Horchar, who was...
Top runners on Penn Hills cross country team set for competitive season
Austin Stuchul and Sawyer Kinney went east to make improvements for the Penn Hills cross country team this fall. Attending a cross country camp at Shippensburg University provided both runners with a tremendous amount of perspective. When the team practices started for the fall, Indians coach Lee Zelkowitz saw the...
Imani Christian to pick up pace with coach LaRoi Johnson back
Producing a winning football program at Imani Christian isn’t an impossible dream. Coach LaRoi Johnson knows it because he was there in 2017. The Saints finished a point away from grabbing the WPIAL Class A crown from eventual state champion Jeannette. Things have changed since Johnson, who was the offensive...
Penn Hills’ Lucy Brayton aims for trip to PIAA golf championships
Lucy Brayton spent all summer getting ready for another shot at the PIAA Class 3A golf tournament. The Penn Hills senior was fuming after a slow start on the back nine doomed her performance at the WPIAL Class 3A championship at Hannastown Golf Club. Brayton shot a 8-over par 80...
Penn Hills boys soccer ready to build on 1st playoff appearance in 17 years
Finishing last season on a strong note has had a lasting impact on the Penn Hills boys soccer team. Energized by their first WPIAL playoff appearance in 17 years, the Indians’ players spent the offseason participating in several tournaments to build up more experience. About a month ago, Penn Hills...
