Josh Rizzo stories, Page 46
Shaler girls soccer sticks together through difficult season
Sticking together was the most important concept for the Shaler Area girls soccer team this season. Not a lot of things went right for the Titans. When Ashley Venezia scored Oct. 10 in Shaler’s 1-0 win over North Hills at Martorelli Stadium, it was a big lift. Jocelyn Schwartz made...
Shaler boys soccer sets tone with strong finish to season
If everything breaks a certain way, Shaler Area boys soccer coach Adam Hunter could see the program dropping to Class AAA when the WPIAL determines the next two-year enrollment cycle in November. Even if the Titans have to stay up and trade punches with the AAAA heavyweights, Hunter believes how...
North Allegheny’s Walter upholds lofty girls golf standards
Isabella Walter continued the legacy of North Allegheny girls golf program by putting in overtime. Fortunately for the Tigers senior golfer, she was well-equipped for a playoff. Walter won the Class AAA championship Oct. 2 at Diamond Run Golf Course by winning a two-hole playoff with Fox Chapel’s Nina Busch....
Shaler Area girls volleyball finding stride, clinches playoff spot
Developing a more unpredictable offense was the focus for the Shaler Area girls volleyball team. The Titans didn’t have one standout hitter who would carry the offense. Developing a diversified approach took time but led to Shaler putting together a winning streak that culminated in a WPIAL Class 4A playoff...
Shaler football stays in WPIAL playoff race
Shaler Area senior running back Jake Miller appreciates how the Titans handle adversity. While there have been bumps in the road for the Titans, Shaler has found ways to bounce back. Most recently, the Titans rebounded from a Northern Conference loss to Mars by pasting Armstrong, 46-13, on Oct. 4....
Attacking style has North Catholic girls soccer in line for share of section title
Emily Karr wasn’t sure what to expect after a year away from the North Catholic girls soccer program. Karr had an idea of what she wanted the Trojanettes to do when she returned as coach. “I went into the season with the style I like to play,” Karr said. “We...
Fall tournament win provides spark for Shaler softball
Tom Sorce would have liked it if the Shaler Area softball team started the season right after the Battle of the Boulevard Tournament ended last week. The Titans coach was pleased with what he saw from the team at the event hosted by Avonworth. Shaler lost once, a 4-2 decision...
With experience, Shaler hockey team able to add to gameplan
Shaler Area hockey coach Steve Stayduhar enjoyed this offseason much more than the last one. Instead of worrying about how he would would guide a Titans’ roster which lacked numbers or experience, Stayduhar was able to work on more complex subjects. Some of those intricacies showed up in Shaler’s opener,...
Internal competition fuels North Allegheny hockey team
Mike Bagnato has 23 players who he considers varsity performers. The North Allegheny coach has all the members of that group practice together, attend team functions and train to help form the program’s culture. During the Tigers’ season-opener Oct. 10 against Mt. Lebanon at the Baierl Ice Complex, three members...
Seneca Valley girls volleyball moves into playoff position
Brett Poirier’s time as interim coach of the Seneca Valley girls volleyball team came following an interesting season for the Raiders. For the first time in Poirier’s seven seasons with the program, Seneca Valley missed the playoffs last year. Poirier, who is serving as interim coach as Karen Martini recovers...
Shaler notebook: Girls golf team eager to build on successful season
The Shaler Area girls golf team isn’t a program that will have to do much soul searching after this season. Second-year Titans coach David Lapmarado already has players willing to give back after the best season in program history. “I’ve had interest from the seniors, Darian Lees and Dana Wolf,...
Shaler cross country trying to peak at right time
Justin Eskra has tried to carefully build up several Shaler Area athletes to make a run for qualifying for the PIAA Class AAA championships. By altering training, entering new races and setting up specific workout plans, the school’s cross country coach wanted to make sure everyone was on the right...
Shaler tennis team, top player Kayli Hannan savor success
Kayli Hannan’s second go-round as the Shaler Area girls tennis team’s top singles player hasn’t lacked for excitement. After being moved into the role midway through last season, the Titans senior has endured a ferocious learning curve. Hannan leaned on her experience during the Section 3-AAA singles tournament last week...
North Allegheny cross country teams narrow focus as big meets loom
For the North Allegheny cross country team, competing at the PIAA Foundation Meet is a nice primer for a program that always has high expectations. Last season, North Allegheny won the meet at the Hershey Parkview cross country site and went on to become the first program in PIAA history...
Shaler girls golf team making big strides
David Lapmarado has tangible evidence of the success of the Shaler Area girls golf program which goes beyond wins and losses. Not that the Titans are lacking in that area. With a 203-201 road win Sept. 5 over Shady Side Academy, Shaler (4-2, 4-2) equaled its win total from last...
Shaler soccer coach preaches patience
Adam Hunter doesn’t want the Shaler Area boys soccer team to be too frustrated. While the Titans coach knows the results haven’t been there early in the season, he believes they are on the horizon. Shaler has been limited to two goals over its first five games. “I keep reassuring...
Defense guiding North Allegheny to fast start
Attempting to grind out a victory against North Allegheny football would be ill-advised. Behind an aggressive defense, the Tigers have snuffed out opposing offenses in three straight victories to start the season. North Allegheny, which snuck by Central Catholic, 11-10, on Sept. 6 at Shaler, has recorded two shutouts and...
Peterson powers Shaler volleyball to successful start
Emily Peterson isn’t expecting to make the list of the WPIAL’s hardest hitters. What the Shaler Area junior middle blocker is hoping to carve out a reputation for is being efficient. The Titans are hoping Peterson can be part of a developing middle that will add another weapon to their...
Offensive line combination builds strong foundation for Shaler Area
Shaler Area coach Jim Ryan received a call from a few of his assistant during an early portion of training camp. They felt a solution to how to assemble the Titans’ offensive line was available. Shaler had two returning starters — Nevin Summerfield and Austin McKaveney — and a lot...
North Allegheny volleyball sets sights on championship 3-peat
Heidi Miller isn’t looking three or four months down the road. Still, the North Allegheny girls volleyball coach had no choice but to mention what the program is looking to try to accomplish. The Tigers’ program has set the standard too high over the past two seasons, winning back-to-back WPIAL...
Shaler cross country wants to continue program’s growth
Years of rebuilding the middle school cross country program started to show progress at the varsity level for Shaler Area last season. After a five-year absence, the Titans had two runners — Samantha Hennen and Dalton Kalbaugh — reach the PIAA Class AAA championships. While neither earned a medald, Hennen,...
Shaler tennis tandem playing beyond its years
Julia Ehrenberger’s tennis career wasn’t born out of passion from watching the game growing up. Far from it. The Shaler Area sophomore grew to like the sport two years ago after attending a summer camp at the behest of her mother. “I didn’t want to. My mom forced me to...
North Allegheny notebook: Girls soccer goes after 4th third straight playoff berth
North Allegheny girls soccer won’t be lacking for firepower when it begins its quest for a third straight WPIAL Class AAAA playoff berth. The Tigers, who opened the season last Friday against perennial power Mars at Newman Stadium, bring back plenty from a team that advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals...
North Allegheny boys soccer sets goal: Section championship
Losing players to graduation is something North Allegheny boys soccer coach Bobby Vosmaer has to deal with annually. What makes things easier is the depth the program consistently produces. While North Allegheny lost starting goalkeeper Devon Angermeier from last season, the Tigers have three potential replacements Vosmaer believe can help...
Defense comes 1st for Shaler girls soccer team
Craig Wilkins doesn’t want to see the Shaler Area girls soccer team dragged into high-scoring affairs. Trying to match the scoring output of the stalwarts of Section 1-4A would leave the Titans in deep waters. What the second-year Shaler coach would like to see is a team more focused on...
