Squeglia hired at Seton-La Salle

Dennis Squeglia, who guided the Peters Township girls basketball team to its best season, has finally resurfaced in the coaching ranks. Squeglia was recently hired as the girls basketball coach at Seton-La Salle High School.

Squeglia coached Peters Township from 2004-08 and helped turn the Indians into a WPIAL Class AAAA regular during his tenure. During the 2007-08 season, his last with the Indians, Peters Township beat Mt. Lebanon in the WPIAL semifinals to advance to its first championship game. The win over Mt. Lebanon, which was the Blue Devlis last loss to a WPIAL team, ranks as the biggest win in PT girls basketball history.

The Indians eventually advanced to the PIAA second round where they lost to Schenley.

Squeglia regularly attended basketball games at Peters Township after his coaching tenure and told me the past year that he expected to return to coaching when the proper opportunity presented itself.

He takes over a Seton-La Salle team that reached the past two WPIAL Class AA championships. The Rebels were 57-25 the past three years under coach Bryan Bennett.

Marquette severs ties with former Strawberry Mansion standout

Devonte "DJ" Newbill wasn't the best player on the court the day South Fayette upended Strawberry Mansion for the PIAA Class AA championship – that honor belongs to Lions point guard Pat Zedreck – but Newbill certainly was the most heralded.

Shortly after South Fayette's 49-47 win, Newbill signed a letter of intent with Marquette. The school recently told Newbill he was no longer wanted.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Did-Marquette-put-winning-before-ethics-by-cutti?urn=ncaab,252690

2010 All-State Softball Team

2010 PSBCA All-State Softball Teams
Class AAAA
FIRST TEAM
P — Geena Badolato, Sr, Mt. Lebanon
P — Fran Carrullo, Jr, Central Bucks South
P — Lauren Walker, Jr, Central York
C — Caryn Bailey, Soph, Elizabethtown
C — Chelsy Cosentino, Sr, Kiski Area
INF — Lauren Alcorn, Sr, Lower Dauphin
INF — Tess Apke, Jr, Mt. Lebanon
INF — D'Anna Devine, Jr, Pennsbury
INF — Sara Rasley, Jr, Easton
OUT — Dior George, Jr, Bethlehem Liberty
OUT — Megan Kelly, Sr, Hatboro-Horsham
OUT — Amanda McCann, Sr, Upper Darby
Off. Pitcher — Samantha Derr, Sr, Warwick

SECOND TEAM
P — Jess Epler, Jr, Governor Mifflin
P — Alexa Larkin, Jr, Latrobe
P — Caroline Raymond, Sr, Downingtown West
C — Chelsea Edwards, Sr, Hatboro-Horsham
C — Morgan Noad, Soph, Conestoga
INF — Courtney Clee, Jr, Neshaminy
INF — Morgan Decker, Soph, Central Bucks South
INF — Cassie Show, Sr, Connellsville
INF — Chelsea Siar, Sr, Shaler
OUT — Lindsey Mastro, Jr, Nazareth
OUT — Kelli Rohan, Jr, McDowell
OUT — Mary Schlosbon, Sr, Garnet Valley
Off. Pitcher — Taylor Henry, Soph, Central Dauphin

HONORABLE MENTION
P — Katie Dunkleberger, Soph, Elizabethtown; Emily Estep, Sr, Chambersburg; Kelly Goslin, Sr, Coatesville; Shelby Kline, Sr, State College; Anna Lauterbach, Soph, Baldwin; Sarah McGowan, Jr, Neshaminy; Kate Poppe, Soph, Bishop Shanahan; Melissa Robinson, Sr, St. Hubert; Kait Schilling, Sr, Pennsbury; Maggie Shaffer, Soph, Hatboro-Horsham; Katie Zak, Sr, Waynesboro; C — Maria Ficca, Sr, Bishop Shanahan; Lauren Hackett, Soph, Shaler; Molly Hepner, Sr, Downingtown West; Amy McCaffrey, Sr, Upper Dublin; Erin Quense, Sr, Neshaminy; Nicole Spina, Sr, Garnet Valley; Miranda Sergas, Sr, North Penn; INF — Casey Alcorn, Soph, Lower Dauphin; Megan Baker, Soph, Waynesboro; Alyssa Bates, Soph, Hempfield (Greensburg); Morgan Booth, Sr, Stroudsburg; Kelsey Cunningham, Sr, Peters Township; Alicia DeSanto, Sr, Upper Darby; Hilary Dilsaver, Sr, Nazareth; Kristen Focht, Sr, Allen; Kirsten Glantz, Sr, State College; Mariah Keener, Soph, Elizabethtown; Alex Kissinger, Sr, Governor Mifflin; Meghan Kozusko, Sr, Latrobe; Mallory Lyons, Sr, Coatesville; Eavan Matz, Sr, Delaware Valley; Jess Norris, Sr, Spring-Ford; Elizabeth Odrin, Sr, Avon Grove; Bre Ord, Jr, Warwick; Taylor Pattillo, Jr, Chambersburg; Erica Ragazzone, Fr, St. Hubert; Sarah Schwalm, Jr, Central Dauphin; Haileigh Stocks, Soph, Central Bucks South; Bre Tongel, Sr, Mt. Lebanon; Candice Van Horn, Jr, Hazleton; Cassie Wagman, Sr, Spring Grove; Mary Ward, Sr, North Penn; OUT — Sami Ashley, Jr, Emmaus; Gina Goss, Sr, Shaler; Shari Lynne Kluth, Jr, Norristown; Dani Miller, Jr, Waynesboro; Mandi Shearer, Sr, Elizabethtown; Kaylee Werner, Jr, Chambersburg; Kirsten Wilcox, Sr, DuBois; Off. Pitcher — Elizabeth Mack, Jr, New Oxford

Class AAA
FIRST TEAM
P — Erica Cipolloni, Sr, Nazareth Academy
P — Brooke Koch, Sr, Jersey Shore
P — Nicole Sleith, Jr, Yough
C — Jessica Bower, Sr, Jersey Shore
C — Kelsi Jordan, Sr, Conwell-Egan
INF — Brittany Smith, Sr, Bellefonte
INF — Jess Tate, Jr, Archbishop Wood
INF — Kasey Siegel, Sr. SS, Franklin Regional
INF — Haley Thomas, Soph, Northern York
OUT — Danielle Gomola, Sr, Bellefonte
OUT — Alicia Kukoda, Sr, West Chester East
OUT — Alyssa Lombardo, Jr, Saucon Valley
Off. Pitcher — Abbey Radic, Sr, Palmyra

SECOND TEAM
P — Krista Morrone, Jr, Palisades
P — Christy Von Pusch, Soph, Radnor
P — Ally Vrcek, Sr, Franklin Regional
C — Carly Mowen, Sr, Greencastle-Antrim
C — Katie Stevens, Jr, Abington Heights
INF — Nicole Blantz, Jr, Lampeter-Strasburg
INF — Stacey Capp, Fr, Montour
INF — Cory Ozanne, Soph, Southern Lehigh
INF — Christina Stathes, Sr, Bellefonte
OUT — Laura Gebhart, Jr, Donegal
OUT — Kristen Grimley, Sr, Merion Mercer Academy
OUT — Ashley Lorey, Sr, Titusville
Off. Pitcher — Molly Ferguson, Sr, Phoenixville

HONORABLE MENTION
P — Brianna Andraos, Soph, West Chester East; Autumn Appleby, Jr, Greencastle-Antrim; Chelsea Bock, Sr, Wilson (Easton); Kristan Baker, Jr, Dallas; Emily Dauberman, Sr, Bellefonte; Tara Klee, Fr, Hamburg; Kaitlyn Kutchman, Soph, Montour; Emily Lobdell, Sr, Warren; Calli Pastor, Soph, Big Spring; Lisa Seidler, Sr, Archbishop Wood; Katie Shaub, Sr, Muhlenberg; Alley Stine, Sr, Valley View; C – Stephanie Beck, Jr, Ambridge; Megan McCracken, Sr, James Buchanan; Katie O’Rourke, Sr, Palmyra; Liz Presto, Sr, Bethlehem Catholic; Sarah Seneca, Sr, Saucon Valley; Kelsey Squelch, Sr, Perry; Rachael Trupp, Sr, Muhlenberg; Jackie Wear, Sr, Northwestern Lehigh; INF — Allie Aikins, Soph, Sun Valley; Liz Aniska, Soph, Valley View; Mandi Baer, Sr, Daniel Boone; Alaynna Beers, Jr, Yough; Charlotte Conaway, Sr, Radnor; Erica DeVinney, Fr, Bellefonte; Ashley Dolan, Sr, Franklin Regional; Rebecca Glenn, Sr, Jersey Shore; Taylor Killian, Sr, Shippensburg; Madison Krebs, Soph, Milton; Emily Moran, Sr, Archbishop Prendergast; Ashley Morran, Sr, Trinity (Washington); Bre Pletnick, Sr, Villa Joseph Marie; Kaylee Poole, Sr, James Buchanan; Lexi Schwartzmiller, Jr, Chartiers Valley; Alex Stermel, Jr, Nazareth Academy; Sara Yoos, Soph, Archbishop Wood; OUT — Courtney Bauder, Jr, Jersey Shore; Sam LaCoe, Sr, Abington Heights; Evie Rentzel, Soph, Northern York; Kristina Scott, Jr, Hampton; Off. Pitcher — Kristin Beaty, Jr, Archbishop Carroll; Mary Cate Scott, Soph, Lansdale Catholic; Kelsey Hannold, Jr, Donegal; Kayla Haslett, Jr, Ambridge; Rachel Kline, Soph, Greencastle-Antrim; Alex Puckly, Jr, Corry

Class AA
FIRST TEAM
P — Sarah Bertoni, Jr, Nanticoke
P — Caitlin Nealer, Jr, Valley
P — Chelsea Rex, Jr, Philipsburg-Osceola
C — Amanda Cardone, Sr, Nanticoke
C — Taylor Harpster, Sr, Philipsburg-Osceola
INF — Kirstie Cortazzo, Sr, Jeannette
INF — Jordan Darchicourt, Jr, Boiling Springs
INF — Kelsey Gonder, Sr, Philipsburg-Osceola
INF — Jenn Harnischfeger, Sr, Nanticoke
OUT — Jessalyn Neatrour, Sr, Chestnut Ridge
OUT — Kelly Peter, Sr, Kutztown
OUT — Tamara Stubits, Jr, Northern Lehigh
Off. Pitcher — Kate Pratt, Sr, Troy

SECOND TEAM
P — Emily Crandell, Sr, Mifflinburg
P — Brooke Darling, Jr, Elk Lake
P — Hope Spancake, Sr, Pine Grove
C — Kassandra Atherton, Sr, Mount Union
C — Casey Bonk, Sr, Valley
INF — Cari Conway, Sr, Wilmington
INF — Sami Gow, Soph, Nanticoke
INF — Chasity Myers, Sr, Philipsburg-Osceola
INF — Erica Crawford, Sr, Wyalusing Valley
OUT — Samantha Bertasavage, Fr, Pine Grove
OUT — Jasa Mitchell, Sr, Bald Eagle Area
OUT — Jane Rogers, Soph, St. Pius X
Off. Pitcher — Sarah Dietrich, Sr, Upper Dauphin

HONORABLE MENTION
P — Emily Ashbridge, Jr, Masterman; Emily Detz, Jr, Columbia; Megan Greiss, Jr, Kutztown; Brianna Jennings, Jr, Wyalusing Valley; Jamie Kertes, Jr, Bishop Canevin; Rachelle Miller, Fr, Mohawk; Casey Moses, Jr, Burrell; Nikki Troisi, Jr, Kennedy-Kenrick; Julie Wagaman, Sr, Northern Lehigh; Alison Wickwire, Jr, Towanda; Porshia Wilson, Sr, Loyalsock; C — Amanda Daneker, Fr, Loyalsock; Cassie Ernst, Sr, Annville-Cleona; Leanda Helms, Sr, Brandywine Heights; Courtney Mattocks, Sr, Troy; Nikki Rzodkiewicz, Soph, Harbor Creek; INF — Lindsey Brown, Sr, Upper Dauphin; Brooke Clarke, Soph, Central Columbia; Cassi Conway, Sr, Wilmington; Paige Dennison, Soph, Bermudian Springs; Christiana Donofry, Jr, Notre Dame; Kayla Eiswerth, Sr, South Williamsport; Chelsea Evans, Sr, Riverside (Ellwood City); Amanda Light, Sr, Kennedy-Kenrick; Callie Markovich, Jr, Northwestern; Caitlin Martz, Jr, Central Columbia; Jennifer Nichols, Sr, Shipley; Taylor Parsons, Jr, Bald Eagle Area; Jenna Pollard, Sr, Fairview; Katie Reimer, Jr, Palmerton; Nina Spagnolo, Jr, Burrell; Taylor Swatsworth, Jr, Central Cambria; OUT — Kelsey Bonk, Soph, Valley; Diana Butash, Sr, Mid Valley; Emily Romeo, Jr, Wilmington; Off. Pitcher — Dana Achille, Fr, South Park; Emily Bosworth, Sr, Waynesburg; Kelsey Fuller, Sr, Northwestern; Ayla Gounder, Sr, South Fayette; Lindsey Lowrey, Jr, Juniata; Taylor Parker, Fr, Warrior Run

Class A
FIRST TEAM
P — Ronette Claar, Soph, Claysburg-Kimmel
P — Kiersten Conwell, Jr., Chartiers-Houston
P — Casey Drick, Sr, Montgomery
C — Gretchen Herzberger, Jr, Cochranton
C — Colby Miller, Soph, Chartiers-Houston
INF — Chrissy Belko, Sr, Old Forge
INF — Kayla Briggs, Fr, Chartiers-Houston
INF — Kelsey Carlsen, Soph, Northeast Bradford
INF — Christi Mauk, Sr, Claysburg-Kimmel
OUT — Hannah Cole, Soph, Muncy
OUT — Alyssa Molino, Sr, Montgomery
OUT — Ale Zozos, Sr, Vincentian
Off. Pitcher — Blaire Lauthers, Fr, Fannett-Metal

SECOND TEAM
P — Christine Henderson, Jr, Ligonier Valley
P — Nina Melvin, Sr, Vincentian
P — Haylie Phillips, Soph, Northeast Bradford
C — Lauren Sauerwein, Jr, Mount Alvernia
C — Kaitlyn Warzel, C, Montgomery
INF — Sara Clark, Sr, Curwensville
INF — Adrian McLane, Sr, York Tech
INF — Victoria Oberdorf, Sr, Leechburg
INF — Courtney Woodward, Jr, Line Mountain
OUT — Alysha Bixler, Sr, Williams Valley
OUT — Codie Onderko, Sr, Conneaut Valley
OUT — Chrissy Scott, Sr., Chartiers-Houston
Off. Pitcher — Chelsea Yanishevsky, Sr, New Hope-Solebury

HONORABLE MENTION
P — Logan Akers, Jr, Smethport; Jess Armillay, Sr, Old Forge; Becca Braden, Sr, Conneaut Valley; Ashley Cantiello, Jr, Bristol; Kaitlyn Coles, Soph, Jefferson Morgan; Megan DeMartino, Soph, Berlin; Lauren Evers, Sr, Elk County Catholic; Brianna Flynn, Jr, Sharpsville; Laykin Hughes, Jr, Minersville; Keli Krause, Soph, Christopher Dock; Kori McManus, Jr, Coudersport; Emily Yoder, Jr, Southern Columbia; C — Kellsie Davis, Jr, Williams Valley; Karli Rorabaugh, Fr, Purchase Line; Spryce York, Jr, Otto-Eldred; INF — Olivia Bradford, Soph, Christopher Dock; Lynne Christopher, Sr, Carmichaels; Taresa Dongilli, Sr, Vincentian; Brooke Dugger, Jr, Bristol; Maddie Grimm, Fr, Ligonier Valley; Amanda Kraus, Jr, Sullivan County; Kelsey Lynch, Jr, Montgomery; Tracie Reynolds, Sr, Youngsville; Jenna Rhodes, Soph, Fannett-Metal; Sarah Saltz, Sr, Barrack Hebrew Academy; Lindsy Sammarco, Sr, Bishop Carroll; OUT — Sara Clark, Sr, Curwensville; Bailey Elbin, Jr, Southern Fulton; Hannah McGowan, Jr, Elk County Catholic; Alycia Parks, Jr, Northeast Bradford; Amber Tutino, Sr, Ligonier Valley; Off. Pitcher — Darcy Bostich, Soph, Bentworth; Heather Carper, Soph, Juniata Valley; Anna Heggenstaller, Jr, Greenwood; Stacey Johnson, Sr, Curwensville; DP — Sarah Walasavage, Fr, Minersville

2009-10 Observer-Reporter Athletes of the Year

Canon-McMillan's Mike Hull and Taylor Schram. Both are headed to Penn State on full scholarship. Hull for football and Schram for soccer.

Boys Athletes of the Year
2010 – Mike Hull, Canon-McMillan
2009 – Nick Wilcox, Peters Township
2008 – Dan Conley, Burgettstown
2007 – Andrew Sweat, Trinity
2006 – Robert Heller, Ringgold
2005 – Jeff Weiss, McGuffey
2004 – Coleman Scott, Waynesburg
2003 – Colby Giles, Carmichaels
2002 – Dan Mozes, Washington
2001 – Lanfer Simpson, Waynesburg
2000 – Michael Sutton, Washington

Girls Athletes of the Year
2010 – Taylor Schram, Canon-McMillan
2009 – Amanda Kennedy, Bentworth
2008 – Jenna Phillips, Washington
2007 – Paige McMenamin, Peters Township
2006 – Brianna Liebold, Chartiers-Houston
2005 – Ashley Young, Canon-McMillan
2004 – Samantha Slagle, Beth-Center
2003 – Stephanie Kuhn, Ringgold
2002 – Jessica Perry, Peters Township
2001 – Shellie Cotton, Charleroi
2000 – Kristen Lancas, Ringgold

Scholastic A-Z

A – Austin Hancock

Heading into his senior year, Peters Township's Hancock could become the most coveted football player in the area. The quarterback led the Indians to their first winning record in football since 2003 and, given his baseball talents, Hancock is the early favorite to be to 2011 Athlete of the year.

B – Big Ten-bound

In a continuing trend, the area's highly sought-after talents are headed to Big Ten universities. AOY's Mike Hull (football) and Taylor Schram (soccer) are at Penn State. Chad Hagan (football), Hull's teammate at C-M, is at Ohio State. Trinity's Ken Wilkins, who did not play up to expectations during his final football season with the Hillers, is at Michigan.

C – Cody Weircioch and Connor Schram

Wiercioch, from Charleroi, and Schram, from Canon-McMillan, provided a significant boost to the local wrestling scene in their respective freshmen seasons. Wiercioch won at Powerade and went on the win Charleroi's first PIAA wrestling championship. Schram became the latest in a long line of state champs from Canon-McMillan. Both have the opportunity to win four gold medals.

D – Deschamps is the champ

McGuffey's J.T. Deschamps dominated the 300 intermediate hurdles throughout his senior year and he ran his best on the biggest stages. At the WPIAL championships, Deschamps broke a 12-year Class AA record in the event then he went to the state meet and became the second athlete in McGuffey history (Jeff Weiss) to win PIAA gold. Deschamps became the first Washington County athlete since Chartiers-Houston's Brianna Liebold in 2006 to win state track gold.

E – Ed Dalton drama

Coaching stories often dominated the headlines during the 2009-10 school year. None drew more attention, whether positive or negative, than the seven-month saga between Trinity's Ed Dalton and the newly elected school board. After months of public haggling, Dalton is out as Trinity's athletic director but remains as football coach.

The board does not want administrators to coach and there has been a growing trend toward moving away from the athletic director/football coach combination.

Dalton, who took over one of the worst teams in Western Pennsylvania high school football, got Trinity to the playoffs regularly and produced a string of Division I players. According to Dalton, he believes his run as Hillers football coach won't last past the 2010 season.

"I'm sure they'll open the football job as soon as they get a chance," Dalton said. "This has been like six months of defamation. One day, they're firing me. The next day, they're bringing me back and they've been doing that over a long period of time."

F – Fort Cherry's Nate Bellhy

In a section that produced the PIAA Class AA state champion (South Fayette) and WPIAL champion (North Catholic), Bellhy was a highly productive offensive player. A solid 6-5, Bellhy flirted with a 30-point scoring average through most of his junior year and his 28.9 ppg were second in the WPIAL to T.J. McConnell of Chartiers Valley. Bellhy also medaled at the PIAA track championships in the high jump.

G – Gym-clearing brawl

The January meeting between Section 5-AA heavyweights Washington and Monessen at Monessen High School was marred when a fight between females broke out during halftime in the hallway. Things escalated and spilled into the gymnasium. Tasers and police dogs were employed and the gym was cleared of spectators before the second half started.

H – Henry's putback

Probably the smallest player on the court in the final minute of the PIAA Class AA championship game between South Fayette and Strawberry Mansion, Henry made the game's biggest basket and scored the two most important points in South Fayette basketball. Henry raced through the lane to grab a missed layup from Mike Lamberti and his putback with 25 seconds left put the Lions ahead, 49-47.

I – "I'm as happy right now as I've been in my whole life."

Those were the words Avella football coach Frank Gray told an Observer-Reporter reporter after Avella pulled the shocker of the WPIAL football regular season – a 22-21 conference win over Fort Cherry in Week 6. Avella opened the season with a victory over Geibel which snapped a 27-game losing streak.

"I'd say the spread would have been about 40 points," Gray said. "To beat a team like Fort Cherry ... Wow! This is one for the ages."

J – Julie Stroyne

As a freshman in 2006, Stroyne played a critical role at No. 2 singles (Alison Riske played first singles) as Peters Township won the PIAA Class AAA team championship. In her senior year, Stroyne led the Indians another state championship, this time at first singles. In addition to her two teams titles, Stroyne was part of a WPIAL team championship and two PIAA Class AAA doubles championships.

K – K (strikeouts)

When it came to strikeouts, South Fayette's Dillon Haviland and Washington's J. Jay Paskert fanned more batters than any other WPIAL pitcher during the regular season. Haviland, a Duke recruit who was drafted by the Pirates in the 48th round, struck out 96. Paskert, who will pitch at Slippery Rock with fellow locals Joby Lapkowicz and Zack Jeney, struck out 91.

L – Levi Bristor leaving?

In only four years as head coach of Trinity baseball, Levi Bristor guided the Hillers to four WPIAL Class AAA playoff appearances and three PIAA postseason appearances. Trinity reached the PIAA semifinals in 2008 and Bristor won an astonishing 12 playoff games. He may be removed as varsity baseball coach at the next board meeting due to his administrative position as Trinity's transportation director.

M – Montecalvo resigns

Only one football coach within the O-R coverage area has won a PIAA football championship. Guy Montecalvo accomplished the feat in 2001 at Washington. In April, Montecalvo resigned as Canon-McMillan's football coach after seven years following a 23-year tenure at Wash High. Montecalvo went 225-107-2 (only Fort Cherry's Jim Garry won more games) with a pair of WPIAL championships and four WPIAL runner-up finishes. Montecalvo also coached the Wash High girls to the 1996 PIAA championship and two of his boys track teams at the High won WPIAL titles.

N – N.C. State lands Spamer

Peters Township's Shelli Spamer may possess the strongest leg in PIAA girls soccer but it's her all-around abilities that makes the senior-to-be one of the nation's top players. Spamer, an all-state selection, accepted a scholarship to North Carolina State during the fall.

O – Offensive production

Thanks to the spread offense trickling down to the lower classes in high school football and a proliferation in the passing game, points are on the increase. Teams like South Fayette (33.9 points per game) and Beth-Center (29.2) seemingly scored at will. Even teams with sub-.5-- records like Canon-McMillan (23.0), Ringgold (23.5) and California (25.9) fielded strong offensive teams.

P – Price resigns

In the year's most bizarre scholastic sports story, Lloyd Price abruptly resigned as Ringgold's athletic director and football coach at the beginning of April. No explanation was given other than personal reasons and Price never returned calls left from various media outlets. Price was hired as Ringgold's athletic director at the age of 24. At the time, he was the youngest AD in the state. Ron McMichael replaced Price as athletic director on June 1 and Matt Humbert was recently hired as head football coach.

Q – Quentin Briggs

The sophomore from Charleroi is over half-way toward becoming a 4,000-yard rusher. Through two years, Briggs has rushed for 2,295 yards. He was also at the center of a controversial play in a key Interstate Conference game at Wash High Stadium. Charleori led in the fourth quarter with the ball in Prexies' territory when Briggs took a handoff and was stood up past the first-down marker. At some point, the ball came loose and Washington's Marquis Brown raced for a touchdown. Charleroi's playoff hopes were crushed.

R – Rocket queens (Jefferson-Morgan volleyball)

The Rockets made athletic history during the fall when they became the first volleyball team from any of the five Greene County high schools to qualify for the PIAA tournament. All-stater Mabel Culp was a driving force for head coach Ron Headlee, who resigned to become Waynesburg University's wrestling coach. Jefferson-Morgan, Bentworth and Beth-Center are the only local schools to represent at the PIAA volleyball tournament.

S – Sarah Shashura

In two years at California High School, Shashura gave Trojans tennis a championship face. As a freshman, she won the WPIAL Class AA girls singles title and finished in the top four at the state tournament. Shashura, who recently transferred to Brownsville, became the second girls player to win a WPIAL Class AA boys singles title when she did so this spring.

T – Tanya Timko

The year before Shashura won the WPIAL boys title, Tanya Timko and her older sister Karli drew considerable attention when the Chartiers-Houston duo won the WPIAL Class AA boys doubles title. The Timko sisters already won PIAA and WPIAL girls doubles titles the year prior. As a junior, Tanya won the WPIAL girls individual title and was PIAA runner-up. To cap her varsity career, Timko plans to compete for the WPIAL boys championship. If successful, Timko will win a WPIAL tennis grand slam.

U – Underdogs

Three teams – Peters Township girls tennis, South Fayette boys basketball and Chartiers-Houston softball – won PIAA team championships during the 2009-10 school year. None of those teams could be considered favorites when the playoffs started and only one – PT tennis – won a WPIAL title.

V – Vaulting tradition

Every year at the WPIAL track and field championships, Waynesburg places a pole vaulter – female, male or both – on the medals stand thanks to the expertise of vaulting coach Butch Brunell. In May, Raiders' sophomore Marissa Kalsey won a WPIAL Class AA gold medal then placed second at the state meet.

W – Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Chad Hagan's blossoming athletic career was nearly cut short when the Canon-McMillan standout, who will play football at Ohio State, when he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. WPW can creates symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat.

Hagan recovered quickly and returned to the Big macs football team in Week 3, a couple weeks ahead of the original projection date. Symptoms returned early in basketball season and Hagan only played a handful of games but returned for senior night and was C-M's best player over the final three games.

X – Extra innings (I know, I know)

Chartiers-Houston softball sure knew how to drive the coaching staff and fans crazy. Starting with the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals against Brentwood, the Bucs played four consecutive extra-innings games.

C-H beat Brentwood and Bentworth before losing to Vincentian Academy in the WPIAL championship. The theme continued into the state playoffs, as the state champs needed extra innings to get by Conneaut Valley in the first round.

Y – Youth is served

Dominant underclassmen were everywhere.

Freshman Kayla Briggs was the area's top offensive player for Chartiers-Houston softball.

Trinity baseball featured several top underclassmen, including All-District first-teamer Nick Riotto.

Canon-McMillan's Michael Burchesky flashed potential in the hurdles at the WPIAL team championship meet.

At California, sophomore T.D. Conway put together a dominant season in baseball. He even picked up a win and a save in the same playoff game.

The Fort Cherry girls basketball team nearly made the PIAA Class A playoffs with a bunch of freshmen and sophomores. Monessen did.

Z – Zach Hooks, other top athletes trasnfer

A string of student-athlete transfers started when Division I football prospect Zach Hooks transfered from Charleroi to Aliquippa. Approximately six weeks later, Dylan Bongiorni went from Burgettstown to West Allegheny. Finally, Terrance and Josh Stepoli left Monessen during basketball season and the brothers are enrolled at Greensburg Central Catholic.

Top 10 Teams of 2009-10

Blogger's note: Due to space constrictions in Sunday's edition of the Observer-Reporter, only the top five teams made the newspaper.


1. South Fayette Boys Basketball
South Fayette failed to win its section or the WPIAL Class AA title, but that couldn’t keep a talented group led by all-state forward Mike Lamberti and all-state point guard Pat Zedreck from winning the ultimate prize – a PIAA championship.
With critical contributions from Mike Burroughs, Tyler Henry, Josh Patterson and Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette dispatched a who’s-who en route to beating heavily favored Strawberry Mansion, 49-47, in the final to finish 24-5.
Henry scored the winning points on a putback with 25 seconds remaining.
Washington, North Catholic and Mercyhurst Prep each lost to the Lions by double digits in the state playoffs. Lamberti was the Observer-Reporter’s Player of the Year and Rich Bonnaure the state’s Class AA Coach of the Year. The Lions were named the O-R Headliner.


2. Chartiers-Houston Softball
Chartiers-Houston didn’t clinch the Section 1-A title until its final game, and the Bucs were nearly ousted in the WPIAL quarterfinals by Brentwood in extra innings.
The near-upset didn’t rattle the Bucs. It merely built character for and a recurring postseason theme that nearly drove head coach Tricia Alderson batty.
Chartiers-Houston played four consecutive extra-innings games in the postseason, with the lone loss against Vincentian Academy for the WPIAL title.
Led by sluggers Kayla Briggs and Colby Miller, the Bucs (22-2) advanced to the state semifinals where Player of the Year Kiersten Conwell took over. Conwell allowed one run over the final two games, including a 4-1 victory over Montgomery for the team’s first state championship in six appearances.


3. Peters Township Girls Tennis
Peters Township won more hardware over a three-week period than most teams do over three decades.
In its most successful season, Peters Township received strong play from No. 2 singles player Caroline Nixon and the Indians won their first district title since 1996 with a 3-2 victory over Upper St. Clair in the finals.
Compared to the WPIAL tournament, the PIAA playoffs were easier and Peters Township claimed the school’s second state championship – the Indians won in 2006 with current pro player Alison Riske – by beating Upper St. Clair again. Brandt Bowman coached both state championship teams.
To cap the gold-medal run, Nixon and Julie Stroyne – one of the most decorated high school tennis players to come from Washington County – won the PIAA Class AAA doubles championship.


4. Canon-McMillan Hockey
Canon-McMillan encountered modest expectations as it headed into the PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup playoffs. Seeded eighth, the Big Macs weren’t given much of a chance to advance past the first round.
Expectations within the locker room were considerably higher and, as the Big Macs proved, more realistic.
Coached by Yuri Krivokhija, a 1988 draft choice of the Montreal Canadiens, and with little representation on the all-star team, Canon-McMillan (18-8-1) beat top-seed Shaler en route to knocking off Seneca Valley for its first Penguins Cup title.
The Big Macs’ run ended in the Pennsylvania Cup, a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Cardinal O’Hara. But players Mario Dalesandro, Brett Oldaker, Brandon Smolarek and Alexander Baskakov turned C-M hockey into something special.



5. Canon-McMillan Wrestling
Wrestling powerhouse Canon-McMillan returned to its oft-occupied position atop the WPIAL when it defeated Kiski Area in the Class AAA team tournament to cap a dramatic run.
It marked the Big Macs first team championship – and first for head coach Chris Mary – since 1995 but its sixth overall.
Mike Hull, who hadn’t wrestled in 11 days after suffering a shoulder separation in a high school all-star football game, beat his heavier opponent 3-2 in the final match against Kiski to deliver the 32-27 victory. Earlier in the tournament, C-M beat Penn-Trafford by one point, thanks to Zach Thomas’ win at 160.
Connor Schram (103), Nick Catalano (135) and Sam Lombardo (140) each won silver at the WPIAL championships. Schram won PIAA gold to cap his freshman season.

6. Canon-McMillan Boys Track
Deep and talented, Canon-McMillan had only one WPIAL gold medalist in Nick Gibson, which makes the Big Macs’ accomplishment more impressive. At the WPIAL Class AAA team championship, key performances came from Michael Burchesky, Alex Adams, Hull and a host of others as Canon-McMillan won its second team title in three years.

7. Peters Township Field Hockey
Winners of consecutive WPIAL Division I girls lacrosse titles from 2007-09, Peters Township became a first-time power in field hockey when Jules Femiani scored in the first overtime to lift the Indians past Fox Chapel, 1-0, in the WPIAL final. Under first-year coach Kristin Slemmer, Peters Township finished 13-2.

8. South Fayette Football
South Fayette’s high-powered offense, engineered by Brumbaugh and fortified by all-state linemen Steve McElhinny, rolled over competition in the Century Conference. The Lions (10-1) went 9-0 during the regular season – their first undefeated mark since 1936 – and were the top seed in the Class AA playoffs. They lost to Aliquippa in the quarterfinals.

9. Jefferson-Morgan Girls Volleyball
With nine seniors, Jefferson-Morgan delivered on the potential they first displayed as sophomores. Led by all-state player Mabel Culp along with Morgan Olson and Marissa Cameron, the Rockets (18-3) finished third in WPIAL Class A and became the first volleyball team from Greene County to play in the state tournament.

10. Peters Township Girls Soccer
It’s difficult to imagine any team suffering a tougher loss than Peters Township did to Seneca Valley in the WPIAL Class AAA championship. The Indians fell in extra penalty kicks. Sadly, the Indians (19-3-2) were emotionally devastated again in PIAA quarterfinals when Erie McDowell scored the game winner with 21.4 seconds remaining.

The Year in Photos, Part II

Chartiers-Houston pitcher Kiersten Conwell delivers during the WPIAL Class A championship game versus Vincentian Academy at California University. The Bucs failed to win their eighth WPIAL title that day but Conwell pitched C-H to its first PIAA championship – a 4-1 victory over Montgomery.

Photo by Jim McNutt / Observer-Reporter







Canon-McMillan's Taylor Schram celebrates an assist during a match at Bethel Park. Schram led the Big Macs to their first PIAA playoff appearance this fall. Schram finished her distinguised scholastic career with 144 goals, 52 coming during her senior year. She will play at Penn State.

Photo by Eleanor Bailey / The Almanac







Charleroi's Cody Wiercioch hugs coach Greg Doerfler after Wiercioch became the first PIAA wresling champion in Charleroi history. Wiercioch was one of two local freshmen to win gold at states. The other was Canon-McMillan's Conner Schram, who is Taylor Schram's younger brother.

Photo by Joe Tuscano / Observer-Reporter






Steve Bucci returned to Canon-McMillan this spring as Bethel Park's baseball coach. Bucci won the 2008 PIAA Class AAAA title at Canon-McMillan then resigned just weeks before the start of the 2009 season. C-M won this game and Bucci is embroiled in a coaching controversy at BP.

Photo by Robin Richards / Observer-Reporter







Senior captains Mike Burroughs, left, and Tyler Henry hoist the PIAA Class AA championship basketball trophy won by South Fayette. The Lions edged Strawberry Mansion of Philadelphia, 49-47 as Henry scored the winning basket on a putback with 25 seconds remaining. Burroughs, who will play at St. Vincent College, was a dominant force inside for South Fayette.

Photo by Eleanor Bailey / The Almanac

The Year in Photos, Part I

Peters Township's Shelli Spamer, who will play at North Carolina State beginning in 2011, battles a pair of Seneca Valley defenders for a ball during the WPIAL Class AAA championship. Peters Township lost in extra penalty kicks.

Photo by Eleanor Bailey / The Almanac







California second baseman Dakota Conway makes the tag on a Bentworth baserunner during a key Section 2-A regular season game. Conway helped California win the section championship and the Trojans reached the PIAA Class A playoffs for the sixth time in school history. Bentworth also qualified for the postseason and were upended in the WPIAL quarterfinals by California.

Photo by Jim McNutt / Observer-Reporter




Wash High quarterback Marquis Brown fights for extra yards during a mud-soaked Class AA Interstate Conference game against Jeannette at Wash High Stadium. Brown led the Prexies to an upset victory and Wash High ended up in the WPIAL playoffs under the direction of first-year coach Mike Bosnic.

Photo by Jim McNutt / Observer-Reporter




Trinity's Josh Valentic goes for two points during a WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal game against PIAA runner-up Chartiers Valley. Valentic averaged 22 points per game as Trinity reached the state playoffs.


Photo by Jim McNutt / Observer-Reporter







Peters Township boys basketball coach Gary Goga reacts after his Indians upended favored Butler in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs. Led by high-scoring Craig Wolcott, overachieving Peters Township came close to qualifying for the state playoffs without a starter taller than 6-0.

Photo by Jim McNutt / Observer-Reporter

2009-10 Names in the Game

Blogger's note: The following is a recap of the All-District teams released by the Observer-Reporter sports staff during the 2009-10 school year.



Football
Player of the Year
Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette
Elite 11
Quentin Briggs, Charleroi
Lashawn Bryant, Trinity
Jeff Davis, South Fayette
Chad Hagan, Canon-McMillan
Austin Hancock, Peters Township
Mike Hull, Canon-McMillan
Gary Kiefer, Fort Cherry
Logan McAnany, McGuffey
Nick Shuman, McGuffey
Bryan Thomas, Washington
Jake Sofran, Beth-Center

Boys Basketball
Player of the Year
Mike Lamberti, South Fayette
First team
Nate Bellhy, Fort Cherry
Mike Burroughs, South Fayette
Mike Lamberti, South Fayette
Josh Valentic, Trinity
Craig Wolcott, Peters Township
Second team
Marquis Brown, Washington
Phil Horensky, Peters Township
Tyler Pavan, Burgettstown
Clay Roman, Bentworth
Troy Wilson, Washington
Pat Zedreck, South Fayette
Third team
John Barker, Bentworth
Kionte Davis, Canon-McMillan
Tyler Henry, South Fayette
Jaisen Irwin, Monessen
Bill Musgrove, Carmichaels
Andrew Stein, Ringgold

Girls basketball
Player of the Year
Megan Sowers, Beth-Center
First team
Beka Bellhy, Fort Cherry
Emily Hansen, Canon-McMillan
Emily Matthis, Peters Township
Geena Shrader, Monessen
Megan Sowers, Beth-Center
Second team
Chelsea Evans, Washington
Ellie Hanlon, Peters Township
Merissa Morgan, Peters Township
Marissa Pattison, McGuffey
Kristina Wagner, California
Mariah Ward, Monessen
Third team
Jessie Merckle, Fort Cherry
Morgan Moluski, California
Katie Rosemeier, Chartiers-Houston
Anna Shashura, Beth-Center
Molly Stuvek, Carmichaels
Amanda Templa, Avella

Wrestling
Wrestler of the Year
Cody Wiercioch, Charleroi
First team
Nick Carr, South Fayette
Nick Catalano, Canon-McMillan
Alex Dunaway, McGuffey
Sam Guidi, Fort Cherry
Michael Innes, Chartiers-Houston
Gary Kiefer, Fort Cherry
Kyle McWreath, Trinity
Sam Lombardo, Canon-McMillan
Zach McGinnis, Waynesburg
Derrick Nelson, Waynesburg
Neal Rands, Ringgold
Connor Schram, Canon-McMillan
Jeff Tarley, Beth-Center
Cody Weircioch, Charleroi
Second team
Colton Blumer, West Greene
Ray Campbell, Charleroi
Nathan Carl, Avella
Dylan Demain, Bentworth
Zach Doman, Jefferson-Morgan
Jake Linn, Charleroi
Francis Mizia, Bentworth
Gus Mizia, Bentworth
Colin Ryan, Canon-McMillan
Zach Schilinski, Burgettstown
Tanner Sutton, Chartiers-Houston
Zach Swarrow, Beth-Center
Tommie Thorpe, Charleroi
Aaron Toth, Charleroi

Baseball
Player of the Year
Joey Havrilak, Trinity
First team
Ty Bell, Bentworth
Dalton Bercosky, Bentworth
Justin Bianco, Peters Township
T.D. Conway, California
Austin Hancock, Peters Township
D.J. Michalski, Canon-McMillan
Ryan Parker, Chartiers-Houston
J. Jay Paskert, Washington
Nick Riotto, Trinity
Second team
Michael Bodnar, Beth-Center
Jim Boris, Canon-McMillan
Tyler Delval, Bentworth
Zac Edmiston, California
Ryan Minteer, Peters Township
Brady Sheetz, Peters Township
Brandon Kozich, Jefferson-Morgan
Trevor Jones, Washington
Joe Monica, Waynesburg

Softball
Player of the Year
Kiersten Conwell, Chartiers-Houston
First team
Darcy Bostich, Bentworth
Emily Bosworth, Waynesburg
Kayla Briggs, Chartiers-Houston
Kelsey Cunningham, Peters Township
Kayla Guta, Bentworth
Morgan Matetic, Peters Township
Colby Miller, Chartiers-Houston
Ashley Morran, Trinity
Marissa Pattison, McGuffey
Second team
Kaylie Barger, Waynesburg
Katie Bednarski, Avella
Paige Burris, Peters Township
Lynne Christopher, Carmichaels
Kaitlyn Coles, Jefferson-Morgan
Shannon Falleroni, Trinity
Courtney Korpus. Bentworth
Breanna Morris, Waynesburg
Chrissy Scott, Chartiers-Houston