Sports Briefs – Nov. 20
The Youth Exemplifying Sportsmanship Leadership in Sports Forum will be held 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 25 in Peters Township High School cafeteria. This free event is designed for student athletes in grades 5-12, as well as parents and coaches. The program will center around ideals of leadership, sportsmanship and a healthy approach to competition and honor in the game.
The Arthritis Foundation’s Jungle Bell Run/Walk 5K takes place Dec. 7 on Art Rooney Avenue on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Runners and walkers are encouraged to dress up in festive attire and will tie jingle bells to their shoelaces. Visit www.jinglebellrunpittsburgh.kintera.org for details.
The Sports Ministry at Calvary Full Gospel Church, Bridgeville, offers the following:
• Indoor hockey, boys and girls ages 5-18. Registration is open until Dec. 22. Adult registration is open until Dec. 14.
• Basketball league, boys and girls ages 5-18. Registration is open until Dec. 22.
• One day basketball camp for boys and girls with coach Scott Colunbo, former University of Pittsburgh player. Registrations accepted until Dec. 7.
To register, call the church at 412-257-1707 or email deut0818@comcast.net.
Amy O’Keefe, a junior and captain of the Franciscan University Volleyball Team, was named Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week in the AMCC (Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference) this past week. She has started every game as setter since her freshman year. The two-sport letter-winner was a freshman and sophomore starter in basketball at the university, but she studied abroad last spring at a Franciscan monastery in Gaming, Austria, and missed part of the basketball season.
A 10-time letter winner at Seton La-Salle High School, earning four letters in volleyball and three in both basketball and lacrosse, O’Keefe is already the all-time assist leader as the setter at Franciscan University during her career. Franciscan is 8-1 in the AMCC in its most successful season ever. The university will play for the post season championship this weekend. O’Keefe was also named to the AMCC All-Conference Volleyball team last year.
An elementary education major, O’Keefe holds a 3.9 GPA. She has volunteered for the last four summers in Appalacia, building houses with a church group.
Canonburg’s Ron Burke became the first harness racing trainer to surpass $20 million in purses in a single year when For All We Know finished third in a $14,000 mares claiming handicap pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Nov. 13.
In addition to the record for purse earnings, Burke’s trainees have 981 wins so far in 2013, setting another record.
Burke is on his way to leading all North American harness racing trainers in both wins and earnings for the fifth consecutive year. He won 906 races in 2012, breaking harness racing’s training record of 842 established by his stable in 2010. He saw his horses win $19.69 million in purses in 2012, breaking the record of $18.54 million set by his stable in 2011.
La Roche soccer midfielder and 2011 South Park graduate, Ryan Luffey, has been named the La Roche Athlete of the Week. Ryan scored 2 goals and 2 assists including the game-winner over Hilbert to send La Roche to the AMCC Tournament Semifinals.
A junior accounting major, Ryan is a 2-Time AMCC All-Conference performer and currently ranks third on La Roche’s all-time points list. He also holds the school record in career assists and is one of the NCAA’s active assist leaders.