Almanac Sports Year In Review
Many area athletes and teams left their mark in 2018 on the worldwide, national, regional and state sports scene. And as the old year passes, here is a look at the Top Ten events that dominated the headlines and the action.
1. Hero’s Welcome
John-Henry Krueger returned home a hero after winning a silver medal in speed skating during the 2018 Olympic Winter Games held Feb. 9-25 in PyeongChang, South Korea. During “John-Henry Krueger Week” throughout Peters Township in mid-March, the 23-year-old son of Heidi and Bryan Krueger showed off the medal he earned in the 1,000-meter race. During the welcome-home event held March 22 at the township library, Krueger also signed more 400 autographs for fans, who turned out to congratulate the Peters Township native on his accomplishment.
Krueger also made public appearances at PNC Park throwing out the first pitch at a Pirates’ game, at PPG Paints Arena during a Penguins game and UPMC Children’s Hospital where he entertained cancer patients and at the Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, where he trained as a youth.
Krueger plans to compete in the 2022 Games to be held in Beijing but for Hungary, where he also maintains citizenship.
2. Living the dream
After setting Ivy League career records at the University of Pennsylvania and graduating with a business degree, Justin Watson was selected by Tampa Bay in the NFL Draft and made the Buccaneers’ 53-man roster. The South Fayette High School graduate and 2014 Almanac Athlete of the Year played on special teams in all of the Bucs’ games during the season. The son of Terri and Doug Watson caught his first NFL reception on Oct. 28 during a 37-34 loss to the Bengals.
Watson was not the only area athlete to go pro in 2018.
Mt. Lebanon and Penn State product Troy Apke was drafted by Washington where he is playing safety for the Redksins.
After the MLB Amateur Draft, Taylor Lehman and Jared Skolnicki signed free agent contracts with the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies, respectively. After graduating Keystone Oaks High School as Almanac MVPs, the pair opted for the collegiate route. Lehman excelled at Penn State while Skolnicki played at Kent State.
3. Leader of the pack
Patrick Anderson was out in front of the cross country competition as the Mt. Lebanon harrier capped the 2018 campaign with a state title and an appearance on the national level.
After finishing runner-up in the WPIAL to Daniel McGoey, the junior beat him and his other North Allegheny rival (Zachary Kinne) to the tape by a mere three seconds, crossing the finish line in 16:03, during the PIAA championships held Nov. 3 in Hershey. Anderson’s efforts afforded success for the entire squad as the Blue Devils finished fifth as a team at states after taking third in the district and completing an undefeated dual-meet slate in section competition.
His performance also set the stage for his exceptional showing on the national stage. After clocking a personal record of 15:38.60 and finishing sixth overall in the boys’ championship race held Nov. 24 in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y. Anderson competed in the national finals. On Dec. 8 at Morley Field in Balboa Park in San Diego, Anderson placed 29th overall during the 40th Annual Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.
Anderson was not the only success story this cross country season. After taking third in the WPIAL and finishing in the Top 12 at the PIAA championships, Emily Carter secured silver during the Junior Olympics National Cross Country Championships held Dec. 8 in Reno, Nevada. The Bethel Park sophomore finished second with a 19:48 time.
4. Lions Roar
2018 proved a banner year for South Fayette sports.
On May 29, the baseball team defeated Ringgold, 4-1, to capture the WPIAL Class 4A title. Richie Dell pitched six strong innings, striking out 10 and scattering five hits to pick up the win on the mound.
On Oct. 25 on the 3,000-meter course at Roadman Park at California University of Pennsylvania, the Lady Lions, coached by Joe Winans, not only won their second straight WPIAL Class AA title cross country championship with a 69 score, some 40 points ahead of runner-up Greensburg Salem, they managed three harriers in the Top 10 and all five scorers finished in the Top 20. Junior Hailey Poe led the way with a fourth-place effort overall, crossing the finish line with a personal record time of 20:15. Freshmen Gabby Baiano and Lauren Iaganemma followed in seventh and eighth places.
On Nov. 17, South Fayette captured its fourth WPIAL football championship in nine years, and sixth in school history when the Lions came from behind to beat Thomas Jefferson, 31-24, in the Class 4A title game played at Heinz Field. The Lions also capped their 12-2 campaign with an undefeated conference championship and a PIAA state playoff appearance.
Individually, Caroline McConnell dominated the action on the greens. The freshman carded a 78-79-157 and finished fourth in the PIAA golf championships played at Heritage Hills Golf Course in York. During the WPIAL finals played Oct. 3 at Diamond Run Golf Club, McConnell fired a 5-over-par 77 and tied for third place. Caroline Wrigley won both the state and district championships and led North Allegheny to the team title.
5. Sweet success in PT
Peters Township dominated the scholastic sports scene in Washington County and the surrounding South Hills. In a year to remember, the Indians captured WPIAL championships in lacrosse and field hockey, reached the PIAA Final Four in girls’ soccer, the WPIAL finals in girls’ basketball and experienced success on the gridiron not seen in decades.
On May 25, the Indians successfully defended their lacrosse title by defeating North Allegheny, 9-7, during the WPIAL boys’ championships.
The field hockey team captured its WPIAL title Oct. 29, as the Lady Indians used a penalty stroke by Greta Schratz, to nip Pine-Richland, 2-1, in overtime. The Indians were also section champions with a 10-0-1 record and featured a defense that only surrendered its first goal of the season in the championship contest.
During its record-breaking season, the football team captured its first conference crown since 1975 and reached the Final Four in the WPIAL Class 5A tournament. After winning playoff games against Armstrong, 35-7, and Penn-Trafford, 38-35, the Indians lost to Penn Hills, 22-14, on Nov. 16, leaving them with a 10-3 overall record.
On March 3, despite 25 points from Penn State recruit Makenna Marisa, the girls’ basketball team lost to North Allegheny, 79-48, in the WPIAL 6A championship game played at the Petersen Events Center. The Lady Indians finished the season at 22-4 after falling to Bethel Park in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.
On Nov. 3, the girls’ soccer team’s hopes for a championship evaporated when Seneca Valley defeated the Lady Indians, 2-1, in the WPIAL 6A final played at Highmark Stadium. The Raiders scored the equalizer with three seconds remaining in regulation then added the game winner less than two minutes into overtime. The Indians also lost in similar, gut-wrenching fashion, as they surrendered a goal with 11 seconds remaining in the PIAA semifinals and lost to Souderton, 1-0, on Nov. 13, preventing the girls from heading to Hershey to compete for a state championship.
On March 20, the hockey team finished runner-up in the PIHL after dropping the AAA final, 4-2, to Seneca Valley at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.
Other PT sports highlights in 2018 included: Connor Bruce finishing runner-up in tennis, falling to Robby Shymansky of Fox Chapel, 6-4, 6-3, in the WPIAL Class AAA boys’ tennis championship match played May 4 at the Alpha Tennis Center in Harmar; the boys’ golf team competing in its 15th WPIAL championship match in 16 years on Oct. 11 and finishing sixth while Central Catholic won the Class title for the second straight season with a record 372 score on the Gold Course at Cedarbrook Golf Course; the girls’ tennis team defeating Mt. Lebanon, 4-1, and qualifying for the PIAA championships in Hershey.
6. Swim sensation
Josh Matheny dominated the swimming scene in 2018. The Upper St. Clair sophomore left his mark at the national and state level. At the USA Swimming Speedo Junior Nationals held in California this summer, Matheny recorded one of the fastest times ever (52.89) in winning the 100-meter breaststroke in the 15-16 age group. He also secured silver in the 200-meter distance. During the scholastic season, Matheny became the first freshman since 2008 to win an individual state title at the Class AAA level. Matheny, who also placed eighth in the IM at states, was the WPIAL champion in the breaststroke, finishing a scant .12 off the district record, and the bronze medalist in the IM. He helped Upper St. Clair grab the runner-up trophy in the team competition.
Likewise, Matheny’s sister, Abby, helped the Lady Panthers claim runner-up honors, too. While North Allegheny won both team titles, the USC girls edged rival Mt. Lebanon, 255-252, for second place. She won the 200-yard freestyle race.
Other swim highlights in 2018 included: Trinity Ward winning her third WPIAL title in the 100-yard butterfly and Lebo’s medley relay of Hannah Morelli, Maddie Dorish, Ward and Libby McDyer upsetting NA to win the WPIAL title in .74 seconds.
In diving, Owen John finished as the WPIAL runner-up for the second year in a row while his teammate, Lucas Bumgarner, finished fourth, and both qualified for the PIAA championships.
In amateur swimming, Judy Caves of Mt. Lebanon successfully competed in the New York Open Waters Swim. The 58-year-old guidance counselor at Seton LaSalle High School swam under 20 bridges while circumnavigating Manhattan.
7. Coaches’ corner
Scholastic coaches in the South Hills suburbs joined an exclusive club when they chalked up milestone victories.
Rivals Joe Maize (pictured) of Peters Township and Jerry Malarkey of Upper St. Clair recorded their 400th career victories as baseball managers while Canon-McMillan basketball coach Rick Bell and legendary football coach Jim Render joined that grouping this year as well.
Mt. Lebanon boys’ basketball skipper joined the 300-win club while Bethel Park football coach Jeff Matheny picked up his 200th victory.
Sue Kunkle, who excelled at Bethel Park and California University, coached Southern Indiana to the NCAA Division II national softball championship for her 512th career victory.
Andrew DiDonato, who amassed passing marks at South Fayette and Grove City College, earned Presidents’ Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Wolverines to an 8-3 record and a victory in the Eastern College Athletic Conference James Lynah Bowl.
8. Mat matters
Luke Stout dominated the national and local wrestling scene. Wrestling for Team Pennsylvania, he won the 170-pound weight class in the Cadet Division during the Marines Cadet/Junior National Championships held July 12-20 in Fargo, N.D. He racked up a 6-0 record. He defeated his opponents by impressive scores of 10-0, 10-0, 8-2, 13-1, 10-0, 12-2.
The Mt. Lebanon junior also finished fourth in the PIAA and WPIAL championships and improved to 69-14 in his scholastic career.
Stout’s teammate, Nathan Hoaglund, also competed in the national championships. The senior, who was an Eastern Regional champion, posted a 30-8 record in 2018 and was 25 wins from entering the Century Club with a 75-33 career mark heading into this season.
Finally, the wrestling world mourned the passing of Michael Wandrisco, 53, on March 27; Frank Vulcano, Sr., 89, on May 28 and Ralph Jelic, 84, on May 28. Wandrisco was an official; Vulcano was an icon, inducted into seven Hall of Fames and the founder of the Powerade Tournament while Jelic, Pitt football standout, had sons, Jeff and Chris, that competed at Mt. Lebanon.
9. Fleet feet
A split second separated Molly Mangan from a PIAA championship as she finished runner-up to Madison Langley-Walker (41.94) in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. During the state finals held May 25-26 in Shippensburg. The junior clocked a personal record and lowered the Mt. Lebanon school mark with her time of 42.86. Mangan was the WPIAL champion in the event. She also participated in the prestigious Penn Relays earlier in the spring track season.
Other state medalists included: Savannah Shaw (fourth with a PR of 4:49.41) in the 1,600-meter run, Sam Mastro (fifth in the discus) and Rachel Helbling (fourth in the 400 dash).
Shaw also participated in the Penn Relays. The Upper St. Clair product also competed in the U.S. Nationals in track. After garnering Observer-Reporter as well as Almanac Female of the Year accolades, Shaw helped the North Carolina State Wolfpack win the ACC championship and the Southeast Regional title. Her best time for a 6K race this fall was 20:52.4.
10. Pitch perfect
The Beadling Soccer Club enjoyed success on a national level as its 15U boys’ team advanced to the US Youth National Championships for the second straight season. For the second time, Beadling finished runner-up after falling to Las Vegas, 2-0, in the finals played in Texas. The team was undefeated (34-0-2) with state and regional titles under its belt before losing its first game of the season. Additionally, the Century V Gold U18 girls competed at nationals after also winning at the state and regional levels. Also, former Century product Robbie Mertz of Upper St. Clair earned All-Conference, All-Regional and All-America recognition after helping Michigan win its first Big Ten soccer championship.
Sports stories that did not make the Top 10 but are no less worth a mention included:
- Bishop Canevin girls’ volleyball: The Lady Crusaders swept Carmichaels, 3-0, to capture their fourth WPIAL title in seven seasons. During the championship match played Nov. 2 at Fox Chapel, Canevin needed less than an hour to dispatch the Mikes, 25-11, 25-11, 25-9.
- Bethel Park boys’ volleyball: The Hawks finished runner-up to North Allegheny, falling 4-1, in the WPIAL championship match played at Baldwin. The Tigers topped BP, 19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 14-25.
- Upper St. Clair girls’ golf: The Panthers finished runner-up to North Allegheny. In the WPIAL Class AAA championship match played Oct. 11 at Cedarbrook Golf Course, the Tigers beat USC, 294-332. Sara Steve, who qualified for the PIAA championships, led the Panthers with an 80.
- Lindsey Powanda: The Mt. Lebanon freshman captured WPIAL runner-up honors in girls’ golf. She carded a 75 on the Diamond Run Course in Sewickley on Oct. 3, four strokes off the pace set by three-time champion Caroline Wrigley of North Allegheny . Powando also helped the Blue Devils to a fourth-place showing in the WPIAL team competition.
- Mia Gorman: The Bethel Park freshman took third in the WPIAL and qualified for the PIAA singles championships in girls’ tennis. In WPIAL doubles action, Mt. Lebanon’s duo of Camilla Buch and Lauren Marsteller finished fourth.
- Mt. Lebanon lacrosse: Ally Klaber and Lexi Gibbons earned All-America honors and helped the Blue Devils to the WPIAL semifinals. In addition, former Blue Devil stick men Brian Ward was a member of Yale’s national championship lacrosse team this spring.