The Almanac - March 10, 2024

Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania hosts special guest at annual spring show

By Katherine Mansfield

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“There’s something beautiful about an orchid. They’re interesting. They’re exotic,” said Sheila Nathanson, an award-winning orchid grower from Mt. Lebanon and co-chair of the spring show. “You don’t have to have a greenhouse. A lot of orchids are happy growing in your house, on your windowsill. It’s a very rewarding plant to grow.” Visitors to “Orchid Obsession” will delight in the variety of plants available for growing in their homes, from vendors near and as far as Taiwan and Ecuador, who will set up inside the Crowne Plaza Suites at 164 Fort Couch Road, across from South HIlls Village mall, from 9 a.m. to

5 p.m. Saturday, March 16, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 17.

“Most of the vendors bring unusual things that you’re unable to get anywhere else. It is a wonderful place to find unusual orchids,” said Nathansan.

March Madness

Photos

Eleanor Bailey/ The Almanac

KATHERINE MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER

In this file photo from 2022, Sheila Nathanson, co-chair of the OSWP, poses amongst the orchids in her greenhouse at her Mt. Lebanon home. Nathanson will present “So… I Bought an Orchid. Now… What Do I Do?” at 3 p.m. both days of the annual orchid show.

KATHERINE MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER Orchids of the Cypripedium genus are better known as “lady’s slippers.” About 58 species of lady’s slippers, which resemble a lady’s slipper, grow across the globe.

The WPIAL crowned champions in 12 different classifications recently and two area teams collected the gold. ABOVE: Upper St. Clair students react to the action happening at the Petersen Events Center as their Panthers defeated Baldwin, 64-41, and captured the 6A title.

AT RIGHT: Haylie Lamonde (3), Erica Hall rush to embrace Lainey Yater (11) after South Fayette defeated Armstrong, 70-63, to win its third consecutive 5A crown. BELOW: Brett Meinert receives a warm welcome by USC head coach Dan Holzer after helping the Panthers win their title. Turn to B1 for full details of all WPIAL championship action.

USC musicians named to PMEA ensembles

Four Upper St. Clair High School musicians have earned recognition through the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.

Senior Gabe Pacella, who plays trumpet, has been named to the PMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble, set for April 17-19 in Erie.

In addition, three students successfully auditioned to participate in the PMEA Re-

Tunnel

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The

Funding

Trail Council in the form of a grant from the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County. These funds, however, cover only a portion of the total cost, which are in excess of $1 million, according to the trail council.

The structural deficiency now under repair was an unanticipated expense that will have to be absorbed by the trail council.

As a result, the “Clear the Greer” fundraising appeal remains ongoing.

Donors can contribute at montourtrail.org/ greer-tunnel-2 or by using a QR code on signs at many of the trailheads.

The trail council is committed to providing trail users safe access through the tunnel as soon as possible.

“We very much appreciate the patience of our trail users as we undertake the final phase to rehabilitate this 111-year-old structure,” said Julian Wolfe, MTC president.

“Repeating earlier advisories, there are no suitable alternate routes and local roads are narrow, carry significant traffic and have poor sightlines. We encourage users to explore other sections of the trail.”

gion 1 Band. Maria Khila, baritone saxophone; Carlee Santel, trumpet; and Lauren Tenney, clarinet, represented Upper St. Clair at the event held recently at Deer Lakes High School. Students auditioned for the Region I Band during the PMEA District 1 Band Festival, which was held in January at Peters Township High School.

Orchid

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PMEA District 1 includes school districts from Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Region 1 comprises PMEA District 1 and District 5, which includes Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties. PMEA is a statewide nonprofit organization of more than 4,500 members, dedicated to promoting the musical development of all Pennsylvanians.

Guests are encouraged to bring their cameras and photograph the beautiful orchids on display between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, displays that will be judged by the American Orchid Society, which will have representatives on site throughout the two-day event. Exhibit tables will be manned by experts happy to offer information, growing and maintenance techniques.

The repotting table, where novice and seasoned orchid growers can have their personal orchids expertly repotted by an OSWP member, is always a spring show fan favorite, and educational talks draw large crowds. This year, the OSWP welcomes two special guests: Dennis Whigham and Melissa McCormick, representatives from the Smithsonian’s North American Orchid Conservation Center and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

The Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania was founded by Mt. Lebanon’s Grete Evans in 1954. The annual spring show bloomed shortly after the society’s foundation, to share the joy and allure of orchids with other growers and the public. But this is the first time in the OSWP’s 70-year history that the Smithsonian will be onsite during its spring show.

“Their mission is to conserve North American orchids, native orchids.

I think it’ll be a big draw, just the Smithsonian name … in Pittsburgh,” Nathanson said.

The Smithsonian’s Whigham and McCormick will host an exhibit table and offer information on orchid preservation.

“Orchid conservation is another facet of growing orchids that you first don’t think about,” said Janet Greenberg, OSWP treasurer and co-chair of the spring show, noting recent studies document the destruction of orchids in the wild. “If you’re out in the wild

General Manager Robert Pinarski

Executive Editor Liz Rogers

Sports Editor Eleanor Bailey

Staff Writer Katherine Mansfield

Staff Writer Jon Andreassi

When most people think of “orchids,” the phalaenopsis species comes to mind. Also known as the “moth orchid,” this species blooms in a myriad of colors and patterns

wild, and I’ll think, ‘That’s the one I saw growing on the trail!’”

Whigham will cover how to spot those native orchids during his presentation, “Native Orchids in the U.S. and Canada” at 11 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. His lecture will be immediately followed by McCormick’s, “Our Native Orchids: Hidden Connections Below and Above Ground,” at noon. Additional talks will be held throughout the event, including an orchid care Q&A with OWSP member Nancy Klein at 2 p.m. both days. Nathanson will close out the lecture series with “So… I Bought an Orchid. Now… What Do I Do?” at 3 p.m. March 16 and 17.

Along with educational talks and dazzling displays, the OSWP will set up an important table at the event’s entrance.

in Pennsylvania, and you see some exotic flowers, you realize later, that could have been an orchid. At meetings, sometimes somebody will show pictures of orchids growing in the

“We do plant parking,” said Greenberg. “When people go into the vendor room and buy orchids and come out, you cannot carry an orchid back into the exhibit room. Plant parking,

it’s secure, we put their name on the front of a card and their phone number on the back.”

That way, folks can buy, and then continue browsing and learning. Orchid Obsessions visitors can also try their luck at the raffle table, where a winner is drawn every hour, and bid on orchid-related items, including a glass-blown lady slipper, at the silent auction table.

Visitors so inspired may also join the OSWP; last year, 100 new members joined during the spring show, Greenberg said.

“Each orchid species, or genera, has its own requirements. Some can be challenging,” Greenberg said. But, no matter how difficult or easy the orchid is to grow, she said, “I think the appeal is their beauty.”

Tickets are $5 at the door. OSWP members and guests under 18 are free.

For more information on the Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania or this year’s spring show, visit https://www.oswp.org/.

Gabriel Pacella, Maria Khila, Carlee Santel and Lauren Tenney were selected to the PMEA ensemble.

KATHERINE MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER

COURTESY OF BRIEN MARSH

Brien Marsh purchased this Vanda Adisak Blue orchid from Bill Schumann at last year’s show. This marks the first year he’s grown this variety of orchid.

More than 150 Upper St. Clair fifth and sixth graders recently received a glimpse into the future as they experienced Junior Achievement’s BizTown, a day-long simulation of running a town. The exercise is the culminating activity of the new CAPS course at Boyce Middle School.

The CAPS course – short for Consuming and Producing Successfully – is a newly developed curriculum within the expressive arts rotation at Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools.

Upper St. Clair students in grades five through eight receive instruction and handson learning in the areas of financial literacy, community and economy, work and career readiness, business management, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

“In our first lesson, students explore their passive consumption habits, including what they spend, what they watch, and the information they absorb,” said Dr. Kelly Pascarella, who is a Boyce Middle School CAPS teacher.

“The overarching goal is to transform them into active producers within our society. We encourage students to reflect on their current roles as producers, considering what they can create or contribute to the world as a product or service.”

Located in Bridgeville, the BizTown simulation experience allows students to take on roles as business leaders, workers, and consumers, participating as active citizens to run a miniaturized town. Complete with realistic store fronts, debit cards, checkbooks, online payments, WiFi installation, health insurance and an elected mayor, it provides an authentic and fully immersive learning experience.

“This hands-on approach allows students to see and experience the concepts they learn in the classroom,” Pascarella said. “By taking on various roles and responsibilities, students must think critically and problem-solve

when unexpected situations and challenges arise. Their decisions impact the success of their business and the overall community.”

Prior to their day-long experience at BizTown, students are introduced to career readiness topics, including creating video resumes, filling out job applications, and refining their interview skills.

“These skills prepare them for the role they will play when they run their own business where they calculate operating costs and take out the loan they will need to start up their business at BizTown,” Dr. Pascarella said. “Their goal at BizTown is to pay off their loan and make a profit.”

Running an entire town takes many hands and lots of oversight.

To assist, the Boyce CAPS program partnered with students enrolled in the financial literacy course taught by Jared Nicholson, who is a math teacher at Upper St. Clair High School. Approximately 25 high school students provided guidance and supervision throughout the day.

The high school students are trained by BizTown staff prior to the simulation day, and are responsible for overseeing the functioning of the

businesses, guiding the students through their roles, and ensuring the business runs smoothly.

“The high schoolers’ guidance enhances student engagement while providing feedback and encouragement throughout the experience,” Pascarella said. “Their

The

“BizTown

are they

while

said. “Not

rela-

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but they are also reinforcing valuable topics for their own learning, including loans, interest rates, payroll, product pricing, and net income.”

Jha wins guitar competition

Aanya Jha of Upper St. Clari placed first in the Crescendo International Music Competition.

A seventh-grade student at Fort Couch Middle School, Jha performed recently at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This marks her second first place honor in the competition.

Jha, 12, began playing the guitar at age 7. She currently participates in orchestra at Fort Couch Middle School, under the direction of Karen Chisholm.

Based on her performance, Jha now has the opportunity to participate in Crescendo’s International Student Exchange Program. The

BizTown

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Aanya Jha

program enables young musicians to perform in recitals with students from the most prestigious music schools and universities around the world, network with other

Much like the middle school students, his high school students are often surprised by some of the course content.

“The most eye-opening moment of the course is the budgeting project. They never realized all of the monthly costs associated with being an adult,” Nicholson said. “Students are also struck by the power of investing early.”

In addition to the financial literacy course, Nicholson will teach a College in High School accounting course that begins next semester. He believes that financial literacy is essential in order to help ensure students can make solid financial choices in the future.

“Many financial choices made early in adulthood can have large impacts on your financial standing later in life,” he said. “Teaching students how to properly manage their money from a young age has lasting positive impacts.”

Pascarella believes that teaching financial literacy and career skills in early middle school is important in the development of responsible citizens.

“CAPS encourages students to become producers in a free-enterprise society, effectively using technology and resources to solve problems and represent ideas,” Pascarella said. “The course curriculum opens students’ eyes to the world of work opportunities while setting expectations of being a responsible citizen within a community and society.”

musicians, attend master classes and lectures by renowned musicians, and experience different cultures.

In addition to music, Jha is involved with the USC Robotics Club. She represented Boyce Middle School in the 2023 Western Pennsylvania Regional Spelling Bee and also enjoys playing tennis.

The Crescendo International Music Competition is open to students ages 4-24. Competition is open to junior, intermediate and advanced levels for all instrumentalists, vocalists, duets and chamber orchestra.

The first round of the competition includes a live or video recording evaluation. Success-

ful candidates are invited to perform in the second round at recitals in New York City. Students have the opportunity to win monetary prizes ranging from $150 for third place to $1,000 for the grand prize. Decisions on monetary awards are based on accumulated audition score, composition complexity and contestant’s artistic maturity.

Crescendo International Music Competition is a youth music competition held annually since 2007. Its mission is to inspire individuals to pursue their passion for music through involvement in competitions, master classes and other educational programs.

The CAPS course was added to the expressive arts rotation at Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools at the start of the 2023-24 school year.

At Boyce, the expressive arts include art, CAPS, music and STEAM design –each of which lasts for one nine-week grading period. Since this is the first year of implementation for the CAPS course at Boyce Middle School, all fifth and sixth grade students will get to experience BizTown this school year. Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, only the district’s fifth graders will participate at the end of their CAPS rotation.

The expressive arts program at Fort Couch includes art, music, STEAM design, CAPS and communication arts.

In the seven-week CAPS course for seventh graders and the six-week course for eighth graders, students become entrepreneurs by evaluating the world around them, identifying a problem to solve, then creating and building a product-based solution. Students then sell their product or service, evaluating the performance of their business idea, and iterating to incorporate learning. Students leave CAPS having defined, built, and launched a product in the market, complete with a business model canvas, a budget and pricing model for the business, a product name and brand, a pitch deck, communications and marketing materials, sales goals, reflections, and student portfolio.

Fifth and sixth graders from Upper St. Clair traveled to Bridgeville to participate in a day-long simulation of running a town.

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Sibling duo advances to Shakespeare finals

Two Upper St. Clair students were named finalists in the 30th annual Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest held at the Pittsburgh Public Theater.

Siblings Kaaveri Patil (Hamlet) and Aarav Patil (Polonius) performed their scene from “Hamlet” in the showcase of finalists held recently at the O’Reilly Theater in downtown Pittsburgh.

A seventh-grader at Fort Couch Middle School, Kavaveri was a winner in last year’s lower division monologues for her portrayal of Helena from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Aarav is a senior at Upper St. Clair High School.

Best Scene and Best Monologue winners will be selected in both the Upper (grades 8-12) and Lower (grades 4-7) Divisions.

The following Upper St. Clair participants earned Honorable Mention: Boyce Middle School, Eleanor Wilkinson (Phoebe), “As You Like It”; USCHS, Reese Copenhaver, “Romeo & Juliet”; and Zahra Hossain (Murderer 2), Sara Gillespie (Murderer 1), and Noshi Dabas (Clarence), “Richard III.”

Preparation for the Shakespeare contest began in late October. Upper St. Clair’s middle and high school students worked with Thomas Yochum and Sherri Garvey, gifted/enrichment teachers, to review, select and understand their scenes and monologues.

In January, Upper St. Clair students participated in a special coaching session with actors from the Pittsburgh Public Theater. Earlier this month, Yochum and Garvey

real estate transactions

hosted a USC Shakespeare Showcase to workshop scenes, rehearse and, finally, to perform using the protocols of the actual contest.

The preliminary round of the Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest drew more than 750 submissions from 80-plus schools and organizations. Participants submitted video performances of monologues and/or scenes they had chosen from the works of William Shakespeare. Teams of judges evaluated each entry, and selected the finalists and honorable mentions for each division.

Judging criteria include understanding of the text, emotional connectedness, character development, physical and vocal performance, and pacing and the interaction among actors in a scene.

South Hills Auto: 50 Years of Driving Community Forward

50 years ago, Peters Township was mostly farms, Nixon was in the White House, and gas was only 53 cents a gallon. So, in 1974, when Paul Groff was presented with the opportunity to open a new car dealership on Route 19 in Peters Township, on the verge of a residential boom, he jumped on it.

Thus began the 5-decade history of a company that started as South Hills Chrysler Plymouth. A native of Croatia, Mr. Groff built his business by focusing on taking care of people. To him that meant his family, his staff, his customers, and his community. He was heard many times quizzing people on ‘what’s the most valuable thing in a dealership?’ The only correct answer was, ‘the people’.

Through manufacturer and economic challenges, South Hills Chrysler Plymouth weathered the storm. The business expanded into other locations, brand offerings, and communities. Today, South Hills Auto is comprised of two Peters Township locations. The original location added Jeep in 1999 then Dodge and RAM Trucks in 2014 to become South Hills Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM. South Hills KIA, the franchise acquired in 2002, became a standalone dealership in 2014 and is only 1 mile south of the original facility.

Keeping a business running for a half of a century is no easy task and the automotive industry has undergone significant changes since 53 cent gas and boat-sized sedans. Embracing change has meant understanding changing consumer needs. Customers no longer want a formal process and hours-long negotiations. They want a friendly face they recognize and someone they trust to be sure their SUV can get the family to school safely.

“I want our customers to feel comfortable and welcomed…that they aren’t just a number to a large corporation. I want them to feel that we know them at a personal level. Many of our customers are as multi-generational as we are. We are now selling to the kids and grandkids of our original customers!”

remarked Larry Winter, Dealer/President.

Navigating change has also meant embracing new technologies. From online shopping to technology-heavy cars, to the emergence of electric and hybrid vehicles- this is one industry where change happens fast.

Today, servicing our modern vehicles is more akin to computer programing than turning a wrench. To keep up, South Hills has expanded their service departments, offering cuttingedge technology and more certified technicians to cater to the needs of modern vehicles.

Another area of change has been the employee culture. The automotive business used to be known for long hours and cutthroat tactics. Working to create a workplace that offers better work-life balance has allowed South Hills to retain employees and improve overall productivity and morale. South Hills Auto currently employs approximately 100 people.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, South Hills Auto remains a family owned and operated business. Paul Groff passed away in 2020 after a long battle with cancer, and the business is currently owned by Larry and his wife Christina (daughter of original owner Paul Groff). Their son, Bill Winter, is the General Manager for both locations and many other family members are involved as full or part-time employees.

To the family at South Hills Auto, success goes beyond selling cars. Giving back to the community is a core belief of who

they are and how they operate. “Supporting the causes important to us is just another way we take care of our neighbors” says Larry Winter. Recently, they’ve supported Washington City Mission, area food pantries, annual toy drives, and local literacy initiatives. Their commitment to giving back has fostered a sense of trust and loyalty that transcends the typical customer-dealer relationship. When you walk in, you really do feel like part of the family.

“Three generations” is a special designation for a family-owned business. Bill Winter feels that “…legacy is an important feature of any business. I see my job as carrying forward my grandfather’s and my father’s ideals and values while adding my own imprint to the businesses. Who knows, maybe we’ll see a fourth generation adopt this legacy!”

The story of South Hills Auto is more than just a chronicle of a successful dealership. It’s a testament to the power of community, the importance of customer service, and the unwavering passion for taking care of people- both your community and your staff.

Learn more about South Hills Auto at: www.southhillsauto.com

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sports

Going for gold

An

USC swimmers look to states after strong WPIAL showing

By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports

The best is yet to come for the Upper St. Clair swim team.

After a strong showing at the WPIAL Championships held Feb. 29 to March 1 at Trees Pool on the University of Pittsburgh campus, the Panthers are prepared for the PIAA state championships March 13-16 at the Kinney Natatorium on the Bucknell University campus in Lewisburg.

“We expect to be faster,” said USC coach Dave Schraven.

During the district meet, the Panthers swept the 100yard freestyle, placing Kaitlyn Connors and Nazar Zoukovski on top of the podium, and took home the runner-up trophy in the boys division. North Allegheny swept the boys and girls team Class AAA titles for the 13th time in 16 years.

The Lady Tigers won their 16th consecutive crown, racking up 477.5 points, compared to second-place Fox Chapel’s 295 score. Seneca Valley took third (220) followed by Mt. Lebanon (182) and USC (179).

The NA boys won their second straight crown and 11th in 13 seasons. Though the Tigers scored 402.5 points, the USC boys beat out rival Mt. Lebanon, 282-204.5, for runner-up honors.

Anchored by Zoukovski, the USC boys won the final race in dramatic fashion. The Panthers edged NA by .36 seconds in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The unit of Max Shipley, Ben Whiteford, Whit

Burns and Zoukovski clocked a 3:05.63, compared to NA’s 3:05.99 time.

“We knew it would be that kind of a battle,” Schraven said of the race. “NA is so good. We would not have been as good as we were if they hadn’t been there pushing us.

“My seniors (Burns and Shipley) really stepped up. They were phenomenal. With our two sophomore studs, we

Sylvia Roy is on a tight, but busy swimming schedule. The Mt. Lebanon junior though is not too occupied that she doesn’t celebrate the little victories.

Roy, who will compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, dominated the WPIAL Class 3A championships held Feb. 29 and March 1 at Trees Pool on the University of Pittsburgh campus. She brought home two individual gold medals and anchored two medal-winning relays.

After anchoring the medley relay team of Ellie Reinhart, Helen Albu and Lillyan Evan to a runner-up finish against North Allegheny, Roy captured her third straight title in the 50-yard freestyle race in 22.84. She also anchored the 200 free relay team of Albu, Greta Coleman and Evelyn Smith to a fourth-place finish to complete her first day of competition.

On Day Two, Roy dominated the 100-yard backstroke.

got it done. It’s really gratifying. I’m really proud of them, but we are not done yet.”

Individually, Zoukovski and Connors have big plans for the state championships. Both look to lower their WPIAL-winning times.

Connors won the 100 free in 50.30. She also finished runner-up in the 50 free in 23.18.

“My goal is to improve on that,” Connors said.

Again, she won her third straight title in the event but her time of 54.10, like her 50 free mark, was not a WPIAL record.

Because she has ‘sectionals, trials and other meets’ coming up, Roy noted she was not fully rested or tapered. “So I was not expecting

WPIAL title wins make SF, USC hungry for more

Teams embark on PIAA play

After winning WPIAL titles, the South Fayette girls and the Upper St. Clair boys have set their sights on state basketball championships. Their quest started March 9 with first-round home contests in the PIAA tournament.

“With the way we have been playing, I do think we have a shot at states,” said USC skipper Dan Holzer.

“We want to try for a state title,” agreed USC guard Christina Ito. “We are playing our best basketball now.”

Heading into the PIAA first-round playoff against Central Dauphin, the Panthers (20-5) had won seven in a row and 10 of their last 11 games, including a 64-41 triumph against Baldwin in the district Class 6A final played March 2 at the Petersen Events Center.

The Panthers shot 56 percent from the field (22 for 39) as Brett Meinert proved a complementary force to Robbins on the outside. The senior guard provided 19 points. He buried three of USC’s four 3-pointers and connected on 6 of 8 from the charity stripe.

Ito managed eight points and Kaamil Jackson finished with seven tallies.

“We don’t have one or two guys. Everyone has a role but everyone can score. It was T Rob’s day. We were feeding him and he was getting buckets. The plan was to get T Rob the ball and let him score.”

Robbins agreed he played a role in the win but he wasn’t the only reason the Panthers prevailed.

Zoukovski won the 100 in dramatic fashion. He touched out NA’s Grant Regule by .05 and Penn-Trafford’s Patton Graziano by .09 with his winning time of 45.80.

“Words cannot explain how nervous I was,” Zoukovski said. “I just dove in and tried to get to the wall first in the first 50. I tried not to mess up the little details

In the triumph, Tyler Robbins dominated. The junior big man fired in 22 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked five shots. Robbins connected on 9 of 11 of his attempts from the field and 4 of 6 from the line. After scoring the first points of the game, he picked up eight more in the first frame as USC bolted to a 20-13 advantage.

USC led, 30-22, at intermission then outscored the Highlanders, who suffered through an 18 for 58 shooting night, 15-6, in the third stanza. USC’s margin swelled to 26 points with just under two minutes to play.

“I think I played pretty well. I just tried to take advantage of the moment,” he said.

“It was a team effort though. We don’t win a WPIAL championship just by one guy. It’s the whole team.”

South Fayette would agree with that premise because it took a total team effort for the Lady Lions to reach the finals after graduating two Division I players from back-to-back WPIAL championship clubs.

After knocking off the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds McKeesport, 50-41, and Trinity, 53-39, in the semifinals and quarterfinals, South Fayette

best times,” she said. “I’m happy. This is just the first step in that process.”

Roy’s next step is the PIAA Championships being held March 13-16 at the Kinney Natatorium on the Bucknell University campus in Lewisburg. She is the defending state champion in the backstroke.

“Hopefully I will drop time and win again. That’s on the top of my list,” she said. “I still

have my senior year, so I can go for the records then.”

Roy’s third crown in the backstroke was noteworthy because she stood atop the podium with two of her teammates. Reinhart and Evan took third and Evan finished fifth. In between, Peters Township’s Lauren Opitz placed fourth.

“It means a lot. Keeping the streak up is going to be fun no

matter what the time is but being on that podium with three Lebo girls was really special,” Roy said. “Winning is also fun and important. Being on top of that podium is really special.”

Ryan Frank would agree with that assessment. The Lebo senior captured the gold in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 55.98 time.

PHOTOS: ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Nazar Zouskovski of Upper St. Clair celebrates his victory in the 100-yard freestyle during the WPIAL Class AAA championships. The sophomore clocked a 45.80. The time was .05 faster than silver medalist Grant Regule from North Allegheny and .09 quicker than bronze medalist Patton Graziano from Penn-Trafford.

Ryan Frank of Mt. Lebanon surfaces for air during the 100-yard breaststroke event at the WPIAL Class 3A swimming championships. The senior clocked a 55.28 to claim the gold medal.

PHOTOS: ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC

Sylvia Roy made another splash during the WPIAL Class 3A swimming championships. The Mt. Lebanon junior was a two-time champion, winning the 100-yard backstroke as well as the 50 freestyle for the third year in a row.

Titles

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Frank noted that being a WPIAL champion and setting the pool record, which he did back at the beginning of the season, were among his goals. The began a reality because of his diligence.

“I never thought I would reach those goals but I just bought in last summer. All my hard work paid off. I’m glad to get the win but I couldn’t have done it without my coaches.”

Frank, who owns a 5.3 GPA and hopes to major in finance in college, is one of 13 Lebo swimmers qualified for states. He is seeded second in

Wins

FROM PAGE B2

defeated No. 5 Armstrong, 70-63, in the Class 5A title tilt played prior to the USC contest.

“It’s just a special group,” said SF floor boss Bryan Bennett. “I knew it was going to take time to kind of get to where we were because of our youth. I knew that we had talent. It was just learning how to play hard

the 100 breast behind Conestoga’s Jake Wang. “Who knows what will happen at states. I’m just happy and focused on the now,” Frank said. “Mainly, I just want to achieve all the things that I can with my God-given talents.”

In addition to Roy and Frank, Lebo’s other PIAA qualifiers include: Albu, Coleman, Evan, Reinhart, Evie Smith, Ryan Frank, Matthew Klepchick, Sangay Lama, Noah Loboda, William Thomas, Michael Zhu and diver Malcom Thompson.

Other top performances submitted by Almanac area schools that earned WPIAL medals included: From Bethel Park: ■ Jackson Edwards, second

for 32 minutes, learning how to do little details. Once we did that it just clicked.”

Juliette Leroux, whose sister Ava was a key cog along with Maddie Webber in SF’s previous titles, led the offensive attack with 18 tallies. Fellow sophomore Haylie Lamonde and senior Erica Hall followed with 17 markers apiece.

Lamonde drained 9-of-10 shots from the free throw

in the 50 free and third in the 100 back. The freshman helped the 200 free relay team of Trent Powell, Brady McKiernan and Nathan Stutzman to a third-place showing and the medley relay team of Luke Myers, Luke Kallaur and Stutzman to a fourth-place finish. Kallaur, Powell, McKiernan and Stutzman combined for eighth in the 400 free relay.

■ Sam Hoppe, eighth in the 500 free.

■ Cally Edner, seventh and sixth in the 200 and 500 free.

From South Fayette:

■ Zoe Poe dropped seven seconds off her seed time but that was not enough for her to defend her title in the

line. She, Hall and Lainey Yater each buried two 3-pointers as the Lady Lions connected on 7-of-13 long-range shots.

Yater supplied nine points and dished up six assists.

Leroux and Hall each had three steals while Leroux and Hall pulled down eight rebounds apiece. Alexa Ankrum, who finished with six points, added seven boards.

The effort was enough to offset the 36-point performance by Armstrong’s Emma Paul. She buried six, 3-pointers, including one that closed the gap to 5350, before Leroux answered

500 free. The senior placed second behind NA’s Claire Bacu, a sophomore who clocked a 4:57.82 time. Poe added fourth in the 200 free.

Maddie Berg, eighth in the 500 free.

From Peters Township: ■ Ava Komoroski, third and fourth in the 50 and 100 free, and Lauren Opitz, fourth in the fly and back. The duo helped the medley relay unit that included Abigail Smith and Kathryn Pazuchanics to a fifth-place finish.

Visit www.wpial.org for full WPIAL results. Visit www.piaa.org for psych sheets for the state championships.

with a long-range field goal and Hall provided a layup for a seven-point cushion.

The Lady Lions (18-8) embarked on PIAA play by hosting Red Land.

South Fayette appeared in the state finals last year. The Lions lost to Archbishop Wood, 61-54.

To win the PIAA title said Yater “would be crazy. Special,” she added. We have a great group of girls, so it would mean something to a lot of us.

“This team is everything to me,” said the senior. “I can’t even explain. It’s so sad that I’m going to have to leave it soon.”

States

FROM PAGE B1

that I practiced over and over again. When it comes to race day, you just have to perform.

“At states, I’m hoping for bigger and better things. Maybe 44,” he continued.

Zoukovski noted how Connors pushes and motivates him in practices. Connors is a four-year WPIAL champion, three times in her specialty event.

“That’s a Hall of Fame career,” commented Schraven. “You can’t teach competitiveness and drive and desire to win. Kailtyn’s got it and it shows through in meets like this.”

Schraven looks for Connors to break 23 seconds in the 50 at states. She swam a 23.01 on the relay leg and a 23.18 in finishing runner-up to Mt. Lebanon’s Sylvia Roy in the individual 50 free.

“That would be a huge milestone,” he said. “She is right on the cusp of two really big milestones. Hopefully we figure out a way to get her there.”

Connors was overjoyed to be on top of the podium again, especially after a close race. She sprinted out to the lead with a 23.92 in the first 50, and brought it home for victory in 50.30 time against Lauren Bell from Latrobe.

“My coach told me to dive in and if I go under 24 seconds, I would win after that, but Lauren is amazing. A great girl,” Connors said. “I saw her the entire race. She pushed me. I knew she was right there and I was happy about that because it helped me. I knew I had to go faster. I would not have gone as fast if she wasn’t right there.”

Of all her championships, Connors said, this year’s 100 meant the most.

“Having competitors is always better,” she said. “Because it’s such a personal sport, it is so much more fun. You feel proud of yourself.”

Because she and Zoukovski, who finished fourth in the 200 free, compete against one another, Connors said that she is not surprised by the sophomore’s progress.

“He has a great work ethic,” she said. “I have never seen anyone come in every day and work so hard. He cares about the sport and the team. He tells me little things he needs to fix in his race. That’s tremendous. He’s only going to keep improving. I’m excited for him because he’s going to be so good.”

When she enrolls at Duquesne University in the fall, Connors plans to be a champion swimmer. Her immediate goals are to drop times and help the team in general.

“It was great to finish off my WPIAL career on such a high note and go on to states but I can’t wait to go to (Duquesne),” she said. “I love the coaches, the team and the school.”

Schraven predicts Connors will have a great career at Duquesne but he is excited about Zoukovski’s future, too. He was particularly pleased with the way Zoukovski commanded the 100 free race as well as anchored the relay against seasoned sprinters.

“Nazar is a fierce competitor. He demonstrated that in both the 100 and the relay. He dug down deep.”

In addition to the victorious 400 free relay, the Panthers captured second places in the medley relay and the 200 free relay. Zoukovski, Shipley, Griffin Tomscheck and Burns comprised the 200 free unit. Whiteford, Tomscheck, Liam Tomb and Burns made up the medley.

Other top performers to earn WPIAL medals for the Panthers included:

■ Amanda Adair, who placed second in 200 individual medley. She also helped the 200 and 400 free teams that featured Connors, Kendell Drew and Freja Kile, finish third; and the medley unit of Drew, Evie Sullivan and Clara Senchyshak secure sixth.

■ Burns and Whiteford finished fourth in the 50 free and 100 butterfly respectively. White ford added fifth in the 100 backstroke while Tomsheck duplicated that showing in the breaststroke.

■ Shipley added sevenths in the 100 and 200 free races.

TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased at peterstownshippresents. ludus.com at $15 for adults, and $10 for students.

Upper St. Clair High School: “Newsies”

Start spreading the news: Upper St. Clair students will put on a production of Disney’s “Newsies,” a stage adaptation of the 1992 film of the same name.

Dr. Stephen Torquato, a social studies teacher at Upper St. Clair High School, will direct the play and nearly 130 students are involved in the production.

WHEN: March 14 at 6 p.m., March 15 at 7 p.m., March 16 at 2 and 7 p.m.

WHERE: Upper St. Clair High School, 1775 McLaughlin Run Road

“All Shook Up” will be directed by Ray Cygrymus, and more than 90 Peters students are participating in the production.

WHEN: March 14-16 at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on March 17

WHERE: Peters Township High School, 121 Rolling Hills Drive

TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased at usctheater.org at $15 for adults and $6 for students.

Bethel Park High

School: Big Fish

Bethel Park High School’s spring musical will be “Big Fish.” Big Fish is about a man named Edward Bloom whose ri-

St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Carnegie. Other Ukrainian crafts and folk art will be available for purchase in the church hall. The kitchen will be open and serving traditional Ukrainian food, homemade Easter Pascha bread and baked goods. The Rev. John Charest will lead tours of the church at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. Visit orthodoxcarnegie.org for more details.

SOFTBALL

Registration is open to teams and/or players wanting to compete in the Men’s Church Softball League of the South Hills. Games are played as doubleheaders on Saturdays in Bethel Park or Bridgeville. The regular season runs from May through July and into August for playoffs. For more information regarding fees and the league, contact league commissioner Bob Keibler at 724-518-6072 or rkeibler@nacahtech.com.

COIN CLUB

The South Hills Coin Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. March 12 at the Bethel Park Municipal Building located at 5100 West Library Ave. Alexander the Great will be the featured topic and the program will include a 50/50 raffle and children’s prizes. Applications are being accepted for new members. Call 724-984-6611 for more information.

24 at St. Peter and

diculous and outlandish life stories are not believed by his son, Will.

The two-cast production will feature a team of directors: Todd Kuczawa, Jay McDowell, Julia Davin, Paige Landay, Heather Fontan and Chris Plummer.

WHEN: March 13-16 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Bethel Park High School, 309 Church Road

TICKETS: Tickets will be available beginning March 1 at bpsd.org for $10 per ticket.

Mt. Lebanon High School: “Who Killed Aunt Caroline?”

Mt. Lebanon High School students won’t be performing a musical, but rather a murder-mystery called “Who Killed Aunt Caroline?”

The whodunnit is set in the 1940s as the Endicott family tries to determine who poisoned Aunt Caroline.

WHEN: March 13-16 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Mt. Lebanon High School, 155 Cochran Road TICKETS: Tickets are available at locallevelevents.com/events/details/32390 for $8 per ticket.

NURSES CLUB

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Registered Nurses Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. March 19 at Salvatore’s, located at 5001 Curry Road. Shannon Ye, PharmD, Consulting Pharmacist, Organic Remedies, will speak about medical cannabis. All registered nurses can attend. Call 412-886-1792 for more details.

REUNION

The Bethel Park High School Class of 1994 is planning its 30th reunion and looking for graduates.

If you are a member of the class, or if you have the contact information for a 1994 graduate, contact the reunion committee at bphsclass94@gmail.com or visit the http://facebook. com/bp94reunion?milbextid=LQQJ4d .

CHABAD EVENTS

A pre-Purim seniors lunch will be held at 1 p.m. March 19 at Chabad of the South Hills in Mt. Lebanon. The event, which is wheelchair accessible, features Hamantaschen, a holiday program and a presentation by Comfort Keepers on The Importance of Stimulating the Mind. Suggested donation is $5. Call 412-2782658 to register. Purim in the Shuk will be held at 4:30 p.m. March 24. There will be a Megillah reading, candy shuk, henna

South Fayette High School: “Crazy for You”

South Fayette High School Drama Club will perform the romantic-comedy musical “Crazy for You.”

artist, face painting, make your own spice blends, Israeli-style dinner and Hebrew name bracelets. Admission is $18 for adults and $12 for children with a $54 family maximum. RSVP chabadsh.com/purim/.

Chabad’s Purim Celebration will take place at 11 a.m. March 24 in Washington. The event will feature Megillah reading, brunch and Hamantaschen. Admission is free. Sponsorship opportunities are available. RSVP to ChabadSH.com/celebrate at which time the location will be given.

CASH BASH

The Bethel Park Lions Club will conduct a cash and prize bash from 6 to 10 p.m. March 23 at the community center, located at 5151 Park Ave. Tickets are limited to 200 and cost $60 per person. Admission includes hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert, drinks plus $2,500 in 20 cash prizes. Additional $25 prizes are awarded weekly based on ticket number. Call 412-8542740 for tickets.

POETRY DAY

“Let the Magic Begin” on World Poetry Day will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 23, at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library, 300 Beechwood Ave. The public can sample international food while listening to poetry readings and multilingual translations; watching interpretive dance,

WHEN: March 18 at 7 p.m., March 19 at 2 and 7 p.m. The March 17 performance has been postponed.

WHERE: South Fayette High School, 3640 Old Oakdale Road TICKETS: Tickets are available at sfdrama.ticketleap.com/crazy-foryou for $10 per ticket.

or viewing art. Visit https:// www.carnegiecarnegie.org for more information.

FAIRWAY SWINGERS

The Fairway Swingers are looking for new members for its ladies golf league. The group golfs Thursday mornings from April through October at the Mt. Lebanon municipal golf course. Members need not be Mt. Lebanon residents. All skill levels are welcome. Email guenther.clg@gmail.com for more details.

GOLFERS WANTED

The Women’s Golf Association of Mt. Lebanon is looking for new members. The group golfs between 7:15 and 9:30 a.m. every Tuesday morning from April through September. Residents and non-residents are welcome. Contact Diane at 412-583-6283 or Sharon at 412-480-3319 for more information.

CHOIR RUN

The South Hills Children’s Choir’s Soles for Songs 5K race will be held at 9 a.m. April 6. Entry fee is $30 for runners or walkers, who will traverse the Panhandle Trail starting at Helicon Brewing in Oakdale. Proceeds benefit the choir. Shirts and goodie bags are guaranteed to those who sign up by March 15. Visit shcchoir.org/events.html to register. Email Peggy at solesdirector@gmail.com for further details.

ALPHA PHI GRANTS

The Alpha Phi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honor society for women educators, is accepting applications for its grantin-aid award. Women who are in their junior or senior year of college, majoring in education, and attending a Western Pennsylvania university or college are eligible to apply. Two grants of $1,500 each will be awarded. Applications are available at alphaphipa. weebly.com and due to the chapter webmaster by April 1. Awards will be made in May 2024.

HARMONY SINGERS

of

The

are $15 for adults and $10 for children 10 and under. Parking is free and handicap accessible. Visit our website at www.harmonysingers.org to purchase tickets or more information.

CRAFTERS WANTED

The Venetia Heritage Society is looking for

The

Crazy for You won the 1992 Tony Award for best musical.

Peters Township High School Students rehearse for the spring musical, “All Shook up.”

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