

Representatives from each of the
Representatives from each of the
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor
ebailey@thealmanac.net
Chris Connor kept a stiff upper lip but her eyes betrayed her.
As a bugler played “Taps” during the closing of the annual Bethel Park Memorial Day Ceremony, tears were hard to hold back as the Women’s Army Corps veteran saluted.
“It is very emotional,” Connor admitted. “It’s very heavy to carry this burden of all the people that are gone.”
The onus is on David Campbell too. He remained speechless during the annual commemoration of all of America’s servicemen who were killed in conflicts. A Vietnam veteran, Campbell earned a Purple Heart during Desert Storm, but 13 people, including two women, from his unit were killed by a scud missile attack in Saudi Arabia in 1991.
“This is hard for him because of all the people that he knew that he lost,” said Campbell’s wife, Gail. “It’s a hard day, but it’s not about him. It’s about honoring those people. When you think about what happened in all the years and all the wars, it’s sad. It’s something though you don’t want to ever forget. That’s why Memorial Day is so important. It’s remembering all the people that died for this country.”
From the Fife family that served in the Revolutionary War through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bethel Park
The
has had its share of casualties. Forty-three made the ultimate sacrifice and their names were read during the Fallen Heroes segment of the memorial program held May 26 at the Bethel Park Veterans Memorial.
In addition to the Placing of the Wreath ceremony and roll call, the Bethel Park Historical Society recognized Jacob and Andrew Urbas. The brothers were killed 210 days apart during World War II. They lived in the Coverdale section of the municipality with their mother, Mary, and two other siblings, Frank and Mary, along with their stepfather, Paul. Frank received a Purple Heart and Mary was a member of the Women’s
SOLEMN PAGE A2
By Eleanor Bailey and Paul Paterra
It was a busy Memorial Day weekend for Rocky Bleier.
The four-time Super Bowl champion from the Pittsburgh Steeler served as the grand marshal of the South Hill Memorial Day Parade held May 26 through Brookline, Dormont and Mt. Lebanon. On May 25, he delivered keynote remarks during a Memorial Day remembrance at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.
“The biggest thing about Memorial Day is (to honor) those who died in combat,” Bleier said.
“Growing up in Appleton, Wisc., Memorial Day, in all honesty, was the end of school, the beginning of summer, waiting for the parade to get started. The pools opened up and life began all over again for that summer. Then it changed. The true meaning didn’t sink in until you were called to serve your country. Memorial Day, think about it, is dedicated to those who died while serving in the armed forces.”
Bleier survived the Vietnam War. An Army veteran, he was wounded in battle, suffering a severe foot injury resulting
from an enemy grenade. He recovered to enjoy a stellar career as a running back for the Steelers.
During the Memorial Day tribute at the cemetery, the South Hills Keystone Chorus saluted the veterans, who represented all branches of the military, and Bleier spoke on the true meaning of the holiday.
“This day is meant to be a time for reflection or contemplation more than celebration,” he said “It’s a time to honor those who gave their lives to defend their country. It also serves as a reminder of the cost of freedom and the dedication of those who have served. It’s a day to remember the sacrifices of military personnel, and more importantly, their families.”
Bleier resides in Mt. Lebanon and the township took time to honor its own during its Memorial Day commemoration. Bleier served as the grand marshal of the longest and oldest parade in the South Hills.
After a 21-gun salute for a dedication of a special World War I memorial and the playing of “Taps,” the cavalcade departed Brookline Boulevard and proceeded to Pioneer Avenue onto West Liberty
of
Memorial
Army Corps, but their siblings made the ultimate sacrifice. Enlisted in the Army, Jacob died at age 20. Andrew joined the Navy after learning of his brother’s death. He died at 17. The memorial service opened with the Bethel Park High School Top 21 chorus singing “The Star Spangled Banner.” The Rev. Jack Puskar from the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and a member of the Sons of the American Legion, delivered the invocation. Council President John Oakes, Mayor Jack Allen as well as Allegheny County executive Sara Innamorato and Pennsylvania state Rep. Natalie Mihalek delivered remarks before yielding to guest of honor, Richard G. Jewell. The Army veteran has lived in Bethel Park for 69 of his 80 years. Jewell received the U.S. Army Meritorious Service Medal for doing an outstanding job in the legal work he conducted for the various commanders at the Third Cavalry. Prior to his service, Jewell graduated from Bethel Park High School, where he was a WPIAL diving champion. A Grove City College graduate, Jewell also won the U.S. Army 1-meter diving title in 1970 at Ft. MacArthur in California. A member of the Bethel Park athletic Hall of Fame as well as the Great Alumni Hall, Jewell is Director of Strategic Marketing for Berkeley Research Group.
While he cited the likes of Abraham Lincoln, General Douglas MacArthur as well as Roman philosopher and emperor Marcus Aurelius, Jewell captured the essence of the day when he noted the occasion was to “contemplate” and “think of those who have passed on in the service to our country.” Because of their sacrifice, Jewell noted that the United States now will be celebrating 250 years as the longest constitutional Republic
in the history of this world in 2026.
“We honor our veterans in many ways,” Jewell said, citing Veterans Day in November and Armed Forces Day in May. “Memorial Day is for all those who have gone before us in service of the country. It’s a special day because they died for the welfare of this great country. They showed incredible courage and it’s right to pay homage and respect to them. They gave up so much.”
After the memorial ceremony, the municipality held a parade. The cavalcade of bands,
Avenue and concluded with a ceremony in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.
The parade was dedicated to the memory of Thomas A. Bird. A Marine, he was the first Mt. Lebanon resident killed in action during the Vietnam War. Bird Park was dedicated in the first lieutenant’s name on Memorial Day in 1967. Prior to the parade, Mt. Lebanon held its annual commemorative program at the Veterans War U.S. Navy pilot Jim McStay served as the feature speaker. Blaise Larontonda served as master of ceremonies and the Rev. Jim Magaw from Sunnyhill Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills delivered the innovation and benediction. The Mt. Lebanon High School marching band played the national anthem and “Taps” as well as “Main Street America” arranged by Gary Gilroy.
veterans groups, politicians and municipal workers, including firefighters and their equipment, ended in Bethel Cemetery, where a special commemoration was held, complete with a 21-gun salute.
“You can’t put into words what this day truly means,” Connor said. “It’s awesome to live in the best country in the world. There is a sense of pride, but there’s a responsibility too. We need to remember.”
The Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Rotary Breakfast Club celebrated a record Night of Giving when it topped its charitable donations by 18%.
The annual event held April 23 at Bella Sera in Canonsburg was the culmination of the organization’s fundraising efforts, which includes the successful BBQ in which more than 2,000 chicken dinners are served.
Thirty-six charities received a total of $65,000 in grants. Visit www.uscbprotary.org for a full list of organizations.
Charities will use the money for an array of items including special needs musical theater camps, new freezers, sheet music, personal security devices, hay, soccer and basketball camps, building gardens and food support.
“From stability, safety & security, leadership, compassion, empowerment and ultimately dignity, these charities
change lives. And we are thrilled to be a part of it,” said Leigh Harkreader, who is the Rotary president.
The Night of Giving continues to expand.
the school collected single serve snacks to restock the organization’s pantry.
The effort was led by school counselors Amy Antonio and Tonia Autieri.
For many of the fifth- and sixth-graders, this was their first introduction to the Ronald McDonald House and its mission.
“We dedicated time in guidance class to researching the organization and learning about the incredible impact it has on families each year,” Antonio said. “It was wonderful to see how much more engaged and invested the students became once they understood how the funds would directly benefit kids their own age in our local community.”
The donations were raised through Boyce’s annual Valentine Grams in February. In exchange for a donation, students and families could have a valentine sent to anyone at Boyce. In addition, a Stock the Pantry drive was held through-
out Random Acts of Kindness Week. Each of the school’s eight academic teams were asked to donate single-serving-sized trail mix, chips, crackers and popcorn.
“The success of this fundraiser would not have been possible without the dedication of our Outreach Committee,” Antonio said. “They played an essential
role in advertising, selling, and sorting the Valentines, and their hard work truly made a difference.”
In appreciation of the students’ efforts, the organization invited members of the Outreach Community to tour its facility.
More than 20 fifth- and sixth-graders visited the Ronald McDonald House.
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John Dolan
Daniel Arrington
Sydney Athanas
Delaney Baker
Carson Barone
Cassidy Baxendell
Nathan Baxendell
Jaquelin Berumen
David Bootay
Cody Brown
Ana Brumbaugh
Katharine Campbell
Marisa Cancilla
Hope Cantrell
Brayden Carter
Martha Charron
Yongang Chen
Jason Cillo
Raniyah Coleman
Lauren Cooley
Derek Corigliano
Makayla Corson
Bobbi Crawford
Sierra Cunic
Tiara Curry
Liliana D’Andrea
Ushan Dahal
Angela DelRosso
Elizabeth Dorley
Amber Dountas
Michael Erdely
Gianna Ferrieri
John (Jack) Gardell
Nico Giampa
Jacob Gude
Gina Maola
Ryan Marini
Jayden Martincic
Ella Martinko
Regan Mazur
Angelina McGrath
Spencer McKay
Gracie McPaul
Thomas Rodriguez
Elena Ruffalo
Marleea Ruscitto
Bryce Samson
Rachel Savikas
Emma Schidlmeier
Sophia Schrader
Ann Sculimbrene
Anna Meade
Joshua Guerriero
Riley Page Haizlip
Parker Hazaga
Allison Herring
Margaret Hirosky
Francesca Hoh
Kelsey Hoover
Michaela Hruby
Brian Kalanish
Devin Kapolka
Anthony Kassab
Megan Kelley
Aaron Kiefer
Logan King
Joshua Krupp
Emily Kubick
Charles Lavrinc
Elizabeth Luzar
Jack Lyons
Justin Metz
Libby Michalski
Madelyne Miller
Vera Mitchell
Marin Murphy
Matteo Mutarelli
Kayla Naumann
Ella Nichols
Emily Obara
Matthew Owen
Salvatore Pasquale
Michael Pastirik
Ethan Patsey
Bryn Pisarcik
Luke Pollice
Olivia Porter
Jacob Ranft
Emma Rethage
Julia Skalniak
Nicholas Skalniak
Alexander Spataro
Kamyia Stackhouse-Morris
Brendan Staley
Zacary Starr
Logan Stern
Gary Szarmach
Lauren Tarrant
Anthony Terreri
Ava Testa
Mary “Sydney” Towers
Madison Turk
Natalie Twigg
John Wallace
Anna Walsh
Brady Walsh
David Weidaw
Athena Diaz
Diamond Dibble
Elisabeth Maleski
Regis Manion
Jasani Rivers
Rylee Rocco
Patrick Weldon
Jaedyn Zilch
Marreddy
Alexus Marszalek
Aiden Martincic
Dharini Maruthu Pandian
Sabrina Marx
Zaydon Mary
Rena Mastramico
Noah Mathias
Gwenyth Homerding
Katelyn Homolek
Noah Homolek
Camryn Hondru
Murphie Hornick
Aaron Hudock
Madelynn Hudock
Dannol Hudson
Christopher Inkenhaus
Ashton Iriti
Lola Jacobs
Rishi Janapareddy
Pranav Janga
Caiden Johnson
Madisyn Jones
Mia Jordan
Joshi
Shreya Kandala
Bai-El Kaparov Ethan Keener Amelia Keller
Walid Ahmad Rahim
Meet Raje
Snigdha Ramavathu
Pranamya Rangaraju
Sophia Reeder
Braydon Reighard
Sydney Restivo
Cierra Rexrode
Sofia Reynal-Hernandez
Elizabeth Stoecklein
Elizabeth Strittmatter
Guhun Suresh
Srishti Swaminathan
Sydney Takac Owen Tamanini
Cole Tamski
Timco
Madison McAllister
Marissa McClintock
Kelley
Kelley Shea Lynne Kerting
Maryam Khan Sondos Khattab
Whitney Kiray
Dhruv Kithany
Rohan Koka
Charles Kosko
Kaitlyn Kovatch
Lucas Kuhns
Cassandra Laux
Carah Leadbitter
Luke Lemonovich
Luke Leonard
Isaac Lex
Gia Liberatore
Dominic Loy
Logan Macintosh
Nandana Manoj Menon
Angelo Mariano
Kyle McIntosh
Reagan McLaughlin
Riley McManus
Ryan Mey
Tyler Mickey
Luke Miller
Paige Miller
Chaseon Minosky
Talan Mizenko
Kaylor Moats
Emma Monteleone
Gianna Monzo
William Moore
Katelyn Morelock
Claire Mowod
Grace Nagle
Bryce Nagy
Gavin Orosz
Mariana Ortegon Oliveros
Trisha Pandya
Adit Patel
Kaushal Patel
Mia Patel
Shrey Patel
Simone Pathania
Nilaksh Patil
Hannah Patterson
Ian Perna
Miguel Persichetti
Eli Petter
Brody Pfeil
Amelya Pinami
Sarwani Potharlanka
Travis Potteiger
Trey Potteiger
Caroline Praveen
Luke Prevade
Nora Provenzano
Lainey Pschirer
Anna Pushnack
Siddharth Puthucode
Ana Putignano
Ethan Risnear
Andre Rivera III
Logan Robitaille
André Rondon
Benjamin Roney
Charlotte Rosato
Jake Rosato
Emily Rose
Ethan Rose
Evan Rumberger
Zade Rush
Connor Rynn
Mariam Saadeldin
Dhiraj Sainani
Samihah Saleem
Piper Sanders
Rhea Sarin
Ayana Satybaldieva
Isabella Scheffer
Gabriel Scheib
Louis Schinosi, Jr.
Mackenzie Schmitz
Corey Schnelzer
Reese Schooley
Cooper Schultheis
Tessa Schwarzmiller
Ava Selva
Chloe Sheader
Raneem Shedeed
Mahika Shetty
Tyler Sidhom
Karyna Trinh Twisha Trivedi Cole Truair
Aiden Tully Aidana Turatova
Mackenzie Turner Venkata Sohan Udumula
Juliana Uhrlen Om Ukani Zoe Unruh John Urso
Pranav Vaidyapu
Minal Vantaku
Venkata Likhitha Srivatsa
Varaganti
Minati Vashi
Sreenidhi Veeroju Maeve Vega-Kaczmarek
Vikesh Venkatesh
Presley Vennum
Stefano Vezio
Serban-Andrei Vlasceanu
Paige Volle
Garrett Vuono
Samantha Walsh
Jillian Warchol
Travis Watkins
Logan Siemers
Landon Simon
Simpson Emily Sinton
Emma Smith Caitlin Snyder Layla Sodini
Andrew Sommerfield
Ayaan Soni Connor Speer
Anthony Spezialetti Brooklyn Spruit
Sophia Weiss Olivia Whetzel
Anderson White
Cody Widmer
Brayden Wiggers
Samuel Wilbourn
Huntley Williams
Jorrin Williams
Ami Wolstoncroft
Rowann Yahya
Nicholas Young
Madelyn Yung
Lorena Yupa-Calle
Darian Zill
Upper St. Clair siblings
Lipi and Arjun Kairi recently achieved top honors at the prestigious Crescendo International Music Competition held recently at New York City’s renowned Carnegie Hall.
Showcasing their talents, Lipi finished first in the voice category while Arjun captured his fourth consecutive first-place award in the flute.
Lipi is a fourth-grade student at Baker Elementary. Arjun is an eighth-grader at Fort Couch Middle School.
The Crescendo International Music Competition, open to students ages 4 to 24, features junior, intermediate, and advanced levels for instrumentalists, vocalists, duets, and chamber orchestras. Since its inception in 2007,
the competition has aimed to inspire young musicians through competitive performances, master classes, and educational programs.
ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor
ebailey@thealmanac.net
After winning a WPIAL title, championship teams seldom have time to celebrate because they are preparing for a run in the PIAA tournament.
Mt. Lebanon, however, has had plenty of time to savor its Class 3A title in girls lacrosse. After edging top-seeded Pine-Richland, 15-14, in the District 7 finals played May 22 at Upper St. Clair High School stadium, the Blue Devils did not embark on state playoff action until June 3. Lebo was scheduled to battle the fourth-place finisher in District 4 in the first round of action.
Brian Kattan, however, will relish the triumph for much longer. In his 16 years as Blue Devils skipper, he has never fielded such a young squad. The roster features just two seniors: Sloane Wilson and Joelle Khandji; and the Blue Devils started six sophomores and four juniors.
With tears streaming down his face Kattan said after watching his captains accept the championship trophy, “This one means a lot to me.
“The story is about the two seniors that came back,” he continued. “We had nine juniors last year but the two that stuck it out truly were tremendous leaders.
“I guarantee coming into the season, people knew we were young and didn’t think we could do this. That we could get back to the finals,” he added. “But we did. It’s unbelievable.”
After ceding the section banner to rival Upper St. Clair, the Blue Devils reached the Class 5A finals for the fifth year in a row. They posted a 17-14 win against Peters Township, 17-14, before avenging the regular-season loss to the Lady Panthers with a 12-9 triumph in the semifinals.
Seeded No. 3 in the tournament, Lebo then overcame a five-goal deficit to stun Pine-Richland.
Sophomore Grace Manning scored the game-winning goal with 4:15 remaining to clinch the victory. Manning finished with five goals and an assist.
“I honestly didn’t know it was the winning goal,” Manning said. “I just tried to work hard the whole game and it turned out to be the winning goal.
“We knew when we were down, we had to work hard and we knew our momentum had to stay up and we had to stay together as a team,” she added. “All year long, we worked so hard together as a team and our confidence was all that mattered.”
That poise and resilience powered Lebo’s comeback did not surprise Kattan. “They believed in themselves that they could come back. They have done it all season. Sticking with it, staying together and keeping it going,” he added.
Kattan cited the draw control by Quinn Murdoch sparked Lebo’s comeback. The Blue Devils scored off the play. Manning dished up an assist to Ann Tinnemeyer.
Before the third quarter ended, Lebo had closed the gap, 12-11, thanks to tallies by Murdoch, Tinnemeyer and Cali Green. Murdoch’s and Green’s goals came from free position shots while
ABOVE: Grace Manning puts a shot on goal that propelled Mt. Lebanon to victory, 15-14, in the WPIAL Class 3A championship girls lacrosse match. Manning scored five goals, including the game winner, and also chalked up an assist in the victory.
LEFT: Quinn Murdoch (31) and Ireland McFarland (18) celebrate after Mt. Lebanon captured the WPIAL Class 3A girls lacrosse championship by virtue of a 15-14 win over Pine-Richland.
Tinnemyer’s was assisted by Green.
“That draw to get us back to 12-8 was the most important thing because they started believing in themselves again,” Kattan said.
“At 12-7 their heads were down a bit. We could see it,” he continued. “(The draw) got us pumped up, especially since we scored off it. It got us back into the game. We knew what we could do.”
Kattan knew what Manning could do especially after the Rams opened up a three-goal edge with a pair of scores by Cate Gentile to start the fourth and final quarter.
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
Winning a seventh WPIAL lacrosse championship was elementary for the Mount Lebanon boys. In edging Shady Side Academy, 12-11, by scoring twice in the final 76 seconds of play, the Blue Devils returned to the basics.
“During our huddle, our offensive coordinator said, ‘hey, let’s keep it simple.’ We didn’t run anything elaborate,” said Lebo head coach Mike Ermer.
“Honestly, we told the guys, if we play like good fourth-graders, picking up ground balls and communicating, we’ll be alright. It’s kind of like fourth-grade plays that we ran. I can’t lie. Sometimes simpler is better.”
With 32 seconds remaining in the game, Max Prezioso simply scored an unassisted goal that turned out to be the game winner. Prezioso scored four goals in the game.
“We just ran a play that our coach assigned us. One we have practiced,” said Prezioso. “We executed perfectly. You want to trust your teammates and that’s exactly what I did and it ended up working out for us.
“We practiced all year long for these types of moments,” Prezioso continued. “The stage wasn’t too big for us. We knew if we stayed calm and trusted each other, then we’d be good.”
Though the Blue Devils came into the championship match seeded No. 1, the Panthers challenged them every minute. Lebo edged ahead, 5-4, after the first frame, 5-4, but the contest was tied, 7-7, at intermission.
Hetz, Prezioso and Garrett Cramer had scored twice in the first half while Keegan
Green added a single tally. All goals were unassisted. A pair of goals by James Rost and a tally by John Poggi propelled Shady Side Academy into the lead, 10-7, with 10:19 left in the fourth quarter.
“They had a really good third quarter,” Ermer said. “So between the quarters, we just brought everybody in, and we just said, listen, we’re playing a little tight. We’ve got to have more fun. Like, enjoy the game. It’s the greatest game in the world, in my opinion. So just play loose and have fun.” Prezioso continued to have a field day. His hat trick coupled with a goal by Andrew Pinilla narrowed the gap before Lebo waged its final comeback. Cramer ignited the uprising with an unassisted goal with 3:08 to play.
Sadie Tomczyk of Upper St. Clair and Delaney Schumaker from South Fayette were double-medal winners during the PIAA Class 3A track and field championships held recently at Shippernsburg University.
A junior, Tomczyk finished fifth in the 100-meter run (12.7) and fourth in the 200 dash (24.89).
A sophomore, Schumaker placed fifth in the 100 hurdles and seventh in the 300 hurdles. Her time of 14.39 in the 100 was a personal record.
“The 100 was a super good race,” Schumaker said. “I had a good start. I ran against some pretty good girls, so I was hoping I could get a PR.” Schumaker added that she didn’t think she ran a good race in the 300. “I got a medal
so I’m super proud of that,” she said.
WPIAL champion Anna Engelman of USC scored seventh place in the triple jump to secure a spot on the award’s podium. Her leap measured 38 feet, 4 inches. Mt. Lebanon and South Fayette had medal-winning performances in the relays.
WPIAL champions each, the Blue Devils finished fifth in the 4-by-400 while the Lady Lions duplicated that showing in the 3,200. Lebo’s relay consisted of Lily Cramer, Lauren Krebs, Lucy Tang and Selma Bajgoric. They combined for a 3:54.86 time. Emily Sinton, Nina DiMartini, Siya Joshi and Angela Zeng comprised SF’s relay. The foursome combined for a 9:19.28 mark.
By Eleanor Bailey Almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.net
Mars continued its dominance in lacrosse at the Class 2A level when the Planets captured both the boys and girls WPIAL championship matches with victories over South Fayette, 7-5, and Chartiers Valley, 15-6, on May 23 at Upper St. Clair stadium. With the win over the Lions, Mars (18-2) won its ninth district crown. With the win over the Lady Colts, Mars (19-1) won a third straight WPIAL banner. The defeat was a
Bethel Park defeated Peters Township, 17-2, in the WPIAL Class 5A consolation contest played May 27 at Ross Memorial Field in Washington. With the win, the Black Hawks improved to 19-5 overall and earned the third seed out of District 7 for the PIAA
tournament. They will take on Dubois June 2 in the first round of the state playoffs. In the four-inning affair against the Indians, Ryan Petras smashed four hits, including two doubles. He drove in two runs. Jack Bruckner tagged two hits, including a two-run dou-
ble in an eight-run first inning. He finished with three RBI.
Owen White also recorded three RBI and a two-bagger while Ethan Stanhoff drove in two runs and doubled.
Noah LeJeune, Nick Rillo (2), Eric Miehl and Joey Levis also knocked in runs with base hits.
Matthew Hughes earned the win on the mound. He struck out five and scattered two hits over three innings. In relief, Dylan Paul allowed one hit and struck out two.
For the Indians, who slipped to 15-9 overall, David Oberschelp tagged a two-run homer
in the third inning. However, the Hawks got the runs back in the bottom half of the frame before tacking on seven more in the fourth inning.
Despite the defeat, the Indians (15-9) are still qualified for the state tournament. They will begin their quest
for a PIAA banner also on June 2 when they take on the District 3 champion Lampeter-Strasburg.
The PIAA Class 5A championship game is set for 4:30 p.m. June 12 at Medlar Field in Lubrano Park on the Penn State University campus.
Manning initiated a four-goal run by the Blue Devils. After Green and Vivi Warhola scored to tie the contest at 14, Manning finished off the Rams with her game-winning tally at the 4:15 mark.
“Grace was tremendous,” Kattan said.
“I have been talking to her all year about going to the goal. Bury your shot because you are quicker than anybody in the WPIAL,” he said. “She did a fantastic job of understanding that and just going after it and wanting to score and wanting to place her shots.
“I can’t say enough about her and any of our sophomores, seniors, juniors,” Kattan added. “All 24 girls were tremendous.”
While Gentile finished with four goals and Madeline Mill and Mallory Boivin each had hat tricks for the Rams, the Lebo defense of Rainiah Turnbull, Chloe Shea, Aubrey Betler and Wilson did not allow a shot during the final 10 minutes.
Nina Crago earned the win in the nets, making eight saves.
In addition to Manning’s five tallies as well as Murdoch’s and Tinnemeyer’s hat tricks, Ireland McFarland scored a goal and added an assist for the Blue Devils. Green finished with two goals and two assists. Additionally, Lucy Pryor led Lebo with six draw controls and Murdoch followed with three.
Hetz and Prezioso completed the comeback with their unassisted tallies.
“Our defense did a really good job and our offense came around. Being able to finish it off in the final couple minutes was significant. It was great.”
During a rebuilding season, the Blue Devils were able to win their third consecutive WPIAL championship.
“They battled. They worked hard. They had a lot of ground balls,” Ermer said.
“This one feels really good,” Prezioso said. “We lost a lot of key seniors last year so this one was a hard fight. We practiced all year long. It was a tough matchup and we came out on top, which felt good.”
Defensively, Zach Lynam made eight saves for the Blue Devils. Aidan Carlstrom, Ty Praia, Benton Thompson and AJ Hyland also spearheaded the defense. Mason Prettyman led with five ground balls.
Other contributors in the win included starting attack Lukas Bilec as well as substitutes Cole Gibbons, Sam McAuley, Nicholas Zundel, Adam Hetz, Kris Kambitsis, Xavier Bias and
Mars
FROM PAGE B1
The Planets scored four times in the first frame and twice in the second stanza, constructing a 6-3 halftime advantage. Mars widened its margin to 7-3 before the Lions waged a comeback. Drew Welhorsky finished with a hat trick, scoring his third goal to make it 7-4 with 8:31 to play. He assisted on Max Joseph’s goal with 2:11 to play, cutting the deficit to two goals. Jack Makar scored South Fayette’s other goal, off an assist from Ryan Mey. The tally
Parker Westbrook. With the win, the Blue Devils advanced to the PIAA
nament. First-round playoff action was scheduled for June 3. The Class 3A state
onship match will be
at 5:30 p.m. June 14 at Panzer Stadium on the Penn State University campus.
cut the Mars lead to 5-3 with 7:03 left in the second quarter. Travis Watkins made five saves in goal and Carter DeWitt had six ground balls. Meanwhile, the McGrath twins led to the demise of the Lady Colts. Both Tess and Anna McGrath racked up four goals each for the Lady Fighting Planets, who exploded for five goals in the second quarter and seven scores in the fourth period.
Hailey Long added two tallies while Lucy Balazs, Katie Blake, Ella DePaoli and Reanna Kolarcik-Schmitt completed the scoring for Mars.
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Megan Witte led CV’s attack, racking up four goals. Juliana Betts and Natalia Palumbo completed the scoring.
Iyla Ozeby and Ava Warzinski registered assists for the Colts, who slipped to 15-4 overall.
Kaitlyn Kuczinski made 11 saves while Palumbo (4) and Betts (3) led CV in ground balls. The Colts mustered 12 shots on goal against Ella Roach.
The South Fayette boys and Chartiers Valley girls embark on their quests for a state championship in lacrosse when the PIAA tournament commences June 3 with firstround action. The state finals are set for June 14 at Panzer Stadium on the Penn State University campus. The Class 2A girls final is set for 10 a.m. The boys championship match follows at 12:30 p.m.
Fort Couch Middle School
seventh-graders Sofia Khaydarova and Logan Dunkin recently had their poems selected for publication in the Poetic Power Spring Poetry Contest.
Khaydarova’s poem, “Time Goes By,” and Dunkin’s poem, “Angel and the Devil (Angel’s Perspective),” will be published in a student poetry anthology. Less than 50% of all contest
entries are accepted for publication.
The poetry contest, open to students in kindergarten through grade nine, is divided into three grade divisions: K-3, 4-6 and 7-9. Poems must
be 21 lines or less on any topic. Entries are judged on literary merit, creativity and social significance by published writers and/or educators in elementary, secondary and higher education.
The Revolution Robots, a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team from Fort Couch Middle School, earned national recognition by placing second in Robot Design and receiving the Robot Design Finalist Award at the American Robotics Open Championship (AROC), held recently at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, N.J.
This achievement marks a milestone as the first time a competitive Upper St. Clair FLL team has advanced to a national post-season event. The team includes students Emily Chen, Mahathi Devaki, Ritu Gupta, Aanya Jha, Praachi Sreeram, Nimisha Simhadri and Nathan Suchta, each contributing expertise in design, programming, engineering and strategy. They were coached by Rama Bala,
The Bethel Park Movies in the Park program kicks off at 7 p.m. June 6 at the community center playground located at 5151 Park Ave. “Hook” will be the featured film. The move begins at dusk. “Lilo & Stitch” will be featured on June 20. Call 412-851-2910 for more details.
The Bethel Park Library will hold a plant swap during regular hours from June 12-16 in the fireplace room. Plants or seeds can be left on the plant swap tables. Indoor and outdoor plants, annuals, perennials, shrubs can be donated. Label plants. Plants should be in a container, well watered and pest as well as disease free. The library is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library is closed Sundays through Labor Day. Call 412835-2207 for more details.
The Giant Oaks Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. June 5 at St. David’s Episcopal Church located at 905 McMurray Road. Cyndi Fink from Phipps Conservatory will discuss the ruby-throated hummingbird and how to attract these flying jewels to the garden with the best nectar recipes. Guests can attend for a $6 luncheon fee. To register, call 412-7604221.
The Bethel Park School District received three awards in the 2024 PenSPRA Excellence in Education Communication Contest, which highlights school districts from across the commonwealth for their digital and print communication.
The district claimed the Award of Excellence in Writing category for its efforts following last summer’s attempted assassination of President Trump by a former Bethel Park student. It also earned the Award of Merit for its District Profile. It also garnered honorable mention recognition for its Best in Class special projects website, highlighting the new elementary school slated to open in 2026.
Geetali Pandey and Archana Devaki.
“This team demonstrated remarkable dedication and resilience as they prepared for the national competition following their success at the Pennsylvania state event,” Bala said. “The team had fantastic presentations on their innovation project, core values, and outreach. We’re extremely proud of their te-
nacity, ingenuity, and commitment to excellence.”
Adding to the day’s honors, team member Ritu Gupta was invited to sing the national anthem at the opening ceremony.
The fourth annual AROC brought together 52 top-performing robotics teams from across the country, showcasing innovation, engineering skills and collaboration.
Dr. James Walsh, superintendent, said, “I would like to thank our communications team, led by James Cromie, for its tremendous work on behalf of our school district. His dedication and expertise continue to elevate our communications and strengthen our connection with the Bethel Park community.”
Concordia of the South Hills will host open house events from 1 to 3 p.m. June 19-20 on its campus, located at 1300 Bower Hill Road. After a brief information session with refreshments, tours will follow. Registration is preferred, but walk-ins are acceptable. RSVP to 412294-1351.
PT
The Peters Township recreation center is offering the following programs:
■ Safe Sitter Course from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 9-10. Day one is held at the recreation center and day two is held at the Peters Township fire station located at 245 E. McMurray Road. Ages 11 to 14 or grades 6 to 8 can attend this class. Students learn safety, child care, behavior management and emergency skills, including CPR certification, to prepare them to watch younger siblings or baby-sit others. Fee is $65 ($97 nonmembers).
The Giant Oaks Garden Club announced Isabella Markwood from Bethel Park and Allee Hoover from McGuffey High School as its scholarship winners. Both will study agriculture/landscape design at Penn State University. The Janet Fuchs Memorial Scholarship granted through the club went to: Morgan Wilcox. The 2025 Canon-McMillan graduate will study plant science at the University of Delaware.
6:40 p.m. Ages 4 to 6 meet from 6:50 to 7:30 p.m. Fee is $40 ($60 nonmembers).
This introduction to dance combines ballet, jazz and tumbling to develop self-confidence, musicality and body awareness.
■ Creative writing camp for ages 6 to 12 from 2 to 5 p.m. June 16 to 20 or July 28 to Aug. 1. Register for one or both weeks. Fee is $160 ($240 nonmembers). The camp is recommended for avid readers or first-time writers.
■ Blueberry cooking camps from 1 to 2:30 p.m. beginning in June. A five-day camp runs from June 9 to 15 and will create ocean, beach-themed snacks and drinks. Fee is $175 ($263 nonmembers). A materials check of $50 is due on the first day of camp. A three-day camp, running June 30 to July 2, celebrates American classics like French fries, cheese burgers, home-made buns for hotdogs and root beer floats. Fee is $125 ($188 nonmembers) plus $40 materials fee. The baking with Mrs. Blueberry camp runs from July 14-18. Cookies, mini pies, cheesecake bits and cupcakes will be baked. Fee is $175 ($263 nonmembers) plus $50 materials fee.
supervise their children. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers).
■ Sports summer camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning June 9. Ages 4 to 12 eligible. Half-day camp fee is $165. Full-day fee is $265. Before care and after care are available for additional fees.
■ Summer camps begin as early as June 6. Children up to age 12 can sign up for creative writing, dance, theater, chess and cooking camps. Fees vary. Visit www.peterstownship. org to register or stop at the recreation center, 700 Meredith Drive. For more details, call 724-942-5000.
The Peters Township farmers market returns to Peterswood Park beginning June 4. Hours of operation are 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Vendors with homemade, homegrown or handcrafted products are needed. To apply, contact LMorris@ peterstownship.com or call 724-942-5000.
■ Dance explorations on Wednesdays beginning June 4. Ages 3 meet from 6 to
■ Tiny Tots Gym Time from 1 to 3 p.m. the first and third Friday of every month. Children 5 and under participate in unstructured playtime with a variety of toys, balls and soft play features. Parents must remain on site and
Friday Night Flicks will operate this summer at the amphitheater in Peterswood Park. Movies begin at dusk. Featured films and dates are: “Moana 2” on June 13; “Inside Out 2” on July 18; “The Wild Robot” on Aug. 8; and “Beetlejuice” on Oct. 10. Snacks, chairs and blankets are permitted. Admission is free, as is the popcorn.
The South Hills Coin Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. June
10 at the Bethel Park municipal building located at 5100 W. Library Ave. All members and the general public can attend. Early American gold coins will be the topic of discussion. A 50/50 will be held and children’s prizes will be awarded. Applications are being accepted for membership. Call 724-984-6611 for more information.
Registration for Camp Gan Izzy is being accepted at chabadsh.com/cgi.
The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 30, to July 1. Ages 4 to 11 can attend. The Jewish-themed camp offers specialty clubs, swimming, weekly trips, sports, science, baking and crafts. Daily lunch and snacks are provided. Limited scholarships are available. For more information, email hindy@chabadsh.com or call 412-344-2424.
The College Club of Carnegie will meet June 7 at Gianna Via’s Restaurant, located in the Shoppes at Caste Village off Grove Road in Whitehall. After a social at 11:30 a.m. a luncheon follows at noon. “The Scholar’s Luncheon” will be the theme of the meeting. A 50/50 raffle will take place to benefit the group’s scholarship fund program. Women with a post-secondary education can attend. Call membership chairperson Therese Condit at 412-279-4458 for further information.
South Fayette In other PenSPRA competition news, South Fayette Township School District captured an Award of Merit in the Annual Report category. Jennifer Donovan is the Director of Communications for the school district. Additionally, South Fayette garnered six awards during the Digital Media Arts Consortium (DMAC) Festival held at Robert Morris University. Student work from Allegheny, Westmorland, and Washington counties schools as well from the state of Ohio was featured in the competition. Presley Vennum earned top honors for Photo Illustration, News Package and Sports Photojournalism. Vennum also captured the Founders Award. It recognizes a senior each year for outstanding media worky.
Nichola Geib won in the Feature Package category while Lilly Green took top honors in the Public Service Announcement division. All of South Fayette’s submitted projects were completed with the help of students from media classes, independent study and the Media Club. They all contributed to script-writing, camera-operation, and on-camera roles.
The Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association, chartered in 1969, is an organization of school public relations professionals whose goal is to improve educational communication and support student achievement through systematic, proactive, and responsible public relations programs.
Food Truck Fridays return to the Peters Township Municipal Complex, located at 610 E. McMurray Road. A variety of food trucks will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Pittsburgher Food Truck kicks off the season on June 6. Other summer dates are: June 20, Hibachi Lou; July 11, Cousins Maine Lobster; July 25, Trucking’ Triangles; Aug. 1, Chicks’ N Waffles; Aug. 15, Hummus Pittsburgh. Visit peterstownship.com or call 724-941-4180 for more details.
A one-day bus trip to Cleveland will be offered through the Peters Township recreation department on June 4. Departure is at 7 a.m. Return time is 9 p.m. Fee is $199 and includes transportation, lunch, admissions per itinerary, meal and taxes. The group will visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and tour the grounds of Lakeview Cemetery and Gardens as well as visit the West Side Market. Visit www.peterstownship.com to register or call 724-942-5000 for more details.
The Westminster Recreation and Outreach Center offers a variety of exercise classes and programs at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at 2040 Washington Road in Upper St. Clair. Visit wroc.westminster-church.org to register or more details or call 412-835-6630.
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BUICK
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SOLOMON BUICK 1777 McClellandtown Rd, McClellandtown, PA 724-602-4678 solomonautogroup.com
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CHRYSLER
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SOUTH HILLS CHRYSLER Washington Road, McMurray, PA 724-941-4300
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DODGE ROTOLO’S DODGE 58 Route 88, North Charleroi, PA 15022 888-269-6183
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SOUTH HILLS DODGE Washington Road, McMurray, PA 724-941-4300
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FIAT
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STAR LAKE FORD Main St., Burgettstown, PA 724-947-3381 www.starlakeford.com
WASHINGTON FORD 507 Washington Road, Rt. 19, Washington, PA 888-706-6128 www.washingtonford.com
GMC
BUDD BAER GMC 83 Murtland Ave. Washington Pa 724-249-6047 www.buddbaergm.com
SOLOMON GMC 1777 McClellandtown Rd, McClellandtown, PA 724-602-4678 solomonautogroup.com
HARLEY DAVIDSON
STEEL CITY HARLEY DAVIDSON 1375 Washington Road, Washington, PA 724-225-7020 www.steelcitymotorcycles.com
#1 COCHRAN
HONDA C. HARPER HONDA 106 Harper Drive Belle Vernon, PA 15012 724-929-8000
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HYUNDAI WASHINGTON HYUNDAI 305 WashingtonRd. Rt. 19 at Strabane Square Washington, PA 724-222-2216 www.washhyundai.com
JEEP
ROTOLO’S JEEP 58 Route 88, North Charleroi, PA 15022 888-269-6183 www.rotolomotors.com
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KIA
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LINCOLN
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MAZDA
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MERCEDES-BENZ
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NISSAN
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PREOWNED MARKETPLACE 150 Racetrack Road Washington, PA 412-349-1794 www.cochran.com
PREMIERE AUTO SALES 667 E. Maiden St., Washington, PA 724-223-0600 www.premiereautosales.com
RT. 18 HOMES AUTO SALES 940 Henderson Ave., Washington, PA 724-225-5308 www.18autosales.com
THREE RIVERS AUTO SALES 30 South Central Avenue Canonsburg, PA 15317 724-338-2923 www.3riversvw.com
TREGEMBO MOTORS I-70 Exit 32B, Bentleyville, PA 724-239-2200 www.tregembomotors.com
WARNE MOTORS INC. 107 East Pike Street Canonsburg, PA 724-746-5956 www.johnwarnemotors.com