The High Post
Player Profile: Chad Kissell
Q: You have played tennis for a long time, what keeps you motivated to keep playing? A: I just love the competitiveness of the game it can be at a high level of play and the drive to get better until I’m the best keeps me going.
Q: Both of your sisters are great tennis players, how does that make you want be better and also create competition with in the house? A: All three of my sisters were great!!! And we’re a pretty competitive family when were playing, but when we’re off the court we don’t really care who’s the best! Q: Do you feel any pressure because of how successful your sisters has been? A: I don’t really feel like it’s pressure because what my sisters have done over time, in their careers, is truly amazing and hard to come by, but as of right now I feel like I’m following in their foot steps! Q: You’ve had so much success as a sophomore, what were your goals when you began this season? A: I don’t set any goals because goals only lead to failure and pressure, but what I do is every time I play a tennis match is give it my all! Q: What is the biggest difference between doubles and singles for you and in which do you feel you perform better ? A: The only difference is your shot placement in doubles cause there’s always that guy at the net and if you hit it anywhere near where he can get it he’ll usually put it away for a winner. I’m more of a singles player!
Sports
Q: Being a doubles player too, how hard is it to build a team chemistry with one another and have trust? A: Yeah, good chemistry is key to being good at doubles! You can’t be upset or mad if your teammate misses an easy shot cause that will just hurt the team, and if you have been playing long enough with the same person that’s usually the teams that have the best chemistry Q: What is the team going to have to do to win the section title? A: Well, I feel like this team really likes tennis and I know a few of the guys played over the offseason and so far it’s been paying off as we’re 6-0 and #1 in the section! Q: As a leader on the team, what do you feel you have to do to put your team over the top? A: Well I really just try to lead by example! I feel like I show the team how much I care about them and our success in hope that they follow and care and give as much effort as I do! Which I can say that they all do! Q: How has the new coach affected the team? A: Coach U has been great this season! It’s her first year as the boys head coach and she handle’s herself perfectly, she’s always doing what’s best for the team! Q: With being so successful over the years, do you have any superstitions? A: Well I guess I’ve only gotten better so my success can only keep improving!
Junior
Singles Doubles Going to states for singles 11-0 Getting college offers 4 out of 5 college prospect Brett Vallorani, Reporter
Lady Cats Make A Splash At WPIAL, PIAA WPIAL CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Greater Latrobe Results
1st Place: 200 freestyle (M. Sowinski) 2nd Place: 100 freestyle (M. Sowinski) 2nd Place: 100 butterfly (Ky. Owens) 2nd Place: 100 breaststroke (Ky. Owens) 2nd Place: 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay (Team of: Ky. Owens, G. DeFrancesco, M. Douds, M. Sowinski) 4th Place: 200 freestyle (G. DeFrancesco) GL Fourth Overall
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place, only falling short of North Penn (189), North Allegheny To the Greater Latrobe girls swim team late February through (235) and first-place Hershey (279), the three most dominant March is like blood in the water, they are constantly hungry to achieve and fight for every second to make it to the WPIAL Cham- swimming schools in the state. Key events came from a series of experienced swimmers doing pionships and then on to the PIAA Class AAA Championships. what they do best. Senior Kayla Owens finished third in the 100 After strong performances from the Wildcat swimmers at the breaststroke, while Junior Monica Sowinski took seventh in the 100 WPIAL Championships, the team finished fourth overall, and was freestyle. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Kayla Owens, Gina primed and ready to silence the doubters and place among the best DeFrancesco, Megan Douds and Monica Sowinschools in the state. ski finished fourth with a time of 3:29.84, only The PIAA Championships seconds behind the first place team. are held at Bucknell University’s Latrobe also took fifth in the 200 freestyle relay, Kinney Natatorium. On this the same team competing as that in the 200 freestage last season the girls took style relay. Senior captain Gina DeFrancesco comfourth overall, this year they ments on what helped the freestlye relay team on hoped to repeat their success, its way to the PIAA Championships, “We trained despite losing some key compomore sprinting this year which really helped us all nents to last year’s team. As the get a lot faster, and Megan Douds really stepped Wildcats head coach, Greg Arup to fill the fourth spot we lost from our relay rigonie, told the Tribune Review, team last year,” said DeFrancesco. “Fourth was where we finished This years’ success has capped off the great high last year, and that was one of school careers of senior captains Gina Defrancesco our big goals this year, too. Stay GL Swimmers junior Monica Sowinski, there and improve, said Arrigo- senior Gina DeFrancesco, sophomores and Kayla Owens, while prepping the next group Megan Douds and Courtney Kinkead of seasoned GL swimmers for the 2015 season. nie.” The Wildcats totaled 115 before the WPIAL Championships Anna Ayers, Editor points to again finish in fourth