2015 WPIAL Scholar Athletes

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, May 22, 2015 | 11:36 AM

The Class of 2015
 

On Monday, May 18th, twenty (20) student athletes were recognized by the WPIAL for their extraordinary achievements – both academically and athletically – throughout their high school careers.  This years scholarship recipients are listed below, including brief bios on each  (as provided by the WPIAL).  

Zack Altieri
Jeannette High School

Has won 11 letters in football, basketball, and baseball during his high school career. Team captain of each sport during his senior season. In school, Zack is involved in Student Council, Hi-Y Club and participated in drama activities.  Was involved in an organization sending care packages to deployed troops. Zack plans to continue his academic career and play football at St Vincent College.

Jacob Gerard
Ringgold High School

Accumulated 120 wins as a wrestler and was an all conference performer in football. A recipient of the KDKA Extra Effort Award, Jacob is a member of the National Honor Society and participated on the Science Olympiad, debate, and math teams. He is a KDKA Extra Effort awardee.Jacob is a volunteer at Mon Valley Hospital. He will pursue an engineering degree at the United State Naval Academy.

Sean Orsini
West Allegheny High School

Captain of the football and basketball teams. All Section and honorable mention All State in football. School activities include SADD-vice president, Chess Club-president, and Key club. In the community, Sean participated in Relay for Life, Light Up the Night, and Walk for Autism programs. Sean plans to study petroleum engineering at St Francis University and play football..

Tanner Quiggle
Seneca Valley High School

Tanner achieved qualifying and medalist standing and has been a team MVP in cross country and track. Class schedule includes 6 Advanced Placement courses. Is a competition champion in TEAMS Engineering Competition and a member of the National Honor Society. Tanner volunteers as a Salvation Army bell ringer and the Miracle League of Southwestern PA. Tanner Will continue his track and cross country careers at Penn State while pursuing a bioengineering degree.

John Regueiro
Quaker Valley High School

An All Section performer and team captain in soccer and lacrosse, John also was a place-kicker in football. Participated in the Westinghouse Science Honors Institue,  philosophy club, Key Club,and National Honor Society. On the Mock Trial team, he twice earned the Allegheny County Mock trial competition “Best Witness” award. An active volunteer at Animal Friends and several school-community related service organizations. A high honors student, John will pursue a compute science and engineering program in college.

Jacob Roberge
Franklin Regional High School

Earned All WPIAL and All State honors in soccer. As a junior, earned 1st team All Conference in football. Active participant in National and Spanish Honors Societies. Has volunteered in church in the nursery and was a children’s worship leader. A founding member of Wounded Warriors Club and vice-president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Jacob plans to continue his soccer career at Northwestern University while pursuing a career in the financial industry.

Andrew Romanchak
Freeport Area High School

A football and track-field athlete, he earned 1st team All Conference honors as a quarterback. Holds school passing records for most yards in a season and in a game. Is a member of the school’s Key Club, Quiz Bowl and the National Honor Society. Participated in an Autism Walk and set up a Pittsburgh Steelers blood Drive at a personal care home. Andrew will pursue a career in mechanical engineering and continue his football career at Robert Morris University.

Joshua Rosato
Chartiers valley Hugh School

Served as captain of the soccer, tennis, and swimming teams. Also captain of the Engineering, Research and
Development team. Active participant of the national Honor Society, Math Honor Society, and Robotics team. He was a member and vice-president of the school band and show band. A volunteer for the Scott Township Recreation  program and Church Festival. Joshua plans is to attend a four year university and major in architecture.

Brooks Wilding
Upper St. Clair High School

A WPIAL and PIAA qualifier in wrestling, he also participated on a WPIAL and PIAA championship golf team. A member of the Spanish Club, Literary magazine, and Calcu-Solve team. Volunteers as a youth football and wrestling coach in the community. In the future, Brooks plans to study aerospace engineering at Virginia Tech or Georgia Tech.

Cole Rosenberger
Indiana Area High School

An All Section and All WPIAL soccer player, Cole also was on a 4×800 WPIAL champion relay team in track. President of the Key Club, he was also a member of the National Honor Society, Math Club, and Quiz Bowl team. Served as chairman of the new student ambassador program and was a volunteer youth soccer coach. Cole’s future plans include studying engineering at Duke University.

Maria Fleck
Mohawk High School

An All Section volleyball performer, Maria was captain of the volleyball and track-Field teams. In track, she is a WPIAL champion and record holder in the 300m hurdles. Is president of the National Honor Society, editor of the school newspaper, and a member of the school’s Hometown High-Q team. A participant in brain tumor and cancer 5K, she was also active in the Coaches vs. Cancer program. Maria will attend Penn State University and pursue a major in linguistics.

Madeline Holmberg
Hempfield Area High School

A track and field and volleyball participant, she has won WPIAL and PIAA track championships in the 300m hurdles, long jump and 4×1 relay events. Was named Post Gazette and Tribune Review Female Athlete of the year as a junior. School activities include, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Science National Honor Society. Served as a volunteer in the school’s blood drive, peer tutoring, and senior citizen prom.
At Penn State University, Madeline will continue her track participation and will pursue a major in kinesiology.

Victoria Kocsusta
Montour High School

An All Section and All WPIAL soccer player, Victoria also served as the team captain. The senior class vice president, she was active in the National Honor Society, Science Olympiad and community service Interact Club. A volunteer at Allegheny General Hospital, she was also active as a youth soccer referee. Victoria Will major in biomedical science at Ohio State University and then continue on to medical school.

Kirsten McMichael
Ringgold High school

A four-time captain of the cross country and track teams, Kirsten was a WPIAL qualifier in each sport and a PIAA qualifier in cross country. As a senior she is enrolled in six AP courses. School activities include National Honor Society president, National Thespian Society treasurer, Debate team captain and Interact Club. A volunteer in the peer tutor program, she designed and operates the Ringgold cross country team website. Kirsten plans to continue her running career and major in physics at Washington and Lee University.

Theresa Merlino
Yough High School

A four year participant and captain in the soccer and lacrosse programs. She led her team to a section championship denying the opposition of any goals. President of student council, she is also a member of the National Honor Society. She is the recipient of the Seton Hill College Women in Science Award. An active volunteer in her church as an achelite, she also assists with senior citizen  breakfasts and Easter programs. Theresa plans to attend Penn State University.

Brianna Schwartz
Shaler Area High School

A WPIAL and PIAA champion in cross country and 1600m event in track. Holds WPIAL records in the 800m and 1600m races. Post Gazette Co-Female Athlete of the year and Tribune Review Female Athlete of the year in 2014. Is a member of the Spanish and National Honor Societies. Active in the community as a volunteer in the religious education program in her church. She has served as a volunteer for the Sarcoma Foundation  5K. Brianna will attend Colorado University and continue her running career.

Isabel Siergiej
Penn Trafford

A field hockey and track and field athlete, she earned All WPIAL status in all four grades in field hockey. A member of the marching and symphonic bands and the Spanish and National Honor Society , she participated in the Westinghouse Science Honors Institute and placed second in the Pittsburgh Chemistry Olympics. Volunteer pursuits included the Westmoreland Food Bank, a nursing home, and peer tutoring program. Isabel Plans to pursue a degree in engineering from Cornell.

Courtney Vannoy
Blackhawk High School

A three sport athlete for each of four years in golf, basketball, and softball while earning 11 varsity letters. Active in the National Honor Society, English and Spirit clubs. Has been a KDKA Extra Effort and Wendy’s Heisman awardee. School-community service activities include membership in the Leo and Environmental clubs, and volunteer at her church and for Chippewa Recreation Board events. Courtney will study forensic science and psychology at Loyola University and will participate in athletics.

Grace Ward
Freeport Area High School

A volleyball and track athlete throughout high school. She was a three time volleyball captain and garnered 1st team All Conference honors in volleyball. Her activities included Student Council-Vice President, Key Club, National Honor Society and Ski Club. Was a volunteer at the Hope Center against Domestic violence, and special olympics skiing. Grace will major in human development and family studies at Penn State University. 

Caroline Westwood
Quaker Valley High School

Cross country and lacrosse performer for 4 years. Cross country team was the WPIAL team champion in junior year. Was selected as an academic All American in lacrosse. The Student Council President, she was also a member of the Science Olympiad, and Key Club. A Westinghouse Science Scholar she was a regional medalist in anatomy and physiology (1st place) and entomology (2nd place). In the community, she volunteered  for Park Clean/Up Tree Restoration, church activities and was a Center for Hope volunteer. Caroline plans to study biomedical engineering at Duke University

Tags: Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley, Franklin Regional, Freeport, Hempfield Area, Indiana, Jeannette, Mohawk, Montour, Penn-Trafford, Quaker Valley, Ringgold, Seneca Valley, Shaler, Upper St. Clair, West Allegheny, Yough