Sewickley Herald notebook: Junior helps Quaker Valley hockey to quick start

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 8, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Junior forward Max Modrovich led the Quaker Valley hockey team to a first-place regular-season finish in 2023-24 in the PIHL Varsity A Gold Division.

Modrovich, also known as “Double M,” accounted for 19 goals and 21 assists to pace the Quakers offensively.

QV racked up a 16-3-0-1 regular-season record, good for 33 points and one point ahead of Shaler and Indiana in the final divisional standings.

This season, the Quakers ran the table through the first two months of their schedule, racking up 10 straight wins in impressive fashion.

“I’m really happy about our start,” Modrovich said. “I would like us to finish first in the regular season and win the Penguins Cup.”

Through 10 games, QV’s well-oiled offensive machine was led by Modrovich (14 goals, 16 assists), junior forwards Ben McHenry (11g, 13a) and Jace Vasbinder (14g, 9a), freshman forward Matthias Lezama (11g, 11a) and sophomore forward Charlie Pyle (5g, 9a).

The goaltending tandem of Landon Buterbaugh and Ian Lorang also was incredible.

Buterbaugh stood tall at 6-0 with a 1.17 goals-against average and .949 save percentage. He allowed only seven goals in six games.

Lorang was 4-0 with a 0.75 GAA and .954 save percentage. He gave up just three goals in four games.

“I believe we have the best goalie situation in Single-A,” Modrovich said.

The versatile QV athlete already has played all three forward positions in his high school career.

Modrovich also is a two-year starter at the attack position for the QV boys lacrosse team.

Students attend summit

Sewickley Academy was represented at the recent WPIAL Summit on Sportsmanship at the Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum by junior Blake Wilmot and sophomores Jake Donesec, Olivia Stefanik and Emilia Carrabba.

All four are soccer and lacrosse players.

“There are many hard-working athletes at Sewickley Academy. I was surprised and honored to be one of the student-athletes chosen to represent my school,” Donesec said. “I think it’s great that athletes from around the region are brought together to reinforce the importance of sportsmanship and respect. This has helped me realize that other students sometimes look up to athletes to be good examples for the school and community.

“Hearing from Neil Walker was super cool. A local kid playing at the highest level in a sport inspires me to keep working hard to be the best I can be. I also enjoyed hearing from experienced coaches, media and players about their sports experiences and the impact that sports have had on their lives.”

Donesec also competes in golf, but lacrosse is his main sport.

“I would like to attend college after high school,” he said. “I’m starting to visit schools to understand better where I might want to apply. My goal would be to play for a Division 1 lacrosse team.

“The summit gave me an inside perspective on the importance of being a good teammate. Meeting other athletes throughout the WPIAL made this an awesome experience.”

Quaker Valley sent four seniors to the summit — Andrew Vescio, Mia Modrovich, Clark LaLomia and Molly MacDonald.

Vescio and Modrovich play soccer, LaLomia participates in track and cross country, while MacDonald competes in volleyball.

Vescio was appreciative to be able to represent QV at the summit.

“I was proud because people saw me as a leader in the QV sports community,” Vesco said, “and having those leadership qualities will take me very far in life. I learned that sports are just a small part of what life really is, but to also cherish every moment of it because it won’t last forever.

“I thought that the issues at hand regarding self-harm and mental health were very well touched on. I was kind of hoping there would be some mention of those things in light of recent events around the WPIAL. Overall, I thought it was a very informative summit.”

Vescio and teammate Colin Benge were selected to play for Class 2A at the 2024 Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association boys all-star event at Pine-Richland.

Thiero family tree

Did you know that Almamy Thiero’s full name is Almamy Seny Amadou Yattabary Thiero, and he has nine brothers and sisters?

Thiero’s daughter Mimi is a 6-5 guard on the QV girls basketball team and considered one of the top players in the WPIAL.

As a 6-9, 255-pound forward, Thiero was a member of two major college basketball programs from 2002-07 during an injury-plagued career.

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in French from Memphis in ‘06 after being able to compete in only one full season for the Tigers under legendary coach John Calipari.

“Injuries were the highlights of my college career,” Thiero said. “I was one of the top power forwards in my class of 2002, averaging a double-double. I sustained a stress fracture on my right tibia, and that injury worsened once I arrived in Memphis. The team doctor thought surgery was the fastest way to get me back on the court. They put a metal rod in my tibia in the summer of my freshman year.

“I was supposed to be back on the court in four months, but the surgery wasn’t successful. They replaced the rod nine months later, and I developed blood clots as a result of the second surgery, which kept me on the sideline all my freshman and sophomore years. When I returned, I blew my right knee (ACL). You get the picture.”

Almamy Thiero, son of Amadou Thiero and Oumou Diagouraga, lived in Mali, West Africa, with his family for 16 years.

As a teenager, Thiero attained a coveted athletic scholarship as an exchange student in the United States.

“I was captain of the Mali U16 team that competed in a Nike Tournament in France,” he said, “and that is where I obtained that scholarship.”

Thiero attended national power Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C., where he averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds as the team’s MVP as a senior. He also was salutatorian of the senior class.

MacDonald selected

Quaker Valley senior Molly MacDonald was selected to participate in the third annual We Serve First All-Star Classic Dec. 7 at Kiski Area High School.

A 5-11 outside hitter and Middlebury College commit, MacDonald was chosen as one of the top senior girls volleyball players from 20 schools in the Alle-Kiski Valley and surrounding communities.

She was a four-year starter and two-time WPIAL Class 2A all-star. She racked up 384 kills, a .319 hitting percentage, 209 digs and 43 serving aces this season.

QV’s girls volleyball team won WPIAL Class 2A championship in 2024, rolling past Keystone Oaks, Ellwood City, Southmoreland and Hopewell by 3-0 scores in the WPIAL tournament.

Panthers stand tall

The Sewickley Academy boys basketball team is well stocked with height this season.

There are nine players listed on the team’s roster who are 6-1 or taller.

The list is striking, and imposing, topped by 6-7 sophomore Adam Ikamba, 6-6 freshman Mamadou Kane, 6-5 freshman Rob Southhall, 6-4 senior Nolan Donnelly, and 6-4 junior Lucas Grimsley.

Others on the roster include Amare Spencer, a 6-3 junior, True Robinson, a 6-3 sophomore, Justin Prunzik, a 6-2 junior, Ja’Mere Guyton, a 6-2 freshman, and Isaac Soumare, a 6-1 freshman.

Mike Iuzzolino is in his first season as the Panthers’ coach. Iuzzolino is assisted by Greg Cercone and Mike Fitzgerald.

Modrovich honored

QV’s Mia Modrovich has been named a Trib HSSN girls soccer all-star for 2024.

Modrovich, an all-WPIAL and all-state selection as a senior defender this season, was the centerpiece of a WPIAL Class 2A championship-winning defense that surrendered just 11 goals in 24 games.

Modrovich is a Case Western commit.

Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy