A-K Valley athletes of the week: St. Joseph’s Kasey Cienik, Deer Lakes’ Ryan Grunden

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 2:03 PM

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Kasey Cienik

School: St. Joseph

Class: Junior

Sport: Basketball

Claim to fame: Cienik scored 22 points in her team’s 47-29 win over Apollo-Ridge on Monday and followed that performance with a 24-point effort in a 71-47 win over Highlands on Wednesday. She scored 14 points Friday night in a 51-21 win over Frazier as the Spartans opened the season 3-0.

What was it like to make it to the WPIAL finals last year?

Last year was very exciting to see the older girls get what they finally deserved. It was a fun experience for me, even though I didn’t get to play as much. It was great to support them because we spent a lot of time together, and they became my really good friends.

How has the team adjusted to the roster turnover?

Even though a lot of the girls left, we aren’t the only school that’s had people leave. It doesn’t make a lot of sense for people to be doubting us this season because we still have all this talent that wasn’t seen because we had so many seniors. We’re still going to be a great team.

What did you learn from those departing players?

Never give up. Whether they were winning or losing, those girls were always fighting, giving it their all.

What’s your role this season?

To be a dominant post player like Anna Kreinbrook was last year and to help the team in any way I can. A lot of the girls are freshmen this year, and they need a little guidance, and I feel like I need to be one of the leaders to help mentor them.

How did it feel to score more than 20 points in the first two games?

It felt so good, because I finally got the chance that I wanted after being a bench player the last two years. Going out there and scoring 20-plus points got my name out there. Because of the scoring me and Gia Richter have done, people are noticing that the team isn’t going to take the dip they all thought.

You’ve been the leading scorer in all three contests. How different of a feeling is that for you?

It feels a little weird because I went from hardly playing at all to being that leading scorer. My coaches believe in me more than they did at the beginning of the season and are noticing my potential. Other teams are also noticing that as well. (Friday) night, Frazier’s coach called a timeout after the first points I scored and was telling his team that I was the one he told them to watch out for.

What were your goals for the year?

To do my best and not get down on myself. I also wanted to play more aggressively on defense. I didn’t play that way last year because I was sort of scared when I was out there. The game against Highlands was the best defense we’ve played so far this year.

What gets you in the zone prior to a game?

I usually talk to my dad and my sister, who is also on the team. I will talk to Coach Ashley, who is the new assistant coach, and she guides me well because she was a post player in high school. I also listen to a playlist I have.

If the team held a 3-point contest, who would win?

Gia Richter.

Have you gotten any blocks this year, and what’s it like when you do swat one?

It’s really fun. When people drive to you and try to get a shot off and you reject it, it makes them a little scared for the next time they come down. They also yell at the ref looking for a foul, when it clearly wasn’t one and they get mad at me, which I think is funny.

Favorite subject in school?

Psychology.

What is your favorite hobby?

Listening to music, journaling or drawing.

Favorite meal?

Chicken fingers and french fries.

If you could share that meal with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

I’d share it with Harry Styles, and I don’t know what we would talk about. Maybe his music. He’s my favorite person.

People would be surprised to know that____.

I like to read. I probably read a book a month.

What was the last book you read?

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han. Now. I’m reading “My Policeman” by Bethan Roberts.

Ryan Grunden

School: Deer Lakes

Class: Senior

Sport: Hockey

Claim to fame: Grunden scored a goal and added a pair of assists in the Lancers’ 5-2 win over Sewickley Academy on Monday night. He then scored a hat trick in the team’s 5-3 win over Elizabeth Forward, which gave Deer Lakes a cushion over the Warriors in the Division 2 Blue standings.

Talk about the goal and the two assists you had Monday.

The goal was off a face off. I tied the dude up, spun around him, cut through the middle and put it top left. The two assists were as simple as me passing the puck to my open teammates, and I opened up ice for them. In my opinion, I should have had more than three points against that team. Three points it still good, but I should have had more.

What was the locker room like heading into the game against Elizabeth Forward?

We were all listening to music, getting pumped up. We needed that win because we were tied with them going into the game, and Burrell is in first place.

How’s it feel to get some breathing room between you and them in the standings?

Really great. Burrell’s one point ahead of us in the standings currently, and we play both them and Elizabeth Forward again, and those will be two games we really need to win.

How do you like the team’s chances against both those teams later this season?

We have a good chance if we come out and play like we did the last time we played Burrell and Elizabeth Forward. Some games, though, it feels like we do too much, and some scenarios we try to do things individually instead of as a team. If we play as one, we will win.

Can you describe the hat trick?

The first goal was a three-on-two, and Mason Cervone had the puck on a power play, and I told him to drop it and when he did, I went around a defenseman and backhanded the puck top right. The second goal, I was in the defensive zone and broke it out to Mason, and I skated hard, cut through the defense and Mason flipped it behind them and I put it top left. The hat trick goal was an empty netter. They tried going D-man to D-man at the blue line, and I broke it up, chipped it over the one defenseman and buried it.

You now sit just one goal shy of 20, the mark you had at the end of last year. Did you think you’d make that mark with nine games left?

I’m very surprised. Last year, I got a lot more assists because I played with kids who were also on my travel team, and we moved the puck a lot between the three of us. This year, I feel like the younger kids on my line are just trying to find me most of the time because they know I can score goals.

What’s the most number of goals you’ve scored in a game?

Six and that was against Sewickley Academy in the first game this season.

Which club hockey team do you play for?

This year I play for Pittsburgh Vengeance.

Do you have any pregame routine or any superstitions?

I eat a chicken salad before every game, and when I get to the rink I tape up my game stick first and my backup stick second. I must have a certain locker spot every time I’m in the locker room, and I stretch in the exact same way for every game.

How can you tell the difference between your game stick and backup stick? Does one have more wear and tear on it?

I just know. They’re all the same. I have three of the same. I guess I just know. If that stick doesn’t work, I switch to the other one.

What were your goals at the start of the year?

I wanted to reach 100 points in varsity. Last year I had 37, sophomore year I had 27 and this year I have 24 right now. We didn’t have varsity team my freshman year, so I’m only 12 points away from that goal.

Which opponent do you look forward to playing the most?

Burrell. I like playing against them. It’s a rivalry. A lot of people attend those games. I just like beating Burrell. I like scoring against Burrell and bringing heartbreak to their fans, and they all get mad. It’s funny to me.

Which team has been the toughest you’ve ever faced?

Probably Burrell this year and last year. Sophomore year it was Bishop Canevin.

Who on your team has the hardest shot?

Either me or RJ Norkus. John Dolan also has a hard shot as well.

Who hits the hardest?

Jake Bradley or RJ Norkus.

Any particular reason behind your jersey number 13?

My birthday is Nov. 13, so I’ve always stuck with that number since I started playing.

Who is your favorite pro hockey player?

Either Connor McDavid or Connor Bedard. I like the way Bedard shoots and moves the puck. I also watch Auston Matthews and his shot release. See how he shoots the puck and gets open. I also watch Sidney Crosby for his backhand.

Favorite hobby other than hockey?

I like to go up to my dad’s lake house and ride snow mobiles. But sometimes when we get snow, I have a hockey tournament or we don’t get any snow and we can’t ride.

What is your favorite subject in school?

I don’t mind math. When you know what you’re doing, it’s kind of fun. I’m taking a stats class this year.

What are your future plans?

I want to see where hockey takes me, whether that’s to juniors when I graduate or to college. Hopefully, I can play juniors and then go to college.

Tags: Deer Lakes, St. Joseph