A-K Valley H.S. notebook: Kiski Area wrestlers want a hand

By: Alec Italiano
Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 10:45 PM

Kiski Area is seeking assistance as it looks to commemorate its championship wrestling season.

The team's boosters set up a GoFundMe page as a way to help offset some of the cost for championship rings after the Cavaliers won their second consecutive WPIAL Class AAA team title and finished second at the PIAA tournament.

The fund, which was created Monday, has a goal of $6,000, and the money will go to various members of the program.

“The organization feels that ALL kids on the team (wrestlers, managers and trainers) should receive them no matter their financial status,” the fundraising page says. “Some may buy their own, some may pay for a portion of the cost, some may not be able to afford them.”

Kiski Area defeated Canon-McMillan, 33-24, in the WPIAL championship match Feb. 3 to defend its title and claim the fourth overall in program history. The Cavaliers then matched their best state finish by placing second, falling to Bethlehem Catholic in the PIAA final.

The fundraising page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/ka-wpial-rings.

Two grand

Burrell is having a grand time this season in softball.

After the Bucs' Kayla Santucci blasted a grand slam in a 12-1 victory over South Allegheny, freshman Elizabeth Clark matched the feat Tuesday in a 12-2 victory over Deer Lakes. The third-inning blast gave Burrell a 5-0 lead.

The pair of mercy-rule victories, over last season's Section 1-4A champion (Deer Lakes) and runner-up (South Allegheny) provided an early statement for Burrell (3-2, 2-1), which finished in fourth place last season. The Bucs also have beaten Deer Lakes each of the past three seasons.

Hanging tough

It takes more than a line drive to knock out St. Joseph's Anna Swierczewski, as Riverview found out Tuesday.

Pitching in relief of Shelby Gogal, Swierczewski took a line drive off her leg in the sixth inning off the bat of Alyssa Cappa. The shot knocked her down, but she recovered to throw Cappa out.

After briefly getting attended to, Swierczewski remained in the game and closed out the Spartans' 12-8 Section 3-A victory.

“That's not the first time she's been hit in the circle,” St. Joseph coach Dan Edgar said. “She's a beast in there. She's our closer, for sure.”

Moment of Ben

Ben Barnes will run on in college, as the Riverview senior cross country standout signed with Mercyhurst.

Barnes finished second at the WPIAL Class A cross country championships in October, finishing in 16 minutes, 40 seconds and helping the Raiders take second in the team standings. He placed fifth at the PIAA championships.

Skyy high

Shady Side Academy football star Skyy Moore, a New Kensington native, is garnering Ivy League interest, as he picked up an offer earlier this month from Brown.

Moore, a quarterback/defensive back, was named the Allegheny Conference's Offensive Player of the Year and Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. He accounted for 31 offensive touchdowns and led the Indians secondary.

The Brown offer is Moore's second from the Football Championship Subdivision level, as he received one from Howard in September.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer.

Tags: Burrell, Kiski School, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, St. Joseph