A-K Valley local sports notebook: Burrell cross country coach plans Color Run to benefit team, girls tennis

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, September 18, 2017 | 10:39 PM

After Chris Legters participated in a Kiski Area-hosted Color Run with his daughters last year, a thought struck the Burrell cross country coach: Why not host one of his own?

That thought became reality, as Burrell will host a Color Run fundraiser Oct. 22 at Kotecki Memorial Park.

Participants in the Color Run begin with a white T-shirt, and as they run the 1.5-mile course, volunteers will explode packets of colored dye on them. By the time they finish, those T-shirts will more closely resemble tie-dye.

The end of the event will include a finish-line party with music, concessions and more colored dye.

“It was a lot of fun with the music and everybody just having a good time,” Legters said. “It's not a long run. It's not a race. It's just a lot of fun. We won't be timing at all, and hopefully it's a way to spark some interest in running.”

Burrell partnered with Schoolathon, which assists schools in putting together unique running events, to coordinate logistics. That helped ensure the colors were safe for participants and the park.

Cost of the event is $30, and proceeds will benefit the Burrell cross country and girls tennis programs. Signups on schoolathon.org run through Oct. 2.

The Burrell cross country program is in its second year as a WPIAL team. Legters said he has 21 runners, plus more in junior high, and hopes the Color Run will pique the interest of younger runners, including elementary ages.

Back on ice

The last time Deer Lakes fielded a varsity hockey team, the Lancers led the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League in goals and made it to the brink of the PIHL Penguins Cup championship game.

Two seasons later, they will see if they can match that.

Deer Lakes will play its first varsity game since 2015 on Oct. 2, when it travels to face Greensburg Central Catholic in a Class A game on the opening night of the PIHL season.

The Lancers made it to the Penguins Cup semifinals in 2015, losing to Mars in overtime. A lack of players kept the program at the junior-varsity level the past two seasons.

Five other Alle-Kiski Valley schools will field teams in 2017-18. Plum moves up to Class AAA from AA, and Fox Chapel, Freeport and Kiski Area will join Deer Lakes in Class A. Burrell again will compete in Division II.

They're No. 2

Freeport's girls volleyball team is ranked No. 1 in the WPIAL, but the Yellowjackets also hold a lofty position in the state.

The Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association slotted Freeport as No. 2 in Class AA in its preseason rankings, behind defending PIAA champion Corry of District 10.

Freeport won its second consecutive WPIAL title last fall before losing to North East in the first round of the state playoffs.

Worst kiss?

One of Freeport's boys soccer captains will pucker up to a pig after the Yellowjackets' home contest Thursday against Deer Lakes.

Freeport is nearing the end of its “Kiss the Pig” fundraiser. Fans at home games could deposit money into the jars of one of three captains: Bryce Hanby, Drew Nigra or Alec Parker. The jar with the most money will determine the “winner.”

Doing the heavy lifting

Natrona Heights resident Gary Zeolla broke his own records earlier this month at the Ohio State Powerlifting Championships in West Lafayette, Ohio.

In the Ohio competition, which is part of the American Powerlifting Federation and Amateur American Powerlifting Federation, Zeolla competed in the 114-pound weight class and had a squat of 325 pounds, a bench of 175 and deadlift of 395. He was competing in the men's masters (55-59) category, in the Classic Raw (raw with wraps) division.

The deadlift broke his American raw masters record by 5 pounds, and the total lift weight of 895 pounds broke his American raw masters record by 15 pounds.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer.