Alle-Kiski Valley athletes of the week: Freeport’s Peyton Los, Highlands’ Jerid Kaminski

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 5:46 PM

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Peyton Los

School: Freeport

Class: Senior

Sport: Soccer

Claim to fame: Peyton scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Burrell on Monday. The Yellowjackets then defeated Knoch, 3-0, on Wednesday evening. Freeport (14-1, 10-0) sits atop Section 2-2A and is getting ready for the playoffs.

Tell me about the goal you scored Monday.

It started off with Camryn Woods who had the ball on the outside, beat a player and crossed it into our teammate who turned and shot it and I followed up on the rebound and tapped it in.

What was it like to get that goal and the win over Burrell?

It was a great feeling because we’ve always had a big rivalry against Burrell. We had won every section game up to that point, and we were looking for the clean slate in section play, so getting the win and for me to get the game-winning goal was a good feeling, got us very hyped.

What is it that makes Burrell a tough team to face?

They’re very solid all over, with good players on both offense and defense. They possess the ball well and have been a high-quality team in the four years that I’ve played them.

You also beat another tough team in Mt. Pleasant earlier this year. What do that victory and the win against Burrell say about this team?

Us beating Mt. Pleasant was a big win for us because since I’ve been in high school Mt. Pleasant has been known as a really good soccer team. They’re not in our section, so playing, and beating, a nonsection opponent was a confidence booster for us. It showed that we can win, not just within our section, but we can face high-quality teams outside our section and come away with a win.

What can you say about how well the team has done defensively, allowing just five goals all season?

Our defensive line is very strong. They’re all technical players who are very good at making decisions, whether that’s when to clear the ball or when we need to possess it. We’ve done a really good job with making the right decisions with ball movement. Nothing gets through them.

Another section title wrapped up. How’s it feel to claim the Section 2-2A title three years in a row?

It’s exciting because two years ago we won the section for the first time in a long while, and it’s more exciting now because we’ve been able to keep the streak alive. It proves our team is only getting better.

What lessons did the team learn from last year’s playoff, where you made it to the quarterfinals but lost in penalty kicks to South Park?

Last year’s game was a good battle, but we just couldn’t score. I came down to penalty kicks, and those are always hard with nerves being a factor. A better strategy is to deliver in the actual game, so we’re not in that position with the game on the line.

Any opponent you look forward to playing against?

It would be really great if it came down to the playoffs, and we faced South Park again. I feel like that would be a game I would want to play for our two-year losing streak to them.

What’s been your most memorable game?

I would have to say my sophomore year when we played Knoch for the section title, and we beat them. It was fun because there was a big student section there, and everyone had a lot of fun.

What were your individual goals for the year?

Continue working hard and making sure I’m involved on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball and really securing the midfield. It’s my last year, so I want to make it past the quarterfinal round in the playoffs. I’m confident we have the team to get that done.

Do you play club soccer?

Yes, for Steel City FC. I really enjoy playing for my team. We have great coaches, and we have been together as a team for a long time. We made it to nationals last year, and I enjoy playing with them because everyone is connected and it’s a nice atmosphere to be around.

Do you play any other sports besides soccer?

I ride horses. My mom grew up riding horses and has taught a lot of people how to ride. She started me when I was pretty young, maybe 4 years old. It’s a lot of fun because I build a connection with an animal. I also jump over obstacles and have a lot of fun going to horse shows with my friends who also compete. It’s unique.

Would you rather travel back in time or travel to the future?

I’d probably travel back in time. When I hear stories on how it used to be, it sounds like a lot of fun. Like things weren’t very complicated. I would like to experience the simpler life when there wasn’t a lot of technology.

What time period would you select?

Not too far back, maybe like the 1980s or ’90s.

In your opinion, what is the worst food in the world?

I’d probably say something like anchovies or sardines.

Do you hope to play soccer in college?

Yeah.

Have you picked a school yet?

I’m committed to play at Slippery Rock University. Their coach coached one of my club coaches, so I knew of her. She was interested in me, presented herself very well, so I decided to take a look at Slippery Rock. It’s a really nice campus, and I liked how it wasn’t in the city, more of a rural setting.

Do you know what you want to study?

Early childhood education.

Jerid Kaminski

School: Highlands

Class: Senior

Sport: Soccer

Claim to fame: Kaminski scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Freeport on Tuesday. He then buried a pair of goals in a 7-0 win over Burrell on Thursday. The Golden Rams clinched a playoff spot against the Bucs. It will be the first time the Rams (8-6-1, 7-5-1) have been to the playoffs since 2004.

How did you score your goals against Burrell?

I was playing left wing on the first goal and the ball got crossed to the right wing and it came back to me, where I tapped it in from the middle of the box. The second goal the Ball got crossed to me from Ryan Maloney, and it was a 20-yard breakaway and I shot it and it snuck in in the right bottom corner.

What’s it feel like to be a part of a team that finally got the program back to the playoffs?

It feels amazing. I’m so glad that our team decided to play as a family.

What was it like after the game against Burrell? Any celebrations?

We definitely celebrated a lot. There was a lot of yelling. We were so happy to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in 21 years.

What’s been the motivating or driving force behind the team this year?

Motivation from all three of our coaches and our captains pushing us and holding us to a standard, making us better players.

Now that the team has qualified for the postseason, how will you guys prepare to possibly make a surprise run?

I think we need to keep playing as a family and we’ll hopefully put a run together in the playoffs. Our coaches really motivate us and make sure that we work for everything we have. I have all the confidence in the world that we could make a run.

Take me through the goal you scored on Tuesday.

Ryan got fouled around 30 yards out. Cainen McMann took the free kick that sailed into the box, and the ball hit off my back shoulder and rolled right in.

How many goals have you scored so far this year?

Four. The start of the season I was nursing a back injury, so I was taking it pretty steady and have been picking it up as the season has gone on and I’ve felt healthier.

When did that injury happen for you?

Last November when I was playing futsal, indoor soccer on a basketball court.

What was that recovery like for you?

It was hard at first, because when it happened, I could barely walk. I started physical therapy, and that helped, then I got an MRI done and there were a bunch of stress fractures in my lower back, so I had to do more physical therapy, along with stretching. I took the spring season off to recover.

What were your goals coming into the season?

The first goal as to move the ball around and to make the playoffs.

Have you played any club soccer?

The last time I played was the fall before covid hit. I really wasn’t liking it, so I chose to stick with high school soccer.

Do you have a favorite pro soccer player?

I don’t watch a lot of sports on TV, but my favorite soccer player to watch would be Lionel Messi because I like how he plays, and it shows that you don’t have to be a big guy to play soccer.

Play any other sports at school?

I tried basketball and baseball, but I didn’t like any of those so I went back to soccer because I’ve been playing soccer since I was 4. I thought I would give other sports a try just to see how I would like them.

What’s your most memorable high school game you’ve played?

Definitely my whole high school career. It’s been a very enjoyable experience, and everyone has been fun to be around.

What’s your favorite pregame jam?

I listen to a bunch of songs, but the one I play every time we roll up to a game is “All of the Lights” by Kanye West.

Favorite meal?

A nice medium-rare T-bone steak with a side of green beans.

Do you hope to play in college?

I don’t see myself playing in college because I’m going into the workforce after school because that’s what I like doing.

What are your future plans?

I want to keep working in HVAC. My dad did a lot of HVAC, and a lot of my cousins are in that line of work. Beginning when I was 10, my dad taught me a lot about how that stuff works and last summer I worked in HVAC.

Tags: Freeport, Highlands