Annual Pink Out game a success at Thomas Jefferson

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, October 6, 2018 | 10:36 PM

Thomas Jefferson’s girls volleyball team kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its annual Pink Out game Oct. 2 against rival Belle Vernon.

TJ socked the visiting Leopards, 25-7, 25-6, 25-5, to remain undefeated in section play.

“We came out strong and got the lead quickly,” said Ashleigh Haines, a junior outside hitter for the Jaguars. “The entire team played very well, and the best part was that it was all for a good cause.”

The TJ Girls Volleyball Boosters, which includes parents of team members, is involved annually in the “Pink Out” planning process.

“It has been a tradition for the TJ girls volleyball team for the past several years to hold an annual Pink Out game. We select a home game in October,” said boosters member Sheri Micklo, mother of senior Julia Micklo. “It’s a way to raise breast cancer awareness. It’s a good team and community bonding event, and it raises some money toward a good cause. And it’s fun.”

Another TJ girls volleyball booster is Cathy Moran, mother of Sydney Moran, a senior libero.

“I agree with Sheri,” Cathy said. “Making people aware saves lives, and it is a good reminder to all of us to take control of our health.

“I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2008 at the age of 38. ‘Too young’ and ‘no risk factors’ are things we hear, but the truth is one in 173 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 40 when annual screenings start.”

Proceeds from the fundraiser event benefit the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.

“The YWBCAF is an organization I joined after my treatments and is dear to my heart,” Cathy Moran said. “It was founded by a young woman (Jennifer Kehm) looking for answers and information about breast cancer in young women, but more importantly about how to live as a young person with cancer. The money raised stays in Pittsburgh, and provides support and programs for local women and families.

“When my older daughter Madison was a freshman on the team in 2010, I requested that the proceeds go to the foundation and we have continued that tradition for the past eight years. Through the years, there have been a number of survivors with players on the team. This year that includes Kim Rehak, who’s daughter Kaylee is a freshman, and myself.”

Maria Fox was chairperson for the Pink Out event this year. Along with the volleyball match, the event involved:

• Selling raffle tickets for a “pink” basket, which is made up of donations of pink items such as mugs, socks and blankets, gift certificates for spa services, and candy.

• Holding a bake sale of pink treats.

• TJ players wearing pink team socks (ordered by the boosters), and the coaches and fans dressing in pink.

“The whole team and parents worked on it,” said the 5-foot-1 Julia Micklo. “We put one together every year.”

Tanner Patrick, a junior outside hitter, said the TJ girls wear pink bows and pink socks at the match.

“We represent Breast Cancer Awareness Month on the court,” Patrick said. “The parents make us pink bows, and the boosters get together to buy us pink socks for the game.

“Another important tradition we have is the sign making. Our JV team takes the time to create signs that we hang in the gym. This is a very important and special night for our team because we have a few mothers who are breast cancer survivors. Our team also played very well that night, so it was a great evening.”

Senior Alanna Lynch added: “We had sales in the gym lobby, too, to raise money.”

One of the highlights of the match for the Jaguars was the spectacular serving performance of Sydney Moran in the third game. Moran, a Duquesne recruit, strung together 18 consecutive points from the service line area.

TJ’s starting rotation that night consisted of Haines, Micklo, Moran, Patrick, senior defensive specialists Julia Fiedor and Mia Como; juniors Natasha Yanief (MH), Abby Chalovich (S) and Tyler Turk (MH); sophomore right-side hitter Lillian Rockwell; and freshman OH Julia Palmer.

“I would say the Pink Out was a huge success,” said Turk, who at 6-1 is the team’s tallest player. “We won 3-0 to keep up our undefeated streak.

“Our boosters are a great help for the Pink Out by providing bows, socks and the bake sale for us. The Pink Out was our second-to-last home game before senior recognition on Oct. 9, and we are all excited to finish off section play and begin the playoffs.”

TJ coach Ron Kelly substituted liberally in Game 3.

Joining the match in reserve roles were seniors Jackie Rush (RS) and Lynch; juniors Kaitlyn Urbanovich (OH), Jenna Kisner (DS), Julia Putignano (DS), Anna Janosko (DS); and sophomore Jenna Fox (OH).

“Parents helped make desserts such as cookies and Oreo balls to sell at our bake sale,” Chalovich said. “Our JV team made Pink Out signs that we hung around the gym.

“And we played well, winning all three games. Our JV team won in three games, as well.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson