Despite graduation losses, Cheswick Christian boys set goals high

By: Ted Sarneso
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 | 8:18 PM

It was mission accomplished last season for the Cheswick Christian Academy boys basketball team.

After losing in the Southwest Christian Conference title game at the end of the 2022-23 season, last year’s seniors made it their sole objective to get back and win.

“It was a great experience for everyone on our team,” said coach Todd Rosio. “It was nice to cap the seniors’ careers with that victory.”

Cheswick Christian, which won that title game over Pittsburgh Christian Academy, returns just two starters from last year’s team, but the team still has its sights set on another SWCAC title in 2024-25.

“Any time you do something like win a title, you have an understanding of what it takes to accomplish that goal,” said Rosio. “We’ve set our sights on winning again. We still have players who know that feeling, and even though it’s a new year and a new team, they want to give it their best shot and try and win it all again.”

For the first time in four years, it will be someone different leading the way for the Chargers, who are without Grant Rochkind, who graduated and is continuing his playing career at Valley Forge.

“It’s a huge loss,” admitted Rosio. “He’s the fourth all-time leading scorer in the history of the school. That’s not easy to replace, but we’re not the only team in the conference losing key pieces from last year. Of the 10 starters in the championship game last year, only two are returning and they’re both our guys.”

Coach Rosio doesn’t have to look to far down the bench in attempting to fill the loss of Rochkind’s production. Two juniors, Rosio’s son Joseph and Rochkind’s younger brother Brady, return.

“They’re ready to go,” said coach Rosio. “We’ll have them for two years and they have a lot of experience under their belts. They’re two of the best, if not the two best, kids in this league now. They’re going to be a nice combination for us to build around these next two years.”

Both Joseph Rosio and Brady Rochkind averaged 12 points per game last season.

Even though the duo provides experience and leadership at the top, coach Rosio knows that Cheswick Christian will need to rely on everyone to have a chance at reaching its goals this year.

“Everybody needs to do more,” Coach Rosio said. “We’re never going to be what we were last year, so you try and maximize what you have. You find a way to get different contributions from everybody.”

Coach Rosio will look to the only two seniors he has on the roster to be the first to complement his two returning junior starters.

“Everyone appreciates that they only get one more go around at this, so it brings about a sense of urgency from others to get it done for them,” said coach Rosio.

Those two seniors are guard Josh Phillips and forward Keith Booth, both of whom will be first-time starters.

“It will be a new experience for them, but they’re not adverse to the challenge,” added Coch Rosio.

Another first-time starter will be junior guard Hayden Kamer, who has been on the same team as Joseph and Brady since sixth grade. Coach Rosio says his game meshes well with the duo.

It will be a shock for most of the lineup, as the Chargers players who were spectators on the bench will finally get their chance to be one of the players with the chance to write the next chapter for Cheswick Christian basketball.

“The No. 12 guy that was on the bench last year is now, all of a sudden, the sixth man off the bench, so a lot of guys are going to be asked to contribute,” said coach Rosio. “They saw the success and they want to participate, be in the picture, rather than on the bench. They’re anxious to have their shot.”

Coach Rosio sees his team as the favorites in the SWCAC and feels this year’s team has enough experience and talent to top the Greater Pittsburgh Division, make another run in the playoffs and win another championship.

“We have more proven players than anyone else in our division,” said coach Rosio. “We’re going to have a lot of competitive games, but I think we look at ourselves as the favorite, until someone proves otherwise.”

Cheswick Christian Academy boys at a glance

Coach: Todd Rosio

Last year’s record: 22-4 (7-1 Greater Pittsburgh Division of the SWCAC)

Returning starters: Joseph Rosio (Jr. G); Brady Rochkind (Jr. F)

Top newcomers: Hayden Kazmer (Jr. G); Keith Booth (Sr. F); Josh Phillips (Sr. F); Sam Kostick (So. G)

Tags: Cheswick Christian