Experienced lineup returns for Thomas Jefferson boys volleyball

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, March 23, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Thomas Jefferson boys volleyball team has eight starters back this season.

Considering there are a half-dozen positions on a court, the Jaguars will be in over-haul motion during their matches.

Returning players consist of OH/MH Braeden Artman, OH/MH Aiden Dushack, S/RS Brayden Concannon, OH Cole McNeil, libero Jaiden Wadlow, setter Sujan Pradhan and DS Troy Brown and Logan Palko.

Artman, Pradhan, Dushack and Wadlow are serving as co-captains.

“We are setting high goals this year with a lot of talented players returning and new talent that has joined the team,” TJ coach Frank Staffen said. “We have more than 10 players playing for different Junior Olympic club teams, A-10, Pittsburgh Elite, Club North and Exile.”

Staffen’s normal eight-man rotation will expand to include other possibilities this year with the addition of Arowan Subedi, Areehan Subedi, Maksim Gardner-Gotera, Timur Rustamov, Donny Renk, Robert Quinlan and Logan Palko to the team.

TJ advanced to the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs as the No. 10 seed last season and pulled off 3-1 upsets over No. 7 Latrobe and No. 2 North Catholic before losing to No. 6 Armstrong, 3-2, in the semifinal round.

The Jaguars also lost by a 3-2 score to Ambridge in the third-place consolation round.

Artman led the TJ squad in kills and blocks last season; Pradhan was the leader in assists. Along with Artman and Pradhan, Staffen said he is looking for significant contributions from all eight “returning starters” in 2025.

Artman (middle hitter) and Wardlow (libero) were second-team WPIAL selections last year. Both also earned Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Week honors.

The Jaguars are members of Section 3-2A this season along with Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Keystone Oaks, Seton LaSalle and South Park.

“I think it will be between TJ, Seton and South Park for the top three positions in the section,” Staffen said.

Mars is the defending WPIAL 2A champion.

Two key graduation losses from last year’s TJ squad are Riley Burdett and William Stewart, both All-WPIAL selections. Stewart, a 6-foot-7 outside hitter, was named to the first team; Burdett, a 6-foot outside hitter, was a second-team pick.

Burdett is a freshman member of the Bethany College men’s volleyball team.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson