Guido: Signs to honor Freeport state volleyball champions

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 | 11:33 PM

Freeport's 2017 PIAA girls volleyball championship will be remembered permanently with two commemorative signs that will soon greet motorists coming into the community.

Through the efforts of mayor James Swartz Jr. and sign sponsors Heidi Powell of ReMax Realty, Beth Defilippi Davis of Edwards Jones Investments and attorney Gerald DeAngelis, the signs will be going up soon.

“It's very gratifying to know that our community appreciates all of our hard work and accomplishments,” said senior Claire Crytzer, Yellowjackets libero and all-state selection. “The sign symbolizes the incredible journey to claim the first state title in Freeport history, even after our time at Freeport ends.”

The Yellowjackets defeated Delone Catholic, 3-1, on Nov. 17.

No date has been set for erecting the signs, but officials are hoping for a team photo around them.

Now, according to Facebook posts, Saxonburg officials are being urged to do the same for Knoch's state volleyball champs.

Softball venue change

The WPIAL is looking for a new site to host the six softball finals May 31 and June 1.

The league has used Cal (Pa.)'s Lilly Field for a number of years, but that facility is undergoing renovations this year.

The WPIAL board of directors is expected to name a 2018 site at its meeting Monday.

Among the contenders is the Seton Hill University field in Greensburg.

Another venue change will have to be made by the WPIAL soon.

The cross country championship meet has been held at Cooper's Lake campground in Butler County, but that course won't be available this fall.

In PIAA cross country, the state finals will be at Hershey Parkview over the next four years.

In some other venue selections on the state level, the PIAA football finals will be at Hersheypark Stadium for the next four years.

If Freeport and Knoch are to defend their girls volleyball titles, it will be at a different location than Richland High School, near Johnstown.

The PIAA has designated Cumberland Valley High School for the next four finals.

The fall tennis finals will remain at Hershey Racquet Club and golf will be at the Heritage Hills course near York.

MJS wins state hockey

One month ago today, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was in the headlines after a mass shooting took the lives of 17 students and faculty.

Just 11 days after the horrific tragedy, the school's hockey team won the Florida state Level One title.

Entering the state finals, the team dropped its three pool-play games, but recovered to beat East Lake, 3-1, in the state semifinals and capped the improbable rise with a 7-4 victory over Jesuit for the state title.

The players dyed their hair blond for the tournament to honor student Joaquin Oliver, who died during the massacre. Oliver was a popular student and a friend to some team members.

The team will now enter a national tournament in Minnesota later this month.

Irony of ironies, there were 17 gold medals handed out after the game, the same number of people who died in the tragedy.

The surprises continued, however, as the Stanley Cup showed up one day at a team practice and the players all got to hold the coveted trophy.

Also back to spend some time with the team was Shayne Gostisbehere, a Philadelphia Flyers defenseman who is a Stoneman Douglas alum.

George Guido is a Valley News Dispatch scholastic sports correspondent. His column appears Wednesdays.

Tags: Freeport, Knoch