Kiski Area runner Kierra Shreffler chooses Duquesne

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, January 2, 2019 | 8:45 PM

Kierra Shreffler achieved success during her senior cross country season at Kiski Area in part by focusing only on her current race and not worrying about the future.

She no longer needs to worry about her college future, either.

Shreffler committed earlier this week to the Duquesne cross country and track and field programs, becoming the third Kiski Area female runner in recent years to choose to run for the Dukes.

“It feels pretty good because it was a very long process, and it was stressful at times,” Shreffler said. “But I’m just happy it’s over now because I had a lot of things going through my head, and trying to make the right decision about going to college is a big decision. But I’m just happy it’s over now because it’s a lot of stress that’s off my chest.”

Shreffler’s decision came down to Duquesne or IUP. She liked both campuses — the urban environment of Duquesne and the smaller-town feel of IUP. But her relationship with the Duquesne coaches and runners swayed her.

At Duquesne, Shreffler will get a chance to run again with Megan Aller, a fellow Kiski Area graduate who just completed her junior cross country season. Another Kiski Area graduate, Lauren Smeltzer, ran for Duquesne cross country and track from 2015-18.

“It’s just exciting that the kids get the opportunity to go to great programs,” said Tom Berzonsky, Kiski Area’s cross country and track and field coach. “We’re actually real excited, too, that(she’s) staying local. It’s really nice being able to compete close to home and for your local colleges. We also really respect that Duquesne does that, that they recruit at home.”

After qualifying for the PIAA cross country championships as a sophomore and junior, she had a breakthrough performance at the meet in 2018. She finished 13th with a time of 19 minutes, 46 seconds, nearly 150 places better than where she came in as a junior.

Berzonsky credited Shreffler’s commitment to strength and conditioning workouts for her improvement. Shreffler said she started on her training early and focused on one meet at a time.

“I was really happy (with how it turned out),” she said. “I was really surprised how I did at states, but put in the work and effort, and you’re going to get results. It was really fun. I had a really good time.”

Shreffler will compete in indoor track and field this winter, focusing on the 400- and 800-meter runs to improve her speed, and she will run the 1-mile and 2-mile races in outdoor track this spring. She finished sixth in the mile and eighth in the 2-mile at the 2017 WPIAL championships.

More honors for Moore

Skyy Moore, the Shady Side Academy football star and New Kensington native, was named to the Class 2A Pennsylvania Football Writers all-state team last week.

Moore passed for 1,275 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 1,049 yards and 19 touchdowns, leading Shady Side Academy to the top seed in the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs before he suffered an ankle injury in the Indians’ first-round game against Serra Catholic. He became the first player in WPIAL history surpass 1,000 yards passing and rushing in consecutive seasons.

The Western Michigan recruit underwent ankle surgery after the injury and said he hopes to be back in time for track and field.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Doug at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.