Sewickley Herald notebook: Basketball teams get new section homes

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, August 25, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The WPIAL recently released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports.

In boys basketball, Class 4A lost five teams and switched from four sections to three. Quaker Valley and Avonworth moved from the defunct Section 4 into Section 2, where they will join Ambridge, Beaver, Central Valley and Hopewell.

“High school basketball is at its best with natural rivalries,” QV coach Mike Mastroianni said, “and getting back to our old section will create that atmosphere and level of competition.

“It’s a very good section with high-level teams and a number of high-level individual players.”

Sewickley Academy will be in Section 2-2A along with Brentwood, Eden Christian, Leechburg, Northgate, Propel Braddock Hills and Winchester Thurston.

In girls basketball, Class 3A changes from four sections to three with 23 teams. Quaker Valley dropped and will play in Section 1, along with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which moved over from Section 2.

Other teams in Section 1 are Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Mohawk, New Brighton, Riverside and Sto-Rox.

“It’s going to be different for sure,” QV coach Ken Johns said. “We’ve been used to playing in the same section for a number of years and have built some familiarity and maybe even some rivalries there. The new section will bring some new challenges. We are familiar with some of those teams having played them in the recent past, but there are a number of teams with good history in our new section.

“We really had a good summer of workouts, and I like where we are right now. The new section will have us in some new gyms, and some teams we haven’t played recently, but it’s really going to be about us and how we prepare for the season. I’m looking forward to the new challenges.”

Sewickley Academy will compete in Section 1-A along with Aquinas Academy, Eden Christian, Leechburg, Springdale, St. Joseph, Union and Western Beaver.

QV volleyball brings back talent

Quaker Valley girls volleyball coach Mike Vavrek expects Avonworth, Hopewell and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to be the chief obstacles in his team’s quest to win a second consecutive section title in 2024.

But with senior Vanessa Pickett, outside hitters Nora Hammond and Molly MacDonald, libero Carmen Forsythe and middle hitter Mia Gartley back this season to lead the Quakers, Vavrek believes QV will be a force in Class 2A.

QV’s veteran coach focuses on the little things on a daily basis, as do his players.

“I expect us to compete every day and improve every time we step into the gym,” Vavrek said. ”We have a less experienced team this year than we have the past two years, but we have girls that have been around the program for a few years and know what the expectations are.

“We have a ton of new players expected to help out. It’s always fun to see the newer girls compete and work every day. As long as they continue to develop, I think we are capable of doing great things this year.”

QV golfer on the rise

Senior Ethan Dai took a big swing forward last year for the Quaker Valley boys golf team, landing in second place at the WPIAL Class 2A tournament.

He also captured first place with a 1-under par 70 at the Section 9-2A qualifier at Rolling Acres.

“Ethan had such an incredible season,” QV coach Greg Vecchi said. “He just distanced himself from most other golfers and stood out even more than he did (in 2022). We’ve had some really talented golfers on our team in the past who somehow take their game up one more level after they just had a great season. Ethan is now one of those golfers. His 2022 was so solid, but his 2023 easily surpassed ‘22. He went from 35th, or so, in the state to fourth. That’s an incredible jump.

“Ethan’s mechanics are top-notch, which lead to his incredible consistency. Due to all of the time, effort and tournaments, he has improved in all facets. His driving distance and accuracy improvement have really stood out. His confidence in his game is easily evident, too. There’s no fear with Ethan.”

Scally to coach Panthers

Chuck Scally, the new coach of the Sewickley boys golf team, is a PGA teaching professional and co-founder of the Scally Golf Academy along with his wife, Jill Finlan Scally.

The Scallys have more than 40 years of combined coaching experience and offer a variety of golf instruction services, including private lessons and junior camps.

Sewickley’s coach has a rich background in golf, having grown up in a family that’s been involved in the sport. Scally’s Golf Center opened in 1954, and Scally has been teaching golf for more than 25 years.

He has coached many students who have gone on to achieve significant success in golf tournaments and championships.

JV coach helps at QV

Kieran Vora is in charge of the Quaker Valley boys junior varsity golf team this season. He is an instructional technology specialist in the school district.

Vecchi is happy to have Vora on board.

“Kieran will be handling the JV team,” Vecchi said. “He’s a knowledgeable coach.”

SA ranked No. 2

Sewickley Academy was ranked second behind No. 1 Bentworth in Class A in the Trib HSSN WPIAL boys preseason soccer rankings.

The Panthers, featuring experienced junior starters Chase D’Antonio, Finn Wentz and Blake Wilmot, were rated as the team to beat again in Section 1 which also includes Beaver County Christian, Eden Christian, Freedom, Neshannock and South Side.

D’Antonio started at the striker position last season, Wentz at midfield and Wilmot at center back.

Sewickley started out 7-0-1 last season, won the section title with a 10-1-1 record, advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals and ended up 13-3-1 overall.

Panther rack up trophies

Sewickley Academy has won a dozen WPIAL titles in boys golf starting with three in a row from 2006-2008. The Panthers won eight consecutive championships on the links from 2013-2020, then added another one to the trophy shelf in 2022.

Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy