Sewickley Herald notebook: Quaker Valley among WPIAL’s most decorated teams in 2024-25

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, July 13, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Trib HSSN offered a golden salute to the championship teams, collating a list of title winners during the 2024-25 high school sports season.

Quaker Valley racked up seven team championships — the second most in Western Pennsylvania behind only Class 6A North Allegheny with eight — which included PIAA titles in both girls and boys track and field. The girls team captured its fourth consecutive WPIAL crown; the boys team won its second in a row.

The three other championship seasons at QV took place in the fall. WPIAL crowns were secured by the girls soccer and volleyball squads and the boys cross country team.

While NA and QV combined for 15 titles, the next best in the overall championship categories were Peters Township and Indiana with four apiece.

Triple titlists in 2024-25 included Pine-Richland, Thomas Jefferson, South Fayette, Mars, Greensburg Central Catholic, North Catholic, Norwin, Mt. Lebanon, Union, Seneca Valley, Neshannock and Shaler.

Schools that attained two team championships were Avonworth, South Park, Shady Side Academy, Hampton, Upper St. Clair, Neighborhood Academy, Butler, Plum Mt. Pleasant, Hempfield and Riverside.

In total, 109 schools won team championships.

Individual champs

Trib HSSN also saluted WPIAL athletes who earned district and state gold in 2024-25.

The PIAA Class 2A list of titlists included two from Quaker Valley: Jonah Montagnese (boys 1,600) and Jay Olawaiye (girls triple jump).

At the district level, QV’s Cecilia Montagnese was a three-time winner by taking first place in girls cross country as well as the 1,600 and 3,200 in track and field.

Mimi Thiero also won the girls high jump championship while the tandem of Kirsten Close and Avery Allen were No. 1 in the girls tennis doubles tournament.

A trio of QV tracksters also earned WPIAL boys titles: Davin “Macky” Gartley (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Clark LaLomia (800) and Winston Clifford (high jump). Gartley was a repeat winner in the 110-meter hurdles event.

Lara DeFazio of Eden Christian Academy made her presence felt in the WPIAL 2A finals by taking first place in the girls long jump.

All-section honors

The following players were named first team all-section following the spring baseball season:

Quaker Valley: Todd Kagle (IF), seniors Oscar Roig (IF) and Nolan Wagoner (P).

Kagle, a junior third baseman, had the game of his career at the plate in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A playoffs. He racked up nine RBIs in leading the Quakers to a 22-6 win on the road June 2 against District 5 champion Bedford.

Kagle pounded out three hits, including two home runs, in four at-bats, was walked twice and scored three times. He belted a three-run homer in the first inning and added a two-run blast in the sixth.

Eden Christian: Brett Feldman (IF), Brady Hull (IF) and Noah Emswiler (P).

All three Eden juniors also were selected Class A first-team all-state by the Pennsylvania State Baseball Coaches Association.

In softball, all-section performers included Sewickley Academy seniors Marie Bigi (OF) and Quincy Sirko (UTL) and freshman Charlotte Andrews (P) and Quaker Valley junior Grace Carver (OF).

Quaker Valley’s senior P/OF Ryan Finamore was a first-team all-state utility player selection in Class 3A in 2025.

Track closed

The QV track and football field at Chuck Knox Stadium is closed this summer due to a scheduled resurfacing project; the stadium is inaccessible during construction because of safety reasons.

Most athletic practices and activities typically held at the high school field have been relocated to the QVMS field for the duration of the project. Communication from specific coaches will confirm practice locations.

The high school tennis courts remain open to the public.

Camp for runners

Quaker Valley’s summer track and field/cross country camp will be held at the middle school field from 8-11:30 a.m. on July 14, 16 and 18.

Tags: Quaker Valley