Sewickley Herald notebook: Sewickley Academy’s boys soccer success starts on defense

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, September 28, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Sewickley Academy’s boys soccer team in anchored by a pair of top-notch underclassmen this season.

The Panthers’ starting goalkeeper is freshman Hayden Haley, who is supported by sophomore goalie Carson D’Antonio, who also plays in the field.

“It’s a great feeling to know we have two talented and capable goalies this season,” Sewickley coach Joel Stewart said. “Even though Carson is not starting in goal, he is giving us quality minutes on the field. We love how he competes, his attitude and his versatility.”

Sewickley’s defensive corps is led by senior Blake Wilmot, a fourth-year starter. Wilmot is a former all-section selection who mans the center back position for the Panthers.

“One of the often-unmentioned strengths of Blake is his ability to play the ball out of the back,” Stewart said. “Many of our attacks begin because he was able to find one of our midfielders out of the back. He distributes the ball very well to begin a lot of our possessions.

“The other thing I will add to Blake’s strengths is his ability to finish dead ball situations. He has several goals this season coming forward on corner kicks and direct kicks into the box.”

Sewickley HOF

Four individuals and one team will be inducted Oct. 3 into the Sewickley Academy Sports Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony will take place from noon to 1 p.m. at the Sewickley Academy Events Center.

The Class of 2025 consists of Win Palmer, former athletic director/basketball coach, Tom Droney (2010), Tara Utchel (1999), Katarina Lackner (2005) and the 2003 girls state championship soccer team.

Close wins debut

Quaker Valley graduate Kirsten Close was victorious in her collegiate debut on the Haverford women’s tennis team.

The first-year pairing of Close, a freshman, and senior Abhi Menon opened with an 8-3 win Sept. 13 against TCNJ’s Eleni Dakos and Gabby Robinson on the first day of the TCNJ (The College of New Jersey) Invitational.

Close followed with a steady 6-4, 6-4 victory against NYU’s Aditi Narayan.

Close and Menon also defeated NYU’s Victoria Wang and Aditi Narayan, 8-5, on the second day of the invitational.

Close was a two-time WPIAL champion, two-time WPIAL runner-up and three-time PIAA runner-up at QV. She was a high honor roll student and National Honor Society member.

Golf roll call

There are nine athletes on the Sewickley Academy girls varsity golf team this season: juniors Emily Milanovich and Bridget Hulick, seniors Olivia Busatto and Samaira Bhat, freshman Angelina Rippole and sophomores Charlotte Andrews, Ella Titler and Sophia Senovich.

The Sewickley Academy boys golf team has nine competitors at the varsity level. They are freshman Trey Susa, seniors Niko Frazzini, Billy Pietragallo and Luke Palguta and sophomores Charlie Scally, Will Bojalad and Austin Fritz.

The are no juniors on the boys squad this season.

QV HOF

Members of the Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be inducted Oct. 19 into the hall, following a weekend of activities commencing Oct. 17 with a tailgate party and recognition ceremony at the Quakers’ football game at Chuck Knox Stadium.

The Class of 2025 consists of the 2012 hockey squad and four athletes — Colin South (hockey), L.J. Westwood (track and field, cross country), Derek Molitor (football, track and field) and Dorian Goosby Dean (athlete).

For information on purchasing tickets for the HOF induction banquet set for 11 a.m. Oct. 19 at Sewickley Heights Golf Club, email johnsc@qvsd.org or call the QV athletic office at 412-749-6007.

Successful clinic

Quaker Valley held a four-day youth volleyball clinic this summer for girls in fifth through eighth grade.

QV’s varsity coach Mike Vavrek considered it a success.

“We had over 40 girls attend,” he said.

The young netters were recognized at the Quakers’ section match at home in early September against New Brighton, a 3-0 QV victory.

Those in attendance included Lucy Baker, Quinn Sheridan, Elizabeth Hartman, Violet Scalzi, Lillian Hemwall, Remi Furfari, Morgan Wydra, Nora Sheridan, Leah Vixman, Lizzy Millet, Mallory Cline, Alyson Snyder, Reagan Wydra, Ava Schneider, Brielle Breisinger, Carole Kurmufashe, Clare Price, Marley Schollaert, Maryann (Mimi) Anderson, Milena Shlyahovsky, Nikki Spezza, Tyler Baker, Victoria Kronk, Clair Jubeck and Fiona White.

“It was a good night, and I think the girls had a good time,” Vavrek said. “There’s definitely some talent and some height at the younger levels. We’re excited to work with them in the future.”

One of the highlights for the girls attending QV’s youth night was being able to hit with the high school players prior to the team’s varsity match.

QV’s scoring punch

Quaker Valley’s girls soccer team blanked Hopewell, 9-0, on Sept. 10 behind the scoring punch of juniors Annabel Miko (four goals) and Eliza Rahm, freshman Kallie McCune and sophomores Elena Cindrich, Mia Duckstein and Lily Baker.

It took Baker just 13 seconds to produce the only goal needed by QV in a 4-0 win Sept. 15 against Beaver.

Rowan Wallace, a junior, tacked on two goals while Miko, off a corner kick from Duckstein (with senior Ivy Armbrust shielding the Beaver goalie), added one goal.

Hope Waller also netted one of the more dramatic goals of her soccer career Sept. 17 against Central Valley.

A junior forward, Waller scored off a feed from Miko in overtime to lift the Quakers past CV, 1-0, in Section 3-2A.

Sophomore Ava Hajok is the starting goalkeeper for QV, which had posted eight shutouts in 10 games including seven in a row from Sept. 3 to Sept. 20.

Hoops clinic planned

The Quaker Valley boys and girls basketball programs will be host hosting a youth clinic for players in fourth through eighth grade. It will be run by the coaching staffs of both programs and will focus on fundamentals, individual and team drills and games.

The clinic will take place over four weeks — on Oct. 12, Oct. 19, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 — at the high school gym. A session for girls will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.; the second session for boys will follow from 7 to 8 p.m. All participants will receive a QV basketball T-shirt.

The registration fee is $100 with proceeds benefitting the QV basketball programs. Checks can be made payable to Ken Johns, and registrations will be accepted at the door. Scholarships also are available.

To register or for more information, email coach Johns at Ken.e.johns@gmail.com.

Golfers advance

QV sophomore Addy Davis made it through to the WPIAL Class 2A boys golf final round off her first-round performance Sept. 22 at Hill Crest Country Club.

Davis was one of 10 golfers who finished with an 86 score at Hill Crest.

“She was right at the cut line,” QV coach Greg Vecchi said.

Sewickley Academy freshman Trey Susa and senior Niko Frazzini, along with Eden Christian senior Jackson Bremmer, also qualified for the championship round.

Susa tied for fifth place thanks to a 76 score as he racked up 11 pars and six bogeys and birdied the par-3 seventh hole.

The Class 2A boys final was scheduled for Sept. 30 at Valleybrook Country Club.

Captain’s orders

Senior OH Mia Gartley is one of three captains on the Quaker Valley girls volleyball team along with senior OH Bella Jarrett and junior libero Megan Harris.

“As captain, I try my best to lead the team as a positive role model,” Gartley said. “I try to set examples of a positive mindset in hopes of the team following.

“I think our team definitely has not reached our full potential. We are just now starting to play as a team, so I am excited for our progress. I’m hoping to pull off more wins (in the season’s second half). We need to stay aggressive and work on our communication.”

Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy