Upper St. Clair’s husband-wife tandem looking to make history at PIAA championships
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Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 3:10 PM
Upper St. Clair girls assistant coach Suzie McConnell-Serio gives instruction from the bench with husband Pete Serio, the head coach, looking on.
Upper St. Clair assistant coach Suzy McConnell-Serio celebrates with Rylee Kalocay after beating Norwin in the WPIAL Class 6A championship Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Petersen Events Center.
Upper St. Clair head coach Pete Serio watches from the bench during the Panthers’ game against Norwin on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at USC.
Upper St. Clair’s fights for a loose ball with Canon-McMillan’s Samantha Miller during PIAA second round playoff action Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at Peters Twp. High School.
Upper St. Clair’s Rylee Kalocay drives past Canon-McMillan during PIAA second round playoff action Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at Peters Twp. High School.
Canon-McMillan’s Brooke Stanton grabs a loose ball from Upper St. Clair’s Grace Howell during PIAA second round playoff action Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at Peters Twp. High School.
Upper St. Clair’s Rylee Kalocay is called for charging Canon-McMillan’s Lauren Borella during PIAA second round playoff action Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at Peters Twp. High School.
In each of the last two years, history was nearly made by Berlin Brothersvalley, a small District 5 school located outside of Somerset.
The Mountaineers boys basketball team, coached by Brentwood grad Tanner Prosser, reached the PIAA Class A championship game in 2023 and 2024, but lost both years to Imani Christian.
Prosser was trying to become what is believed to be the first husband-wife combo to each win state basketball championships as head coaches — his wife Rachel Prosser led the Berlin Brothersvalley girls basketball team to a Class A state championship in 2019 and again in 2025.
Now cue Pete Serio and his wife Suzie McConnell-Serio.
Pete is wrapping up his 11th season as head coach of the Upper St. Clair girls basketball program with wife Suzie by his side as a Panthers assistant.
On Friday evening, the two will lead USC (23-6) into the PIAA Class 6A girls basketball championship game against Perkiomen Valley (27-3) at 6 p.m. at the Giant Center in Hershey.
It was 32 years ago when McConnell-Serio, then head coach at Oakland Catholic, guided the Eagles to the 1993 PIAA 4A championship with a 57-53 win over Downingtown.
The Panthers’ power couple is believed to be the first husband and wife to each win a WPIAL basketball championship as head coaches when Serio led Upper St. Clair to the district crown last month after McConnell-Serio won four straight WPIAL titles at Oakland Catholic between 1999 and 2002.
“I did not know about the husband and wife thing; that’s pretty special,” Pete Serio said. “I’ve always been so proud of all the things (McConnell-Serio) has accomplished so it’s nice to join in on the titles. Being able to do this together has been extra special because of what we have accomplished. The hug she gave me when the buzzer went off will be something I remember forever. We both feel not only lucky, but very blessed to have this relationship.”
The USC players also feel lucky to have the golden couple leading the way during their careers.
“Knowing how much knowledge coach Pete and Suzie have in their back pocket allows for me to take their word with no hesitation,” senior guard and Kent State commit Rylee Kalocay said. “I trust them 100%, and I know they just want me to be the best player I can be.”
Kalocay is the team’s leading scorer this winter after coming back from a torn ACL and meniscus in her left knee that derailed her junior season.
She led the Panthers’ postseason push and was the leading scorer in all three WPIAL playoff wins and the first two PIAA victories for Upper St. Clair.
However, others have stepped up and played big roles in USC winning eight straight and 11 of its last 12 games.
Senior point guard Ryan Prunzik has been a force on both sides of the floor. Junior guard Meredith Huzjak had a game-high 17 points in the Panthers’ quarterfinals win over Haverford, and senior guard Olivia Terlecki led the team with 19 points in the 53-49 semifinal triumph over Garnet Valley.
That same Garnet Valley team lost in the District 1 championship to Perkiomen Valley, 43-30.
“Perkiomen is a very, very good basketball team,” Pete Serio said. “We are going to need to really limit the easy touches that their post player gets. We will need to contest every shot they take and do our best to limit their second chances.”
That post player is 6-foot-3 forward Quinn Boettinger. The Navy commit scored 22 points to lead the Vikings past Archbishop Carroll in the PIAA semifinals, 52-45.
Another key player for Perkiomen Valley is 6-foot senior guard Grace Galbavy, a Wake Forest commit.
“We have to slow down their top two players and come out stronger,” Kalocay said. “We came out very slow last time we played them, and it definitely hurt us.”
The last time was Dec. 14 when Perkiomen Valley defeated host Upper St. Clair in a nonsection contest, 63-57.
In that game, Boettinger led the Vikings with 32 points while Galbavy added 16 points.
Kalocay led USC with 29 points.
“I really am happy we played them earlier in the year,” Pete Serio said. “We know what they have and what to expect. I was really proud we never quit the first time. We are a different team today than we were in December.”
Upper St. Clair hopes to party like its 1999. That year was the Panthers’ only other time playing for state gold as they defeated Cheltenham from District 1, 62-56.
“It’s an amazing feeling, especially knowing that Upper St. Clair girls have only been to Hershey one other time in school history,” Kalocay said.
This is the first PIAA title game appearance for Perkiomen Valley.
No matter what happens Friday, this has been a memorable season for USC. However, make no mistake about it, the Panthers aren’t just satisfied with finishing the season in Chocolate Town.
“We are not just happy to be going to Hershey,” Pete Serio said. “We are going there with the mindset of playing together and winning this game. I believe in these players and more importantly they believe in each other.”
Tags: Upper St. Clair
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