Five individuals were inducted recently into the Bethel Park High School Athletic Hall of Fame, representing the Class of 2025.
Five sports were represented by the inductees: Tracy Pfister ’83 (swimming), Anthony Caruso ’08 (soccer), Nick Kwiatkoski ’11 (football), Levi Metheny ’16 (football/basketball) and Nino Bonaccorsi ’17 (wrestling).
Former coaches also were recognized with this year’s class, as Jeff Metheny was inducted for his work with the Bethel Park football team.
Patricia Barnitz, Bethel Park’s former girls basketball and volleyball coach, was the recipient of the Distinguished Contribution Award.
Ending with a win
The Bethel Park girls basketball team finished the 2025-26 season on a winning note.
The Class 5A Black Hawks defeated 3A Keystone Oaks, 52-37, behind senior guards Kat Boff and Bella Coleman, who combined for 38 points. Boff netted a game-high 25 points and Coleman followed with 13.
Bethel Park ended the season with a 12-10 record.
“For being just above .500, I think we had a good year,” coach Steve Norman said. “We didn’t achieve what we wanted to achieve and I wish we were still playing, but there’s a lot to be proud of and excited about.
“I definitely want to say we’ll miss our seniors. From the day I got the job, those girls were a key part of our program and our identity.”
As part of the WPIAL’s realignment process that takes place every two years, Bethel Park will compete in 6A in 2026-27 and 2027-28.
“We are genuinely excited for the opportunity ahead of us,” Norman said. “I think we’ve got a team that showed it can compete with anyone on any given night. Our staff and I can’t wait to see what the next nine months do to help us step up those expectations.”
The Black Hawks were a young team this year with five juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen on the varsity roster.
“Our young players know a lot is expected of them, and they’re excited about the opportunity ahead of them,” Norman said. “We need to improve our offensive efficiency and decision-making and our overall scoring.
“All of those are things that are in our control, and that’s a good sign.”
On target
Bethel Park’s co-ed rifle team earned seventh place at this year’s WPIAL team championships Feb. 10 at the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club in Canonsburg.
The Black Hawks were led at the district finals by the one-two punch of seniors Kaelyn Weber (19th) and Will Popoleo (29th), along with sophomore Brenna Booth (35th), freshman Addison DeMart (42nd) and senior Christian Tabler (51st).
The rifle team was comprised of 22 students this season. Rounding out the squad were juniors Luca Adams, Kaedon Clark, Samantha Gross and Daphne Mach; sophomores James Braden, Samuel Elsberry, Sarah George, Rylee Gorman, Leona Henze, Seath Maverick Rovers, Madelyn Saffer, Amrey Strutt and James Warden; and freshmen Drew Benigni, Caitlin Foote, Cody Peterson and Hadley Wolfgang.
Bethel Park finished with a record of 11-3 in 2025-26. One of the team’s highlights was an eight-match winning streak against Mt. Lebanon (twice), Washington (twice), McGuffey, Avella, Waynesburg and Trinity.
Top tumblers
Bethel Park sophomore Alivia Bogdon placed second in the WPIAL Intermediate II all-around scoring in girls gymnastics.
The WPIAL championships took place Feb. 7 at Moon.
Bogdon’s top performances consisted of third-place finishes on the uneven bars (8.200) and beam (8.575). She also finished sixth on the floor (8.450) and 11th on the vault (8.700).
Bogdon ended up with 33.925 all-around points.
Bethel Park senior Lacy Hartman also advanced to the WPIAL finals as a Intermediate II competitor. Hartman participated on the vault, bars and beam.
Did you know?
Did you know that Bethel Park hockey coach Mike Schall has a delegation of six assistants?
Jason Bauer, Mark Bauer, Alex Blum, Tyler Miller, Geoff Oakley and Andreas Vukas serve as the team’s assistants.
Lindsay Riether is the team manager.