Sewickley Academy’s Mike Iuzzolino was lauded as the WPIAL Class 2A boys basketball coach of the year by Trib HSSN.
In 2025, it was close but no golden cigar for Sewickley after the Panthers were knocked off in the district semifinals by Jeannette and lost in the state championship game to Linville Hill by one point.
In 2026, it was mission accomplished. The Panthers were dominant in winning both a WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A championships with Iuzzolino preaching defense and unselfish offense.
On a talented roster, the mantra was just win and don’t worry about stats. Sewickley finished 30-1.
Thiero honored
Quaker Valley’s Oumou “Mimi” Thiero, who finished as the WPIAL’s leading scorer this season, repeated as Trib HSSN girls basketball player of the year in Class 3A.
The 6-foot-5 Thiero was cited as a Trib HSSN Terrific 10 girls basketball all-star off her performance this year.
She was brilliant in the postseason, scoring 30 points in a WPIAL first-round win over Keystone Oaks and 27 in a quarterfinal loss to Seton LaSalle. In consolation game wins over Avonworth and OLSH, the Maryland recruit netted a combined 55 points.
Panthers earn split
Sewickley Academy’s baseball team opened the season by splitting section decisions with Bishop Canevin, winning 6-5 on March 24 after losing 9-8 on March 23.
Freshman sensation Logan Bereznay was the winning pitcher for Sewickley while sophomore Carter Jackson earned a save. Bereznay also was active at the plate, providing much of the team’s firepower offensively as the Panthers played three games in four days.
Two other leading hitters for Sewickley in the first week of the season were senior Billy Pietragallo and freshman Caden Hawkins. Pietragallo had four hits and drove in four runs during the series with Bishop Canevin.
Bereznay, junior Jacob Stanislaw, sophomore Austin Fritz and Jackson handled most of the pitching duties.
The Panthers began the week of March 30 with a 1-1 record in Section 3-A and 1-2 overall.
‘Anything can happen’
Max Modrovich’s assessment of the Quaker Valley boys lacrosse team’s season was short and sweet.
“We should make playoffs,” he said, “and anything can happen from there.”
Modrovich is a senior attacker; he was one of the leading scorers on the QV hockey team this winter.
Eden track stars
Jack Hurley, a sophomore at Eden Christian Academy, won both the boys 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs March 24 at a five-team track and field meet hosted by Avonworth and Northgate.
Two girls at Eden, junior Alexandra Nacey and freshman Annalese Haring, finished first in the 100- and 400-meter dashes, respectively.
Eden also won the girls 3,200 relay event.
Tie it up
The Quaker Valley and Mohawk baseball teams played to a 10-10 tie March 31 at Esmark Field in Sewickley.
QV pounded out 15 hits in the game led by senior shortstop Todd Kagle’s 4 for 4 and senior catcher Brad Semonik’s 3 for 4 performances at the plate. Kagle scored three times and drove in two runs.
Sophomore 1B Michael Semonik and freshman DH Rocco Fardo added two hits apiece. Semonik clouted two doubles; Fardo finished with three RBIs.
Junior pitcher Kolton Johnson also belted a homer and knocked in two runs.
Going yard
Noah Emswiler and Brett Feldman homered to power Eden Christian (3-3, 1-0) to a 14-3 win March 30 over section rival Serra Catholic.
Brady Hull doubled and drove in two runs for the Warriors in their Section 3-A opener. Emswiler had three RBIs.
PSU bound
Quaker Valley’s Jace Vasbinder plans to attend Penn State where he will study to become a veterinarian or focus on sports analytics.
Vasbinder was a senior forward on the QV hockey team and plays an attack position on the boys lacrosse squad.
Did you know?
Did you know that there are two sets of brothers on Quaker Valley’s baseball team?
Brad Semonik is a senior catcher/outfielder; Michael Semonik is a sophomore first baseman/outfielder. Noah Fardo is a junior outfielder; Rocco Fardo is a freshman pitcher/infielder.
Charlie Burns (OF/INF/P) and Henry Burns (INF) are freshman team members, but they are not related.