Bella Dinkel
School: Greensburg Salem
Class: Sophomore
Sport: Track & field
Claim to fame: Dinkel was the track MVP at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Track & Field Championships at Mt. Pleasant. She won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles and took fifth in two other events.
Also this season, she broke the school record in the 200 dash — in her first time running the event — in 25.51 seconds.
Dinkel is a multi-sport athlete. She was an all-section player in basketball and volleyball.
Did you think you had a chance to win MVP at the WCCA meet?
I honestly wasn’t aware it was even a thing until my coach, Jeremy Lenzi, mentioned it to me. Our county is full of incredibly talented runners, so it really means a lot.
What have you been doing well lately on the track?
I’ve been performing well in the 100-meter dash and have made significant improvements since my freshman year.
You ran the 200 for the first time at the River Valley Invitational and won with a school record. Did you see that coming?
I didn’t see it coming at all. I was just told to go out there, run my best and see what kind of time I could put up. I just focused on letting the results speak for themselves.
What makes a good hurdler?
What makes a good hurdler is all about form. Ryann Luce, our 100-meter record holder (at Greensburg Salem), is a great example of that.
Do you run track to stay in shape for other sports?
Yes, I do. I think it’s very beneficial for everyone to do track no matter what your main sport is.
Which of the three sports you play is your favorite?
Volleyball is definitely my favorite and my passion since I was young. Track is a close second.
What sport do you want to play in college?
I would love the opportunity to play volleyball in college, and it would be even more exciting if I could compete as a dual-sport athlete as well.
How do you manage to play all three sports year-round?
I really rely on my parents for rides since I won’t be able to drive for a while. They’ve definitely been a big part of my success.
Were your parents, or anyone else in your family, good athletes?
Both of my parents (Kristin and Chris) were star athletes, and athletics runs in my family. My uncles, Mark and Nick Damico, competed in football at Princeton and wrestling at Pitt, and my cousins, Gianna and Olivia, were D-1 athletes at Penn State and the University of Buffalo.
Who is your favorite pro athlete?
My cousin, Olivia Damico, who is playing pro soccer at Shelbourne Football Club in Ireland.
What sport are you secretly good at?
I like to think I’m secretly good at lacrosse. Some of my friends might disagree, but deep down they know I was born for it.
Have you ever tried a field event?
I used to do high jump, but it was never my strongest event, and I struggled with it at first (even with a 28-inch vertical jump).
What are some of your hobbies?
I love to hike and have visited 13 national parks. I also taught myself how to play both the guitar and the harmonica.
Did you go to or watch the NFL Draft?
I watched it in a lot of different restaurants, and I was really happy to see the Steelers pick up a player from the Naval Academy.
What would you do with a million dollars?
I’d probably start with a new house, so I wouldn’t have to share a room with my sister, but I might also just save most of it instead.
What do you do for fun in the summer?
I mainly just play volleyball during the summer, and this year I’ll be attending some out-of-state camps, so I’ll be pretty busy with volleyball.
Do you have any pets?
Yes I have two dogs, Rebel and Bear, along with 11 chickens and two ducks.
What is the best lunch at school?
I just like school cookies.
What is your favorite subject in school?
My favorite subject so far is government and politics. I find it interesting to connect what we learn in class to real-world events.
What did you learn playing basketball for coach Rick Klimchock?
He really believed in us, even though a lot of our team weren’t year-round basketball players. He also helped me understand the game a lot more, especially coming in with more of a volleyball mindset.
Ryan Kent
School: Belle Vernon
Class: Senior
Sport: Track and field
Claim to Fame: Kent continues his amazing season as a thrower in track and field. He recently won the discus and shot put throws at the 52nd Baldwin Invitational and placed third in the javelin. He also won all three throwing events at the Fayette County Coaches Association championship April 25. He won field MVP at the FCCA and Lady Spartan/Wildcat Invitational.
Talk about your performance at Baldwin.
I had a great good day. Baldwin is a special place, and this is the last time I get to throw it here. I gained good relationships here. I just missed personal records in discus and shot put. I unexpectedly won the javelin my junior year.
What are your goals?
I want to win WPIAL and PIAA titles in the discus and shot put. I qualified for states my sophomore and junior seasons. I also want to qualify for nationals at Penn in June.
Do you play other sports?
I played football my freshman year to junior years. I gave it up to focus on my throwing. I changed my practice schedule.
Why did you select Shippensburg University?
When I visited for academics, it turned into an athletic trip. The coach took me around and treated me as family. He made me feel welcome. The students at the school show a lot of spirit, and I liked that.
Have you won any other big meets?
I won the discus at the Butler Invitational.
What is different about your throwing this year?
I work harder. I try to improve every day. I also work with Dustin and Nick Hyde. I also plan out my weekly schedule.
Are you planning to take a week off from competition, or will you compete in one of the Last Chance qualifying meets?
The team is going to West Mifflin, and I am going to compete. It will serve as a good prep for the WPIAL championship.
Who got you started in track and field?
My family is into track. I have a cousin setting running records at California High School, and a cousin is competing at Penn West California. My aunts told me I should try it and I was in eighth grade, and I won the discus at a big meet at Latrobe and won my first medal. That was cool, and I stuck with it.
Who are your favorite track athletes?
I like Ryan Crouser and Matthew Denny.
What is your favorite pizza?
I like Little Caesars’ nacho cheese pizza.
Do you like the hot dogs at the Red Caboose?
Yes, they are good.
Where do you go for a snack after practice, and what do you get?
I like Rutter’s. I get their boneless wings and waffle fries.
What is your favorite meal your mom makes?
I love her pulled pork and hyaluski.
What is your favorite movie?
“American Graffiti.”
Who is Belle Vernon’s biggest rival?
Thomas Jefferson.
Who is the best athlete at your school?
Elijah Brown.
Did you like the Steelers’ draft?
No. I am a Pitt fan, so I do not the Drew Allar pick. I did like the Iowa guard and the Navy running back.
Do you have a favorite NFL player?
I liked the Eagles’ Jason Kelce.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Cedar Point. We go there three or four times a year.
What are your favorite roller coasters?
Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster II.
Is there a vacation spot on your bucket list?
Rome or Greece would be neat.
What type of music do you like?
I like soft rock and country music.
Have you ever been to a concert?
No. But if I went to one I would like to see Billy Joel or Slipknot.
If you could have lunch or dinner with someone special, who would it be and what would you talk about?
My grandmother (Karen Kunkle). She passed away when I was young, and I’d love to see if she was proud of my accomplishments.