SPORTS

By David McElhinny | Photos by David Pinchot

Sean McElhinny in action.

South Fayette Boys Basketball
Coming off a 19-6 season a year ago that saw the team make it into the second round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs, not to mention the fact that the program has qualified for the postseason in eight of the last nine seasons, it’s safe to say that expectations are high.

While Head Coach Rick Bonnaure, who is entering his fifth season at the helm, lost five seniors to graduation, he has somehow reloaded to have one of the deepest squads he has had the luxury of coaching in quite a while.

“The guys have really worked hard in the off-season and we are going to have pretty good depth this year,” says Bonnaure.

Returning to help lead the charge will be 6-foot-6 senior Sean McElhinny who was second on the team in scoring last year at 16 points per game.

“He is just so athletic and such a hard worker. He has gotten stronger physically, improved his ballhandling and will be relied upon to be a leader for us.”

Another returning starter will be senior point guard Nick Zedreck. While he manages a game well and is a tenacious defender, it’s his knack for getting in the lane and disrupting defenses that truly causes fits for opponents.

“His ability to penetrate and break down defenses was a key for us last year and I expect will once again be important for us this year,” says Bonnaure.

“He also has a great ability to draw fouls and get the other team’s big men into foul trouble.”

Senior Steve Opar has started on and off for the past two seasons and will add leadership to the team as will fellow senior Shane Bartolomeo, a lightning quick player who relishes doing the dirty work.

Sophomore Joey Silko has one of the best shooting strokes in the section and will be relied upon to extend defenses with his range from beyond the arc, while the sheer competitiveness of junior Jon Taglianetti, who played at Central Catholic last year, will only help to add to Bonnaure’s talented stable of players.

Juniors Zach Patterson, Derek Anderson and Drew Hareza will all see minutes in the paint, while junior Dillon Sauers and Will Rose will bolster the backcourt.

“This is a great group of kids who have set some high goals for themselves,” says Bonnaure.

“They definitely want to win the section. Our section is always very strong, but these guys have really put in the time to improve and I am very excited for the season to begin.”

South Fayette Girls Basketball
To say that the South Fayette girls varsity basketball team is young would be the understatement of the year. With just one senior, a couple of juniors and a host of sophomores and freshmen vying for playing time, there are plenty of junior varsity programs in the area who will be older – at least chronologically.

However, while they may be young, first year Head Coach Jim Dudas is optimistic because what his team lacks in age they more than make up for in depth, energy, work ethic and attitude.

“Based on what I’ve seen in the spring, summer league and team camp, we should be extremely competitive at all positions,” says Dudas.

“I really like the enthusiasm I’ve seen from them and I’m pleased with the commitment the kids have shown. This group will never quit. They’ve got a lot of grit and play hard all the time.”

The lone returning starter from a team that graduated four starters will be sophomore guard Paige Uram.

“She sees the floor very well, is an excellent shooter and is learning how to manage the game better every time she steps on the court.”

Fellow guards Sarah Wisniewski, a sophomore, and Kelly Capozzoli, a junior, also logged a lot of varsity minutes for a team that went 12-12 a season ago and should give them some proven talent in the backcourt.

The only senior on the roster, Carmin Jones, sophomores Taylor Kalina, Kayci Luck and Sara Throckmorton, as well as freshmen Kacy Capozzoli and Jordan Ondek give Dudas incredible depth at the guard positions.

Junior Alicia McKenzie and sophomores Alana George and Colleen Graeser will anchor the inside game, while sophomore Amanda Leonard and freshman Bailey Seiner will provide additional competition in the paint.

An athletic group with a lot of energy, Dudas plans to make this squad a dangerous team in the open court.

“I really want us to be an up tempo team and take advantage of our athletic ability,” says Dudas, who has been coaching for years as an AAU coach as well as at the youth level.

“I feel we are in the toughest double-A section around and every game will be a war. But I really feel good about this team. I know they will give it everything they have every time they step onto the court.”

While it would be easy to look at this team and think about how good they’ll be in a couple of years, Dudas is stressing to the kids that the future is now.

“I don’t want them thinking about later, I want them to think about this season and take it one game at a time.”

South Fayette Swimming and Diving
The South Fayette boys’ swim team is expected to vie for the section crown as a core of proven swimmers return, some freshman from last year’s inaugural middle school team are showing promise, not to mention the fact that Moon, a program that won the last two section crowns, has been moved up to Class AAA.

“The team has improved as many of these kids are swimming year round as part of club teams now,” said Head Coach Matt Tucker, who is entering his fourth season as head coach.
Senior Andrew Bernett, who placed in the 50 freestyle at WPIALs last year and is solid in the 100 freestyle and relays, is looking impressive.

“I expect that Andrew will be at states this year,” says Tucker, who had coached previously at Freedom and Chartiers Valley.

Fellow senior Brandon Soubie, who competes in the 50 and 100 freestyle, the 50 butterfly and the relays, along with freshman Steve Torre, who owns all the middle school swimming records, highlight a talented group of swimmers.

Senior Andrew Josey, who not only swims for the team but also dives, will be joined on the springboard by WPIAL qualifier Don Rohsner, a Fort Cherry student who is part of the team as part of a co-op between the two schools.

On the girls’ side, senior Megan Rooney holds the school record in the 200 freestyle, the 500 freestyle and was part of the school record-breaking team in the 400 freestyle relay.

Senior Jill Zewe is prolific in the backstroke and 500 freestyle, while freshmen Jessica Segeleon and Alexis Carelle join the team as a duo of fresh faces who are multi-talented and can compete in a variety of events.

“I think the girls have worked hard and we look to improve from last season,” says Tucker, who swam collegiately at Bethany College where he was the captain of the team for two years.

“Really on both sides we have much more depth than last year. Our middle school program has really helped with that. We have a lot of swimmers who have put in the time and effort to improve and I am expecting them to contribute greatly to our team.”

Tucker doesn’t look to pad his program’s record but instead is always looking to schedule non-section meets with top-notch opponents.

“I like to swim up which is why our non-section schedule is against such high quality teams. That’s how you improve.”

“My goal is for us to be competitive year in and year out. I also want the kids to have a quality experience and get what they want and need out of the program. If we can do that, then I will feel we’ve been successful.”

South Fayette Wrestling Co-op
Most of the time, it would be odd to listen to kids from one school cheering on a wrestler from another district. But that is exactly what has been going on for years as South Fayette and Chartiers Valley students comprise one team thanks to a co-op between the districts.

While that may seem strange to some, most of these kids have never known any different, which is why the South Fayette students think nothing of putting on a singlet that reads Colts across the chest.

“The kids have worked together for so long and are so familiar with each other that they really think nothing of it,” says first year Chartiers Valley head coach Bill Evans.

“The only problems are usually logistics or transportation. But as far as actual wrestling goes, there isn’t a problem.”

While South Fayette currently has no varsity wrestling program and is just beginning a junior high program this year, Evans is quick to point out that the district does indeed have some history in the sport as the school has produced numerous star grapplers, including one state champion, Mark McKnight in 2003.

However, the days of the two districts being merged on the mat are numbered.

This will be the final year to accept new wrestlers under a grandfather clause that allows South Fayette athletes into the C.V. wrestling program. The way it stands now, the kids who are on the team will be able to continue to wrestle in future years until their graduation, but no new kids will be accepted into the program.

“My understanding is that the co-op is going to dissolve, but that I will get to keep the kids we currently have on the team,” says Evans, who is a Chartiers Valley graduate and wrestled at Millersville University.

“I’m glad about that because we have some really talented kids from South Fayette on our team.”

Some of the South Fayette talent expected to make an impact will be seniors Patrick Chaussard, Stefan Chaussard and Ray Stevens.

Junior Kenny Miller will also return to the mat and will be joined by a couple of talented freshmen in Sean Lubin and Chris Williams.

Joining them will be Chartiers Valley seniors Cory O’Keefe, Ron Fadic and Chris Lytle, juniors Matt Wilps, Mike Meglen and Danny Utchell and freshman Ty Wilps.

“I have a real positive outlook on this group,” says Evans, who has been an assistant coach at Manheim Township, Peters Township, Slippery Rock and Mt. Lebanon before landing the head coaching duties at C.V.

“I am so happy to have the opportunity to coach these guys and I couldn’t believe it when I got the job. After the birth of my children, this is maybe the most exciting thing to happen for me. I can’t wait for the season to begin.” •