It was a banner weekend for area high school and collegiate players and teams.
Congratulations to the many winners and their coaches.
Among the most exciting accomplishments was that of two wrestlers – Richland High School sophomore John Rizzo and Pitt-Johnstown senior Shane Valko.
The 6-foot, 245-pound Rizzo became the first sophomore to win the PIAA’s heaviest weight class (285 pounds) in the event’s 72-year history.
Truly amazing.
“When I first heard that, I was really, really excited,” Rizzo said after finding out about his historical accomplishment. Richland is a AA school.
Hats off also to his head coach, Tom Smith.
UPJ’s Valko, a Forest Hills graduate, won the NCAA Division II championship in Omaha, Neb. He wrestles at 133 pounds.
It was a particularly sweet win for Valko, who finished one victory short of the title in 2009.
“Seeing that second place, I put it on my desk, in front of my bed,” Valko said. “Every day I woke up I’d see that.”
Valko also was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler and was one of three UPJ grapplers to be named All-Americans. The two others are Patrick Walsh, a 184-pounder, and heavyweight Chris Dempsey.
The team has long been coached by Pat Pecora.
Meanwhile, on Sunday in Brooklyn, N.Y., St. Francis University’s women’s basketball team beat Long Island 77-68 in the Northeast Conference title game. With the win, the Red Flash (17-14) earned the league’s automatic NCAA tournament bid for the first time since 2005.
The Flash, coached by Susan Robinson-Fruchtl, will play Ohio State on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
Editorials
Athletes, teams rise to the top | A banner weekend for area sports
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Readers' Forum 2-11 | Liberals’ slow, steady assault on America
Recently, Health and (in)Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued an edict demanding Catholic hospitals and institutions to provide contraceptives, abortifacients and other sterilization drugs under the so-called Affordable Care Act.
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Laurels and barbs
Laurel: Richland High School students who qualify will be offered a golden educational opportunity this fall. In the first such program in Cambria County, students will be able to simultaneously earn their high school diplomas and associate degrees in general studies from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.
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Readers' Forum 2-10 | Pastor: Area churches are in distress
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Neighborhoods urged ‘to step up’
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Readers' Forum 2-9 | Find funds to heal returning soldiers
The article, “Military finds troops ailing; problems create health care backlog,” published Feb. 2 by USA Today, impressed me so profoundly that I just can’t keep myself from bringing it to your attention.
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Take in a high school play
“Peter Pan” has already done a flyby at Windber Area High School.
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Readers' Forum 2-8 | Ambulance crew following protocol
In response to the Readers’ Forum letter on Feb. 3 by Molly Comperatore, “Ambulance assoc. bill extravagant, unethical”:
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Protect young lungs
A recent CDC study concludes that too many kids are breathing others’ smoke in cars.
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Richard Dreyfuss | Future generations will come out on losing end of budget
As the governor’s state budget undergoes intense scrutiny, there is no shortage of speculation surrounding various fiscal austerity proposals and which departments and programs will likely be the ultimate budgetary “winners and losers.”
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‘219’ optimism is driven closer toward reality
Making U.S. Route 219 a four-lane highway from Somerset to the Mason-Dixon Line is a crucial project for our entire region.
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Readers' Forum 2-11 | Liberals’ slow, steady assault on America
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