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.
