Alle-Kiski Valley H.S. notebook: Positive vibes for area foursome

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, June 10, 2018 | 8:18 PM

It will be a positive night for a quartet of Alle-Kiski Valley athletes Tuesday at the Sen. John Heinz History Center.

Springdale's Moriah Becker (track and field), Kiski Area's Sophie McDermott (girls volleyball), Fox Chapel's Alexis Schultzman (girls soccer) and Highlands' Cris White (boys soccer) were named recipients of Positive High School Athlete Awards and will be recognized at a ceremony in Pittsburgh, with former Steeler Hines Ward presenting. Each athlete receives a $500 scholarship, and several other awards with scholarship money will be given.

Recipients from 150 area high schools were nominated by coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers and parents. Thirty athletes won Postive Athlete Awards.

Nominees must display “excellence on the field,” as well as “an optimistic attitude, teammate encouragement, servant leadership, heart for others, ability to admit imperfections, giving 100 percent all the time, and realizing that the team is more important than the individual.”

See you Laker

Romello Freeman is heading north for college.

The Highlands football star, who graduated last week, signed Saturday to play at Mercyhurst.

Freeman, who will play cornerback for the Lakers, finished last season with 40 tackles, four interceptions, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown. He also led Highlands in receiving, catching 26 passes for 766 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Mercyhurst is coached by Marty Schaetzle, the father of former Highlands boys basketball assistant Thurman Schaetzle.

On watch

A trio of Alle-Kiski girls basketball players were placed on the “watch list” in Prep Star Recruits' Class of 2020 rankings.

Rising juniors Harley Holloway (Kiski Area), Sydney McDonough (Riverview) and Sidney Shemanski (Freeport) made the watch list. Prep Star Recruits listed a “Terrific 25,” followed by the 25-player watch list.

Holloway averaged 17.6 points, five rebounds and four assists and was named first-team all-section and a Valley News Dispatch first-team All-Star. McDonough and Shemanski were named third-team VND All-Stars.

Head of the Wolfpack

Highlands boys basketball assistant Thurman Schaetzle was named as the new men's coach at Westmoreland County Community College.

Schaetzle also was an assistant at Canisius and Gannon.

“I want to thank (WCCC president) Dr. (Tuesday) Stanley for this opportunity to join the Wolfpack family at Westmoreland County Community College,” Schaetzle said in a statement. “I am excited to get started and know through close collaboration with those on campus and in the community, the men's basketball team will have the opportunity to win and be successful.

“I look forward to working with the student-athletes to set a precedent of high standards on and off the court.”

Bill Beckner Jr. and Paul Schofield contributed. Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer.

Tags: Fox Chapel, Highlands, Kiski School, Springdale