A-K Valley athletes of the week: Freeport’s Sidney Shemanski, Deer Lakes’ Josh Yourish

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 | 10:18 PM

Sidney Shemanski

School: Freeport

Class: Sophomore

Sport: Track and field

Report card: Shemanski brought home a silver medal from last week's PIAA Class AA track and field championships at Shippensburg. She placed second, in a near-photo finish, to Shady Side Academy's Melissa Riggs in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 16.55 seconds, just 17-hundredths of a second behind Riggs. Shemanski also took silver at the WPIAL championships with a time of 2:16.07. She's also a forward on the Yellowjackets girls soccer team and started at point guard on the basketball team.

How did you find your way to competing in the 800 meters?

The first day (as a freshman), I went to track and field (and) I was late because I was in the state basketball playoffs. My sister Kim was a senior when I was a freshman, so I always looked up to her.

How close was the finish in the 800 meters in the state finals?

It was very close. We were so close at the end.

With the photo finish, is it easier or harder to comprehend 17 hundredths of a second?

It's harder but it just feels right because we were so close. I pushed myself as fast as I could.

Has a rivalry been established between you and Shady Side Academy's Melissa Riggins?

Oh yes, it definitely has. We're really good friends, and she's one of the fastest people I've raced against.

Is there a sport that you don't compete at a high level in?

No. It's always high and from soccer to basketball and track it's always nonstop.

Which one is your top sport?

I can't decide. I think more so track because it's more relaxing.

What sport are you going to compete in over the summer?

I am going to be in a basketball summer league, and soccer will be staring up with July practices.

Do you have any vacation plans over the summer?

A lot. I'm going to Disney for two weeks and I usually go to Deep Creek, Md., or to Raystown Lake.

How does track and field help you in all your of other sports?

It definitely keeps me in shape because I'm running constantly. Also, my flexibility and it conditions me for soccer.

What Pittsburgh area restaurant is your favorite?

Probably Buca di Beppo.

What do you order?

I usually get chicken parmesan.

What three words best describe you?

Athletic. Determined. Caring.

What's your favorite subject at school?

Math. I'm in Algebra II right now.

What is something interesting about you that nobody knows?

A lot of people don't know how outdoorsy I am. I'm always outside camping and kayaking.

Josh Yourish

School: Deer Lakes

Class: Junior

Sport: Track and field

Report card: Yourish capped off his junior campaign with an eighth-place finish in the 800-meter run at the PIAA Class AA track championships at Shippensburg where he turned in a time of 1:59.72 . He punched his ticket to states two weeks ago with a silver-medal performance (2:00.29) at the WPIAL championships. Yourish is a two-year starter on the Lancers' cross country team where he runs from the No. 1 spot.

How did you find your way to competing in the 800 meters?

In middle school, I did the “pacer's test” in gym class. I got the school record and figured I had the pace for distance running.

How tough was the competition at states?

It was very tough. I qualified as the 12th guy to go to finals. The bigger, more physical guys kind of boxed me in, and I struggled with that on the first day.

What did you learn while competing at states?

The style of running and probably managing my warmups and managing the heat at Shippensburg.

What was the one thing the surprised you about states?

Probably the running style of trying to qualify. Guys aren't running for their best time on the first day. They're just running for the top four.

What sport are you going to compete in over the summer?

I'm going to take some time off and give my legs a rest since I've been running since last August.

Do you have any vacation plans over the summer?

Visiting some colleges obviously, and my family and neighbors are going down to Hilton Head Island, S.C.

What Pittsburgh area restaurant is your favorite?

Knox Tavern in Blawnox, it's really good.

What do you order?

My favorite thing I ever got was a December special, and it's a bacon cheeseburger between two grilled cheese sandwiches.

What three words best describe you?

Outgoing. Competitive. Leader.

What's your favorite subject at school?

English.

Are you looking into running cross country or track in college?

I'm definitely interested in running, and it won't dictate my decision.

What schools are you interested in attending, and what do you want to study?

Clemson, Butler and Penn State are my top three. I want to study sports journalism.

What is something interesting about you that nobody knows?

For a lot of my offseason training, I do it at a boxing gym. It's on Route 8, called “Fit 4 Boxing.”

— William Whalen