High school notebook: Belle Vernon freshman Nagy helps secure national hockey title

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 10:27 PM

Belle Vernon freshman Nick Nagy scored the winning goal for the South Hills Amateur Hockey Association Panthers in the recent USA Hockey Youth Tier II 14U national championship game in a 3-2 victory over Skaneateles (N.Y.).

“As soon as the puck hit my stick, I shot it,” Nagy told the Mon-Valley Independent. “When I saw the puck hit the back of the net I was ecstatic … Soon after, the whole team was on top of us in a dog pile.”

The Panthers finished the season with a record of 54-6-6.

Heritage honors

Ligonier Valley senior wrestler Robby Patrick headlined the District 6 Heritage Conference winter all-conference teams. Patrick, a three-time PIAA Class AA runner-up and four-time District 6 and PIAA Southwest Regional champion, along with teammate Alex Caldwell were named to the all-conference wrestling team.

Patrick, a Virginia recruit, was the Tribune-Review Wrestler of the Year.

The Rams basketball team claimed the District 6 Class 3A title and was led by all-conference players Marrek Paola and Michael Marinchak. Paola, a junior, averaged 23 points and Marinchak, a sophomore, averaged 19.

Ligonier Valley's Lexie Petrof was named to the girls basketball all-conference team, and Chelsea Vargulish-Graver was named an all-conference cheerleader.

Coaches step down

Norwin has a pair of coaching vacancies.

Neil Rushnock resigned as swimming coach after 15 seasons, and Brandon Miller stepped down as wrestling coach.

Rematch week

Three WPIAL title-game rematches are on the schedule for this week — the maddening, weather-permitting caveat remains attached, of course — with Latrobe hosting Hempfield in Class 6A softball Monday; Greensburg Central Catholic visiting Jeannette in Class A baseball Tuesday; and Monessen facing West Greene on Tuesday at Center Township Park in Rogersville in a Class A softball rematch.

The first two are make-up games.

Foothills intros

Organizers will release rosters for the Foothills Football Classic all-star game during their introduction event Thursday night at Ferrante's Lakeview.

Roy Hall of Jeannette and Derry's Tim Sweeney will coach the teams that will play 7 p.m. June 15 at Hempfield.

Recruiting

Hempfield senior Bailey Traczynski signed to continue her track career at Wheeling Jesuit. She is expected to compete in the 100- and 400-meter hurdles and possibly run with relay teams.

• Ligonier Valley senior Rachel Horrell made her verbal commitment official by signing with IUP for track and field. She is a standout jumper.

Another Ligonier Valley athlete, senior Sara Klinchock signed with St. Francis (Pa.) for golf.

• Norwin senior volleyball player Mia Nicholes signed to play at Bloomsburg. She is a 5-foot-10 middle blocker.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Ligonier Valley, Yough