Westmoreland athletes of the week: Belle Vernon’s Markello Apodiakos, Penn-Trafford’s Megan Giesey

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, September 25, 2018 | 4:27 PM

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Markello Apodiakos

School: Belle Vernon

Sport: Soccer

Class: Senior

Claim to fame: Apodiakos scored three goals to lead Belle Vernon (8-2-1) to a 6-0 win over Albert Gallatin in Section 3-3A action Sept. 20. Apodiakos scored a goal for Belle Vernon in a 5-0 win over Uniontown on Sept. 17.

“As a striker, my goal is to score goals for my team. I scored my first hat trick of the season against Albert Gallatin. It felt good, and it meant a lot to me. As a team, we’re in a pretty good position. We just have to move forward as a team,” Apodiakos said.

What are your college plans for next season?

It’s still up in the air. I’m looking at a couple different colleges. First and foremost, I’m looking to go for a good education. Their level of play in college is faster. I just want to fit in with a good program.

How did it feel to break the school record of 69 goals against Trinity?

Breaking the record means the world to me. Coming in as a freshman, I wanted to break it. I didn’t know what to think once I broke it because it was a record that stood for 30 years.

What does it mean to you to set the single-season record of 37 goals scored last season?

I put in hours on and off the field to get better. It gave me a lot of confidence coming off a 37-goal season heading into this season.

What did the team learn from the 4-1 loss to West Allegheny in the WPIAL quarterfinals last season?

The biggest thing with West Allegheny is they are a very skillful team and very well-coached team. They ended up getting up early. We need to learn to keep our heads and continue to play.

What’s your favorite snack?

Gatorade protein bars. After a long a game, your body needs the proper nutrients to refuel to get ready for the next day for either practice or a game.

Megan Giesey

School: Penn-Trafford

Sport: Soccer

Class: Junior

Claim to fame: Giesey, who has shut out opponents in all six wins this season, recorded three shutouts last week to lead Penn-Trafford (6-2, 5-1). Giesey earned shutouts against Connellsville, Latrobe and Woodland Hills. Giesey made 11 saves in the 7-0 win over Connellsville in Section 3-4A action Sept. 17.

“Last week, our defense did really well, which made it really easy for me to have a good game. Our team performed really well,” Giesey said.

What has been the key to the start this season?

I think it’s the bond of the team and how well we get along with each other. Our team chemistry has really been the key to our success.

What did the team learn from the 2-0 loss to North Allegheny in the first round of PIAA Class 4A playoffs after capturing the WPIAL title last season?

North Allegheny is a really good team to watch out for, and we also found out things that we needed to improve for this season. We learned we needed to stay in shape.

What were you working on during the offseason?

I just need to keep focus on the simple things of my game with my technique and communication.

What made you decide to play goalkeeper?

I’ve been playing the position since Pee Wee. I just enjoyed it then, and I stuck with it. I like the fact you can see everything, and you can control the game pretty much.

If you were able to meet anyone, who would it be?

Alyssa Naeher because of her journey up through the women’s national team. Her journey is just amazing.

— Andrew John

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Penn-Trafford