sports

The Issue of Online Gambling and Betting

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Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, anonymous names have been used to protect the privacy of the sources. 

By: Rubee Stillwagon

Underage online gambling and betting is rising among teenagers. 

According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, 80% of high school students have reported that they have gambled for money in the past year; 4-6% are considered problem gamblers.  

Connecticut’s Council on Problem Gambling reports that 10% of teens gamble twice a week or more, and about 4% of boys aged 14-21 have a gambling problem. 

There are many different betting sites available. Some of them include FanDuel, DraftKings, Golden Nugget and many more. 

The above shows that nothing more than the

honor system checks for a person’s age

when using this app to bet.

Screenshot from the app store.

“Everything usually comes from Vegas,” Jane Doe, a teacher, said. “They come up with values essentially, that they have assigned to the teams. They take information from previous games, previous years and other websites, but it’s still a giant unknown.” 

The main issue with a lot of the sites is how accessible they are for underage use. According to a study done by the University of Michigan, 33% of parents think online gambling and betting sites need to check IDs-and carefully-to ensure users are of legal age. 

Results from a study by Kathryn LaTour, a professor in the Integrated Marketing Communications Department at Northwestern Medill, and colleague June Cotte, a Professor of Marketing at the Ivey Business School, show online gamblers bet more frequently and aggressively. 

LaTour and Cotte also recommend that online gambling casinos minimize their use of flashing bold graphics to signal wins to lessen emotional excitement. 

Studies done by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas have shown that online gambling is more dangerous. Because it can be done anywhere, it can lead to mindless consumption which can result in addiction and financial loss. 

Financial consequences include overdue bills, maxed-out credit cards, inability to provide basic needs and a necessity to sell possessions for cash. Problem gamblers have also been known to be more likely to pull money from home equity, savings, investment or retirement accounts.  

“It’s the thrill of winning for most people,” Doe said. “Think of it like sports. You play sports because you enjoy it, but you also enjoy the rush of it. There’s an adrenaline factor. That’s why they have different ways to get help because people get addicted.” 

The Mayo Clinic says that a major part of treating gambling addictions is to acknowledge there’s an issue.  

Treatments may include therapy, medications such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers and self-help groups. 

Another game that has become very popular among teenagers is Fantasy Football. 

“Fantasy football is when you draft teams of NFL players and those players get points by scoring touchdowns, passing yards, rushing yards and receiving yards,” John Smith, a student, said. “You join a league, and you play against another person in the league every week.” 

ESPN Fantasy Football is the number one fantasy football game with more than 13 million players. It is possible to bet money on these games, but most teens have their own way of having fun without betting money. 

“It’s fun to compete against your friends,” Smith said. “Typically, some leagues have some type of consequences if you finish last. It gets very competitive because most people don’t want to do the consequences of losing, which for my league is 24 hours in Denny’s.” 

There are also fantasy leagues for other sports as well, including basketball, tennis, hockey, baseball, NASCAR and more. 

Although this can be a fun activity for people to do with friends, the Center for Parent/ Youth Understanding (CPYU) says that fantasy sports can get ugly. They encourage young people to stay in leagues with people they know. Because there are ways to communicate through the game, it can be safer to know who they are talking to. 

CPYU also said that although fantasy is a great way to stay in touch with the pastime of pro sports, it can lead to unhealthy habits. People may become distracted from everyday activities so they can research and watch their stats and how their games are going. 

“I think the biggest problem is addiction,” Jane Doe said. “It’s quick to lose a lot of money. You fall into the trap where people say I didn’t win last week but I’ll win this week. It’s like a vicious cycle. Now there are people who can handle it, but there are people who can’t, and you see people lose everything because of it.” 

2024 Fall Sports 

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By: Ari Case

The 2024 fall sports season held many challenges and successes for GS teams.  

Fall sports include football, girls’ tennis, golf, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country and volleyball. 

FOOTBALL 

The varsity football team had its best start since 1999. 

“We did exactly what we wanted to do, coming out of the gate 4-0,” defensive coordinator Mr. Matthew Boe said. 

The team finished 7-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play, placing fourth overall in the conference. Unfortunately, they lost in the first round of playoffs against the Avonworth Antelopes on Nov. 1. 

After several difficult seasons, the seniors were very happy with their success. 

GS clashes with members of the Valley High School football team.

Photo Courtesy: Brad Skero, Kryptic Media

“We’re kind of going out with a bang,” senior captain Cooper Dann said. “It feels good to win.” 

This year, Dann was recognized for his efforts on and off the field. He was invited to be a part of the Steelers All-Peer Team, for which he will be honored at the Acrisure Stadium. 

“He’s just a really good person,” Mr. Boe said. “I think it’s definitely earned.” 

Boe explained that the return of several varsity starters, like Dann and fellow senior Kai Brunot, allowed the team to work from a better starting point.  

For the game against Ligonier Valley on Sep. 30, Brunot was voted the PennLive state player of the week for his touchdown and 142 rushing yards. He received nearly 50% of the votes cast and contributed a lot to the team’s success.  

Boe said that despite good plays like Brunot’s, there are a lot of things the team can improve on. He believes that the team can “absolutely control our destiny.” 

He and Dann both expressed that the season held a lot of energy and optimism.  

“Every single year, there’s an excitement for it,” Boe explained. 

GIRLS’ TENNIS 

Most of the team this fall was completely new to the sport.  

The now graduated Class of 2024 filled six of seven varsity starters, leaving the team at a huge disadvantage this season. 

They finished the season with a record of 1-10, but there was incredible improvement and individual successes. 

“The record doesn’t indicate how much we progressed or how evenly matched the rounds were,” coach Mr. Christopher Gazze said.  

Mr. Gazze went into the season with the hope of growth and improvement for the team to set up for next year. 

“I feel like I learned a lot, and I ended up making really good friendships,” senior Anna Spigarelli said.  

Spigarelli has been playing for three years and was a varsity starter this season.  

Despite the record, the team is optimistic looking toward next year with the possibility of competing for playoffs. 

“I think they have really good foundations,” Spigarelli shared about the underclassmen. “As long as they put in the work, they’ll do really well.” 

GOLF 

Having lost a large group of seniors last year, the season didn’t come with the highest expectations.  

It was a welcome surprise when three freshmen made an incredible impact that led the team to an overall record of 9-6 with a section record of 8-4. Their section record resulted in third place in the section, only missing playoffs because of a loss in their final match against Mt. Pleasant. 

One freshman in particular, captain Luke Sikora, was “a consistent contributor to the team,” according to coach Mr. Erik Doran. 

Sikora, along with sophomore Bryce Ferace, qualified as individuals for WPIALs. 

Only Sikora made the cut for finals, just missing the cut for round three. He tied for 18th, the cut for the round, but lost in the second playoff hole—resulting in a final placement of 19th. 

“I didn’t play how I usually do, but it was fun,” Sikora explained. 

He earned the WCCA Tournament Co-Champion title as well as the WPIAL AA Section 2 Champion title during the season.  

“I’m excited for next year,” he said. 

With many consistent players returning next year, the team hopes for another good season. 

“Heading into next year, we are one of the favorites to make playoffs and win our section,” Mr. Doran said. 

Sikora at the WCCA Tournament.

Photo by: Erik Doran

BOYS’ SOCCER 

With many difficulties in a new section, the boys’ soccer team finished with a record of 3-17. 

The season started with the loss of five varsity starters and a lot of uncertainty. Injuries constantly impacted the lineup, but the team still made many games closer than anticipated. 

“[We] are learning that in order to play a complete match, we have to give maximum effort in practice as well as games,” coach Rich Christeleit explained.  

Many players have improved individually, and the team put up a good fight in their new section. 

“I think we’ve grown as a team,” junior captain Alex Swatchick said. “We’ll be looking forward to improving over the summer.” 

GIRLS’ SOCCER 

With a slow start to the season, the team pulled through with a 7-9 overall record and were 3-7 in section play.  

Senior captain Alice Wilkinson said she was excited for her senior season but had been “hoping to do better.” 

Much of the team, including Wilkinson, were optimistic about a shot at playoffs—which they fell just short of. 

“We felt like we were in a good place to be successful,” coach Jess Melodia explained. “Over the last four years, the team has gotten stronger, faster and more resilient.” 

Wilkinson expressed that regardless of game results, her favorite part was spending time with her team.  

Most of the team share strong bonds that have only grown with them over the years. These connections have resulted in a lot of growth and success as a team. 

Hopefully, in the next season it will pay off not only in team morale, but in their record as well. 

“We are at a point where we are starting to consistently recognize the results of all the hard work we have put in,” Melodia said. 

CROSS COUNTRY 

Even with dwindling numbers, the cross country teams this season were very successful. 

“It says a lot, to come out and have the record we have after losing who we lost,” coach Mr. Nathan Snider expressed. 

The girls’ team had an overall record of 10-3, and the boys’ team had a record of 3-10.  

With only four runners for the boys by the end of the season, they didn’t have enough to make a full team—their estimated record, if they would have had a fifth runner, is 9-4. 

“It’s very disappointing to not be able to score as a team when you have four good runners,” Mr. Snider said. 

The girls won the AA County title and placed 8th at WPIALs. 

“We’ve had a lot of success this season,” senior Ksena Spencer said. 

Senior captain Nick Reinhart had a positive outlook moving into the individual season.  

Reinhart, along with fellow seniors Owen Noel and captain Regan Kerr, placed top 12 at the TSTCA Cross Country Championship Oct. 17 and advanced to the State Meet after qualifying at WPIALs. 

Noel and Reinhart placed 80th and 90th respectively, out of 249 runners. Kerr placed 63rd out of 250 runners.  

“It went well,” Reinhart said. “We all ran well, and it was definitely a good time.” 

VOLLEYBALL 

This season the team worked as hard as they could to see success—and it certainly paid off.  

With an overall record of 15-4, they made it to the first round of the playoff season against Hampton on Oct. 23. Unfortunately, they were swept, losing the first three of five sets. 

“These girls have worked so hard to get to this point,” coach Mrs. Rachel Brannigan said. “They showed up in the off season and show[ed] up at practice every day to work harder than the day before.” 

They were excited for playoffs after placing second in the section. 

“I have never been part of a team that has such an incredible bond and works so hard,” sophomore Patricia Redinger explained. 

After placing last in the 2023 season, the success may be unexpected, but it was certainly earned. 

“This is such an amazing group of girls all around,” Mrs. Brannigan said, “They lift each other up and work hard both on and off the court.” 

— 

As seasons end and new sports begin, school spirit at GS is one of the most important things for students to focus on. 

“We have to continue to grow as a school [and] come together as a community to succeed,” Mr. Drake D’Angelo, Athletic Director, said. 

Football Playoffs  

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By: Rubee Stillwagon

With a record of 7-3, the GS football team made it to the first round of WPIAL playoffs. Although they lost the playoff game, the team had a memorable season. 

By upsetting Southmoreland with a score of 28-21, GS finished their in-conference games with a winning season. This was enough for the team to receive a wild-card seed in the playoffs. This set them up to play Avonworth on Friday, Nov. 1. 

“Beating Southmoreland to finish the regular season and sending the seniors off with a win at Offut was great,” Head Football Coach Mr. Tyler George said. 

With a record of 2-8 for the 2023 football season, the team put in the work for this year’s winning season. 

The GS Football team huddles up during a timeout.

Photo courtesy: Blessing Gantt

The players and coaches did things on and off the field to stay motivated and keep the team together. 

“We would have someone come in and speak to the team on Thursday, show inspirational videos of alumni before games and leave motivational messages or goals on the board for players to see before games,” Coach George said. 

While coaches put in the effort to prepare the team for what they would face while on the field, players had their own ways of ensuring they were ready. 

“I really had to do my best to pay attention, work hard and lock in on and off the field,” senior Brady Smith said. “We also had team dinners and other things we would do that put me and the team in the right mindsets for Friday nights.” 

The last time GS football went to the playoffs was in 2019. The team played against Blackhawk High School and lost 36-7.  

Aside from this being the first time since 2019 to make playoffs, there were also other achievements.  

“This was our first time starting 1-0 since 2013, first time starting 4-0 since 1999 and first winning record since 2011,” Coach George said. 

Senior Kai Brunot also won fan votes for Pennsylvania Player of the Week for GS’ game against Ligonier Valley. The team won 43-14 and Brunot rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown. 

Senior Peyton Chismar won Play of the Week for his interception return for a touchdown. Chismar stepped in front of a pass and ran it for a pick-6 during GS’ game against Southmoreland. 

Senior Cooper Dann was put on The Steelers All-Peer Team for going above and beyond to provide support to his team. Dann was chosen along with 11 other high school football players for this team. 

“The fans and their support have been beyond incredible,” Coach George said. “The amazing atmosphere on Fridays was because of the energy and passion for the kids and the program. I sincerely cannot thank them enough.” 

The 2024 football season was one for GS to look back on. Coach George and the rest of the coaching staff and team will soon be starting preseason to start preparing for another successful season. 

“I feel the team worked hard throughout the whole season,” Smith said. “When preparing for games, even if we thought we were the underdog, we stuck together and put our all into the game. This season was one for the football team to be proud of.” 

Unified Bocce 

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By: Quinn Isenberg 

 The winter sports line up is welcoming Unified Bocce as an exciting new option for athletes at GS.  

While the sport is new, it won’t be completely unfamiliar to students as it shares a lot of properties found in lawn games. 

“Bocce is an Italian game similar to horseshoes or cornhole,” Athletic Director Mr. Drake D’Angelo said. “You’re trying to get to a point, which is called the pallina. Then there’s two sets of four balls that you try to roll closest to that target.”   

Bocce is growing in popularity and GS has joined numerous other schools in the county in helping Bocce grow by starting a team.  

“The last district I taught at had bocce and it was not available here, and Mr. D’Angelo reached out to us about starting the program,” Unified Bocce coach Mrs. Christen Negich said. “I thought it would be a good program for our students.”  

Bocce at GS will be a Unified Sport, meaning it is a program sponsored by the Special Olympics in which students in special education programs will team up with students in general education programs on a single team. Unified Sports bring a lot of benefits to a school district.  

“It helps with inclusion, general education students becoming more understanding of our students that have disabilities and creating a good relationship between those students,” Mrs. Negich said.  

Those involved with the sport hope it will highlight the capabilities of the special education students at GS.  

Players listen to instructions while watching the demonstration.

Photo by: Quinn Isenberg

“It will get them out in front of the regular education population to showcase what skills they do have because a lot of times they’re not seen or heard, so this will help them be seen and heard in a positive manner,” she said.  

Due to the nature of Unified Sports, it is typical for at least one of the coaches of a Unified team to be a teacher with a background in special education. At GS both Unified Bocce coaches, Mrs. Kathryn Cutia and Mrs. Negich, have experience in this field.  

The coaches encourage students to make time to show up at games and give the athletes their support.  

“I would love to have people come and cheer on our team at the Bocce game because they’re a lot of fun and it feels really good to have the support of your classmates,” Mrs. Cutia said.  

The Unified Bocce season will be easy to follow for students looking to support the team.  

“We only have five games this season, so we’ll have three away games, and they’re all in the area no more than 45 minutes away, and then we have two home games,” she said.   

The odds are in the GS Unified Bocce team’s favor as the team has very dedicated and experienced players under its belt. 

“I’ve played about seven years, and this will be my eighth,” junior Janaya Thomas said.  

With the sport beginning, those involved are hoping for a bright future for Bocce at GS.  

“It would be awesome if we made it to state, but I would just love to see the school getting excited about Bocce the same way everybody does for other sports,” Mrs. Cutia said.  

Homecoming Recap 

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By: Rubee Stillwagon 

Homecoming is much more than just a dance at GS. There were so many more activities that came along with it, such as Homecoming Court, the Homecoming Bonfire, the pep rally, the white out football game, the daily themes and lastly the dance. 

The first big thing that happened was naming the 2024 Homecoming Court. This is where the senior class voted for seven senior girls who they thought would be the best fit for the Court. Then sophomores, juniors and seniors voted on who they thought should be Queen. This year’s Homecoming Queen is senior Lauryn Swierczynski. 

The homecoming court and their escorts during halftime.

Photo By: Rubee Stillwagon

“I’m really pumped that I won and thankful I get to celebrate with my friends and family,” Swierczynski said. 

The girls on this year’s Homecoming Court, other than Swierczynski, were Greta Hagofsky, Sloane Potter, Katie Shea, Anna Shevchik, Anna Spigarelli and Grace Sybesma. 

“I would say my involvement throughout the school, like being part of sports teams, SCA, the Salem Psychos and just talking with lots of different people around the school helped with my votes,” Swierczynski said. 

Homecoming Queen is a title given to a senior girl who is a respected and liked representative of their school and community. Swierczynski is a two-year Varsity Soccer Captain, has done Flag Football for two years, Senior Class Vice President, SCA’s Secretary for last school year, leader of the Salem Psychos and plans to attend a four-year college. 

“It’s super exciting to know that so many people voted for me,” Swierczynski said. “I’m very blessed to have that kind of support.” 

This year the annual Homecoming Bonfire was on Wednesday, September 18 at the high school.  

This was an opportunity for students and their families to visit different clubs’ booths, participate in activities and see who was on the Homecoming Court. 

“The bonfire has been around for years,” SCA Advisor Mr. Christopher Gazze said. “It used to be a Senior Night Bonfire many years ago and it was huge; there would be hundreds of people there. It then switched to a Pink Out Bonfire for a few years. And then Mini-THON had it for a year or two before we got it back and decided to make a full homecoming week.” 

The bonfire gives clubs the opportunity to get more attention from students and the community. Most clubs set up booths with fun activities to add more fun to the bonfire. But the Homecoming Court announcement is what draws in most people.  

“When we got the bonfire back, we decided to make a full Homecoming week,” Gazze said. “With the change of the pep rally format, bringing in the club festival, and having it more community based really makes it a full week of events.” 

The Homecoming Pep Rally is a popular activity among the students. It is an opportunity for friendly school rivalry. 

“I’ve been a part of the team for two years along with eight other juniors,” junior Maxim Topper said. “Being back-to-back winners for the pep rally is huge and it’s awesome to be a part of that school history.” 

This year’s pep rally winners were the juniors, making this their second win in a row. To win, the class teams competed in a series of activities, but they aren’t the only ones that are put up to a challenge. 

One of the competitions doesn’t require teams, but their entire class section. The competition is to see which section can be the loudest. This is a way to involve the students who aren’t on the team and keep the crowd interested. 

“I think the best part was the spirit event at the end with the student sections,” Topper said. “It’s awesome to see my entire class join in and yell and chant altogether.” 

The pep rally brings together students and is a way to show some school spirit and get everyone ready for the whiteout Homecoming football game. 

The Junior class celebrates their win.

Photo courtesy: gslionssca on Instagram

Every year, Homecoming is represented at the Friday night football by a white out. To support this, Mini-THON sells annual White Out shirts. Mini-THON is a senior project that helps raise money for pediatric cancer and this is one of their many fundraising opportunities. 

“I came up with a couple of designs for the shirts and then we discussed what was going to be the most popular among the students,” senior leader Grace Sybesma said.  

The shirts are not only sold to high school students, but also the elementary school and middle school students.  

“The shirts have always been a good way for Mini-THON to make money for the kids, but it also gives students something to wear for the white out game,” Sybesma said. “It’s great seeing everyone wear them during the game especially since it helps support Mini-THON’s mission.” 

Another thing that students could participate in for Homecoming week were the themes.  

“We had about eight themes presented,” Gazze said. “A couple of them overlapped and then we did a blind vote. There was actually a discussion on two and then they decided that one was better suited for prom, and one was better for Homecoming.” 

These themes allowed students to wear something fun for the day and branch out from their normal attire. Monday’s theme was Wear Blue, Tuesday was Twin Day, Wednesday was Anything but a Backpack, Thursday was Surfers vs. Bikers and Friday was Class Colors. 

“I enjoy doing the themes even if people look at me weird when I go all out,” Topper said. “It gives me the opportunity to add some fun to the school day.” 

And lastly, the final activity was the Homecoming Dance on Saturday, September 21. The dance started at 7pm and went on until 10pm. 

“We had somewhere around 390 students show up to the dance,” Gazze said. “Since we’ve started it it’s the biggest one we’ve had.” 

The dance was held in the high school cafeteria and gym. In the gym students could listen to music provided by a DJ as well as play cornhole. In the cafeteria, food and tables were set up for students who wanted a break. There was also an area outside for students to get fresh air and cool off. 

“I think it was super fun,” Sybesma said. “I liked the fact that there were cornhole boards in the gym so you could take a break but still listen to the music.” 

Last year’s Homecoming Dance was the first one in four years at GS. Last year, SCA got feedback from the students so they could ensure they included everything they could to make it a memorable night. 

“I think compared to last year’s dance this year was awesome,” Topper said. “I liked the DJ and although it was really hot, I still had a good time with my friends.” 

Salem Psychos  

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By: Rubee Stillwagon 

With fall sports in full swing, the Salem Psychos are busy showing their support. 

The student section at sports events is there to bring fun to games and encourage the teams. These students are led by five leaders. 

“Lauryn Swierczynski is our main leader,” Salem Psychos Advisor Mr. Nick DeMary said. “Then we have Kayla Ramer, Grace Sybesma, Dom Rosensteel and Cooper Dann.” 

These leaders do their best to ensure that students have fun at sports events. But beyond this, they make sure that student athletes always have someone supporting them. 

The HS student section at the GS vs. Valley football game.

Photo Courtesy: Mrs. Andrea Redinger

“The student section is a major driving factor of school spirit, no doubt,” Swierczynski said. “As an athlete, having your peers come to your games really does make a difference. It gives you another reason to play, to push through and gives the team a wave of school pride.” 

While the student section works to keep them supported outside of school, they are also working to arrange in school support. 

“I want to get involved in the school,” Mr. DeMary said. “Maybe a pep rally. We are also trying to get t-shirts made and stuff like that.” 

Getting the students involved may draw bigger crowds to school events. The leaders and DeMary are working hard to get advisory meetings set up. This would open the opportunity to get more ideas and opinions.  

“Hopefully we see student athletes from all grades and sports come down to Mr. DeMary’s room and have some input on future themes, chants and ways to get more involvement at games,” Swierczynski said. 

Having student input can be helpful when trying to gain involvement. If students like the themes and chants there will be more of a turn out. 

“Everything is truly for the students and your voice matters,” DeMary said. “What students want is important because I’m a teacher and what was cool six years ago isn’t anymore.” 

Although DeMary works to make things happen for students, the leaders play a role in keeping things up to date. 

“Right now, we are working on Gold Rush t-shirts that will most likely be free,” Swierczynski said. “Another thing the other leaders and I are working on is a short video to go over different chants and traditions we do at each game.” 

The chants are a way to keep the students having fun and interested at games. This video could help students be prepared for the games and louder when chants are called. 

Although all students are in the same general area, it can be hard for some groups to hear and stay involved due to the grade sectioning. In the student section seniors are in the front and it goes by grade level all the way to the back. 

“I think they could do a little better trying to involve the freshmen,” freshman Sophia Ginder said. “I think it’s awkward sometimes because they already know what they are going to do in the front and no one in the back knows what’s going on.” 

While it may be hard to hear chants, there are still fun things for the younger students participate in, such as themes. 

“I like the themes because I feel like it’s a way we can all be connected,” Ginder said. 

Another thing that has been updated this year is the location of the middle school student section. Instead of being on the other side of the field, it is now next to the band which is in between the two sections. 

“I personally like this change,” Swierczynski said. “Another section can hear the band better, and it creates connectivity between the middle and high school.” 

Introducing the middle school students to the high school section can help show them what they have to look forward to. It can get them excited for what they get to be involved with soon. 

“What I really want to see happen after I leave is the revival of the old days,” Swierczynski said. “What I mean by this is it being competitive to become a psycho. Bring back the passing of the torch culture. And keep the energy for all sports, not just football. Pack the section.” 

Overall, this year’s group of senior leaders have a lot of goals, and the hope is that they can achieve them all. But it’s also important that there is other students’ interest in carrying on the Salem Psycho traditions. 

“We are one at GS and I’m excited to see what the future holds,” DeMary said. 

Winter Sports Wrap-up  

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By Samarah Guy  

The Greensburg Salem winter sports season has come to an end.  

The winter sports include boys’ and girls’ swim, boys’ and girls’ bowling, wrestling, boys’ and girls’ basketball and hockey. 

Boys’ Swim  

The boys’ swim team didn’t have winning in their favor this season, but they tried to beat the odds to win.  

“The guys usually lose because there are only five of us,” sophomore Austin Flora said.  

The average high school swim team usually has 15-20 members, so the GS team didn’t have as great of a chance of winning.  

The biggest issue the boys’ swim team has ran into was the quantity. Gaining more members could help the team majorly, and they could even win more meets next year.  

Girls’ Swim 

The GS girls’ swim team has done well this season, and they’ve pulled their weight when they couldn’t win.  

“In the athletic aspect we’re doing really well,” senior Emily Lehman said.  

After a long journey of working hard and trying their best, Lucy Giovannelli, Emily Lehman, Riley Reese and Allison Stinnett made WPIALs.                     

“We were very close all season and we couldn’t get it until our very last meet, and we surpassed the qualifying time by like 4 or 5 seconds,” Lehman added.  

Boys’ Bowling  

The GS bowling team had an amazing season, winning almost every match they’ve had, but they did face a few challenges in the process.  

“Hempfield has been our biggest challenge this season,” junior Dylan Megliorino stated.  

Trying to beat your biggest rival is very gut wrenching, but the bowling team didn’t stop. During their practices, each member tried to beat their last score and become better so they could beat the challenging opponents.  

The boys’ bowling team qualified for regionals. Dylan Megliorino, Justice Payne, Brandon Semoni and Anthony DeMine qualified individually for WPIBLs, but only Dylan made it to states placing 9th.  

“We all can work on our spares and mental games,” Megliorino said.  

Girls’ Bowling  

The GS girls’ bowling team placed third in sectionals, and they went to regionals as well this season.  

“The girls have improved a lot as a whole by bringing our average up to around 680,” senior Shelby Frick said. 

Trying to achieve better spares is something the team had worked to overcome.  

The whole bowling team made it to regionals, while Paige Gaughan and Shelby Frick qualified individually.  

“For me, bowling isn’t just about high averages and wins, it’s about the connections, friends, and support you make along the way,” Frick added.  

Wrestling  

The GS wrestling team tried their best to win each tournament and become better wrestlers all round.  

“Individually yea, each one of us is doing well,” freshman Elijah Miller said.  

Each wrestler did well individually, but that doesn’t always mean they win each tournament.  

Ethan Miller, David Peters and Keegan Young qualified individually for WPIALs.  

“There is always room for improvement, you never reach perfection, but that’s what you aim for,” Elijah added.  

Boys’ Basketball  

The boys’ basketball team had a bit of a rough season, but they were still optimistic and tried to find ways to better themselves to win.  

The biggest issue that the team had to overcome is their communication according to sophomore Lucus Collins.  

Basketball is a team sport that requires everyone to talk and understand what they will be doing in the game. Teamwork was another issue preventing the boys from winning.  

“Our players need to work together better,” sophomore Lucas Collins said.  

The greatest win was a 59-50 victory against Indiana Area Senior High School on January 26th.  

Photo Courtesy: Adison Poole

Girls’ basketball  

The girls’ basketball team was 16-9.  

“We had a really hard section and I think we competed well against every team,” junior Blessing Gantt said.  

The girls had a 43-20 victory against Hopewell in the first playoff game, but they had a 62-36 loss against Highlands in the second game.  

“We just have to work hard and stay consistent in order to win next year,” sophomore Mya Heasley said.  

 Hockey  

The GS hockey team was 13-5 this season.  

“This year we are doing pretty good, but we can always do better,” freshman Jacob Fink said. 

The hard work the team put in this season took them to the playoffs. The boys had a 5-1 victory against Plum during the first playoff game, and they had a 2-0 victory against Quaker Valley during the second game. After advancing to the Penguins’ Cup Final, they lost a hard-fought game to Chartiers Valley.  

“Our goal is to become the team that Greensburg deserves to have,” Fink added.