2024 Fall Sports
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.
The Lions' Den 