Another Successful Season

It was an exciting and successful fall for Fox Chapel Area High School sports with five teams winning section championships or co-championships, two of them back-to-back. Among the seven teams advancing to the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs, three finished as WPIAL runner-ups. Additionally, we were well represented at the PIAA championships by cross country, boys’ golf, and the girls’ doubles tennis team of sophomores Laurel Shymansky and Lacey Cohen, who clinched the state title. Also, senior golfer Patrick Sheerer won the PIAA Western Regional finals, while seniors Colin and Ethan Martin made the WPIAL record books. They are the first twins to sweep the WPIAL AAA individual championship with their respective first- and second-place finishes.

It was double the fun this year for the boys’ cross country team in more ways than one. The hard-working and focused team won its second consecutive section championship with a perfect 8-0 record. The team had an outstanding showing at the WPIAL Class AAA championships where they placed second—for the second consecutive year. Senior Colin Martin became the new WPIAL champ, with twin brother Ethan right behind in second place. In addition to Colin and Ethan, juniors Aaron Bliss, Christopher Good, Elias Graca, and Jacob Halasowski; sophomore Brendon Urso; and freshman Alec Eckman also qualified for the PIAA championship meet. At the PIAA meet, Colin was the top finisher for the WPIAL with a seventh place finish and Ethan placed 17th. The Martin twins, two of the most prolific runners in Fox Chapel Area school history, are University of Michigan-bound next fall where they will continue to challenge each other to reach their full potential.

The girls showed good progress this season by improving their record to 7-1 and finishing second in Section 4 WPIAL Class AAA. Sophomore Mary Humphrey placed 14th out of 238 runners at the WPIAL individual championship with a time of 19:54 and qualified for the statewide meet where she finished in the top 50 of all PIAA Class AAA female runners. Joining current sophomore Mary at the forefront next season should be current juniors Greta Altmeyer and Sanders Bennett; current sophomores Angelin Lucas and Maura Whelan; and freshman Harper Bennett.

Fielding a roster of only two returning starters from last year’s WPIAL championship team meant Coach Jen McCrady needed to see big things from young players. They didn’t disappoint her. The team had 12 shutouts and only let up six points all season. Their all-hands-on-board mentality delivered results from every part of the field and earned them an overall record of 12-5-1, an 8-1-1 section record, and the WPIAL Class AAA section championship. For the second time in two years, the team advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA finals in a repeat matchup against North Allegheny, but fell just short of defending their title as the reigning WPIAL champs, 2-1. Still, it’s all good things ahead for a young team that’s returning six starters and looks forward to rising talent from an undefeated Dorseyville Middle School team. All-Section honors were awarded to freshman midfielder Megan McCrady, sophomore defender Maggie McIlroy and sophomore forward Nicole Susi, who also was named to the All-WPIAL team. Senior Taylor Banas and junior Elizabeth Savin both received All-Section honorable mention.

Boys’ Soccer

Excellent senior leadership, multiple scoring options, depth, and strong skill sets at every position were big factors in the Foxes’ success this season. A section record of 11-1-0 earned the team the Section 3 WPIAL Class AAA co-championship and a trip to the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals where they lost, 1-0, to Canon-McMillan. It was a tough loss for the players, who produced an overall record of 16-2, because they knew it wasn’t indicative of how well they had played all season. Senior Jack Dickens was voted as the school’s first All-State player in five years. Jack and fellow senior Shota Furuhata were honored as the Section 3 Co-Players of the Year. Additionally, Jack, Shota, senior Jacob Henry, junior Cole Ryan, and freshman Max Silberg were named All-Section. Also noted for his contributions was senior Connor Duquette, who was All-Section honorable mention. Erik Ingram, now in his eighth year of coaching the Foxes, was named section Coach of the Year and earned his 100^th win this season.

Girl’s Soccer

The Lady Foxes’ undefeated section record of 11-0-1 earned them the WPIAL Class AAA Section 3 championship for the first time since 2009 and elevated the squad to one of the WPIAL’s most elite teams. It also marked the first time in 14 years that the team had gone undefeated in section play. Their defensive power was evident through 13 shutouts and by allowing only 10 goals all season, while their scoring strength resulted in the most goals in one season during Coach Erik Duffy’s six-year tenure. The team advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals, but a tough loss to Upper St. Clair, 2-1, ended their playoff run. Seniors Janelle DeBaldo, Lauren Kelly and Theresa Scheiffarth, and juniors Taylor Cohen and Alexis Schwartz were named All-Section. Lauren, a scholarship recruit for Winthrop University, also was voted to the All-WPIAL team. The Lady Foxes will lose four seniors – Janelle, Sarah Friedland, Lauren and Theresa – whose exceptional efforts helped drive the team to a 17-2-1 overall record. However, the squad will return with many good players and plenty of talent coming up from the middle school.

Girls’ Tennis

The expectation was that experience and depth would breed success this season and it did. With almost the entire team returning from last year, the Lady Foxes delivered a 15-4 record, were section runner-ups, and advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals. Sophomore doubles partners Laurel Shymansky and Lacey Cohen won the Section 3 WPIAL Class AAA doubles championship, the WPIAL Class AAA doubles championship, and earned the gold medal as the new 2013 PIAA doubles champions. Their victory marks the second time in nine years that Fox Chapel Area High School has captured the PIAA girls’ doubles tennis championship. The team will lose seniors Kelly Friday, Emily Katz and Kaitlyn Schaffer, but their departure also will open up varsity opportunities for players who have been groomed to take over. 

Senior star Quintin Wirginis, who suffered an unfortunate season-ending injury and did not play this year, accepted a full football scholarship to play at the University of Pittsburgh next fall. Senior defensive back Chad Garnett and senior multiback Nigel Garnett were named to the WPIAL AAAA All-Conference first team. Senior punter Connor Duquette was voted to the All-Conference second team, as were senior wide receiver Brandon Mitchell and junior linebacker David Brown. Brandon also earned recognition as one of the WPIAL’s top-20 receivers. Junior Billy Urso emerged as a strong performer this season with 1, 651 yards in passing, which broke a school record and made him third in passing yards among all WPIAL AAAA quarterbacks. Finally, junior linebacker Carrington Vaughn led the team in tackles, sacks and forced fumbles.

The boys played to perfection this season. They finished with a 16-0 record and won two invitational tournaments, the prestigious Garrison Invitational – where they earned their first-ever team win at that event – and the Fox Chapel Richard Cullinan Invitational.  The team also earned their second consecutive WPIAL Class AAA Section 4 championship. They now take their place as only the third boys’ golf team in school history to go undefeated during the regular season. The Foxes also were the runner-up at the WPIAL Class AAA team finals.  Individually, Fox Chapel Area had three golfers advance to the finals at the WPIAL Class AAA championship: seniors Patrick Sheerer (2nd), Jorden Alfery (5th), and DJ Diethrich (7th). Additionally, Patrick won the PIAA Western Regional Championship with a 1 under par 71. He advanced to the PIAA Class AAA state championships where he finished with an impressive 10th place. Coach Bryan Deal will lose five seniors, but with a team that’s so heavily laden with talent, expectations will remain high.

Strong leadership from senior co-captains Taylor Patrick and Mia Damian helped get the team get off to a fast start this season, even though they did not end up exactly where they wanted to be. The team finished the year with an 8-8 record. Nevertheless, the young team possesses golfers with good potential and that has Coach John Broderick encouraged and excited about the possibilities for next season.