A-K Valley athletes of the week: Burrell’s Makiah Buchak, Kiski Area’s Max Mottura

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, September 14, 2024 | 10:06 PM

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Makiah Buchak

School: Burrell

Class: Sophomore

Sport: Soccer

Claim to fame: Buchak scored both goals in Burrell’s 2-0 win over Knoch in a Section 2-2A matchup Wednesday evening. Buchak has five goals and three assists through the Bucs’ (4-1-1, 2-1) first six games.

When did you get started with soccer?

I started when I was really little and I didn’t like it at first, but it started to grow on me.

What position do you play?

Outside midfielder, but sometimes I play forward.

Do you like to play one position over the other?

I like to play forward because it’s a lot less running, but I don’t mind playing midfield.

How did you score your goals Wednesday?

Both were from passes in the box. During that whole game, we were in their zone shooting at the net. I fell all our combined energy helped to bring about the goals. We did it as one.

You’re dealing with a nagging injury. How did that happen?

I hurt my ankle a few weeks ago, ignored it for a while and ended up re-injuring it. I’m still not sure what’s wrong with it.

When do you hope to be back on the field?

I hope to be back for our game on Monday against Freeport.

What are your individual goals for the year?

Help my team win as many games as possible. I want us to go farther than we did last year.

Do you play any club soccer?

I play for BVB in Pittsburgh. I like being with all my friends who are in different schools. It’s really different when you play with them after not seeing each other for a while. The chemistry can be off, and you have to adjust but if you spend a lot of time with them the chemistry remains strong.

Do you play any other sports at school?

I play basketball, and I’m a guard/forward and I run the 100 and 4-by-100 in track. I might run the 400 this year.

How long have you been refereeing soccer games and how did you get started with that?

I started two years ago because I needed the money. My friend started getting into it, and her mom texted my mom. It’s a long process, but it’s worth it for the community.

What is your favorite subject in school?

History. I like learning about the past. It really interests me.

Do you have a specific pregame routine?

Not really. The only thing I do that is specific to me is I listen to a playlist of my favorite artists to get me hyped for the games.

What’s your favorite song?

“Pink Matter” by Frank Ocean.

What is your favorite hobby?

Watching movies and hanging with my friends.

Last film you watched?

“Sharknado.” I watched that just last night. It was a funny movie. The CGI is pretty bad, but the movie itself wasn’t terrible.

What celebrity would you most like to meet or spend the day with?

Actress Taylor Russell. I look up to her.

Max Mottura

School: Kiski Area

Class: Junior

Sport: Golf

Claim to fame: Mottura won the Westmoreland County Coaches Association golf tournament on a scorecard playoff, shooting a 3-under-par 69 on Thursday at Latrobe Elks Golf Club.

What was it like to win the WCCA golf tournament?

I played great golf all day, put myself into some good spots and minimized mistakes. Overall, just a great day.

What were your thoughts heading into the competition?

We played a practice round on Tuesday, and I shot a 69 that day as well. I had a good feel for the course, had a lot of confidence. I told my coach, coach (John) Guzzie, that I was really excited for the round. I knew I had it in me, just needed to play good golf.

So you really didn’t change anything up between Tuesday and Thursday?

No. On 13 I know I hit a 3-wood in the practice round, and it went long and out of bounds. Then I chose to hit a 3-iron on Thursday, and it put me in a better spot.

Were you surprised that it came down to a scorecard playoff?

I was told on hole eight or nine that Luke (Sikora) was 4-under, and, at that time, I was 2-over and knew I had to play some real good golf if I wanted a chance. I put everything I had into the last couple of holes and hoped for the best.

How many times had you played the Elks course before the event?

I played it maybe four or five times in my life, so I knew the course a little bit.

What hole gave you trouble, and which was the best for you Thursday?

The seventh hole gave me trouble. It was a long par-3. I tried to hit a little cut 5-iron in, and I hooked it left to where it barely stayed in play. I made bogey there. The easiest was probably either 3 or 18. I birdied both those holes.

You said after the WCCAs that you played a lot of golf with last year’s champion Nick Turowski. Did he give you any tips heading into the competition?

I texted him last week, and he didn’t give me tips for the WCCAs, just was talking about golf in general, that I needed to keep my head in it and not let minor mistakes ruin a round.

How often do you and Nick play together?

Not so much anymore now that he’s in college, but we played a couple times over the summer when he was home. We saw each other a few times at the range as well, and we’ll always talk. He’s been very helpful.

Which course in PA do you look forward to playing the most?

I’m really excited for the second round of WPIALs this year. It’s supposed to be at Southpointe. I hear it’s a really challenging course, and you have to be solid off the tee.

What are your goals for the year?

It might sound a little crazy, but being a state champion would be pretty nice. Just to make it to state would be amazing. I think I have it in me to be in contention at the top of the leaderboard.

What’s the best course you’ve ever been to?

Down in Georgia, the Sea Island Resort Seaside Course. I was invited down there last year, and it was quite the pleasure to play. Great course, nice country club.

What course off the PGA Tour would you most like to play?

If we’re counting majors, Augusta National would be great. Everyone would love to play a round there.

Who would be in your ideal foursome?

Me, my dad, Bryson DeChambeau and Tiger Woods.

What pro golfer would you like to shoot 18 holes with?

I’d really like to play with Rory McIlroy. He hits the ball a long way, and I like that. I can hit the ball pretty decent, and it would be neat to play with him.

What’s your go-to club?

Driver. I like hitting the ball hard and a long way.

What’s the longest drive you ever hit?

It was about 375 downwind.

Best round you’ve ever scored?

A 7-under-par 65 at Vandergrift Golf Course.

How do you get focused before a round?

On an away match, I’ll be the last one off the bus, or if it’s a home match, I’ll go to the locker room and sit down. I’ll say a prayer and not really meditate, but sort of think about how my day is going to go, calm myself down, and ease my mind.

Tags: Burrell, Kiski Area