Sewickley Herald notebook: Quaker Valley athletes playing at college level

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, September 1, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Quaker Valley’s 2023-24 senior class is well-represented with athletes continuing their careers at the next level.

The following 2024 QV graduates are competing or will be competing in college athletic programs this year:

• Katie Blackmer (diving) — Idaho

• Ellie Cain (track & field) — Washington University at St. Louis

• Kendall Foster (lacrosse) — Chatham

• Mia Strelec (soccer) — Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

• Matteo Castellini (soccer) — Davidson

• Joe Coyle (basketball) — Allegheny

• Emily Connors (swimming) — North Carolina Wilmington

• Annica Kagle (volleyball) — Catawba

• Lindsay Gledhill (rowing) — Rutgers

• Rena Gilligan (swimming) — Stonehill College

• Gavin Fallgren (baseball) — John Carroll

• Deja Keo (track & field) — Westminster

• Bennett Haas (soccer) — Chatham

• Jack Kazalas (wrestling) — Binghamton

Soccer accolades

Quaker Valley boys soccer is one of the most renowned programs in WPIAL history, thanks mainly to 10 WPIAL and nine PIAA championships.

The Quakers, who ended up second in the PIAA last season, have won the most state titles in boys soccer among WPIAL schools.

QV lost a gut-wrenching 2-1 decision in double overtime to District 3 runner-up Camp Hill last year in the PIAA Class 2A finals at Eagle View Middle School Field in Mechanicsburg. QV finished 20-5; Camp Hill racked up a 21-2-2 record.

The Quakers advanced to the state final by beating Bedford, 7-0, Shady Side Academy, 2-1, and Central Columbia, 1-0.

QV won PIAA championships in 1985, ‘91, ‘93, ‘95, ‘96, 2000, ‘17, ‘19 and ‘21.

No. 1 South Park edged the No. 2-seeded Quakers, 1-0, at Highmark Stadium last year to win the WPIAL 2A title.

The Quakers advanced to the WPIAL final by defeating No. 15 Jeannette, 9-1, No. 10 Elizabeth Forward, 7-0, and No. 6 Shady Side Academy, 4-3.

QV was a district champion in 1985, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’99, 2012, ’16, ’19 and ’21.

Happy returns

Quaker Valley’s boys soccer postseason lineup in 2023 included six players expected to return in 2024.

They are senior striker Jack Karwoski, seniors Andrew Vescio and Carter Turk on defense, juniors Sutton Hoehl and Tanner Schultz on defense, and senior goalkeeper Nathan Pribik.

The 6-foot-1 Pribik started in goal 20 times last season.

Other top underclassmen from last year expected back in 2024 include senior MF Colin Benge, juniors Isaac Williams (F), Liam Miller (MF) and Levi Carter (D), and sophomore MF Charlie Pyle.

The Quakers were 18-2 against WPIAL competition in 2023, outscored their WPIAL playoff opponents 20-5 and held an 11-3 scoring edge in the PIAA tournament.

QV senior nominated

Thirty-five of the top girls soccer players in the district — including Quaker Valley senior Mia Modrovich — made the Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player Award watch list for 2024,

The award is in its sixth season and goes to the best player in the WPIAL, per a committee of organizers, coaches and media members.

Three finalists will be announced around the time of the WPIAL championships. The winner traditionally is announced the day after the PIAA finals.

Tall on talent

Soccer is a sport for all ages and sizes, particularly all sizes.

A prime example of that is the Quaker Valley girls soccer team. Apparently, QV has a roster full of short but quick players.

Some of the girls in the program this year include sophomore Madeline Gatehouse, who is listed at 5-foot-1; Modrovich, junior Ari Bosh and sophomore Maura Calhoun, all 5-2; and junior Ivy Armbrust, who stands 5-3.

Four other sophomores — Eliza Rahm, Rowan Wallace, June Lukasavage and Avery Persuit — haven’t reached 5-feet tall yet. Rahm is listed at 4-9.

Modrovich, Bosh and Lukasavage each scored a goal Aug. 26 in the Quakers’ 8-0 season-opening win against Ambridge.

Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy