Welcome to the

NORTH ALLEGHENY SPORTS NETWORK

The Official Source of North Allegheny Sports

Photo Courtesy of Scott Du

TIGER BOYS WIN STATE TITLE!

Meet Results

The Tiger boys completed a perfect season by winning the PIAA Class AAA Championship at Bucknell University on Saturday.  It was the second title for the boys, but the first since 1994.  The Tigers totaled 243 points to 208 for second place Emmaus.

Sophomore Connor Kuremsky won his second consecutive state title to pace NA.  Kuremsky set a pool record at Bucknell with a total of 541.50, just one-tenth of a point below the PIAA record.  Kuremsky trailed going into the final round but posted a impressive 58.50 on the final dive to take the championship.  In the pool, the overall Tiger team strength paid off as they did not capture any individual titles.  Two second place finishes on Saturday were key to the victory.  In the 500 free, junior Jonathan Buerger took the silver finishing behind a record setting performance by Matthew Belecanech of St. Joseph's Prep.  In the 400 free relay, the Tiger team of senior Luis Rodriguez, junior Mark Waugh, senior Kevin Kuntz and Jon Buerger set a PIAA record in the preliminaries.  In the final, however, NA fell to Emmaus by just three-tenths of a second to finish second.  Also gaining valuable team points for the Tigers were Kuntz with a 6th in the 500 free, freshman Matthew Buerger an 8th in the 100 backstroke, and junior Jonathan Du with a 9th in the 100 breaststroke.  Varsity records were set by the boys' 200 medley relay, Jon Buerger in both the 200 and 500, Waugh in the 200 IM, both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

The Lady Tigers finished a respectable eighth in the team standings that saw fifty-two teams score points in the meet.  NA scored 95.5 points to finish just behind seventh place Bethel Park.  Emmaus won the meet with a total of 237.  On Saturday, junior Kylie Grady posted the highest finish for the girls with a 6th in the 100 breaststroke with a varsity record time. The 400 free relay team of senior Sarah Musial, junior Stephanie Graham, sophomore Corinne Talhouk, and freshman Kally Vanderbilt took 11th place.  In the 500 free, Vanderbilt picked up team points with a tie for 13th.

It was a great ending for the boys who completed their season with an undefeated record in dual meets, a WPIAL championship, and the crowning achievement, a PIAA title.  For the girls, a WPIAL crown marked a great achievement for a team that was not considered to be a real factor in the championships.

Photo Gallery

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH SEMLER, COACH McCLURE, AND THE TIGER SWIMMERS AND DIVERS FOR A GREAT SEASON!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FRIDAY'S RESULTS:

TIGER BOYS TAKE LEAD IN PIAA
CHAMPIONSHIPS AFTER DAY ONE

Meet Results

Good overall team performances by the Tiger boys gave them the lead in team scoring after Day One of the competition in the PIAA Class AAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Bucknell University on Friday.  Junior Jon Buerger took third in the 200 free and junior Mark Waugh won bronze in the 100 fly to pace NA to 140 team points to 118 for second place Emmaus and Wilson.  Senior Luis Rodriguez placed fifth in the 100 fly and 8th in the 200 free while freshman Matthew Buerger was 8th in the 200 individual medley.  The NA medley relay team of Matt Buerger, junior Jonathan Du, Waugh, and senior Joey Weiland took fifth place in the final.  In the last event of the evening, the 200 free relay team finished in seventh place.

For the Lady Tigers, senior Emilie Foley improved on her ninth place finish in diving last year to take fourth in the 2009 diving final.  The 200 medley relay team of sophomore Corinne Talhouk, junior Kylie Grady, junior Courtney Thompson,and freshman Allie Pennetti came in fifth.  The 200 free relay squad of Pennetti, sophomore Marina Rozick, junior Stephanie Graham, and freshman Kally Vanderbilt took ninth place.  Vanderbilt also added points for her 11th place finish in the 200 free as the Lady Tigers posted 67 team points to place seventh and one day's events.

Action is scheduled today for both boys and girls prelims and finals along with the finals of the boys' diving competition.  Swimming action will be contested in the 100 free, 500 free, 100 back, 100 breast, and 400 free relay.  Competition on day two will resume again at 8:00 am for the girls while the boys will start at 10:30 am.  The diving will begin at 2:00 pm.  The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will televise both the swimming and diving finals on a tape delayed basis starting on Saturday and Sunday.  The PCN schedule is posted below.

Photo Gallery

PCN TELEVISION SCHEDULE

REPLAY SCHEDULE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TIGER TEAMS SWEEP WPIAL TITLES

To listen to a replay of the MSA Broadcast, click here!

Both Tiger teams won the WPIAL Class AAA Championship with great performances on Friday at Trees Pool on the Campus of the University of Pittsburgh.  The boys' team dominated the competition in winning their fourth consecutive title piling up 433 points to just 247 for runnerup Mt. Lebanon.  The Lady Tigers broke a four-year run by Bethel Park by outscoring the Blackhawks, 372-281.  NA is only the second team to have both boys and girls win the title in the same year.

The boys were led on Friday by junior Jonathan Buerger who set a new WPIAL record by almost eight seconds in winning the 500 freestyle.  Buerger also anchored the winning 400 freestyle relay team that was comprised of senior Luis Rodriguez, junior Mark Waugh, senior Kevin Kuntz and Buerger.  Junior Jonathan Du won the 100 breaststroke as NA captured eight of the eleven events.  In the 100 backstroke, freshman Matthew Buerger finished second, senior Joey Weiland fourth and sophomore Kostya Borisov fifth.  In the 500 free, Kuntz added third place points as he picked up the bronze medal.

For the Lady Tigers, junior Kylie Grady captured the 100 breaststroke while sophomore Corinne Talhouk grabbed the silver medal in the 100 back.  Freshman Allie Pennetti was fourth in the 100 back for NA.  In the final event of the day, the 400 free relay team finished in third place.  Although NA won only two girls' events, the Lady Tigers won on their overall depth as NA finished with at least one swimmer in the top three in nine events.

Because the WPIAL team scoring includes places 1-16, a number of additional Tiger swimmers placed and added important team points to the NA total.  For the boys, junior Sean Battle was 7th in the 200 free and 6th in the 500 free.  In the 200 IM, Du finished 11th and junior Jacob Scherer was 11th.  In the 50 free, Weiland took 8th and Borisov 13th while sophomore Aaron Li was 15th in the 100 fly.  For the girls, sophomore Leah Garcia place 14th in the 200 free while junior Sarah Musial added a 9th place finish in the 100 free.  In the 500 free, freshman Kally Vanderbilt was 7th and junior Courtney Thompson 9th while sophomore Marina Rozick took 8th in the 100 back.  In the 100 breaststroke, junior Kasey Manko added 7th place points for NA.  The 400 free relay team that finished in third place was comprised of Musial, junior Stephanie Graham, Talhouk, and Vanderbilt.

It was a great day for NA at the Pitt pool!  The top three in each event qualified for the PIAA Class AAA Championships to be held at Bucknell University on March 11-14.

Meet Results
Photo Gallery

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TIGER TEAMS DOMINATE FIRST DAY
OF WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

To listen to a replay of the MSA Broadcast, click here!

Both Tiger teams took the lead after one day of competition at the WPIAL Class AAA Championships at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool on Thursday afternoon.  The boys scored 272 points to build a substantial lead over second place Central Catholic with 129 and third place Mt. Lebanon with 127.  The Tigers won five of the six events setting a pair of WPIAL records.

Leading the way for the boys was junior Mark Waugh who won both the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly.  Waugh's time of 49.55 in the fly set a new WPIAL mark.  Junior Jonathon Buerger also set a new record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:39.11.  Both NA relay teams were victorious.  In the 200 medley, the team of freshman Matthew Buerger, junior Jonathan Du, Waugh and senior Joey Weiland won their race.  In the 200 free, winning gold was the team of Jon Buerger, Weiland junior Sean Battle and senior Luis Rodriguez.

Rodriguez came through with a pair of second place finishes winning silver in both the 200 free and 100 fly.  Matthew Buerger added a third in the 200 IM while senior Kevin Kuntz placed fourth in the 200 free.  The Tigers placed first, second and fourth in the 200 freestyle race.

Relay teams led the Lady Tigers to first place in the team standings where they scored 235 points to defending champion Bethel Park's 138.  In the 200 medley relay, sophomore Corinne Talhouk, junior Kylie Grady, junior Courtney Thompson, and freshman Allie Pennetti swam to victory.  In the 200 free relay, Pennetti, sophomore Marina Rozick, junior Stephanie Graham, and freshman Kally Vanderbilt took gold.  The Lady Tigers posted four third-place finishes in the finals with Vanderbilt picking up bronze in the 200 free, Graham in both the 200 IM and 100 fly, and Rozick in the 50 free.  Taking fourth place points were Talhouk in the 200 IM, Pennetti in the 50 free and Thompson in the 100 fly.

The top three finishers qualified for the PIAA championships coming up later in March at Bucknell University.  Action is scheduled to get underway today afternoon at 3:00 pm.  The MSA Sports Network will broadcast the meet LIVE on the internet beginning at 3:00 pm this afternoon.

Meet Results
Photo Gallery

WPIAL CLASS AAA SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP
University of Pittsburgh Trees Pool
February 26-27, 2009

SCHEDULE

Athletes and coaches may enter the building at 1:30 pm
Spectators may enter the building at 1:45 pm

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

KUREMSKY REPEATS AS WPIAL
CHAMPION WITH NEW RECORD

Sophomore Connor Kuremsky won the WPIAL Diving Championship for the second straight year with a record point total.  Kuremsky scored 560.20 points to break his own record of 528.45 that was set last year.  Senior Emilie Foley placed second in the girls' competition finishing behind Samantha Pickens of Franklin Regional who also set a new record.  Senior Jennifer Graham finished in seventh place narrowly missing qualifying for states.  Senior Devin Glace also placed seventh in the boys' competition.

Both Kuremsky and Foley have qualified for the PIAA Championships to be held at Bucknell University on March 11-14.

To listen to the MSA broadcasts of the competition, click on the links below:
   MSA Girls' Diving Championships
    MSA Boys' Diving Championships

WPIAL CLASS DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Pine-Richland High School
Saturday, February 21, 2009

BOYS FINALS

GIRLS FINALS

* - New WPIAL record
(NOTE: The top five divers qualify for the PIAA Championships)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TIGER TEAMS TAKE TWO FROM RIVAL
NORTH HILLS ON SENIOR NIGHT

Meet Results

Both Tiger teams won impressive victories over rival North Hills in the section finale on Senior Night on Thursday at the Senior High pool.  The boys' team completed section competition unbeaten with a 111-67 victory while the Lady Tigers dominated the Indians, 110-71. 

The Lady Tigers won 8 of 12 events led by sophomore Corinne Talhouk who captured both the 500 free and 100 backstroke races.  Senior Sarah Musial won the 200 free, senior Emilie Foley took first in diving, sophomore Leah Garcia was first in the 100 fly, and freshman Erin Bishop in the 200 IM.  The 200 medley relay of sophomore Marina Rozick, freshman Veronica Cwalina, junior Stephanie Graham and sophomore Sam Cready was first in their race.  The 200 free relay team of freshman Allie Pennetti, Rozick, Graham, and freshman Kally Vanderbilt also took first place.  NA swept both the 200 free and 200 IM races.

Winning second place points for NA were senior Jen Graham in diving, junior Courtney Thompson in the 500 free, sophomore Adelee Choban in the 200 free, freshman Dana Scherer in the 200 IM, and Pennetti in the 50 free.  Finishing third were senior Katie Knable in the 200 free, Musial in the 100 free, Rozick in the 100 fly, Cready in the 100 back, and Vanderbilt in the 50 free.

The boys won 9 of the 12 events including sweeps in both the 200 IM and 100 backstroke.  Leading the way were senior Joey Weiland who captured both the 50 free and 100 back, and junior Jonathan Buerger with wins in both the 100 and 200 freestyle races.  Senior Kevin Kuntz won the grueling 500 free while junior Mark Waugh was first in the 100 fly, sophomore Conor Kuremsky in diving,  and freshman Matthew Buerger in the 200 IM.  The 200 medley relay team won their race behind the efforts of the Buerger brothers, senior Luis Rodriguez and Weiland.

Seven Tigers earned second place points with seniors Devin Glace in diving, Kuntz in the 200 free, senior Matt Magdic in the 500 free, and Rodriguez in the 100 fly all placing second.  Also finishing second were junior Jake Scherer in the 200 IM, junior Sean Battle in the 100 free, and freshman Johnny Songer in the 100 backstroke.  Taking third for NA were senior David Songer in the 50 free, sophomore Aaron Li in the 200 IM, and sophomore Michael Magdic in the 100 back.

With the win, the boys captured the section title with a 6-0 record with the overall mark at 10-0.  The girls finished as section co-champions with 5-0-1 mark and a 8-1-1 overall record.  Next up for NA will be the WPIAL Class AAA Diving Championships at Pine-Richland High School on Saturday.

Photo Gallery

LAST DITCH INVITATIONAL

A number of Tiger swimmers reached the qualifying times for the WPIAL championships with good performances in the Last Ditch Invitational on Saturday.  Junior Kylie Grady in the 100 and 200 free, sophomore Leah Garcia in the 50 free, sophomore Marina Rozick in the 100 free, and sophomore Rachel Lewis in the 500 free all met the WPIAL times.  For the boys, freshman Jacob Plichta in the 200 free, junior Jake Scherer in the 200 IM, freshman Johnny Songer in the 500 free, sophomore Aaron Li and freshman Evan Staresinic in the 100 breaststroke, and senior David Songer in the 50 free all made the cut.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TIGERS SWAMP SENECA VALLEY, 131-39, TO REMAIN UNBEATEN; LADY TIGERS TIE RAIDERS

Meet Results

The Tiger boys dominated Seneca Valley, 131-39, at Seneca Valley on Thursday night to remain unbeaten in dual meets this season.  With the win, the NA section record went to 5-0, the overall mark to 9-0.  The boys won 10 of the 12 events including sweeps in the 200 IM, the 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle relay.  Individually, juniors Jonathan Du and Mark Waugh led the way with double victories.  Du won the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke while Waugh captured the 50 free and 100 back.  Senior Kevin Kuntz took first in the 200 free, senior Devin Glace won the diving, and senior Luis Rodriguez the 100 free.  Junior Sean Battle captured the 100 fly and junior Jonathan Buerger the 500 free.  The 200 medley relay team of freshman Matthew Buerger, freshman Evan Staresinic, senior David Songer and sophomore Kostya Borisov was victorious.  Also winning was the 400 freestyle relay team comprised of sophomore Aaron Li, Kuntz, senior Joey Weiland, and Battle.

Nine Tigers finished with second-place points.  Kuntz was second in the 100 free while Rodriguez took second in the 100 breaststroke.  Juniors with second place finishes included Battle in the 200 free, Jon Buerger in the 50 free, and Jake Scherer in the 500 free.  Sophomore Conor Kuremsky was second in diving, Li second in the 100 fly, Borisov in the 200 IM, and Matthew Buerger in the 100 backstroke.  Staresinic was third in the 200 IM while freshman Daniel Becker took third in the 100 back.

The Lady Tigers and Seneca Valley tied at 93-93.  The tie marked the third consecutive year that the two teams had tied.  As Coach Corky Semler said, "A tie in swimming is highly unusual but to tie the same team 3 years running?  Simply unheard of!"  With the tie, the NA girls' section record now stands at 4-0-1, the overall mark at 7-1-1 on the season.  The Lady Tigers won only 4 of 12 events but their overall team strength brought them into a tie with the Raiders.

Senior Emilie Foley won the diving as NA swept the event with senior Jen Graham second and sophomore Anita Sewald third.  Junior Kylie Grady won the 100 breaststroke and freshman Kally Vanderbilt the 500 free.  The 200 free relay team won their race behind the efforts of junior Courtney Thompson, sophomore Leah Garcia, Vanderbilt, and junior Stephanie Graham.

Seven Lady Tigers added second place points to the NA total.  In addition to Jen Graham in diving, senior Katie Knable was second in the 500 free, Stephanie Graham in the 100 fly, Thompson in the 100 free and junior Kasey Manko in the 100 breaststroke.  Sophomore Marina Rozick added seconds in both the 50 free and 100 back while Vanderbilt was second in the 200 free.  Thompson picked up a pair of third place finishes in the 50 free and 100 fly.  Senior Sarah Musial was third in the 100 free and freshman Veronica Cwalina took third in the 100 breaststroke.

The Tiger teams will complete the regular season next Thursday when they host North Hills in the final section meet of the season.  The scheduled starting time is set for 6:00 pm.

Photo Gallery

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TIGER TEAMS SINK FOX CHAPEL TWICE

Meet Results

Both Tiger teams earned section victories over Fox Chapel at the Senior High pool on Thursday night.  The Lady Tigers downed the Foxes, 112-69, while the boys dominated Fox Chapel, 105-70.

The Lady Tigers won 8 of 12 events including sweeps in the 200 free, 100 free, 100 backstroke and diving. Freshman Allie Pennetti took both the 100 and 200 free races to pace NA.  Senior Emilie Foley won the diving, junior Courtney Thompson took the 100 fly, sophomore Adelee Choban captured the 500 free and sophomore Corinne Talhouk was first in the 100 backstroke.

Junior Stephanie Graham placed second in both the 200 IM and 100 backstroke.  Senior Jen Graham was second in diving, senior Katie Knable second in the 100 free, sophomore Leah Garcia second in the 50 free, and freshman Dana Scherer second in the 200 free.  Picking up third place points were Talhouk in the 200 IM, sophomore Caroline Schweers in the 200 free, sophomore Anita Sewald in diving, and sophomore Sam Cready in the 100 backstroke.  Three freshman also recorded third-place finishes with Natalie van der zee in the 100 fly, Meghan Mahoney in the 100 free, and Erin Bishop in the 500 free.

Two Lady Tiger relay teams won their races.  In the 200 medley relay, Talhouk, Stephanie Graham, van der zee, and sophomore Marina Rozick made up the winning squad.  In the 200 free relay, it was junior Kasey Manko, Pennetti, Rozick and Scherer coming in first.

The boys' team won 10 of the 12 events including a sweep in the 100 fly.  Leading the way for NA were two NA swimmers with double victories.  Junior Jonathan Buerger took both the 200 free and 200 IM while sophomore Kostya Borisov won the 50 free and 100 back.  Senior Kevin Kuntz captured the 100 fly, senior Luis Rodriguez the 500 free, junior Jonathan Du the 100 free and sophomore Conor Kuremsky the diving.

Freshman Matthew Buerger was the lone second place finisher coming in behind Kuntz in the 100 fly.  Taking third-place points for NA were senior Devin Glace in diving, senior Matt Magdic in the 500 free, junior Sean Battle in the 100 fly, junior Jake Scherer in the 100 back, sophomore Aaron Li in the 200 IM and freshman Jacob Plichta in the 100 free.

Two boys relay teams were also victorious.  In the 200 medley, the team of Borisov, Matthew and Jon Buerger, and Du was first.  In the 200 free relay, Matthew Buerger teamed up with Du, Kuntz and senior David Songer to the event.

With the wins, the section records improved to 4-0 while the boys' overall mark went to 8-0 and the girls to 7-1.  The NA teams will be back in action again next Thursday when they travel to Seneca Valley for a 6:00 pm section meet.

Photo Gallery

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

WPIAL SWIMMING - 2008-09

The Tiger teams will compete again in the WPIAL in Class AAA along with 28 other teams.  The WPIAL boys/girls section swimming competitions are scheduled to begin on December 18, 2008 and must be completed according to the schedule.  The WPIAL swimming program will be operated during the 2008-2009 school year on a double dual meet basis for all section meets.  The boys and girls swimming teams will swim at the same time at the same pool.

Section champions will be determined by the best won-lost record in section play. In the case of a tie in section record for first place, all tied teams will receive a plaque.

The dates of the PIAA Championships are March 11-14, 2009.  The WPIAL AAA Diving Championships will be held at Pine-Richland HS on Saturday, February 21, 2009.  The WPIAL Swimming Championships will be held at the University of Pittsburgh during the week of February 23, 2009.  The specific dates will be announced in September and will be established based on the facility availability as determined by the University of Pittsburgh.  The WPIAL 2009 Swimming Championships meet order will change.  Class AAA will be run first with AAA to follow.  The time frames will be similar to previous meets.  The 2009 WPIAL Championships will be scored to 16 places.

WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING STANDARDS

A. Teams must have a minimum of ten competitions (swimming and/or diving) prior to the WPIAL Meet, to be eligible to score team points at the WPIAL or PIAA Championships. 

B. Individuals must have been in uniform and available at 75% of the team contests to be eligible for post-season competition.

C.  In order to qualify for the WPIAL championship event at Pitt, all swimmers must achieve the minimum standards established by the WPIAL.  These standards must be met in a WPIAL meet or in an invitational qualifying meet that is scored and uses an electronic timing device.  Standards are available on the WPIAL website at www.wpial.org. 

D. Diving - In order to qualify for the WPIAL diving competition, all divers must meet the minimum standards as posted on the WPIAL website. 

BOYS' SWIMMING ALIGNMENT
CLASS AAA - 29 TEAMS

GIRLS' SWIMMING ALIGNMENT
CLASS AAA - 29 TEAMS

Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org