Alumni News

By: Jared Barton

Former North Allegheny golf standout Adam Steinmetz was a major contributor Monday in a team championship at Washington & Jefferson’s annual Peter C. Rossin Memorial Invitational, held at Southpointe Golf Club. The Wolverines finished the tournament with a 311 team score, good for a two-stroke margin over runner-up W&J.

The Wolverine senior helped lead Grove City by taking second place overall. Steinmetz shot 75, including a 35 on the back nine. He was named the PAC Men’s Golf Player of the Week for his efforts on Tuesday.

.@GCC_MWGolf‘s Adam Steinmetz has been named PAC Player of the Week! ⛳️#WolverinesTogether pic.twitter.com/5wypuka6Ae

— Grove City College Athletics (@GCC_Wolverines) April 8, 2025

Earlier this Spring, he took second place individually after shooting a 76 to propel his squad to a first-place finish at the Geneva Spring Opener.

The NA grad was the PAC Newcomer of the Year and second-team All-PAC in 2022. Steinmetz was a second-team All-PAC golfer in 2023. He was first-team All-PAC while earning Player of the Week honors three times in 2024.

As a senior at North Allegheny in 2020, Steinmetz reached the WPIAL individual championship with a dazzling performance at Indiana Country Club in the WPIAL individual semifinal. He shot a 74 at the event, just one stroke behind the leader, Armstrong’s Noah Oliver.

(Photo and portions of release courtesy of Grove City College Athletics)

By: Jared Barton 

Former North Allegheny Track and Field member Alaina Fantaski kicked off her sophomore season at Colorado with a milestone.

The Buffaloes javelin thrower set a personal-best throw of 46.37 meters which was the top mark in the event Friday at the Dr. Dan Caprioglio Invitational, hosted by CSU Pueblo.

That mark beat a personal best she reached during the PAC-12 Championships last spring.

Two PRs for the Buffs early on Day 1 of the Pac-12 Championships!

⚡️Avery McMullen with a 13.38 in the 100mH!
Alaina Fantaski with a 45.82m toss in the javelin!#GoBuffs

— Colorado Buffaloes Track & XC (@CUBuffsTrack) May 10, 2024

During her time at NA, Fantaski became a school record holder. She had a first-place finish at the WPIAL Championships and a second-place mark at the PIAA State Championships. The 2023 NA grad was also a member of back-to-back WPIAL Team Track and Field Championships with the Tigers.

(Photo and select information courtesy of University of Colorado Athletics.)

By: Jared Barton 

Former North Allegheny and University of Pittsburgh soccer standout Sarah Schupansky is turning heads professionally after her debut match in the NWSL.

Schupansky made her debut over the weekend with Gotham FC in a road matchup with Seattle Reign FC at Lumen Field. She was named player of the match in her first career start at forward.

What a debut for @sarahschupansky

First NWSL match, first start & player of the match… Just the beginning! pic.twitter.com/O92HG9rNQo

— Pitt Women’s Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) March 18, 2025

The NA alum had two shots in the contest including one shot on goal. She also drew five fouls while only committing one of her own. Gotham and Seattle played to a 1-1 draw.

Schupansky signed with Gotham FC back in December.

Gotham FC is gearing up for the home opener from Sports Illustrated Stadium this Sunday at 5:00 p.m. in Harrison New Jersey. That game will be televised on ESPN 2.

By: Jared Barton 

Former NA basketball standout Matt McDonough earned his second all-conference nod at the collegiate level Tuesday.

The AMCC announced McDonough made the all-conference second team after his junior season at Penn State Behrend.

McDonough started all 25 regular season games, finishing 13^th in the AMCC and second on the team with 15.3 points per game. In 16 conference games, he tied for eighth in three-pointers made (29) and 14^th in field goals made (87) and total points (245). McDonough ranked tied for first on the team with 2.3 assists per game and second with 0.8 steals per game.

During 22 contests this season, he registered double figures with 12 of them being in conference play, while scoring 20-plus points in four games with a season-high 28 points against Fredonia. McDonough recorded season highs in field goals vs. Carlow (nine), in three-pointers vs. Alfred State (five), in free throws vs. Hilbert (six), in rebounds vs. Penn State Altoona (seven), in assists vs. Alfred State (six), and in steals vs. Pitt-Bradford (three). He led the team in scoring in seven games, in rebounding in two games, in assists in five games, in steals in seven games, and in blocks in three games.

The guard also notched his 1,000 career point last month. 

(Photo and select information courtesy of Penn State Behrend Athletics)

By: Jared Barton 

Former North Allegheny girls’ basketball standout Caroline Henderson has been honored after her terrific freshman campaign at RIT.

The guard was named Liberty League Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year along with second-team all-conference laurels on Tuesday.

Henderson led the conference in both three-point field goal shooting percentage (.424) and three-point field goals made (72). Nationally, Henderson ranks 16th in Division III in three-point field goal shooting percentage and 21st in three-point field goals made. Her 72 three-pointers made this season is also a program record.

The NA alum led RIT this season with 13.0 points per game after starting all 27 games, averaging 31.6 minutes per contest.

(Photo and some information courtesy of RIT Athletics)

By: Jared Barton 

After eclipsing over 1,000 career points in the high school ranks, former Tiger boys’ basketball standout Matt McDonough has done it again at the next level.

The Penn State Behrend junior became the 25th player in program history to accomplish the feat on a pair of free throws during Saturday’s game against Penn State Altoona. He’s the first Behrend player to hit that benchmark since his teammate and former Bethel Park Blackhawk Tommy DiRienzo did so in January last year.

Congrats to @PSBhoops junior guard Matt McDonough on becoming the 25th player in program history to score 1,000 career points! pic.twitter.com/aIVODSN8fC

— Behrend Athletics (@PSBAthletics) February 8, 2025

In 22 games this season, McDonough is averaging almost 15 points per game, hitting double figures in 18 contests and scoring 20+ points in three games.

Last year, McDonough was an All-AMCC Second Team honoree, while taking home AMCC Co-Newcomer of the Year laurels in his freshman campaign. During that 2022-23 season, he also scored a season-high 31 points against Pitt Bradford, setting a new school record with 10 made three-pointers.

McDonough was a Vincentian Academy transfer to North Allegheny for his junior season. He reached the 1,000 career high school point plateau on December 23rd 2021 in a win over Erie where the then-senior dropped 30 points, including six three-pointers. McDonough finished his high school career with 1,116 points, ranking him 5th all-time in North Allegheny history.

(Photo and select information courtesy of Penn State Behrend Athletics)

By: Jared Barton 

Former Tiger girls’ basketball star Caroline Henderson has been turning heads at the next level in her first NCAA season. Henderson currently leads the RIT Tigers in points per game with 13.9, which is also good enough for fourth-best in the Liberty League. The conference has honored the first-year player with Rookie of the Week accolades three times this season, including this week.

Known for her three-point shooting in high school after setting the NA record for most three-pointers in a season, Henderson has continued to shine in that category. She currently ranks 10th in NCAA DIII nationally for three-pointers per game (3.11), 15th in three-point percentage (43.4%) and 20th in total three-point shots made (56). She additionally leads the Liberty League in all three of those categories to date.

Henderson had a season-high 24 points in a game at Skidmore in January while compiling 14 games in double figures and three games of 20+ points.

In a matchup against SUNY Brockport in December, Henderson set a new RIT record for most three-pointers in a game with seven. She had a team-high 23 points that night.

With 56 three-point shots made so far this season, Henderson could have a new record before the year ends. She trails former RIT standout Jessica Glaz (2014-2018) by just six triples with seven regular season games remaining.

RIT is back in action at St. Lawrence on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

(Photo and some information courtesy of RIT Athletics)

by: Randy Gore

The WPIAL announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on Wednesday at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. Among the inductees, the 2012 North Allegheny football team will be honored. This marks the 18th induction class for the WPIAL, which includes not only individual honorees but also one or more teams each year. The 2012 North Allegheny Tigers, recognized as one of the most dominant teams in WPIAL football history, will receive this honor. The official induction ceremony for the 2025 WPIAL Hall of Fame Class is scheduled for Friday, June 6.

On the heels of winning a state title in 2010 and back-to-back WPIAL crowns in 2010 and 2011, the North Allegheny football team sought another title-winning campaign in 2012. In record-breaking fashion, the Tigers went 16-0 en route to a third straight WPIAL championship and second PIAA title in three years. The Tigers became just the third team in WPIAL history to win three consecutive district championships in the largest classification and remain the last to do so even 12 years later.

“The 2012 North Allegheny Tigers football team was comprised of a group of players that had talent, character, dedication, team chemistry, and a committed desire to be the best,” said head coach Art Walker.  “They trusted and believed in hard work, the process and their coaching staff.  Being recognized as part of the WPIAL’s vast history and the induction into the Hall of Fame is an honor that we are extremely proud of.”

On opening night, North Allegheny began their road to Hershey, PA, with a visit to Mt. Lebanon and topped the Blue Devils by a 39-14 decision. It was one of the few times the margin of victory was so “close.” Only once all season was a game decided by one possession, and that was in a windy WPIAL championship game at Heinz Field, a 21-14 victory over Woodland Hills. The Tigers outscored their opponents 671-140 on the season, averaging 42 points for and nine against. The Tigers racked up 42 points or more in 11 of 16 games, including all three PIAA playoff games.

In the PIAA championship, North Allegheny ran roughshod over the Coatesville Red Raiders, 63-28. The 63 points were the most scored in a state championship game in any classification, a record that’s since been broken.

Individually, quarterback Mack Leftwich was named the Pennsylvania Sports Writers’ Class 4A Player of the Year and became only the third quarterback in WPIAL history to throw for over 3,000 yards in a season. Leftwich threw for 45 touchdown passes with only four interceptions during his senior campaign. In two years at North Allegheny, Leftwich amassed over 7,000 total yards and 91 total touchdowns. Head coach Art Walker was named the 2012 National Coach of the Year by the National Sports News Service. Along with Leftwich, a number of players were named All-State, including WR Greg Garrity (Penn State), TE Zach Lyon (Case Western), Brendan Coniker (Richmond) and DL Jeremy Gonzales. Garrity was the leading receiver with 67 receptions for 1,240 yards and 18 touchdowns. Running back Alex DiCiantis, who later wrestled at Drexel University, was the leading rusher with 1,291 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Additional Factoids about the 2012 Tigers: In December 2024, Mack Leftwich was appointed as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Texas Tech. He is a two-time nominee for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the best assistant coach in college football. Both nominations were received during his time as the offensive coordinator at Texas State.

Tigers’ right tackle Taylor Nikithser gained recognition at the collegiate level after graduating from North Allegheny. Playing for California University of Pennsylvania (Cal-U) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), Nikithser was honored with the Rimington Award in 2017, recognizing him as the best center in all of NCAA Division II football.

North Allegheny defeated two future NFL running backs in the playoffs, defeating Woodland Hills and Miles Sanders (Eagles, Panthers) in the WPIAL title game 21-14. Sanders rushed for 84 yards in the first quarter but was held to 15 yards on 13 carries in the second half.

NA also topped James Conner (Steelers, Cardinals) and the McDowell Trojans in the PIAA quarterfinals by a 56-6 decision. Conner was limited to 36 yards rushing for the entire game.

By: Jared Barton 

Former North Allegheny and Pitt Women’s Soccer standout Sarah Schupansky is taking her game to the next level. NJ/NY Gotham FC announced Monday that the club signed her to a multi-year NWSL contract. 

Welcome to #GothamFC, @sarahschupansky!

The club has signed forward Sarah Schupansky to a multiyear contract guaranteed through December 2026, with a mutual option for 2027.

— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) December 23, 2024

“I’m truly honored and beyond excited for this opportunity,” Schupansky said via social media. “Thank you to the Gotham organization for believing in me and making a childhood dream come true. I can’t wait to get started and give my all to make Gotham proud!”

Schupansky was a captain her senior season this past fall at Pitt, where she led the NCAA in assists for the 2024 campaign with 15. In 2023, she was the first player in program history to be named to the All-ACC First Team, collecting 11 goals and 14 assists that year. She finished her college career with 32 goals and 43 assists in 82 games. She earned All-ACC Second Team laurels in 2024.

By: Jared Barton

Former North Allegheny girls’ soccer standout Sarah Schupansky added to her many accolades Wednesday when the College Sports Communicators named her to the 2024 Division I Academic All-America women’s soccer team. 

Congrats to Sarah Schupansky for being named a CSC First Team Academic All-America

Read more: https://t.co/idY564B86c#H2P pic.twitter.com/CXe0dbi08D

— Pitt Women’s Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) December 11, 2024

This season, the Psychology & Law and Criminal Justice & Society major held a 3.93 GPA. 

At the end of the fall sports season, Schupansky was named to the All-ACC women’s soccer team.

By: Jared Barton 

For the second year in a row, Texas State offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich, and former North Allegheny star quarterback, was named a nominee for the Broyles Award. The accolade is an annual honor given to the best assistant coach in college football.

Mack Leftwich nominated for the @BroylesAward ‼️ pic.twitter.com/0vMIxmR7b7

— Texas State Football (@TXSTATEFOOTBALL) November 27, 2024

According to Texas State Football, Leftwich has helped the Bobcats to a national ranking of seventh in total offense (469.3) as well as scoring (36.4) and rushing offenses (202.2) in the top 20. Texas State’s passing offense also ranks 30th. Texas State says the 2024 season currently ranks third in points (400), third in total offense (5,162) and fourth in rushing yards (2,224).

Last year, Leftwich was named to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football “40 Under 40” list.

In his first season as the Bobcats’ offensive coordinator, Leftwich has helped lead Texas State to being the Sun Belt Conference’s top offense and one of the best units in the nation. The Bobcats are averaging a Sun Belt-best 34.9 points per game, which was 21st in the country, and 463.1 yards per game, which was 13th in the nation. The offense was powered by a run game that ranks 16th in the country with 200.7 yards per game.

The Broyles Award has been celebrating excellence in assistant coaching since 1996.

At North Allegheny, Leftwich was a two-year starter at quarterback and led the Tigers to a PIAA championship in 2012 and back-to-back WPIAL crowns in 2011 and 2012. As a senior, Leftwich was named the Quad-A State Player of the Year by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers. Leftwich, one the most prolific passers in North Allegheny history, became only the third quarterback in WPIAL history in 2012 to throw for over 3,000 yards in a single season. For his career, Leftwich amassed over 7,000 yards of total offense, along with 91 total touchdowns (65 passing, 26 rushing).

(Coaching information and top photo courtesy of Texas State Athletics).

By: Jared Barton 

Many annual traditions are carried out during the holiday season, but this Thanksgiving, some members of the North Allegheny Class of 1977 are about to hit a milestone.

A group of NA alums led by Lowell Smith is set to hold their 50th consecutive Turkey Bowl football game in McCandless this coming Saturday. Organizers say classmates and longtime friends will come from Texas, Florida, and Georgia to participate.

Smith laid out the parameters ahead of this year’s contest saying, “The game is now a game of two-hand touch that ends when we get too tired or too cold, someone pulls a hamstring, or we get thirsty.”

Photos from Turkey Bowl Contests in years past (Facebook)

According to Smith via social media, the games are open to friends, family members and “anyone else who dares to play.” He says usually the games last for a few hours before the group heads to Dave and Buster’s to “lie about how well we played or complain about our injuries.”

The game is scheduled to kick off at noon.

(Photos and select quotes courtesy of Lowell Smith’s Facebook Page)

By: Jared Barton

Former North Allegheny football wide receiver and defensive back Luke Colella will graduate from Princeton University in December, but he is still looking to play one more season on the gridiron. Colella posted on social media Sunday that he intends to hit the transfer portal for one more season.

Upon graduating from Princeton University in December, I have entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer with 1 year left of eligibility. Thank you Princeton football for everything! pic.twitter.com/dnpEnk94bY

— Luke Colella (@LukeColella2) November 24, 2024

Colella led Princeton in receiving this season with 43 catches for 562 yards and five touchdowns. He also accounted for three carries.

Colella was an honorable mention All-Ivy League player in 2023 and was named to the second team for the Phil Steele and Blue Bloods all-conference teams. The 2024 Ivy League all-conference teams are yet to be announced.

Transfer Portal Graduate Receiver with 1 year left of eligibility. pic.twitter.com/CtL8bNaJp3

— Luke Colella (@LukeColella2) December 9, 2024

The 2020 NA graduate totaled career highs in rushing and receiving in the fall of 2019. He rushed for 266 yards and posted 535 receiving yards, combining for 13 total touchdowns. Colella lined up at running back, receiver and slot. There was even a “Wildcat Package” for Colella at quarterback. He was named first-team all-conference in Class 6A by the Big 56 and was selected to play in the PSFCA East/West All-Star Game that season as well.

By: Jared Barton

Former North Allegheny girls’ soccer captain and current Pitt women’s soccer player Sarah Schupansky has earned All-ACC accolades for the second time at the collegiate level. On Wednesday the Atlantic Coast Conference announced their all-conference teams for the 2024 season. Schupansky garnered All-ACC second-team honors after making the first team during the 2023 season. She was the first Panther to make the All-ACC First Team in program history last season.

The NA grad leads the NCAA in assists (15) and assists per game (0.83), while also ranking 19th in the country with 29 points (7 goals / 15 assists) and 22nd in points per game (1.61). She leads the ACC and ranks 12th in the NCAA in shots on goal per game (2.33) and is 14th in the nation in shots per game (4.22).

Schupansky matched a program record with four assists in a 6-1 win over Dartmouth and became the second player in Pitt history to record 100 career points during the 7-0 win over Mercyhurst.

74′ | SHE’S UNSTOPPABLE @sarahschupansky finds the back of the net to make it 5-1 for the Panthers! @keeramelenhorst & Ava Boyd earned the assists

PITT – 5 | DART – 1

https://t.co/NjyH5xLfdz pic.twitter.com/UgI69i6dnU

— Pitt Women’s Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) September 6, 2024

She recorded two assists in Pitt’s win over Syracuse to set the school single-season assists record (15). Schupansky has five multi-assist games on the season and has tallied two or more points in a game eight times in 2024.

76′ | GOOOAAALLLLLL!@sarahschupansky plays a corner into the box and @Abiodundebby100 scores the header

Pitt 1, Syracuse

@accnetwork #H2P pic.twitter.com/8HneA0ot7j

— Pitt Women’s Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) October 13, 2024

She set the program record for career starts (78) in the regular season finale at Notre Dame. She also set the school record for career assists (43) and will finish her Pitt career ranked second in career points, shots, and shots on goal.

26′ | ARE YOU SERIOUS SARAH @sarahschupansky gets one back for the Panthers with this strike from a MILE away‼️

https://t.co/yQ1ZStYPnV#H2P pic.twitter.com/VCTvmTa3NQ

— Pitt Women’s Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) October 31, 2024

With 60 career goals, Sarah led the Tigers to their two best seasons in program history. In 2019, Schupansky netted a team-best 23 goals and directed NA to its first WPIAL crown. As an encore, Schupansky scored 24 goals in just 16 games in 2020 and helped pave the way for a second straight WPIAL title and NA’s first-ever appearance in the PIAA championship game in Hershey.

She was honored as the recipient of the 2020 Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year Award, which is given to the top girls’ soccer player in Western Pennsylvania.

She was named all-state by the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association for two consecutive years, was a United Soccer Coaches High School All-American her senior year.

(Release and photo courtesy of University of Pittsburgh Athletics)

The North Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame banquet was held on Thursday night at The Chadwick in Wexford. Thirteen inductees and four special award winners were celebrated as part of the Hall of Fame’s 27th induction class.

This year’s class of inductees included Dom Forys (Wrestling – Class of 2014), Mason Gonzalez (Swimming – Class of 2018), E.J. Heckert (Baseball – Class of 1990), Jared Isaacs (Tennis – Class of 2017), Jordan Macey (Softball – Class of 2012), Rachel Martindale (Class of 2019), Abby McKiernan Tevis (Girls Volleyball – Class of 2004), Andrew McMillen (Track & Field, Football – Class of 2005), Ayden Owens (Track & Field – Class of 2018), Dan Schall (Volleyball – Coach), James “Max” Staresinic (Water Polo – Class of 2015) and Caroline Wrigley (Golf – Class of 2019).

Award winners included Steve Heckmann (Joe Drazenovich Award), Lynn Leicht (Bob Miller Award), Dave Hungerman (Dr. Lawrence Bozzomo Award) and Dom Gliozzi (Bob Austen Award).

For photos of the event, click here.

Photo Credit: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphy

by: Jonathan Spina

In his second full season of professional baseball, former North Allegheny standout Cole Young has been selected to play in the 2024 MLB All-Star Futures Game.

Young, a 2022 graduate of North Allegheny, is currently in double-A Arkansas in the Seattle Mariners organization where he sports a .265 batting average with seven home runs, 33 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases in 2024 . He is currently the top prospect for the Mariners and the No. 23 prospect in all of Major League Baseball.

The MLB All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game hosted by Major League Baseball in conjunction with the MLB All-Star Game that features the top prospects in the sport.

Young was the fourth Tiger selected in the first three rounds of the MLB Draft in 2022 when he was selected 21st overall by the Mariners.

The 2024 MLB All-Star Futures Game will take place on July 13 at 4 p.m. at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The game will be broadcasted on MLB Network.

Here is the American League roster for the 2024 All-Star Futures Game! pic.twitter.com/Pmt5HtsJht

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 2, 2024