VALLEY SPORTS HISTORY
2013
2013
• Just before the start of the new season, the Belle Vernon Area football program suffered a crushing blow. Last year’s leading rusher, Anthony Levis, suffered a season-ending injury. Fortunately, the Leps still had junior quarterback Travis Snyder, who had battled his own injuries in the past, as a backup. Snyder was healthy this week against Uniontown and coach Aaron Krepps was happy he was. Snyder made the most of his six completions in eight attempts, passing for 142 yards and five touchdowns to earn a 48-20 win. Snyder’s play earned him Valley Independent Player of the Week honors.
• Ron Churilla of Washington recorded his third hole-in-one when he aced the 168-yard number 14 hole at Nemacolin Woodlands with a seven iron. His playing partners were Dr. Dennis Perry, Bob Bozovich and Eugene Trapuzzano. 2004
• After giving their highly touted rivals Monessen a fight, Charleroi’s football players were feeling pretty good about themselves. That was until coach Nick Milchovich put a stop to their levity. “It’s my job to not let the kids lose sight of the fact that we lost and we’re 0-1,” he said. “Deep down, I think the kids were content and I want them to know we are not going to accept mediocrity.” Milchovich hopes to have a legitimate reason to celebrate when Charleroi meets California Area in their first regular season game in four years.
• The second annual Monessen Kick-Off Classic, a feast for local soccer fans, will be played this weekend. The tournament featuring four boys and four girls teams will take place at the Monessen High School soccer field. Tournament director Joe Dalfonso was pleased with last year’s tournament and is expecting big things. “We were happy how things turned out last year,” he said. “It went well and we had some nice crowds. All of the teams last year were happy with how the tournament went.”
1994
• Frank Indof would be proud. His Belle Vernon Area team dropped visiting Thomas Jefferson, 2813, for its first opening-game win in five years. The victory marked a successful debut for Gary Dongilli with the Leps and 10 days after Indof, the school board director who recommended Dongilli for the coaching position, passed away unexpectedly at the team’s training camp. Dongilli said of Indof, “We’re dedicating the entire season to him.”
• Apparently all the praises heaped on McKeesport in the pre-season were justified. The Tigers roared into Ringgold Stadium and left with a 48-21 win. McKeesport rolled up 410 yards of total offense, including a whopping 316 on the ground as its no-huddle wishbone offense gave the Ringgold defense headaches all night long. The night did open on a positive note for the hosts as the Rams struck first, opening up a 7-0 lead on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Jamont Kinds to Jeff Tyree. The play capped a seven-play, 65-yard drive.
