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Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles
Coach (season, record): Joni Laeng (2nd season, 8-10)
2010 overall record: 8-10
2010 region record (place): 6-8 (tied for fifth)
2010 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Top player lost: Jacalyn Laeng
Top returning players: Kayla Moore, Angeline Rapone, Brie Dickson
Assistant coach: Scott Malenky
Outlook: Kennedy Catholic was competitive in Region 1 but couldn’t put together enough wins to get into the postseason. The Golden Eagles have an experienced group back but will need to replace all-region selection Jacalyn Laeng, who graduated. Laeng played a big part on last year’s team and leaves a big hole for coach Joni Laeng to fill. Kayle Moore is a returning outside hitter, while junior Brie Dickson is a middle hitter and could emerge as Kennedy’s top player. Angeline Rapone has been the Golden Eagles’ No. 1 setter over the past two years and could be one of the top players in Mercer County this fall. Kennedy will need some help from the underclassmen and juniors Courtney Sargent, Yasir Muhammad and Sarah Summers could provide a spark. Emilee Taylor and J’Shawna Thompkins are up-and-coming freshmen for the Golden Eagles.

Schedule
September
13 Sharpsville* 7:15
15 at Jamestown* 7:15
19 Neshannock 7:15
20 Commodore Perry* 7:15
22 at West Middlesex* 7:15
27 Farrell* 7:15
29 Lakeview* 7:15
October
3 at Sharon 7:15
4 at Reynolds* 7:15
6 at Sharpsville* 7:15
11 Jamestown* 7:15
13 at Commodore Perry* 7:15
18 West Middlesex* 7:15
20 at Farrell* 7:15
25 at Lakeview* 7:15
27 Reynolds* 7:15

Friday: Lakeview, Linesville

– Tom Reisenweber

Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles
Boys
Coach (season, record): Bill Dodd (8th season, 59-62-8)
2010 overall record: 8-9-1
2010 region record (place): 3-2-1 (third)
2010 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Top players lost: Nick D’Onofrio. Joe Benes
Top returning players: Erik Little, Pat Thomas, Jake Friedrich, Mike Thomas, Jon Hudson, Mario Picciotto, Jimmie D’Onofrio, Stephens Edge, Dominik Pfleger
Assistant coaches: Mark Toth, Dean Toth
Outlook: Kennedy Catholic’s program continues to make strides and with a small senior class gone to graduation, the Golden Eagles will look to make the District 10 playoffs. Kennedy will have to replace Nick D’Onofrio, who was named to the all-region first team on offense and Joe Benes, a second-team offensive player. Returning for the Golden Eagles is first-team defender Jon Hudson along with second-team selections Erik Little (offense), Pat Thomas (offense), Jake Friedrich (offense) and Mike Thomas (defense). Little led Kennedy in scoring last year and could be one of the top players in Class A this fall. The Golden Eagles’ defense could receive a boost this season with the return of Dominik Pfleger after he missed 2010 with a knee injury, while Kennedy also returns Mario Picciotto in goal and midfielders Jimmie D’Onofrio and Stephens Edge. The confidence at Kennedy is growing with the improvement of the program and watching Mercyhurst Prep make its run last year. The Golden Eagles are hoping to keep competing in region play and make a run at a playoff spot this year.

Schedule
September
3 at Conneaut (Ohio) 11 a.m.
6 Commodore Perry 4
8 at Grove City 7:30
12 Hickory 4
14 at Sharon 4
20 Slippery Rock 4
22 at Conneaut Valley 4
26 at Fairview TBA
28 Wilmington* 4
October
4 Sharpsville* 4
6 West Middlesex* 4
10 at Mercer* 7:30
12 Conneaut (Ohio) 5
13 at Keystone 6
18 at Wilmington* 7:30
19 at Sharpsville* 4
24 at West Middlesex* 4
26 Mercer* 4

Girls
Coach (season, record): Jef Zolnier (3rd season, 10-24-2)
2010 overall record: 8-10-0
2010 region record (place): 2-2-0 (second)
2010 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Top players lost: Alyssa Hrishenko, Jen Ergen
Top returning players: Shelby McElhinny, Lauren Vetica, Anna Benson, Hennessy Zolnier, Rachel Burns, Monica Riggle
Assistant coaches: Tressa Scahill, Wendy Godfrey
Outlook: Kennedy Catholic seemed to be in control of Region 1 heading into the final week of the season before a heart-breaking loss to Wilmington. The Golden Eagles will look to rebound and put together an above-.500 season. Kennedy’s ultimate goal is to win the region and earn a spot in the District 10 Class A championship. The Golden Eagles started six sophomores last year and that experience could pay off this fall. Rachel Burns, Kennedy’s leading scorer, and Anna Benson are back after making the all-region first team on offense last year, while senior Lauren Vetica returns to anchor the defense. The Golden Eagles will need to replace two all-region players in Alyssa Hrishenko and Jen Ergen, who have graduated. Hennessy Zolnier is back to help out as a midfield, while Monica Riggle (offense) and Shelby McElhinney (keeper) are returning impact players.

Schedule
September
6 at Sharon 4
8 Sharpsville 4
10 at Pymatuning 11 a.m.
13 at Hickory 7:30
15 Sharon 4
19 at Sharpsville 4
21 at Mercer* 7:30
27 at Wilmington* 7:30
29 West Middlesex* 4
October
3 Slippery Rock 4
6 at New Brighton 5
8 at Conneaut Valley 10 a.m.
11 Mercer* 4
13 Wilmington* 4
17 at West Middlesex* 4
18 Ellwood City Lincoln 4
20 Keystone 4
25 Grove City 4

Saturday: Maplewood

– Tom Reisenweber

Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles
Coach (season, record): Archie Donofrio (2nd season, 1-9)
2010 overall record: 1-9
2010 region record (place): 1-7 (eighth)
2010 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Top players lost: Trent Bernat, Luke Hudson
Top returning players: Joel Stephensen, Josh Leipheimer, Kyle Radachy, Blase Hudson
Assistant coaches: Rob Lutes, Mike Llewellyn, Travis Trotter, Andrew Liggett, Denny Staul, Matt Wyant
Outlook: Kennedy Catholic is hoping the experience it gained last year will pay off. The Golden Eagles had a young team in 2010 and it is looking to take the next step this fall. Kennedy will have to replace all-region lineman Trent Bernat and talented rusher Luke Hudson. The two leave big holes, but the Golden Eagles have plenty of experienced underclassmen to step into important roles. Joel Stephensen, Josh Leipheimer, Kyle Radachy and Blase Hudson return to lead Kennedy and could emerge as standout players this season. The Golden Eagles will have to come together quickly in camp with a brutal start to their schedule. After a non-region home-opener against Maplewood, Kennedy hosts Farrell and Linesville. As if that start wasn’t tough enough, the Golden Eagles then move on to Mercer, Sharpsville and up-and-coming Conneaut Valley. It won’t take long for the Golden Eagles to see if they have improved enough to compete for a playoff spot, but the priority this season should be to improve on a one-win season last fall.

Schedule
September
3 Maplewood 12
10 Farrell* 12
17 Linesville* 12
23 at Mercer* 7
October
1 Sharpsville* 12
7 at Conneaut Valley* 7
15 Bye
21 at West Middlesex* 7
28 at Moniteau 7
November
4 at Lakeview* 7

Tuesday: Lakeview

– Tom Reisenweber

Kayla McBride, Villa Maria's all-state guard

I ran my state playoff record to 29-4  with a perfect 11-0 second round. As the playoffs march on the teams  get better and the predictions get tougher. Here is what I think will happen tonight at Slippery Rock’s Morrow Field House.

Boys

Class A

Kennedy Catholic 52, Sewickley Academy 50

Class AAA

Farrell 65, Greensburg Salem 58

Girls

Class AA
Villa Maria 58, Bishop McCort 52

– Tom Reisenweber