Spotlight shining on Talko
Name: Ryne Talko
School: Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic
Age: 15
Grade: Freshman
Sport: Tennis
Athlete of the week achievement: Talko won the District 6 Class AA singles tennis championship, beating Richland’s Cole Kazmierczyk in the final. He also won a singles match earlier in the week in a 3-2 win over Bedford.
Season update: Talko has one loss in singles play this year and is undefeated in singles play in Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference matchups.
Coach Julie Donovan’s quote: “I would take another 10 guys just like him. He’s easy to coach. He’s very disciplined – he knows when to have fun and when it’s business. He brings the whole team up to a different level.”
Favorite teacher: Mr. Cooper
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite movie: “The Hunger Games”
Favorite food: PB&J (peanut butter and jelly)
Favorite song: “Remember The Name” by Fort Minor
Outside interests: Playing soccer and hanging out with my friends and family
Favorite professional team: Pittsburgh Steelers and Boston Red Sox
Favorite college team: Pitt
Pro athlete most admired: Roger Federer – “We share the same birth date.”
Best athlete I ever competed with: Jimmy Burke
Best athlete I ever competed against: Hollidaysburg’s Rami Alkhafaji
Most influential person on my athletic career: Jamie Taylor and my parents, Jeff and Beth Talko
Proudest athletic achievement: Winning the D6-AA tennis singles championship in my first year of high school tennis
How I got my start in tennis: “I started taking tennis lessons at the Ebensburg Tennis Center with tennis pro Jamie Taylor when I was 8 years old, and my parents and my aunt suggested that I play tennis instead of football. My cousins also play tennis.”
Future goal: Attend college and receive an education and get a scholarship for college tennis and win the state championship for singles and the team championship with my BG tennis team and coaches.