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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.

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