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Athlete of the Week

Wozniak’s passion leads Portage

Name: Arianna Wozniak School: Portage Area Age: 17 Grade: Senior Sport: Basketball Athlete of the week achievement: Wozniak scored 19 points in helping the team win the JT Kuhn Memorial Tournament. She scored eight points in the semifinal win in the tourney opener. Earlier in the week, she scored 15 points in the team’s win over Windber. Season update: For the 5-0 Lady Mustangs, Wozniak is averaging 12.6 points per game to go with seven rebounds per game and 4.4 steals per game. Coach Lance Hudak’s quote: “Her passion for the game is second to none and her drive to ...

Chirdon hits big shot for Panthers

Name: Vinny Chirdon School: Penn Cambria Age: 18 Grade: Senior Sport: Basketball Athlete of the week achievement: Chirdon hit the game-winning 3-pointer in a 49-47 win over Conemaugh Township to open the Ron Davidson Tournament. He finished with 13 points. In the tourney title win over Central Cambria, he scored 13 points again, and was 4-of-4 from the foul line as well. Season update: Chirdon is averaging 13 points per game for the 2-0 Panthers. Coach Jim Ronan’s quote: “Vinny is one of the best pure shooters that I have ever coached. He is going to play a big role on ...

Bednarski’s versatility a big deal

Name: Brooke Bednarski School: Portage Area Age: 16 Grade: Junior Sport: Basketball Athlete of the week achievement: Bednarski was named MVP of the Portage Art Burkett Memorial Tournament. She scored 12 points in a 48-14 rout of Claysburg-Kimmel in the opener, and she scored all 12 of her points in the third quarter of a 55-41 win over Penn Cambria in the final. Season update: Bednarski is averaging 12 points per game for the 2-0 Lady Mustangs. Coach Lance Hudak’s quote: “Brooke is a coach’s dream. The epitome of a teammate who will do whatever is asked of her to ...

Kargo gets the point for Portage

Name: Mason Kargo School: Portage Area Age: 18 Grade: Senior Sport: Basketball Athlete of the week achievement: Kargo was the MVP of the Westmont Hilltop Tip-Off Tournament. He scored 19 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, in a 64-58 win over Bishop Walsh, and he scored 13 points in a 60-53 win over host Westmont. Season update: Kargo is averaging 16 points per game for the 2-0 Mustangs. Coach Travis Kargo’s quote: “Mason has been a very dedicated, hard working, and unselfish player. He is a true point guard and has been instrumental in our success since he ...

Smith a jack of all trades

Name: Hunter Smith School: Central Age: 17 Grade: Junior Sport: Football Athlete of the week achievement: Smith caught four passes for 26 yards, including Central’s first touchdown of the game, had 10 tackles, including two for loss, carried the ball five times for 20 yards, went 5-for-5 on extra points and handled the punting duties for the Scarlet Dragons in a 35-7 PIAA 3A quarterfinal win over Grove City on Friday. Season update: Smith has 72 carries for 479 yards and six touchdowns, has caught 51 passes for 571 yards and six scores, leads Central with 123 tackles and is ...

Rother clutch for Guilfoyle

Name: Cooper Rother School: Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic Age: 18 Grade: Senior Sport: Football Athlete of the week achievement: Rother rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, caught one pass for a 22-yard touchdown and had an interception in BG’s 56-35 win over Penns Valley in the District 6 Class 2A championship game. Season update: Rother has carried the ball 143 times for 894 yards and 11 touchdowns and has caught 41 passes for 529 yards and four touchdowns. Coach Justin Wheeler’s quote: “Cooper is an incredible athlete that makes big plays in big games. ...