Sewickley Speaking Spring 2018 by Sewickley Academy

THE ATHLETIC ISSUE

SPRING 2018

The Magazine of Sewickley Academy

Our freshmen rock! Emily Szabo, Kamryn Lightcap, Lexi Guerin, Valentina Reyes, Elsa Gordon, and JJ Jardini are all smiles during the Sewickley Academy girls soccer photoshoot.

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Features

Dear Readers, As a native Pittsburgher, a solid part of my upbringing revolved around sports. My grandfather used to tell stories about watching the greats at Forbes Field, and when it came time for me to go to college, I remember contemplating a color scheme for my dorm room, to which my father told me, “black and gold goes with everything.” Yes, sports were an integral part of my childhood. But, the emphasis wasn’t on my ability to play (ultimately choosing cheerleading and dance over volleyball and softball) or understand the game. Rather, the most important part of sports is the life lessons it provides. No matter the sport, there will be winners and there will be losers. This notion provides the most basic explanation of sportsmanship – how athletes treat one another during and especially at the end of the game or match – which in turn builds character. I would argue that participation in sports helps one become the best version of oneself through the continuous cycle of goal-setting and achieving. This behavior is inspiring and oftentimes contagious, providing a human connection between star athletes and their fans. Through the pages of “The Athletic Issue” you will read stories of alumni and current students who picked up a stick, put on a pair of skates, or raced the clock in order to achieve their athletic dreams. Everyone featured in this issue shares a common thread – their drive to succeed in their sport of choice ultimately helped them succeed in life. Enjoy!

Kaitlin Busch Director of Communications

A Remarkable Journey on the Court: Tom Droney ’10

From Paper Boy to Headliner: Tim Appleton ’73

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The Elusive National Championship: Gloria Lozano ’00

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Sewickley Academy Inducts New Members into the Athletic Hall of Fame

Auction Awe: Behind-The-Scenes with Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford

Sports Information is Her Game: Amy (Symons ’89) Hughes

Proud Parent and Skilled Surgeon: Dr. Glenn Buterbaugh

Contents Fall Sports Wrap Up

Sport is an Extension of the Classroom

Street Art in Amsterdam

ImPACT Concussion Testing at SA

Alumni Hockey Game Recap

Lord Stanley Visits Sewickley Academy

Gliding to Gold: Emmy Francek ’18

Freshman Emily Szabo Bumps Her Way to The Top by Skiing Down Moguls

Bridget Hickton Can’t Stop Horsing Around

SA Athletes Benefit from Multi-Talented Athletic Staff

Reunion Weekend Rewind

Class Notes

The Mane Event: Brian Lenehan ’70

Senior Swimming Standout: James Thornton ’70

In Memoriam

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DESIGN

Kaitlin Busch

Third Planet Global Creative www.333planet.com

Director of Communications

CONTRIBUTORS

Tim Banks

Suzi Peluso, M.S., LAT, ATC, ITAT

Tim Banks Design

Athletic Trainer

Vicki Bassett

Jerilyn (Carter ’86) Scott, Ph.D.

Special Events Coordinator

Grade 4 Teacher

Kaitlin Busch

L.K. Sleat

Director of Communications

Annie Gensheimer

Annie Gensheimer Photography

Aimee Kimball, Ph.D.

Mental Training and Peak Performance Consultant

Susan Kinser

Director of Alumni Relations

Kolia O’Connor Head of School

Middle and Senior School Art Teacher

Susan (Ratcliffe ’55) Sour, Ph.D. Alumni Associate

Patti Coyne Stine

Director of Annual Fund and Auction

Brittnea Turner

Director of Public Relations

Michael Williams

MichaelWill Photography

Win Palmer

Athletic Director

COPY EDITORS

Susan (Ratcliffe ’55) Sour, Ph.D. Brittnea Turner

The 64th Annual Clothesline Sale Raises over $76,000 for SA! This past September, the Home and School Association held its 64th Annual Clothesline and Used Book Sale. The fundraiser brought in over $76,000 to directly benefit Sewickley Academy. We would like to give a special thank you to this year’s committee – Laura (Aufman ’88) Jenkins, Kristene Smith, Mari Hertzberg, Debbie Capito, Keith Ripple, Michele Giometti-Alvarado, Elsie Sprye, Kim Krysinski, Michele Yung, and Becca Schneider. Thank you to everyone who was part of this event, including the many parent, faculty, student, and past parent volunteers, including those who gave over 20 hours of their time, and generous donors who continue to help make this sale a successful annual tradition!

Visit us at www.sewickley.org facebook.com/sewickleyacademy twitter.com/sewickley instagram.com/sewickleyacademy pinterest.com/sewickley1838 blog.sewickley.org youtube.com/sewickley Access the digital issue at www.sewickley.org/ss

Boys Basketball Team Receives Championship Rings On Thursday, December 21, 2017, the members of the 2017 WPIAL and PIAA Championship boys basketball team received their state championship rings during a special ceremony held in Means Alumni Gym in the Events Center. The team was honored before the varsity game that night. We loved reliving and celebrating the championship memories again!

C O

Dear Readers of Sewickley Speaking,

Each issue of the magazine provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on both Sewickley Academy today, as well as our proud history and the legacy of our many alumni, who excel in such a wide range of human endeavor. This past fall, in addition to inducting our newest class of Athletic Hall of Famers, we were able to celebrate the extraordinary achievement of our boys and girls varsity golf teams who each garnered Pennsylvania State Championships, an achievement unprecedented in the history of the PIAA. Over the last decade or more, our school has secured an impressive number of section, league, and state championships. These victories are all the more impressive when one looks beyond the “hardware” to the student-athletes who have garnered these remarkable laurels for themselves and their school. Our scholarathletes represent, in some very real ways, the Greek ideal of a sound mind in a sound body. They exemplify great sportsmanship while also competing at the highest level against their opponents. They also excel in the classrooms and the art studios, making their mark well beyond the fields or courts of play. Just the other day, I happened to run into one of the current stars of our boys’ basketball team, and he was carrying a number of ceramic bowls. Each one was an exquisite work of art and reflective of extraordinary craftsmanship. I asked him if they were his, and he modestly said yes. Ten-to-one no one would have guessed that the same hands that deftly drop a three under pressure could also throw a pot of such lovely refinement. This is, I believe, symbolic of all that we try to achieve here at the school. We provide students with opportunities to explore their full range of talents, unbounded by expectations and stereotypes. But those of you who are alumni from the past know this is not a new phenomenon. Sewickley Academy has been educating scholar-athletes and students of high achievement in a wide range of endeavors for a very long time, indeed. This edition of Sewickley Speaking celebrates a number of these impressive individuals who made their mark when they were here and have gone on to make a difference in the world beyond our doors. It also highlights the enduring contributions of a parent of four rather remarkable alumni whose dedication to our school and to his professional life stand as a model for us all. Just as our ceramic artist starts with unformed clay and ultimately makes the most of his material by transforming it into a work of art, so do we begin with each student as he or she comes through the doors, supporting, guiding, and nurturing each one to make the most of his or her unique gifts. In the end, we know our school is but a reflection of the relationships that are nurtured, the connections that are made as we support each individual to become the best version of themselves. The prizes and awards then become just a sign of the extraordinary things we can achieve when we work together and commit to one another’s success. Happy reading! Sincerely,

Kolia O’Connor Head of School SEWICKLEY SPEAKING

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Photo Credit: Tim Cowie, DavidsonPhotos.com

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Tom Droney’s

Remarkable Journey on the Court

By: Kaitlin Busch Tom Droney ’10. The name is a staple to many in the Sewickley Academy community. His basketball skills set him apart on the court, and his drive for greatness has propelled him in sports and in life. He’s talented, determined, and passionate both on and off the court. And in his post-professional career, he’s taking on the role of coach and mentor, setting youth up for success by paying it forward. Tom started his career as a Panther in Grade 8, transferring from St. Margaret of Scotland School in Green Tree. Although all of his brothers went to Seton-La Salle, Tom felt comfortable at Sewickley Academy and quickly noticed the impact of the institution. “Coming to Sewickley Academy kind of opened my eyes,” he reflected. “When I first started, I noticed students were more goal-oriented than what I was accustomed to. Being around all of those people with so many dreams and aspirations rubbed off on me.” An athlete since age 4, Tom played multiple sports, including soccer, baseball, football, and ran cross country. He committed to basketball once he enrolled at the Academy. “I realized that the best opportunity I had to pursue an athletic scholarship was to choose one sport and focus on it,” he said. “It was a tough decision. At Sewickley, I was away from my childhood friends, and I didn’t make a lot of friends at SA at first, so basketball was a nice gateway and I was able to put a lot of time into it.” Admittedly, Tom had a few attitude issues on the court when he first started playing as a Panther. Athletic Director and Head Coach Win Palmer quickly stepped in as a mentor for Tom, providing advice that would go beyond his years at the Academy. “Mr. Palmer is very fair. If you are doing what you need to be doing,

you’re fine. If you’re not, he’s going to make sure it’s done his way and the right way,” Tom said. “He is one of the most level-headed people I have met in my lifetime. Not too much rattles him, and if it does, he doesn’t let it show.” Tom credits not only his coaches, but also his teachers and the administration for helping him to succeed at Sewickley. “The teachers were so willing to help me before or after class. I wasn’t good at chemistry, and Dr. Zawacky spent an hour or two each week working with me to help me out,” he recalled. “[Former Head of Middle School] Dr. Sour was influential for me as well; she was very tough and strict. I didn’t understand it at first, but when I got older, I realized it was because she cared so much about me and a few of my friends. That’s why she was tough on us.” In his four years as a starter and varsity athlete, the Panthers won four section titles (2007-2010), back-to-back WPIAL titles (2009 and 2010), and a PIAA title (2010). Tom joined the ranks of the 1,000-point club his junior year, a moment that still holds fond memories for him (he has the picture of Coach Palmer and his parents hanging up in his room). Lincoln Park was Sewickley’s biggest rival in that era, and the Panthers defeated the Leopards at the buzzer in the WPIAL final and PIAA semifinal Tom’s senior year. His dedication and discipline capped a remarkable high school career which led to 20 scholarship offers from schools like Notre Dame, Davidson, and the University of Pittsburgh. Ultimately, Tom chose to continue his sport at Davidson. “Davidson is a small school with only about 2,000 students, so I felt comfortable as it was similar to SA,” he said. “As an athlete, I felt like a priority there. I liked the coaches and the support system was great.”

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Tom sinks the first shot in Means Alumni Gym during the construction of the Events Center in 2016.

As a freshman, Tom started every game. The team won the Southern Conference in 2011, 2012, and 2013, and received a bid to the NCAA Tournament his senior year. He went through a lot of ups and downs as a Wildcat, oftentimes struggling on the court and in the classroom. But, he had his best individual year his senior year and was named Honorable Mention All-Conference, First-Team All-Defensive, and First-Team Point Guard. After college, Tom was contacted by numerous agents who wanted him to play overseas. He was ecstatic – after all, the dream was to play basketball professionally. He turned down an opportunity to play in the NBA G League and signed with Estonian team Tallinna Ulikool/Kalev in 2014. “The culture is technologically advanced, and the capital city was beautiful but very cold and dark,” he said of Estonia. “In the winter, you could go two to three weeks at a time without seeing the sun.” Tom was not the only foreigner on the Estonian team, as he was joined by two other Americans and a Canadian. The international season went from November until May, and the athletes competed in 60 games a season. The season, however, wasn’t the hardest part. It paled in comparison to preseason. “Preseason, which started in September, was the hardest thing I ever had to do. We would run in the woods for eight or nine miles. I remember running and thinking, ‘Is it ever going

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to end? Will I ever make it to the finish line?’” Tom laughed. “And we did it quite a bit, not just once or twice!” Besides the physical challenge of the sport and the emotional challenge of being away from home, Tom also faced a language barrier as Estonian is a complicated language and the older generation does not speak English. Tom’s coach, Kalle Klandorf, didn’t speak any English, but the assistant coach, Arido Roos, did and played the role of translator. Tom played two seasons with the Estonian team and was named the Estonian Korvpalli Meistriliiga (KML) April Player of the Month during the 2015-2016 season. He pursued career options in Spain, Cypress, and Sweden, but ultimately decided to move back to the United States in 2016 and focus on his own basketball venture with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The experience has been full-circle for Tom, as he played on an AAU team growing up in Pittsburgh. While overseas, he partnered with former AAU teammate Nate Perry, who was playing in Turkey at the time, to start recruiting a team back in Pittsburgh. “AAU teams have their own events outside of high school sports and focus on spring and summer travel club basketball,” Tom explained. “A lot of programs around here are for kids with varying levels of experience, and we focus only on trying to get the elite of the elite kids, the top athletes, for our AAU team.”

Tom shoots to win during a game as a Wildcat.

Photo Credit: Tim Cowie, DavidsonPhotos.com

Tom and Nate help the young athletes get the recognition and exposure they deserve by calling coaches, sending out highlight tapes, and promoting their players in hopes of getting them recruited by colleges. In the past three years, they’ve helped 12 kids get into Division I schools. As the assistant basketball coach for Kennedy Catholic, Tom brought home another state championship this year. The Golden Eagles won their third consecutive state title in March. Although the journey to Hershey is familiar, the experience throughout the season is quite different as a coach. Tom is working to understand the other side of the game, and learning how to control his temper. “There are a lot of times that you want to flip out, and I need to be patient. I was in a professional environment with older players and understanding that kids are kids and they are going to make mistakes is the biggest obstacle I have to overcome.”

Tom matriculated at Davidson College where he started every game as a freshman.

Photo Credit: Tim Cowie, DavidsonPhotos.com

to do anything,” he said. “I have had a lot of success because I never felt pressure from my parents and I didn’t get caught up resting on my laurels. I’m always focused on what the next move is, and how I will reach the goal I set.” Currently, Tom works at his family’s business, Mt. Lebanon Office Furniture and Interiors, which his grandfather started over 60 years ago. Although he has no plans of going into sales for an extended period of time, he is grateful for the flexibility the job provides, enabling him to coach basketball on the side. No matter what his future holds, he is sure basketball will be a part of it to some degree. He has a few words of wisdom for current Panthers and inspiring athletes everywhere. “If you really want it, you have to commit yourself 100 percent or someone else will,” he said. “Always put the team first and foremost, then focus on how to better yourself and how to help your team. The talent will rise to the top.”

Tom has had an extreme amount of success in his career in a relatively short amount of time and credits his parents for helping him achieve a lifetime of athletic accomplishments. “My parents always supported me with whatever I wanted to do. They were never helicopter parents, they let me figure it out on my own. They nudged me if I wasn’t doing the right thing, but they never forced me

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From Paper Boy to Basketball Headliner:

Tim Appleton ’73 By: Kaitlin Busch Tim Appleton ’73 first heard of Sewickley Academy from friend and teammate Kevon Copeland ’71. Both from neighboring school district Avalon, Kevon kept asking Tim to give Sewickley Academy a try. Tim was used to a small public school setting where he wasn’t pushed academically or athletically. That all changed the day he walked onto Sewickley’s campus, propelling him towards a lifetime of success both on and off the court.

Western Pennsylvania to lead the nation in scoring. “It was almost unimaginable what occurred. The attention I received at Sewickley Academy made me realize my dream and aspiration wasn’t a pipe dream; I could do it,” he reflected. “I was very fortunate and lucky to have teammates who worked hard and weren’t selfish. Our following was enormous, the crowds were large, and every newspaper was at every game.”

The possibility of an Academy education became a reality for Tim thanks, in part, to his job as a paper boy for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The newspaper gave him a partial scholarship to attend the school, and founding head of Senior School Mr. Jim Cavalier awarded him financial aid so he could come to Sewickley his sophomore year.

His incredible work ethic and skill led him to be recruited by numerous Division I schools, including North Carolina. But he would likely have to sit out the first season or two until he grew into his body, and he had no intentions of spending time on the bench. His goal was to play in the NBA, so he decided to matriculate at Kenyon College, a Division III school where he would play basketball immediately.

“Every aspect of my life was altered for the better,” Tim said of his SA experience. “Sports were one thing, but I treasure the introduction to the academic background. I like to tell young people that I talk to, ‘You’re going to be able to read a lot longer than you’re going to be able to run.’”

As a starter his freshman year, Tim quickly became Kenyon’s leading scorer. He was named Player of the Year in the Ohio Conference his sophomore year, which was the top DIII conference in the country at the time. Tim, and the team, improved each season and by his senior year they were the only DIII college to have two NBA draft picks on the floor at the same time. “I had a personal impact at Kenyon that I wouldn’t have had at another school,” he stated.

As a 10-year-old boy, Tim immediately fell in love with the game and dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player. When he first arrived at the Academy, Tim stood 5 foot 4 inches and weighed 105 pounds, making his coach chuckle at his pro aspirations. But, from then on, he never missed a day of playing the game until his career-ending injury. From a sports standpoint, Tim’s senior season at the Academy was the most transformative three months of his life. Under the guidance of head coach Dick Webster, Tim set the career and single season records in scoring and rebounds. He averaged 43.6 points a game that season, a record at Sewickley Academy and in Western Pennsylvania that has held for the past 45 years. He is the only player in

Tim was making headlines, but he barely noticed how quickly he was catapulting his career in the eyes of the media and the public. “I wasn’t a natural, so it didn’t occur to me the amount of success I was having. By the time I started to achieve things, there was only a brief period of time when there was room for ego,” he said of his athletic accomplishments. “One thing I learned – I never stuck around places where I was the best, so to speak. I always wanted to play against the best.”

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Tim is focused on the game as a junior at Kenyon College.

The Appleton Family: Olivia, Sandy, Tim, Elizabeth, and Tim.

In early January of his senior year, Tim suffered a career-changing injury – he tore his ACL, tendon, and most of the cartilage in his leg on a fluke play. “I tried to save a pass from going out of bounds, and when I pivoted to go towards the basketball, my leg snapped,” he recalled. “That was pretty much it, I was never going to be the same.” There weren’t many surgery options at the time, so Tim went to the Cleveland Clinic to take part in a few experimental surgeries. Although he was drafted in round eight of the NBA Draft in 1977 to the Detroit Pistons, he could no longer play back-to-back nights, which wiped out his chance of playing in the NBA. He did, however, make it back to the court to play overseas in Europe and South America for a couple of years before retiring from the sport. “When I walked off the court for the last time, I had no regrets and was ready to move on to another phase of my life,” he said. In 1983, Tim started his career in industrial sales for a tire company. The position allowed him to travel to Latin America, New Zealand, Australia, and throughout Africa. In his late 20s and early 30s, he was taking two-month trips at a time, visiting seven to eight countries per trip. As a liberal arts major with a concentration in religion at Kenyon, Tim’s studies came in handy. “I ended up in 39 different countries and I had an understanding of how large a role religion plays in different cultures. My academics gave me a world view I wouldn’t have otherwise had.”

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Tim was inducted into the Sewickley Academy Sports Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1986 alongside Academy standouts Scott Fetterolf ’76, Maria Gaydos ’84, Tim Hastings ’77, Hal Partenheimer ’74, Stan Partenheimer, Steve Partenheimer ’68, and Carol (Semple ’66) Thompson. “The Sports Hall of Fame was [former athletic director] Ridge Diven’s baby, and I think the world of him. I was tremendously honored to be a charter member,” he said of the honor. Ridge reached out to Tim again a few years later, asking him to coach basketball at the Academy in 1990, bringing Tim’s career full circle. He coached the Panthers for three years, and although he appreciated the opportunity to re-associate with the Academy, he knew coaching wasn’t for him. Tim credits the dedication of the Academy’s leaders – Mr. Cliff Nichols, Mr. Stan Partenheimer, and Mr. Jim Cavalier – to many of his successes in life. “Even after the fire, those gentlemen provided so much moral support and inspirational leadership and it set the tone for every aspect of my life.” He ultimately went back to school, enrolling in the MBA program at the University of Pittsburgh, where met his wife Sandra. The couple eventually had three children – Elizabeth, Olivia, and Timothy. Today, Tim is retired from his career as a broker and is a full-time caregiver to his extended family.

Throwback! Tim was featured in Sewickley Speaking after he returned from Finland where he played for the Finnish club Hyvinkaa Tahko.

Although their DNA must be packed with their father’s athletic genes, none of Tim’s children pursued sports for a career. “By the time I had my family, my basketball career was in the past. Growing up was their time, not mine. They had no idea that their dad was an athlete, and that’s the way I wanted it,” he said, modestly. “I did not want them to feel like they had to compete with anything I did, and they all have accomplished great things and I’m so proud of them.” Although a few have come close, no other Academy athlete has reached the legendary stature of Tim Appleton. He’s on his own level, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t willing to offer advice to those who wish to achieve the same dreams. “You only get one shot at it. I can’t express that any more clearly. If you leave anything out there, you’ll regret it the rest of the time. It’s so easy for me to look back because in my heart I know I did my best every single time I walked on that court. The opportunity to compete at the highest level your capable of playing is fleeting,” he stated. “I want to do the best I can in whatever I’m doing. Once the physical ability passes, there are other more important things in life to focus on.”

Tim, a member of Sewickley Academy’s and Kenyon College’s Hall of Fame, says he had no regrets when he walked off the court for the last time.

Tim’s Facts & Stats Charter Member, Sewickley Academy Hall of Fame Career and single season records in scoring and rebounds held since 1973 - Sewickley Academy Four-time Division III Basketball All-American – Kenyon College, 1974-77 Academic All-American – Kenyon College Career record 2,062 points and 962 rebounds – Kenyon College Career rebounding record – Kenyon College, 1977 Drafted by the Detroit Pistons – 1977 Played professional basketball in Europe and South America Head Coach, Sewickley Academy Basketball, 1990-93 Athletic Hall of Fame, Kenyon College, 1996

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The Elusive National

Gloria Lozanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quest By: Kaitlin Busch

Gloria reaches over an opponent to collect a draw control for Georgetown University.

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Gloria reconnects with Sewickley coach Cheryl Ann Lassen during a Sewickley Academy team visit to the University of Pennsylvania.

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Gloria and her sister Marisa â&#x20AC;&#x2122;05 pose for a picture following the Sewickley Academy Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2013.

Championship: to be the Best

For most athletes, training starts at a young age. By age five you’re running; by seven you’re learning how to throw, field, and pass, and by middle school you know and understand all the rules of the game. For Gloria Lozano ’00, her story is quite the opposite, as she didn’t even know lacrosse existed until she was 14 years old.

one of the biggest things Sewickley taught me, looking back, is to be inquisitive. Question everything. Look at a situation and do not accept things at face value,” she said. “Sewickley taught me to understand what is going on behind the scenes by asking probing questions and understanding the big picture. I learned discipline and how to manage my time effectively.”

Gloria transferred to the Academy in the middle of her freshman year. Her parents wanted her to be more academically-focused, and they felt the Academy could provide a better educational environment for their daughter. “It was my own fault – I don’t even know if I had a backpack or if I brought books home to study at my previous school. I didn’t really apply myself. Coming to Sewickley and experiencing the different focus the teachers had made it click,” Gloria reflected. “I don’t know if it was the smaller classes or great teachers I had – I was just trying to keep my head above water, especially in the middle of the school year.”

Many of Gloria’s favorite memories come from the playing fields and court. A three sport athlete (soccer, basketball, and lacrosse), she quickly adapted a fighting mentality. Ed Walters, her soccer and basketball coach, and Cheryl Ann Lassen, her lacrosse coach, taught her the values of hard work and dedication as an athlete. (So much so that when she smells fresh cut grass, she still thinks of the mornings spent running laps at Nichols Field!) Her senior year, the soccer team won the WPIAL Championship, an experience she still vividly remembers. “One of my best friends [Virginia (Nimick ’00) Elliott] had torn her ACL and shot the game-winning penalty kick on one leg in overtime for us to claim the championship. She embodied the perseverance, toughness, and will to win that I still associate with my time at Sewickley Academy.”

Sewickley Academy was transformative for Gloria during her high school career; she learned the skills she needed to succeed not only in school, but in life. “I think

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Although Gloria would eventually pursue lacrosse, it did not come naturally to her. In fact, she never even heard of the sport until she came to Sewickley Academy, and she originally joined the team to get out of taking gym class. The first time she picked up a lacrosse stick, she used her left hand (most people use their right). She was reluctant to make the change in hands as a former ice hockey player, but her teammates and coach set high expectations that she wanted to meet. “I started on the JV team and I didn’t even know how to catch or throw or do anything really, but I worked really hard. By the end of the year, I was pulled up to varsity, although I spent most of the games on the bench. It was new and exciting to me, and I learned a ton from the coaches and my teammates; I was hooked,” Gloria recalled. “I owe Cheryl Ann a great debt of gratitude. She is a great woman and was a great role model for me.” Gloria received offers from several Division I schools for soccer, but she ultimately decided to pursue lacrosse, a decision that probably crushed her first soccer coach, the one who inspired her to dedicate so much of her life to sports, her father. “My dad is from Spain. He was semi-pro in soccer before moving to the United States with my mom before I was born. Sports are a big part of our lives. I remember watching the first ever Sports Center with him on ESPN,” she said. Matriculating at Georgetown University, Gloria chose the Washington, D.C. school over Ivy League schools Dartmouth and Brown. She came off the bench as a freshman, the year the team went to the NCAA Final Four, and played in every single game in her college career. She scored the game-winning goal in the semifinal game with just seven seconds left – a moment she says is one of the highlights of her career. In the national championship game the next day, she scored two goals. “The last two games of the season were my best games and on the biggest stage,” she recalled. “It gave me the confidence that I could pick up where I left off my sophomore year.” Ultimately, Georgetown lost in sudden death overtime to Maryland, who claimed their seventh consecutive national championship in 2001.

Gloria looks for an opening to attack the goal during her senior year at Georgetown.

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Gloria’s intuition was spot on, as the women’s lacrosse team returned to the Final Four the following year as the number one seed. “We lost to Princeton in the final game. It was disappointing, but we had a great season. I wish we had won, but it was incredible to be part of a team with such talent.” The Hoyas suffered serious injuries Gloria’s junior year and lost in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. The team didn’t have a great regular season her senior year, but they still qualified for the tournament. Georgetown beat Duke at Duke, and then defeated Maryland at Maryland. In the Final Four semifinals, Georgetown lost to Virginia, who ended up claiming the national championship. “All four years of my college career, we lost the final game of the season to the team that ended up winning the national championship,” she stated. Gloria’s impressive lacrosse career earned her numerous honors. She was named DI All-American as a midfielder in 2002, 2003, and 2004; Big East First Team AllConference in 2002, 2003, and 2004; Midfielder of the Year in 2003; and she still holds the career record for draw controls at Georgetown. She also holds an academic record at Georgetown, well, sort of. She was the first women’s lacrosse player to graduate from the School of Foreign Service. While earning her bachelor’s degree, she was able to study abroad multiple times. She spent the summer of her freshman year in Ecuador, the summer of sophomore year in Madrid, Spain, with her father’s family, and the summer of her junior year in Tanzania. Although she advanced her knowledge academically, the time away from the training room always left her feeling behind in her sport. “There’s no gym with a weight room when you’re abroad, so I ran a lot to stay in shape but I always felt behind in the fall, athletically. The first two weeks were always pretty tough because I was not initially in the shape I should have been in,” she explained. “I worked through that, and luckily lacrosse is a spring sport. I wouldn’t have been able to go abroad if I played soccer. I had the whole year to get ready for the season.”

The Lozano sisters are all smiles for Marisa’s graduation from the Academy in 2005.

Juggling her academics and athletics was not an easy feat for Gloria at Georgetown, but her experience at Sewickley taught her how to prioritize. “I did more homework in that first year at Sewickley than I had done the entire rest of my life combined,” she laughed. “The teachers were so hands on. When I was struggling to keep up, they would spend time with me; they were so invested in me, especially Mrs. Jessica Peluso, Dr. Joan (Reteshka) Cucinotta, Mr. Larry Connolly, Mr. Ken Goleski, and Dr. Susan Zawacky, among many others. It’s the only reason I survived. I didn’t know how to work prior to Sewickley, and I couldn’t have done what I did at Georgetown if I didn’t learn how to work academically at the Academy.” After college, Gloria had a hard time finding a job and didn’t really know what she wanted to do. She knew playing lacrosse was out of the question as her body had had enough. She found an opening for a part-time lacrosse coach at the University of Pennsylvania, which she secured while interning at Northwestern Mutual to make ends meet. The following year, Gloria’s position switched to full-time with full benefits and tuition assistance. She started her master’s degree the same time she began coaching lacrosse full time in 2005. “I enjoyed coaching. When I first started, the team’s record was around .500. We started recruiting better players, and we ended up playing in the national championship game while I was coaching,” she said. “It was impressive to me how hard Penn players had to work on their own. My coaches were always there with the whistle pushing us. We couldn’t do that at Penn; the players had to do it themselves. That made them different. Head Coach Karen Corbett built that team from scratch. I learned so much from her. It was a different experience than what I expected and I enjoyed coaching.”

upon completion of her master’s degree and took a job at Deloitte Consulting, a management consulting firm, in Philadelphia where she still lives and works today. In 2013, Gloria was inducted into Sewickley Academy’s Sports Hall of Fame alongside her good friend and former teammate Sarah (Grenert ’00) Funk. “Mr. Win Palmer reached out and I was extremely flattered and so happy Sarah would be inducted beside me. We were partners in crime. Sarah is one of my best friends and was one of the first people to take me under her wing when I came to Sewickley,” she said. “Plus, she won four national championships in college.” Most would define Gloria’s dedication to sports and her lacrosse career as a huge success. But for her, the athletic achievements and accomplishments were never enough. “I never won a national championship as a player, and that is something I always regret. None of the other statistics mattered unless we won,” she said somberly. “The goal was to win a national championship – both as a player and a coach. I came close at both. All of the other accolades are the work that it takes to have the opportunity to win a championship.” Sports are still a part of Gloria’s life – she’s playing ice hockey – but she is currently spending a lot of time on the bench recovering from a hip injury. The injury started in high school but she pushed through the pain throughout her collegiate career. In January 2017, a MRI revealed a torn labrum. She recently had surgery to repair the labrum and is in physical therapy. No matter the sport, the benefits are the same for Gloria. She appreciates the competiveness, the camaraderie with her teammates, the mental resilience, and perseverance. “Sports are critical to being successful in life,” she said. “They teach you to deal with personal challenges at a high level.”

As a coach, Gloria had even more success. Her team won three Ivy League Championships and made it to the D1 Final Four three times. She left coaching

Gloria shoots and scores for Georgetown during a 9-7 victory over previously unbeaten No. 2 Notre Dame in March 2004.

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Sports Information is Her Game:

Amy (Symons ’89) Hughes

By: Kaitlin Busch Amy (Symons ’89) Hughes left the Mt. Lebanon School District and enrolled in Sewickley Academy as a freshman. For the first time in a long time, she felt she was seen. “I was never a motivated student, so my parents sent me to the Academy where I couldn’t hide in a class of 60 people; I couldn’t slide by,” she recalled. “It wasn’t easy, but English teacher Mrs. Patricia Rose played a huge role in my transition to the Academy. She was spectacular and forced me to become a good writer, which is the number one thing I took from the Academy.” Although Amy is passionate about sports (she played field hockey, lacrosse, and basketball), she prefers to leave it all on a piece paper than on a court or field. As a member of The 7th Pillar staff, she helped transition the student newspaper into the digital age. “Lisa (Aufman ’89) Gaffey, Phil Coburn ’89, and I once stayed up all night to get the paper out. Mr. Cavalier gave Phil a set of keys and waited up to hear the keys drop at his house. We got in so much trouble,” she recalled. “Computers were so slow then, and it would take half an hour for a page to render. It took all night, but the digital transition was a success!” Matriculating at DePauw University as a history major and physics minor, Amy immersed herself into the wide world of media. She became the production manager and then photo editor of the student newspaper, The DePauw, and contributed to DePauw’s television and radio stations. The school opened the Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media the spring of her sophomore year, with state-of-the-art equipment for all three types of media. Although DePauw does

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not have a journalism major, the school does have a long history of producing topnotch journalists. Among the students who participated in DePauw’s inaugural television news program was Bret Baier, current host of “Special Report with Bret Baier” on the FOX News Channel. As a senior at DePauw, Amy started to focus more on sports photography, something she was considering as a career path. During football season, she shadowed the father of DePauw’s starting quarterback who happened to work for NFL Films as a photographer covering the Chicago Bears. “I glued myself to his side and followed him around like a puppy,” Amy laughed. But following the lead of a professional paid off and she won the Indiana Collegiate Press Award for a photograph taken during the Monon Bell Game between DePauw and Wabash College, the oldest college football rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains. Graduating without a job or any strong leads, Amy decided to come back to Pittsburgh. She sent blind resumes to all three of her hometown’s professional sports teams – the Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers – as well as the athletic department at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). A family connection led to a meeting with the head sports information director at Pitt, Larry Eldridge. “I went to talk to Larry and showed him my portfolio, hoping to find work as the athletic department’s photographer,” she recalled. “And he said, ‘That’s great. We don’t have anyone on staff who does what you want to do, and we have no money to pay you, but if you want to come into the office every day and see what we do, you’re welcome to do that.’ I didn’t have any other leads, so I started going to Pitt every day.”

Amy (front row, far right) and the rest of the Press Operations team for the 2016 Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Trials, held July 8-10, 2016, at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The USA Gymnastics selection committee had just chosen the five gymnasts that would compete and eventually win nine medals, including the team gold, in women’s artistic gymnastics at the Rio Olympics.

Pitt’s athletic department had purchased Adobe PageMaker in the early-90s to publish their media guides in-house as opposed to using a design company. Only one person on their staff knew how to use PageMaker, and Amy had experience with the program from her days at the Academy and DePauw. After two weeks of showing up every day, Ron Wahl, the lone designer, noticed Amy’s capability with the program. Because of his long list of job responsibilities, Ron wouldn’t have the time to do the layout and design work for additional sports beyond football and men’s basketball. With no staff available to build the school’s media guides from scratch, Amy seized the opportunity to take on that design work. In the fall, Pitt’s football team traveled to the Pitt-Johnstown campus for a two-week training camp. It was there that she discovered there was “a team behind the team,” and fell in love with sports information. Upon returning to Pittsburgh after training camp, Amy received an internship offer from the Pittsburgh Penguins. She immersed herself in sports information, working three days a week with the Penguins, and two days a week at Pitt for the 1993-1994 school year. “Neither place paid me a dime, and if they had a game, I was there. It was ridiculous, but I was getting really good experience.” That experience paid off as Amy landed a prestigious paid internship at the University of Florida in August 1994. There were five interns, and she was the only woman. She described the experience as the magic elixir of her career in sports information. “It was a really difficult experience, but you learn how to do the job impeccably. For decades, Florida has excelled at churning out top level sports

information directors (SIDs) thanks to this program. It gave me the foundation to be a success in my chosen career.” After completing her internship at Florida, she decided to apply for yet another internship at the University of Minnesota, where the athletic department was split by gender, one department for men’s sports and one for women’s sports. “Most people applying for entry-level jobs at that time had worked in their school’s Sports Information Office as a student,” Amy said. “I didn’t do that at DePauw, and since I had only worked with women’s sports at Florida, I felt that an internship in men’s athletics would be important for my resume.” In August 1995, Amy started her internship at Minnesota, working with the school’s cross country, track and field, and wrestling programs. “I had never seen anybody wrestle prior to that job, and we hosted the NCAA wrestling championship that year as well as the men’s basketball tournament. I was at Target Center running the tournament while the rest of the athletic department was at the [Hubert Humphrey] Metrodome,” she remembered with a smile on her face. “I had more hands-on experience than any intern should ever have and it was great for me. I loved it there. If they had a full-time job available when I left, I would still be there.” In 1996, Amy achieved her Olympic dream by volunteering at the equestrian venue at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. An avid rider, Amy knew and understood the sport well, much better than the sports editor from The Washington Post. “I heard him, clearly baffled, so I sat down next to him and

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17 9

“There’s a reason people don’t leave UCLA. It’s a great place to work, and the competitive level is untouchable. Everyone is approachable and works at the highest level of their profession. Once they let you in, it’s like a drug you can’t give up. And if you are in the right part – they never let you give it up. It’s really cool,” she said of the school. As much as Amy loved working at UCLA, it was apparent that Los Angeles was not where she and her husband, Chris, wanted to live on a long-term basis. After eight years with the Bruins, the couple returned to Pittsburgh in the summer of 2007. Amy took a job as the director of media relations for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, working remotely, for two years before becoming an independent sports media specialist and freelancer in 2009. Since then, she’s worked for top sports entities including NCAA.com, ESPN, and USA Gymnastics.

Among her other freelance opportunities, Amy is currently in her third year working as the Press Operations Coordinator for USA Gymnastics, including the 2017 USA Gymnastics Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, last summer.

explained to him what was going on. For the rest of the 10 days, the first thing he did when he showed up was ask where I was,” she said. “He had me talk him through everything that happened at the venue, and that was kind of cool.” After her three weeks in Atlanta for the Olympics, Amy was hired full-time at the University of Akron as an assistant sports information director, working with men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, women’s swimming and diving, and softball. Three years later, an assistant sports information director position was available at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Amy moved to Los Angeles in the spring of 1999. As an assistant SID at UCLA, she was responsible for the women’s volleyball and softball programs. Every season, she would design and layout the media guide which outlined the history of the program, provided the outlook for the season, included biographies for every athlete and coach, and summarized the previous season – all adding up to over 200 pages. She was also in charge of releasing weekly materials to TV broadcasters and sports writers, keeping all of the media guide information up-to-date in order to facilitate interviews, release injury updates, and maintain a positive relationship with the members of the media. She described her position as “the conduit from the program to the outside world.”

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As a woman in a male-dominated career field, Amy has faced a lot of adversity. “There have certainly been times when people assumed that I’m not competent because I’m female,” she said. “At this point in my career, I know that I’m good at what I do, and it isn’t hard for me to stand my ground.” “Big events are my favorite part of the job,” said continued. “It was a huge rush to look at the workroom for USA Gymnastics’ women’s Olympic Trials in July of 2016 and realize that we had over 250 credentials out to members of the media covering the event. There’s nothing better than finishing a meet like that and knowing that things went really smoothly because I’m part of a group that worked really hard to make it all happen.” Her experience has made her the perfect mentor for young females who wish to pursue a career in sports information. She offers the following advice: “The most important thing you can do is learn how to write well and take your writing skills seriously,” she said. “Work your tail off, listen more than you talk, and be open to new ideas.”

STATE CHAMPIONS! For the first time ever in the sport of golf, both the girls and boys teams from the same school captured PIAA Team Championships in the same year, and, in this case, on the same day! This was also the first time in Academy history that girls and boys teams from the same sport captured gold in the same school year!

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1997 State Champion Boys Basketball Team

Tamara “Tammy” Hoch ’03

SEWICKLEY ACADEMY

INDUCTS NEW MEMBERS INTO THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME By: Kaitlin Busch On October 6, 2017, alumni returned to their alma mater to relive the memories of their years at Sewickley Academy. Reunion weekend kicked off with the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Tamara “Tammy” Hoch ’03, Tommy Kehoe ’04, Corey Diethorn ’04, and the 1997 State Champion boys basketball team were this year’s honorees.

learning and to supporting every student-athlete to do his or her very best, because of the value we place on excellent sportsmanship, because of our commitment to our school’s Mission and Core Values throughout our athletic program, we find that our teams and our student-athletes have enormous opportunities for success – and they win a lot too!”

The ceremony started at 11:30 a.m. in Means Alumni Gym in the Events Center. Head of School Kolia O’Connor welcomed the crowd to the event, which included alumni, past parents, and other members of the Academy’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He thanked the members of the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee – Tim Appleton ’73, Tim Hastings ’77, Christi Hays ’70, Cheryl Ann Lassen, Win Palmer, Whitney Snyder ’79, Susan (Ratcliffe ’55) Sour, and Carol (Semple ’66) Thompson – for their efforts in selecting the inductees and contributions to the morning’s program.

Mr. O’Connor then introduced Athletic Director Win Palmer as the master of ceremonies, who in return introduced the inductees’ former coaches to highlight each of them individually. Senior School history teacher and soccer coach Jessica Peluso talked about Tammy Hoch’s commitment and accomplishments not only in sports, but also in character and leadership. “A Sewickley Academy three-season athlete in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, it was hard to decide which sport was the most fun to watch Tammy play,” Jessica said. “Tammy embodied hard work, had a self-deprecating sense of humor, and many times fought through injury and hardship to compete.”

“At Sewickley Academy, we value sports because they provide an opportunity to learn things you can’t learn anywhere else. Working hard with teammates and coaches to develop and enhance your skills as a player, to push yourself to be the best you can be and then challenge yourself to be just a bit better than that, to win with grace and lose with dignity, to understand the importance of collective and cooperative effort where success is not all about you as an individual but about how well you work with others to achieve shared goals: this is the foundation of Sewickley Academy’s athletic program,” Mr. O’Connor stated. “I often say that we don’t field teams in order to win games. We field teams in order to extend learning. Because of our commitment to 20

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Tammy played soccer and basketball at Denison University, a DIII school that is part of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). She captained both teams as a senior and earned eight varsity letters. She earned multiple honors her senior year including National Soccer Coaches of America (NSCAA) All-American, NSCAA All Great Lakes Regional Team, All-NCAC First-Team, Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association (OCSA) First-Team All-Ohio, OCSA First-Team Academic All-Ohio, and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team.

Tommy Kehoe ’04

Corey Diethorn ’04

Tammy gave an emotional, heartfelt acceptance speech thanking her family, teammates, and coaches. “To all of my coaches, you weren’t just teaching us sports; you were teaching us life,” she said. She also spoke to the female student-athletes in the audience saying, “Don’t be afraid to compete at the highest level every single day. Don’t be afraid to demand the same from your teammates, your coaches, and yourself. And most of all, don’t be afraid to be the best.” Mr. Palmer then introduced Corey Diethorn, citing his impressive basketball career. Corey matriculated at Assumption College, a DII school of the NCAA. He had 1,175 career points and is fifth in blocked shots all-time. He earned multiple honors his senior year, including 2008 Male Athlete of the Year and Basketball MVP and was named to the 2008 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Star Team. The college competed in the 2008 NCAA DII Sweet 16. Corey continued his professional basketball career overseas from 2008-2011 in England and Spain before returning to the United States. Corey thanked his parents, his wife Meghan (who was nine months pregnant at the time with their baby boy!), his coaches, and the Sewickley Academy community. “When I came [to Sewickley Academy], I was a lazy but talented kid from the West End. My mom always said I ‘skated.’ Well, when I walked through these doors for the first time that skate session was officially over,” he reflected. “Sewickley Academy taught me what hard work really is, in the classroom and on the court. It taught me to embrace the grind and to embrace the journey. Because those are the things that make the juice worth the squeeze.” Matt Elliott ’84, who coached lacrosse legend Tommy Kehoe, introduced the record holder for ground balls in a single season at Sewickley Academy, 176 to be exact. Tommy continued his impressive career at DIII Gettysburg College. He was named to the Centennial Conference Championship Team in 2007, 2008, and 2009; earned numerous honors his senior year, including 2009 Iroquois National Award Player of the Year, 2009 Long Stick Midfielder of the Year, First-Team All-American; First- Team Centennial Conference; and was part of the 2009 Divisional III National Championship Team. He was drafted by a professional lacrosse team, the Chicago Machine, and qualified to play for the South Korean team in the World Games this summer.

Athletic Director and master of ceremonies Win Palmer highlights the successes of the athletic program - past and present - during the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Coach “G” and the 1997 State Championship basketball team reflect on their experiences at Sewickley Academy.

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Tammy Hoch ‘03 poses with two of the most influential people in her life - her father William and former soccer coach Jessica Peluso.

Tommy Kehoe ‘04 shares his achievement with his wife Brittany.

Corey Diethorn ‘04 thanks his family for their support, including his parents Dale and Cheryle and his wife Meghan.

Members of the 1997 State Championship basketball team gather in the “Pantherdome” to relive old memories. Pictured: Coach Victor Giannotta, Ethan Takahashi ‘97, Neil Hoy ‘98, Colin Champ ‘99, Lad Hudac ‘97, Steve Nesmith ‘98, manager Chad Simon ‘98, and assistant coach Don Slater.

“We’re all so lucky to be a part of the Academy, where we are surrounded by great teachers, students, and coaches,” Tommy said. “I expected a lot of myself because I have been surrounded by such great people throughout my life. You should also hold yourselves to high expectations because of the resources you have at your disposal. Success should be an expectation when there is so much support around you, so I advise you to make the best of it.”

Lad spoke for his teammates and thanked the Sewickley Academy community for helping them all get to this point. “Yes, we are all up here for athletic achievement, but if you look on this panel, every single person getting inducted is a great human being,” he said. “The people that work very hard at this school to help create the best humans they can are hugely responsible for that.”

Mr. Palmer then spoke highly of former basketball coach Victor Giannotta, who, in return, highlighted the 1996-1997 season when his team won the first PIAA Championship for Sewickley Academy. The 1997 State Championship team included Chas Braziel ’97, Francois Catalina ’97, Colin Champ ’99, Russ Fincke ’98, Ryan Heddleston ’98, Neil Hoy ’98, Lad Hudac ’97, Rashod King ’99, Rich Merkner ’98, Steve Nesmith ’98, Dwight Quarles ’99, Ethan Takahashi ’97; coach Don Slater; and managers Chad Simon ’98 and Travis Abercrombie ’00. Three players – Neil, Lad, and Steve – had 1,000 point careers at the Academy.

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The common thread among the inductees was their sincere appreciation and love for Sewickley Academy. Each inductee expressed gratitude for the life lessons learned while attending the Academy, and told the students in the audience that they have been given a strong foundation to achieve excellence in their academic, personal, and professional lives. The ceremony ended with a “knockout competition” between the Hall of Famers and a group of Middle School students. Immediately following the ceremony, a reception was held in the Core Training Room for inductees, their friends and families, and the Hall of Fame members.

Hansen Cup Recap

Members of the boys and girls varsity golf teams show their support at the outing. From left to right: Cole Luther ’18, J.F. Aber ’20, Zoe Luther ’20, Brianna Milo ’18, Lexi Bosetti ’19, Tatum McKelvey ’19, Dave Groetsch ’18, and Peter Curran ’18.

This year’s Hansen Cup Committee includes Jeff Lenchner ’77, Melissa Marks, Tim Hastings ’77, Sharmon Beech, and Win Palmer.

The 12th Annual Hansen Cup Memorial Golf Outing took place on Monday, September 11, 2017, at Allegheny Country Club. This year, the outing raised more than $47,500 which directly benefits a current Sewickley Academy student who is supported by the W. Gregg Hansen Memorial Scholarship. Sixty-five golfers gathered for lunch on the terrace surrounded by over 50 silent auction items which attendees had the opportunity to bid on. At 1:00 p.m. the 17 teams teed off with a shotgun start. After an exciting 18-holes of golf, guests

Troy Geanopulos ’90, Chris McCrady ’90, Jiggs Rogers ’88, and Colvin McCrady (not pictured) celebrate winning the 2017 Hansen Cup.

Congratulations Hansen Cup Champions Troy Geanopulos’90, Chris McCrady ’90, Jiggs Rogers ’88, and Colvin McCrady

Second Place Winners Bobby Gordon ’86, Rich Garbee, David Payne, and Thomas Ray

Third Place Winners

were welcomed back to the clubhouse to enjoy a buffet dinner and cocktails.

David Lendt, Peter Holway, Bill Kiefer, and Greg Needler

Head of School Kolia O’Connor opened the evening program with remarks on the

A special thank you is extended to

importance of this event and how the funds raised help our current students. Jeff Lenchner ’77 then took the mic and spoke about his involvement with the

the Hansen Cup Committee – Jeff Lenchner ’77, Sharmon Beech, Melissa Marks, Bill Marks, Tim Hastings ’77, and Win Palmer – as well as our sponsors!

evolution of the event and his ties to the Hansen family. He thanked everyone for their participation in this year’s outing. The 2017 Hansen Cup Champions were then announced. SEWICKLEY SPEAKING

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FALL SPORTS

WRAP UP By: Win Palmer

GIRLS GOLF Congratulations to the varsity girls golf team for capturing the 2017 PIAA Girls Golf Championship at Heritage Hills Resort in York, Pennsylvania, with a score of 244! Under a revised format this year, the top three scores of the five competing players counted for the championship score. Junior Tatum McKelvey registered a stunning score of 67, the low score of the day for all levels of competition, to lead the Panthers with a five under par round. Sophomore Zoe Luther had the fifth best score with an 86, and senior Brianna Milo finished eighth with a score of 91 as the Panthers finished eight strokes ahead of second place Greensburg Central Catholic. This is the first state championship for the girls program, which is less than 10 years old, and completes a season where SA captured a section championship, finished second in the WPIAL championship, and captured a PIAA title. The Panthers finished the year with a record of 15-3 along with a first-ever tournament victory in the Chairmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup. Tatum became the Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first WPIAL Girls Individual Golf Champion with a score of nine over par 81 at Diamond Run Golf Club to capture the tournament by one stroke! Tatum finished fifth at states individually.

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BOYS GOLF Congratulations to the varsity boys golf team for shooting a school record low score of 311 to capture the PIAA Boys Golf Championship at Heritage Hills Resort! The Panthers rallied from a six stroke deficit with six holes remaining to win by 11 strokes over Scranton Prep. Sophomore J.F. Aber was the medalist with a score of 74. Seniors Peter Curran, fifth with 78; Cole Luther, sixth with 79; and Will Nocito, 10th with 80, led a balanced effort. Junior Landen Shirley finished with an 83 in 17th place that was discarded in the play five count four format. This is the second state championship in the past three years for the boys golf program, and the team completed a season where SA captured section, WPIAL, and PIAA championships. The Panthers finished the season with a record of 19-2. In the WPIAL Championship, the Panthers also rallied, trailing two teams after nine holes, to capture the championship by seven strokes over neighbor Quaker Valley. Cole shot a four over par 74 at Allegheny Country Club to finish in a tie for first in the WPIAL Individual Championship before finishing second in a playoff. Will advanced to the PIAA individual championship for the second straight year.

GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY The varsity field hockey team returned to the playoffs this year with a record of 6-6 in the regular season to finish in fourth place. The Panthers split regular season games with Aquinas Academy and defeated Winchester Thurston 2-0 in a crucial away game to clinch the playoffs. The Panthers were defeated by Shady Side 4-0 in the semifinals of the WPIAL playoffs. Congratulations to seniors Claire Meakem and Mikayla Mucci for being selected to the WPIAL All-Section field hockey team!

GIRLS TENNIS

BOY SOCCER

The varsity girls tennis team captured both the section and WPIAL championships and advanced to the PIAA semifinals, finishing the season with a record of 17-5. SA defeated Knoch 4-1 in the WPIAL championship match. In the state quarterfinals, the Panthers defeated Scranton Prep 5-0 led by freshmen singles players Evelyn Safar, Simran Bedi, and Christina Walton who swept their matches. The doubles teams of #1 senior Lydia Elste and junior Alina Mattson along with the #2 team of senior Olivia McLeod and freshman Victoria Keller were also victorious. In the state semifinals, SA was defeated by Lower Moreland as freshman Aleena Purewal played well at #3 singles for an injured teammate.

The varsity boys soccer team played a demanding schedule that included one WPIAL champion and three WPIAL finalists to finish the season with a record of 9-2-1 in the section landing them in second place and 9-9-1 overall. SA defeated third place OLSH twice during the regular season. The Panthers were seeded sixth in the WPIAL playoffs and were upset by Riverview 2-1 in the first round. This ended a state record of five straight trips to Hershey for the state championship game. Congratulations to senior Thomas Yung, juniors Alex Gordon and Max Reyes, and sophomore Jackson Coles for being selected to the WPIAL All-Section boys soccer team along with honorable mention junior Jack Duggan. Congratulations to Alex for also being named All-WPIAL.

Congratulations to Christina for capturing the Section Singles Championship by defeating fellow SA freshman Simran 5-3 by default after Simran had to withdraw due to injury. Congratulations to the doubles team of Lydia and Alina for capturing the Section Doubles Championship!

CROSS COUNTRY The varsity boys cross country team graduated the most successful class in school history a year ago, and this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team achieved the preseason goal of finishing in the top 10 at the WPIAL championship. The varsity girls cross country team, while not fielding enough girls to score in a meet, continued to work hard throughout the season and improve. On a beautiful day for running at Slippery Rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cooper Lake WPIAL Championship, the streak of three straight appearances for the boys cross country team at states was ended despite competitive running by the SA team featuring brothers Henry (junior) and Matthew (freshman) Meakem, who finished third and fourth, respectively, from qualifying for states as individuals.

GIRLS SOCCER The varsity girls soccer team won five regular season games by one goal to capture the section championship with a record of 9-3-1 and an overall record of 12-6-2! This marked the 11th section championship competition in girls soccer and the first win since 2012. In the WPIAL playoffs, the Panthers were seeded fourth and defeated Serra Catholic 4-1 as senior Olivia Ryder produced a hat trick with three goals and senior Marynell Dethero scored a goal. Junior Lekha Amin and freshman Elsa Gordon had assists, and junior Theresa Wilson earned the win in goal. SA was defeated in the quarterfinals by Shady Side 4-0. Congratulations to Marynell, Annabel Gillespie, Lu Gillespie, Olivia, and Lekha for being selected to the WPIAL All-Section girls soccer team! Congratulations to Olivia for being named All-WPIAL.

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DR. GLENN BUTERBAUGH:

PROUD PARENT & SKILLED SURGEON By: Kaitlin Busch A renowned hand surgeon in the Pittsburgh area, Dr. Glenn Buterbaugh is the go-to guy for sports-related injuries. Those of us who bleed black and gold credit Dr. Buterbaugh, who was one of the Steelers’ doctors in 2005, with helping the beloved football team win Super Bowl XL. A graduate of North Catholic High School, Glenn matriculated at the University of Pittsburgh for his undergraduate degree and medical school, completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Syracuse, and performed his hand training fellowship at Harvard University’s Mass General Hospital. He chose to pursue medicine because he didn’t want to take over the family business. “My dad owned a gas station and I grew up pumping gas and fixing cars. I knew I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life,” he stated. So, he decided to study medicine, something he said came naturally to him. “For me, it’s been fun. When I came back to Pittsburgh and started working at Allegheny General Hospital, I was only the second orthopedic hand surgeon at the time. I was reattaching arms and fingers, working in trauma,” he reflected. In the late 1980s, he expressed interest in working with professional athletes to one of his friends in the industry, and since he was one of the few performing hand surgery at the time, he got the job. Due to his vast knowledge and unmatched talent, Glenn starting working with all three Pittsburgh professional sports teams, the Pirates (1988 – 2000), Penguins (1992 – present), and Steelers (2000 – present). The athletes have kept him busy over the years as he treats everything from dislocated wrists and forearm fractures to finger, thumb, and cartilage injuries and broken bones.

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Glenn chose to specialize in the field because he is “mesmerized” by the intricacies of the human hand and how it works. Being a hand surgeon also means he gets to treat patients of all ages and abilities, from children to the elderly, high school athletes to professional athletes. “I have the chance to focus on one area of medicine that everybody needs,” he said. “I get a lot of satisfaction by helping someone get back to work or by relieving their pain. My work makes a difference.” Living and working in the Pittsburgh area, Glenn knew he needed to find a reliable all-day kindergarten for his children. “My wife Karen and I were looking to enroll our son Ryan ’02 for one year. Ryan had a great year with Carol (Gillespie) McCormish as his teacher and so we stayed. We became part of Sewickley Academy’s family as all four of our children were lifers, starting in kindergarten,” he said. “Our children – Ryan, Kristin ’05, Allison ’08, and Kaitlyn ’11 – had a lot of the same teachers but each had different experiences.” That first connection to the school fostered over a 30-year relationship with the Academy. Besides being a parent to four children and a prominent doctor in the area, Glenn became a member of the Board of Trustees in the late 90s. He was appointed to Chair of the Board in May 2005, and stepped down from the position in June 2012. He served as an ex officio member the following year. He led numerous campaigns to advance the Academy during his 15-year tenure on the Board, including the “Lead the Way” campaign to build the Middle School and renovate the Lower and Senior Schools, and the “Picture This” campaign to increase the school’s endowment. He also worked on smaller projects, such as renovating Frick Field, and had a part in writing the Strategic Plan that paved the way for the Events Center and Means Alumni Gym. Glenn also had a “hand” in writing the school’s Mission Statement and four Core Values. “I always say ‘hands’ was my part of the Mission Statement,” he laughed. “We set out to write a Mission Statement to say what the school was about 30 years ago, what it is about today, and what it should be about 30 years from now.” “So much of Sewickley Academy and Pittsburgh in general is relationships, and I value those a lot. I enjoyed working with [Head of School] Kolia [O’Connor] and the rest of the Board,” Glenn said of his experience. “I enjoyed the challenge, it paralleled my medical practice. Kolia has teachers; I have nurses. We could draw on each other to work together for the betterment of the Academy.” In 2000, Glenn became the Pittsburgh Steelers hand consultant. He has performed surgery

As one of the team’s physicians, Dr. Buterbaugh and his daughter Kristin ’05 watch the Steelers game from the sidelines at Heinz Field.

on many players over the years to correct injuries, which indirectly made him the center of the media’s attention, especially during the years when the team was making a Super Bowl run. “When a CBS reporter puts a microphone in your mouth and is asking you all these questions, you do feel pressure,” he recalled. “My goal is to take care of the patient and do the right thing. I have to be the treating doctor and not a fan because I have to do what is best for the player.” After surgery, Dr. Buterbaugh and the occupational therapists meet to design and create special braces, which look similar to a glove, to stabilize fingers and thumbs so the athletes can get back on the field. Dr. Buterbaugh will monitor the injured athlete until he or she is fully recovered. Panther fans also owe Dr. Buterbaugh a debt of gratitude as he has treated, and continues to treat, many of the Academy’s student-athletes. He even designed a special brace for basketball standout Tom Droney ’10 so he could play the rest of the season with a hand injury. “Sewickley Academy students are always given preference for appointments. Whitney Snyder ’79, Win Palmer, and the community know I’ll make myself available to them,” Glenn said. High school students are more prone to growth plate injuries as their bones are still growing, and the range of treatment often depends on the age of the athlete. “I wouldn’t treat a middle school athlete the same as I would an adult, high school, or collegiate athlete, and I wouldn’t treat a recreational athlete the same as I would a professional athlete,” he explained.

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“At the end of the day, I have to make sure I’m providing the best treatment for a particular patient,” he continued. “As a physician and a surgeon, I am in charge of the care plan for the injured athlete. I take the team approach and work with physical therapists and athletic trainers to provide the best possible care during rehabilitation. The coaching staff, however, makes the final decision on when the athlete returns to play.” Glenn established the Hand & UpperEx Center in 2000. Located in Wexford, the center specializes in the treatment of shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand orthopedic care. The physicians and therapists are dedicated to the prevention and treatment of all disorders of the upper extremity musculoskeletal system and provide care for conditions affecting the nerves, bones, tendons, joints, skin, and vascular supply of the hands and upper extremities. Dr. Buterbaugh currently sees patients two days a week and operates three days a week.

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Glenn’s daughter Kristin, the Cavalier Cup recipient in 2005, decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a doctor. But her path to a career in medicine was quite different than his. Matriculating at Northwestern University, she pursued a degree in American studies. She was accepted into Mount Sinai School of Medicine her sophomore year of college. Between college and medical school, she was awarded a Gates Scholarship at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom to study the history of science and medicine. Kristin is currently a fourth year orthopedic resident at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine. Although Kristin will likely take over the business one day, Glenn does not plan to retire anytime in the near future. “After all,” he said, “what Pittsburgh kid wouldn’t want to take care of professional sports teams when they love what they do?”

SPORT

THE PURPOSE AND BENEFITS OF SCHOLASTIC SPORT

“

My school sport experiences have been almost always positive and fun. I’ve made uncountable and inspiring friends, learned life skills and how to handle certain situations. I must admit, I love being the star athlete but that’s not my top priority. School sports are something I recommend to anyone for a good time and a good experience.

“

IS AN EXTENSION OF THE CLASSROOM:

– High School Athlete

By: Aimee Kimball, Ph.D. While there are many venues where athletic competition occurs, the benefits of scholastic sport participation is not limited to the confines of fields, courts, rinks, tracks, or even to the sport itself. Involvement in sport is far-reaching and student-athletes’ experiences begin in the school and extend to every aspect of life. While many athletes participate in their sport outside of school, it’s important to understand why sport exists. In 1913, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) was formed to promote the philosophy that interscholastic sport should instill educational values, build positive character, cultivate sportsmanship, and enhance personal welfare. Along with the health and wellness benefits associated with physical activity, it’s these values which I believe enhance athletes’ odds of being successful beyond their high school years. Almost 10 years ago, I was part of a group, which conducted a two-year research project across Pennsylvania, that was interested in learning more about scholastic sport in the state. Information as to the purpose and nature of scholastic sport was initially collected through focus groups conducted with parents, coaches, and student athletes from eight different schools. The knowledge provided by the focus groups was then utilized to create a survey which nearly 2,000 parents, coaches, athletes, and athletic directors completed. From the data, we were able to create a handbook to educate individuals involved in sport, from administrators to athletes, on the purpose of sport in schools and how they could best assist the athletic community in accomplishing these objectives. The key finding of the study was that student-athletes, coaches, parents, and athletic directors are mostly in agreement as to the role sport should serve in the lives of student-athletes. While

the groups may differ on what is most important, all believed that sport serves an educational and social purpose and that it provides opportunities for studentathletes to find success and to have a positive outlet for their time and energy. Essentially, the participants proposed the purpose of scholastic sport is: 1) to learn life skills 2) to have fun and make friends 3) to learn how to succeed through improving, contributing, and, when possible, competing and winning 4) to have a positive outlet for free time This is important to note because the purpose of scholastic sport differs from Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) or club sport participation. Often, athletes participate in outside organizations for additional or, in some cases, enhanced focus on competition. While striving to win is an important aspect of sport participation, it is not the emphasis nor should it be the basis of decisionmaking within the school environment; the focus of scholastic sport should be to emphasize the educational value of sport. As such, coaches, parents, and administrators should ensure that athletes are learning life skills to help them to be successful beyond athletics and that they experience the social, physical, and developmental benefits that can be obtained through sport participation.

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The Benefits of Sport Participation

SOCIAL BENEFITS OF SPORT: • • • • •

learn social skills develop and enhance friendships learn how to interact with authority enhance social development give student-athletes a way to express themselves • create social status • enhance social network • build a sense of community and school spirit

school when he is in sports. He knows his grades have to stay up and he can better balance his time. - Parent 78

“

My son does better in

“

It is important to provide an opportunity for student-athletes. Next, we

“

LIFE SKILLS LEARNED THROUGH SPORT: • hard work • dedication • preparation • integrity • discipline • respect • teamwork • responsibility • sportsmanship • time management • ability to deal with adversity • communication skills • goal setting • competitiveness

need to provide a safe and instructional environment in which to participate. Then, we need to teach and expect student responsibility and accountability. Winning should be a by-product of the “marriage” between opportunity, environment, and knowledgeable leaders with dedicated and committed athletes. - Athletic Director 5

Sport as Life Skills Education A key phrase used by both coaches and parents in the previously mentioned study was that sport is “an extension of the classroom.” That is, they believe that student-athletes should be learning life lessons through sport. Student-athletes agree that through their participation in sport they are learning skills that will apply to life beyond high school. Sport is basically a “microcosm of the real world” and, through sport, student-athletes are able to experience many challenges similar to those they will encounter in the real world – competition, adversity, conflict, failure, success, etc. If coaches and parents prioritize teaching not only sport skills but life skills, then athletes are able to learn valuable skills needed to be successful. In addition, they do so in a controlled and “safe” environment where failure will not dictate the rest of their lives and where they can learn the psychological skills to recognize this as a fact sooner rather than later.

The Social Benefits of Sport Sport creates a sense of belonging and, through sport, friendships are developed that will last a lifetime. It is an avenue where relationships can be built not only with teammates, but also with classmates and even with opponents. The social aspects of sport create a sense of fun and enjoyment for many involved and is often a main reason why students begin and continue to participate in sport. Recognizing this, we must make sure that scholastic sport continues to focus on building relationships and developing social skills.

Sport Provides Opportunities for Success Sport is a way for students to recognize that there are a variety of activities in which they can excel. Success can be found in the simple acts of improving and learning how to make oneself better which, in turn, enhances self-confidence and pride. The idea that success isn’t just about being the best at something is an important lesson for the high-achieving perfectionist to learn. Through understanding that we can choose how we define success, that we set our own goals, and that we control our effort in working to achieve those goals, studentathletes are also learning to focus on the process of achieving success and not defining themselves solely by the outcome.

Sport Provides a Positive Outlet Participation in athletics also provide student-athletes with a positive way to fill free time. Scholastic sport keeps children active and keeps them away from negative behavior.

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Sport Provides Physical and Psychological Benefits By being involved in sport, student-athletes are developing an interest in a lifelong activity that can carry with it physical benefits beyond the high school years. Without sport in schools, many students may not find a passion for physical activity. It’s essential to long-term health that all individuals recognize the value of exercise, not only for their physical health but also their mental well-being. For example, a research study that followed high school students through their high school years and the three years after graduation found that the amount of stress and depression experienced by those who participated in athletics was lower than those who did not and the overall rating of mental health was higher for the athletes.

About the Author:

Sport Can Benefit Academics Many student-athletes feel sport participation strengthens their desire to keep good grades and parents feel their children receive their best grades while in season. Many students at the top of the class are athletes. Schools with higher athletic participation rates and winning programs have been shown to also have higher test scores and higher graduation rates. Additionally, research suggests that physical activity can also provide a brain boost and enhance student learning. One study suggested that daily after-school sports improved students’ executive functioning, including ability to multitask and ignore distractions.

Sport Builds Resilience We are facing a generation of students entering college with higher levels of stress and anxiety than ever before. College counseling centers report being overwhelmed with the increased demand for their services. This isn’t because students have more stressors, it’s thought to be due to the fact that children haven’t been challenged as much, they haven’t faced adversity, and they haven’t been taught the skills needed to develop resilience. Some credit their lack of resilience to “snow plow” parents who smooth the way for their children so that failure is avoided. Sport provides a natural environment in which to teach studentathletes how to be resilient. Sport inherently creates opportunities for athletes to challenge themselves, to fail, and then to bounce back. This allows student-athletes to find out what they are made of and push themselves as far as possible, even in the face of adversity. Because sport has winners and losers, because not all athletes have a starting role, and because no one is perfect, in sport as in life, mistakes, failure, and disappointment occur. Because of this, parents and coaches can use sport to enhance the resiliency of student-athletes.

Dr. Aimee Kimball is a mental training and peak performance consultant in Pittsburgh, PA. She has a Ph.D. in education specializing in sport psychology from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in sport behavior and performance from Miami University (Ohio), and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The Pennsylvania State University. She spent 10 years as the mental training consultant for the Pittsburgh Penguins and

Summary

currently works as the director of

I have had the privilege of being affiliated with Sewickley Academy for over 12 years. During this time, I have seen many student-athletes come through both the old and new gym. I have heard their stressors, I have seen failures and struggles, I have seen amazing leaders, incredible teams, and many, many successes. What never ceases to amaze me is the student-athletes’ diligence, total dedication to both sport and school, and the commitment to being successful. To me, what’s even more important than the high school successes in and out of sport, is the success these student-athletes are finding beyond graduation from both high school and college. I have no doubt that our student-athletes’ experiences in scholastic sport and the life skills taught by their coaches contributed to their ability to be successful. I know Sewickley Academy’s athletic program uses sport as a tool to extend learning beyond the classroom and that it will continue to have a positive influence on the generations of athletes to come through its doors.

player and team development

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for the New Jersey Devils. www.KPEXconsulting.com

FLAT PANTHER

SNIP IT, SNAP IT, & SUBMIT IT Cut out Flat Panther and take him along with you as you travel around the globe, taking pictures of you as you go to show your Sewickley Academy pride. Submit your pictures via email to Alumni Relations at alumni@sewickley.org. Follow the Panther as he travels around with alumni, students, parents, and friends of the Academy on the Alumni Facebook page.

STREET ART IN

AMSTERDAM By: L.K. Sleat

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I live in several different worlds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; artist turned art educator turned yogi turned yoga teacher turned urban contemporary enthusiast! In June 2017, Sewickley Academy afforded me the opportunity to go to Amsterdam to gain my registered yoga teacher (RYT) 200 certification so I could teach yoga as a PE credit at the Academy. The teacher training at YogaFest Studio in the Westerpark part of Amsterdam was life-changing; the women in my group, and the city of Amsterdam, were intoxicating. The training was a four-week course, but my time in the Netherlands doubled as the result of another professional development opportunity, one I could not pass up. I was given the chance to paint a mural that would be highly visible â&#x20AC;&#x201C; great exposure for any artist.

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L.K. spends time sight-seeing in Amsterdam at one of the many canals.

L.K. tries on a pair of giant wooden clogs in Zaanse Schans, a town know for its historic windmills and distinctive green wooden houses.

The hub of Dutch culture has a new sheriff in town: street and urban contemporary art. While I have always admired street art and have been teaching it for years, Amsterdam’s colorful displays sealed the deal for me. I was off and exploring! The Nederlandsche Dok Sheepsbouw Maatschappij (NDSM) werf was one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world, building tank ships as well as huge passenger ships, cargo ships, bulk carriers, and war ships for the Dutch navy. The company closed its doors in 1984, and the empty buildings left to waste quickly became squatted by “city nomads,” craftsmen, artists, and wannabe artists settled in and united, naming themselves Stichting Kinetisch Noord. The Amsterdam City Council liked the idea of this new so-called “broedplaats” (breeding ground) and decided to subsidize Kinetisch to further develop the area and make good use of the large boathouse, the huge outside terrain, and ramps. “Lonely Planet” describes the NDSM werf as a “derelict shipyard turned edgy arts community that wafts a post-apocalyptic vibe: an old submarine slumps in the harbour, abandoned trams rust by the water’s edge, and graffiti splashes across almost every surface.” The area will be home to the largest street art museum in the world, opening in the summer of 2018. The space at NDSM is being curated by visionary Peter Coolen who, two years ago, came up with “free walls,” an area on the werf where any and all artists can come and paint without getting arrested. Being arrested often goes hand in hand with street art, and unfortunately is all too familiar for worldwide street artists like Shepard Faiery (he created the “Obama Hope” poster and the “Andre the Giant has a Posse” campaign) and Banksy, an anonymous British political guerilla graffiti artist who is known for never being seen (his signature painting is of a man throwing flowers, not a bomb). I was enamored with the beauty of this work, it made me “feel at home,” if that makes any sense. You can come and paint on the werf, knowing full well someone might

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come along in 15-20 minutes and paint right over it. This art is about process and documentation and removal of ego, a value I try to instill in my students. While I was working on my painting, a guy was next to me painting for a few hours. Forty-five minutes after he left, someone else came and painted completely over his work. Ah, the excellence of impermanence! As most know, Amsterdam is known to be the city of bikes, more bikes than people in fact. I, of course, took the challenge: no gears, one track braking with your feet, bags on each handlebar filled with 15 liters of paint in all different colors, rollers, and brushes – one roller was so long it stuck way up like a flag pole! Riding a bike in Amsterdam is basically taking your life in your hands, not dissimilar to New York City traffic. Every day, I’d bike ride 10 minutes from my place to Centraal Station, jump on the ferry for a 10-minute ride to the NDSM, jump off, and pedal to my spot. My first day of painting was glorious – 75 degrees and sunny. I pulled the rollers, brushes, and paint out, took a deep breath, and began to cover someone else’s work with white paint. I blocked out a 10x13 foot area and began to paint the outline of my design in light hues. While I was working, there were several young guys practicing their graffiti skills; the place was buzzing with creative people. I felt alive and in my element. After five hours of painting, I needed to find the loo, only a three-minute bike ride away. So I hopped on and peddled to the nearest café. I hit the loo, grabbed some water, and headed back to paint. When I arrived back to my spot I looked down in amazement and fury to see that all my paints had been stolen except for the black and white. I literally lay down on the cement paralyzed with anger for 20 minutes. When some of the shock passed, I got up to ask all the graffiti guys if they had seen anyone grab my supplies. They were all using spray paint cans so they were not the culprits.

A work in progress: L.K. paints her mural on a building in the Nederlandsche Dok Sheepsbouw Maatschappij (NDSM) werf.

At this point, I felt defeated and wanted to give up; I was too angry to cry. A Dutchie friend of mine stopped by so I told him what happened and he said, “Well at least you’ll have a good story!” I laughed and said, “That’s right! I’m not going to let them beat me. I did not fly half way across the world to give up!” The next day I peddled several kilometers to the paint store to buy only the primary colors, and back I went.

Amsterdam is and what cool things are happening in the city. (I did it, of course.) Another filmmaker came along and featured me in a music video for the song “Perfectly Pleasant” by the band Breakup Shoes. The next several days I froze, I painted, I continued to meet people from near and far, feeling so lucky to be an artist, wishing everyone could experience what I was.

This day was very different from the last, the temperature dipped down to the low 30s and was quite windy. I was prepared – I wore two wool sweaters, boots, and a parka with a very big hood. I was the only one out painting, but I met people from all over the world touring the werf and all of its art. I found myself giving impromptu history lessons of how street art came to be and the culture that surrounds it. There was a mix of people, some young, some older, some families; some spoke English, some did not. By the nod of the head we all spoke the same language of art. I was in pictures, taking pictures with my mural, documenting visitors’ time in the Netherlands. This made me realize people are hungry for new and different ways of making art.

Each morning I got up to go to my work station on the werf, I prayed that my painting was still there and that it had not been painted over. Each day was a miracle; the painting was still there, some of the crew at the museum came out regularly to check on me and said they could not believe it was there every day. My last day of painting, I got to the wall and discovered my make shift ladder (a wooden plank I found to lean up onto a metal hurdle to reach the super high spots) had been made into a bonfire, which ironically was still burning from the night before. It kept me warm, but I was unable to finish the top part of the mural and add details. I shrugged and smiled thinking what a crazy ride this has been. At the end of the day I was proud of myself for persisting through all the hurdles and accomplishing what I had come to do. After all, everything is temporary. I have just been lucky enough to ride the wave! Doei Amsterdam, until next time!

One day I was approached by a TV media team who wanted to film me for a Sunday Amsterdamsche Football Club (AFC) Ajax futbol commercial about how special

P.S. ic Video s u M ” t n a s Plea “Perfectly musicvideo / g r .o y le k ic www.sew ercial Ajax Comm y.org/ajax le k ic w e .s w ww

I gave all my remaining paint and brushes to guys who were hanging out painting. One young guy said he only had one color, I said now you have red, yellow, green, and blue. You would have thought I handed him a golden ticket.

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Athletic Trainer Suzi Peluso prepares Tatum McKelvey ‘19 to take the ImPACT baseline test prior to the start of basketball season.

ImPACT CONCUSSION

TESTING AT

AT SEWICKLEY ACADEMY By: Suzi Peluso, M.S., LAT, ATC, ITAT

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Fifteen percent doesn’t seem like a very significant percentage, but it is the amount of concussions reported in high school athletics; the percentage is similar for middle school athletics. That’s an estimated 600,000 total concussions per year – now this number seems staggering. At Sewickley Academy, we are working hard to prevent concussions and reduce their occurrence. Our first line of defense is to teach student-athletes sport-specific techniques. A few examples include how to properly head a soccer ball and anticipate a body check in order to absorb it better. Another “rule” that we follow is to maintain and properly use equipment according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Goggles should fit snuggly and not be cracked, bent, or rusted. Mouthguards should be fitted and worn around the teeth, not sticking out of the mouth being chewed on. Helmets should be checked for cracks, fit snugly, and the chin strap should be attached securely at all four points. It is the player’s responsibility to follow the rules that are set in place and it is the coaches’, referees’, and parents’ responsibility to enforce these rules. We value input about new products and ideas that may be out there. If a suggestion is brought to the athletic staff’s attention, we look into it to see if it is truly beneficial to our athletes. We always stay on top of the latest research and often share it with each other.

In the spring of 2008, we realized the value of ImPACT baseline testing. ImPACT stands for Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test. For the first few introductory years, parents had to sign a permission form for their child to take the baseline test. Once we were fully operational, it became a school requirement for all student-athletes in Grades 7-12 to take the baseline test at the beginning of their sports season. ImPACT is a computerized test measuring short-term memory, long-term memory, reaction time, attention span, and problem-solving skills; it also measures and tracks symptoms. Baseline tests are administered to get student-athletes’ scores before injury. Once an injury occurs or a concussion is suspected, a post-injury test is given and the scores are then compared. Baseline tests are repeated every two years. So what happens if a student-athlete takes a hit to the head? Sewickley Academy has a strict protocol for this type of injury. The athlete is immediately removed from practice or the game. If I am not present, I am called to the field or court. A sideline evaluation is administered which includes short-term memory, memory span, balance, and a checklist of symptoms. If these tests are “passed” and no symptoms are reported, there is still a period of observation to make sure symptoms don’t appear. If all stays well, the athlete is permitted to return to activity. If the tests are not passed, the athlete is removed from the activity and is required to take the post-injury ImPACT test. The post-injury test is administered 24-72 hours after the initial injury. If the post-injury scores are too low and do not compare to the baseline scores, the athlete is then referred to their pediatrician or a concussion center. Once a concussion is diagnosed from a physician, School Nurse Beth Brown, Director of Student Support Services Ryan Baxter, and myself work closely together to make sure the information is shared. Once a student is diagnosed with a concussion, their academic and physical accommodations from the physician are shared with the student’s Division Head, advisor, teachers, and athletic director and coaches if the student is an athlete. There is no set time that a student is out for a concussion as each person heals and recovers at their own pace. Symptoms of a concussion can last anywhere from days to weeks or even months. In order to rest the brain after injury, school work may be modified, rest periods are given, audiobooks may be used to reduce time reading, and time is limited on tech devices such as a computer, cell phone, TV, Smart Board, etc. Students hate falling behind in class, especially since our curriculum is so rigorous. Our teachers are very understanding and their concern lies with the student and their health, not with academics in this circumstance. Mr. Baxter and teachers will work closely with the concussed student to help them “catch up” once the academic accommodations have been reduced. How do the academic and athletic restrictions get reduced, or how does an athlete get cleared to resume sports? Ideally, I would work with the treating physician and they would let me know that the student-athlete has improved and should start a five-day return-to-play protocol. I would then work with them on increasing their activity level, starting with cardio then adding weight lifting, increasing duration and intensity each day. The athlete would then have to engage in practice without contact before engaging in contact with teammates. Physicians like recovering students to undergo “friendly fire” before “enemy fire.” As long as no symptoms return, the student-athlete can continue to the next step. A final post-injury ImPACT test would then be given, and the results would be passed to the physician for final clearance.

Middle School students Olivia Jackson ‘23 and Lakshmi Mulgund ‘23 take the ImPACT baseline test under the guidance of Athletic Trainer Suzi Peluso.

When it comes to concussions, we rely on the athlete being honest in several aspects because so many of the symptoms of a concussion are subjective and cannot be seen. Most of the time we witness the athlete taking the hit, but there are some instances we don’t see it. Concussions happen on and off the court or field, during sporting events outside of Sewickley Academy, and sometimes even at home. The athlete should report head injuries to his or her parents, coaches, or myself. Some athletes will not report symptoms because they think it will get them back in the game faster or they’re afraid of losing their spot on the team. Unreported symptoms can lead to a more serious brain injury, longer recovery time, more time lost in the classroom, and Second Impact Syndrome. Second Impact Syndrome is when an athlete takes a second hit to the head before the first impact is healed which can lead to swelling of the brain. Because symptoms of a concussion are cumulative, it’s important that athletes report their symptoms so that they can adequately heal. I have had an athlete who had three concussions diagnosed relatively close together, with two being in the same sport season. The big question that is always being discussed and researched is how many concussions can an athlete have? There is no longer a set number as doctors look at symptoms and healing; they monitor if the athlete has difficulty concentrating, balance issues, anxiety, and the goals he or she is looking to accomplish along with other factors. Some physicians feel that as long as therapy is completed (if needed) and the athlete responds to treatment, concussions are a treatable injury and activity is encouraged. The physician also takes into account the athlete’s and parents’ desires – does the benefit outweigh the risk or does the risk outweigh the benefit? I always tell our student-athletes, “You have two ankles and 10 fingers but only one brain so you have to take care of it because you don’t have another one and you need the one you have.”

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WHAT WILL

YOUR LEGACY BE? If you believe that the Academy, a special teacher, or coach made a difference in your life, please consider making that opportunity a possibility for another student.

“In 1946, Sewickley Academy’s endowment was established, and like the planter of the tree under whose shade he never will sit, the originators acted from a fundamental posture of hope for the future. In the aftermath of war and despite enormous challenges facing the world, they believed resolutely in the power of education to shape the future. They were committed to supporting generations of students they would never know who today benefit from their faith in the promise of tomorrow.”

The Pillars Society recognizes those benefactors who, through an estate gift, believe in the future of our school and its mission to engage hearts, minds, and hands in the service of a greater good. Your gift of whatever size can make a world of difference in the future of a child. Contact Alumni Associate Susan (Ratcliffe ’55) Sour at ssour@sewickley.org or 412 741-2230 ext. 3047 for further information.

- Head of School Kolia O’Connor

PILLARS SOCIETY 2017 James J. Angel ’77 Claire (Lang ’90) Ballantyne Josephine Gilmore Bell ’54 R. Britton Colbert ’62 Winifred Farin John K.’51* and Doris Foster Yale* and Louise Frame Ronald E.* & C.A. Gebhardt Deborah Gray ’68 Larry E. Hall John O. Heard ’60

Dan & Joan Hilson Nancy Crowley Inman ’84 Albert F. and L. Gail Knight Jeffrey A. Lenchner ’77 Dr. John S. Liggett, Jr. ’66 George J. & Jaimie Magovern John & Dolores Mahoney Jennifer L. Markus ’89 David and Ellen Martin Robert A. McKean III ’52 Maureen and Jack McKnight

Wm. John ’70 and Kathryn Powell Robert W. Riordan Henriette E. Rougraff ’45 Elizabeth Standish Sackson ’83 Henry Z. Shenk ’74 Susan Ratcliffe Sour ’55 Billie Spencer ’67 Lee Jackson Warner ’78 Richard and Audrey Weinzierl Missy Ratcliffe Zimmerman ’60

We are grateful to these past benefactors: Edward B. Blue ’10 William Boyd, Jr. ’29 Constance Irwin Bray ’53 Nicholas C. Chubb ’37 Robert B. Egan Gerta Engstrom family Katherine C. Galbraith Josephine “Bobbie” Gilmore Mary Clause Heard 40

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B.F. III and Katharine H. Jones John P. Levis, Jr. E. Thorne McKallip ’29 Otto and Maude Meinhardt Anne McKnight Murdock ’37 Martha Anderson Nash ’37 Constance H. O’Neil ’30 George P. O’Neil ’30 Laura Liggett Oliver ’33

Henry Oliver John C. Oliver, Jr. ’26 Virginia Rose Rea Lucy K. Schoonmaker Frank C. Schroeder ’28 Alden H.J. Sector Harton S. Semple ’36 G. Whitney Snyder Judge William L. Standish ’44 *deceased

SO WHY SHOULD YOU GIVE TO THE ANNUAL FUND WITH YOUR GIFT, WE CAN...

PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID

Annual Fund KEEP THE LIGHTS ON

ENCOURAGE STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Watch our video at

www.sewickley.org/afvideo.

MAINTAIN OUR CAMPUS TECHNOLOGY

...AND MUCH MORE!

AUCTION AWE: 42

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The Rutherford family’s generosity was an enormous benefit to the school this year when two lucky Sewickley Academy students were able to experience a day in the life of General Manager Jim Rutherford and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Jim, Leslie, and their son, Grade 3 student James, were gracious enough to put together several Penguins experience packages for the 30th Annual Auction, “That’s Amore,” held on April 22, 2017. This was an awe-inspiring day for senior Peter Curran and freshman Jeb Stevenson. They met Mr. Rutherford at the rink in Cranberry Township and began their day with a personalized grand tour of the facility.

shown around the facility and seeing behind-the-scenes of

“

Going to the Penguins practice facility was incredible! Being an NHL team was a wonderful experience. From talking to Mr. Rutherford about the team and his past experiences to watching the Pens practice on the ice, there was a lot to see and hear. There is a lot more thought and care that goes into an NHL team than I could have ever thought. I am incredibly thankful for the experience and will remember this for a long time.

– Jeb Stevenson ’21 First stop, the Penguins’ locker room: Jeb and Peter experienced the thrill of taking photos in front of the immaculate Pens logo inlaid in the carpet and sitting on their favorite player’s bench. They visited the skate repair room to learn how game-time broken blades are repaired on-the-fly without removing the boot, and the uniform room with shifting walls designed for efficient housing of extra gear. They viewed a map of the world with pins locating each player’s home, were introduced to Coach Sullivan and Assistant Coach Mark Recchi, visited the training, strength and conditioning, and weight rooms, and even caught a glimpse of the players warming up for practice. They visited the video training room and took a tour of The Training Table Café, where the players and guests are offered healthy and nutritional choices that meet the Penguins’ guidelines. The two boys also enjoyed a surprise meet-and-greet with Mario Lemieux, former professional ice hockey player and current owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The morning concluded with an exclusive look at the players’ and coaches’ entrance where the five Stanley Cups (1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017) and a floor-to-ceiling Awards Wall are housed.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH PITTSBURGH PENGUINS GENERAL MANAGER JIM RUTHERFORD By: Patti (Coyne) Stine

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Peter Curran ‘18 and Jeb Stevenson ‘21 pose with Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux during an impromptu meet and greet.

The day ended with some Penguins goodies and a fond farewell. Thank you again to the Rutherford family for inspiring students and supporting the school’s 2017 Annual Auction!

“

Our visit to UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex was an incredible experience. Being able to spend a day with an NHL general manager and getting to meet some of the coaches and players was a really unique experience. My favorite part was a conversation I had with Mr. Rutherford while watching the practice, during which I asked him a lot of questions about the team. For example, I asked him if the Penguins players were tired after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, and he told me that they weren’t physically tired, but mentally they weren’t as sharp. Insights like that aren’t known outside the locker room, so to get the chance to learn a little bit extra was really cool.

– Peter Curran ’18

“

During a lovely lunch prepared by the chef, the students asked Mr. Rutherford about his role with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Coach Mike Sullivan popped in just before practice to greet the students. Mr. Rutherford then shared some stories about his early days as a goalie for the Detroit Red Wings, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Los Angeles Kings, and explained his transition into his general manager positions. Mr. Rutherford took his special guests for a tour of his office and gave them the chance to watch an on-ice practice from a bird’s-eye view balcony which was directly attached.

SA’s ALUMNI HOCKEY GAME Once again, on a late, calm, autumn day, the Sewickley Academy Alumni Hockey Game created a far from calming atmosphere inside the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center. Many alumni and their families came out to show their support for this event, organized by Grade 4 teacher Louis Pessolano ’97, on Wednesday, November 22. Throughout three periods, shots rang off posts and tickled the twine from players young and, well, not so young. Early goals by speedy forwards Kenny Atwell ’08 and Alex Echavarria ’08 put the Light Team ahead of the Dark Team by 2-0. But that was short lived as Grady Moyer ’12 was able to throw home a rebound past older brother and net minder Hayden Moyer ’10. This “brotherly connection” ended up being the theme for the afternoon as Chris Batyko ’98 scored far side low on Nick Batyko ’00. Likewise, Jack Straka ’12 physically sent a message in the form of an open body check laying out Joey Straka ’17. From a feed from long-time coach Eric Holihan, Scott Limbaugh ’06 was able to tie the game up at seven deep in the third period. With less than five minutes to go in the game, the usual dynamic defensive duo of Trey Carbeau ’10 and Pessolano were picked apart with goals by Light Team forwards Sam Duerr ’12 as well as Atwell getting his second of the game. As the waning moments ticked away on another well fought game, all that was left on the ice was the sweat and smiles of those who attended. The Light Team defeated the Dark Team 10-7.

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53 45

The Park family - Kevin ’95, Cecily ’29, Olivia ’22, Marguerite ’95, and Andrew ’24 - are all smiles with Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan, General Manager Jim Rutherford, and the Stanley Cup.

LORD STANLEY VISITS SEWICKLEY ACADEMY By: Patti (Coyne) Stine The Annual Fund was off to a fabulous start this year thanks to the efforts of the Rutherford family! On Sunday, September 3, 2017, they delivered a special gift to Sewickley Academy – the Stanley Cup! Members of the Sewickley Academy community were able to take a photo with the Cup in the Events Center and Means Alumni Gym when they made a “back-to-back” donation to the Annual Fund for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years to celebrate the Pittsburgh Penguins back-to-back Stanley Cup wins! The Annual Fund, which is the largest fundraising effort for the school, provides money for the current year’s operating expenses and in many ways helps the Academy accomplish its daily behind-the-scenes functions such as maintaining up-to-date technology, special programming, financial aid, athletic equipment, art materials, set design, classroom tools, and even keeping the lights on every day. You name it, the Annual Fund helps support it!

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With this first-of-its-kind Stanley Cup event held at Sewickley Academy, donors raised over $111,000 during the event for the 2017-2018 Annual Fund and committed over $93,000 for the 2018-2019 Annual Fund! The Means Alumni Gym in the Events Center was the place to be when a few lucky and generous donors had the pleasure of meeting General Manager (GM) Jim Rutherford and Head Coach Mike Sullivan. Guests heard first-hand tales about the road to the Stanley Cup and viewed the signatures on the Cup, locating their favorite players. Mr. Rutherford showed guests where his name appeared as the winning GM with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and again in 2016 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins most recent Stanley Cup winning names were missing as they were slated to be engraved on the Cup in October. Fans were able to shake hands, snap some selfies, have their photos taken professionally with the two gracious men (some even propped up their babies inside the top of the Cup!), check out the inscription inside the top of the cup, and even had the exciting chance to try on Coach Sullivan’s and Mr. Rutherford’s championship rings. Thank you to the Rutherfords and Sullivans for hosting this fabulous event and partnering with Sewickley Academy’s Annual Fund. We also want to thank all of you who have made a gift to the Annual Fund this year! We rely on parents, alumni, grandparents, friends, relatives, and corporations to support our school and our students each year. The Annual Fund campaign runs July 1-June 30, so if you have not made your donation to support our students yet, we are challenging you and your family to join this effort with a two-year commitment gift or pledge to the Annual Fund. We know you have many charitable options, but we hope you feel as strongly about education as we do. All students and faculty benefit from your gift every day.

Let’s Go Panthers and Pens!

DID YOU KNOW?

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE STANLEY CUP You are not allowed to lift the cup if you haven’t won it. In 1892, the trophy had a reported face value of 10 guineas, which translated to about $50 at the time. The Stanley Cup is named after Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston, the 1892 Governor General of Canada. The Stanley Cup turned 126 in March 2018 and is considered priceless; its value is not measured through traditional currency units, but rather through the sacrifices of an evergrowing yet still exclusive fraternity of players who have claimed it. Since the trophy came into existence in 1892, its appearance and its meaning have grown exponentially. It has undergone cosmetic changes and bears the scars and imperfections of 125 years of sometimes hard living, but it is still perfect in the eyes of players and fans across the world. Twelve women have their names inscribed on the Cup. The first was Marguerite Norris, who was the president of the Detroit Red Wings for their 1954-55 season victory. The Cup is always accompanied by at least one representative of the Hockey Hall of Fame, dubbed the “Keeper of the Cup.” After the Colorado Avalanche won the 1995-96 championship, defenseman Sylvain Lefebvre used his personal day with the Cup to have his daughter christened in the top bowl. In 2007, the Stanley Cup went to war. To boost morale for Canadian and American troops serving in the Middle East, the Cup was flown into an active war zone at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar, Afghanistan, for a meet and greet.

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Photo Credit: Robert Schmura

so I just made it up,” she remembered. “You can see on the video the moment I forget, and then I just start dancing around. It’s so cute!”

By: Jerilyn (Carter ’86) Scott Figure skater Emmy Francek ’18 appears to be one of those natural-born athletes, simply gifted from the beginning with extraordinary strength, balance, and talent. As a seven year old, she was already the youngest member of the Dutch National Figure Skating Team. By eleven, she was ranked second in the United States in her level. Clearly she had something special from the very beginning. Except… before the age of four, she had never even walked. “I had a disability where my brain wouldn’t connect with my legs,” she explained. Even after intensive medical exams, the doctors were unsure exactly why Emmy couldn’t walk. “Finally one doctor suggested that maybe I was just really uncoordinated, and maybe putting me into a sport would motivate the nerves in my legs to connect to my brain.” Her parents chose ice skating because, as she says, “No beginner can walk on the ice anyhow!” Emmy loved everything about skating from the beginning, and, as they had hoped, her motor skills developed rapidly. Within a year, she was walking normally. Her first teacher blew bubbles for her to chase around the ice and motivated her with stickers every time she reached a goal. “I got very competitive about it,” Emmy laughed. “I had this Bratz helmet that was just covered in stickers. I loved that helmet.” Home videos show Emmy’s irrepressible spirit and joy in skating even as a tiny child. “One time, I was competing and I totally forgot my program,

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When Emmy’s family moved from La Grange, Kentucky, to the Amstelveen, a city right outside of Amsterdam, Netherlands, two years later (her father took a job as the chief financial officer at Akzo Nobel), she continued to pursue figure skating seriously. She immediately tried out for the Dutch National Figure Skating Team and was selected as their youngest member. “It was mostly all these eighteen year olds and then me, this little seven year old,” Emmy said. The Dutch team provided intense skating lessons as well as off-ice training, including conditioning and ballet lessons to help with the fluidity motion, core strength, and flexibility. “Ballet was hard,” Emmy said. “My teacher was this Russian woman who only spoke Russian and Dutch. To communicate, she’d just smack me on the leg if I needed to raise it higher.” Emmy quickly learned Dutch. She continued to excel during the five years her family lived in the Netherlands, becoming the eleventh-ranked skater in the country at the teens level (which translates to the intermediate level in the American system). By the time she returned to the United States (Cleveland, then Pittsburgh two years later) at age eleven, Emmy was competing in a variety of figure skating genres such as Theater on Ice, which is a team activity, and Showcase, in which show numbers are judged more subjectively than other genres. One of her favorite memories comes from a Theater on Ice performance she did with The Ice Theater of Cleveland. The theme of her team’s routine was out of the box, so some skaters were costumed in PVC pipe “boxes” while others were costumed as artsy, creative ideas. “We used so many sequins, and so many sequins dropped on the ice during our routine that the U.S. Figure Skating Association made a rule about us,” she said. They instituted regulations about how many sequins can be used in costumes. “Now I have a rule about me,” she laughed. Other favorite memories include impromptu dance parties

Photo Credit: Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

with fellow skaters during competitions, and the time she competed while suffering from severe road-rash from a skateboarding incident. “I had taken all the skin off my arm and my side. I went out there and had one of the best skates of my life, but I came off the ice and I didn’t even remember what I did!” Emmy has won honors and medals in many different kinds of skating. Most recently, she was a 2017 United States Figure Skating Triple Gold Medalist, earning gold in Moves in the Field, Ice Dance, and Solo Ice Dance. She is currently pursuing a gold medal in International Ice Dance. Although she doesn’t compete as much anymore (she wants to focus on performing), Emmy is very active in choreography and coaching. She choreographed and starred in Robert Morris University’s “Christmas on Broadway” production, skated in West Virginia’s “Symphony on Ice,” and is preparing for PPG’s Princess Skate. Besides skating before school several days a week, Emmy spends Saturdays working with younger skaters. “I love the next generation of skaters,” she says. “They’re so passionate and creative about it. They remind me of myself when I was little.” Emmy credits her skating career and many of her coaches with shaping the person she has become. Her first real coach, Sarah Neal, had an enormous impact on her. “She was tough on me. I was still so little. I’d come off the ice crying because I had worked so hard and she had still yelled at me so much,” she remembered. But, the perseverance and resilience Emmy learned was invaluable. “She really shaped who I am today with that structure and how she taught.” Emmy also credits another coach, Elena Valova, who was a Russian Olympic champion in the 80s. “She pushed me to limits I didn’t know I had,” she said. Her parents, while always incredibly supportive, are not ice skaters themselves. “They grew up skating on lakes in Michigan, on rough ice with secondhand gear, just for fun. They didn’t know anything about the sport,” she said. “They really trust the coaches. The coaches are the best resource we have.”

Although the Academy doesn’t offer an ice skating program, Emmy is able to use her skills on the ice for performances on Sewickley Academy’s stage. A staple in Senior School productions, she feels at home in front of (and behind) the curtain, exuding confidence in every show. “Figure skating has shaped me to be completely aware of my body; on the ice, you have to know how you move to avoid injury and improve your movement so that it is more aesthetically pleasing. This aspect makes dance and skating quite similar. Both also serve as an emotional release which ties in my love of performance at Sewickley Academy,” Emmy said. “Figure skating has allowed me to learn who I am so much so that I now have the capability and the security to play characters and make choices on that stage with reckless abandon. Here at Sewickley, our performing arts program challenges students so that they can make those difficult choices on stage but still be supported; it is unlike any theatre program of which I have been a part.” Emmy’s skating has also led her to her career goal of studying medicine. She plans to study biomedical engineering in college in order to explore how the human body adapts to specific activities such as figure skating. “Over time, your ears develop so you don’t get dizzy when you spin. You can study that, study how your body changes when you skate,” she explained. “In studying things like that, you can make some really amazing discoveries about how the body works.” Emmy has already begun a project that uses sensors to study how pressure lands on a skate blade and how that pressure is transferred into the body. “When you jump, the body absorbs about six to 10 times your body weight,” she said. “That’s incredible pressure on your joints.” Through her studies, she wants to gain a better understanding of how the body works, especially when exceptional demands are placed on it. Emmy also expects to continue skating long into the future. She would love to take a gap year before college to skate with Disney on Ice. She is also pursuing the certification required to be an official coach. “Skating is a great way to relieve stress,” she said. “It’s a great way to get all of my emotions out. People are just so supportive of what I do on the ice.” Figure skating has certainly shaped the life of the little girl who couldn’t walk until she was four. From scooting around the ice in a sticker-covered Bratz helmet, to being a nationally ranked athlete in two countries, to studying biomedical engineering… skating has been the common thread. “Skating will always be something I do because I love it,” Emmy said simply. “It just enriches my life.”

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FRESHMAN EMILY SZABO

BUMPS HER WAY TO THE TOP BY SKIING DOWN MOGULS By: Brittnea Turner You are at the top of a mountain, skiers call it a “course”, but let’s be real. It’s a mountain. Imagine strapping on skis, holding your breath, and when you hear the signal you go down that course as fast as you can, purposely.

ramping facilities, as well as partaking in winter training opportunities with the Vail Ski Club and the Bristol Freestyle Team, I am always working on getting stronger and faster,” Emily said.

Skiing down a smooth slope is challenging and invigorating in and of itself, but when Emily Szabo ’21 is racing down a course it’s not on a smooth surface, but rather an intentionally bumpy one. She skis moguls including two jumps on the competition courses where she performs tricks. If you’re not familiar with the sport, moguls are mounds of snow that skiers maneuver over at high speeds, while performing turns and oftentimes tricks or stunts. Not only does Emily ski for fun, she competes, and wins, at the top level. She is the reigning U.S. Junior National Mogul Skiing Champion.

Emily began competing when she was about seven years old and, like most athletes who strive to compete at the highest level, and she has faced many challenges and obstacles. “Every day during training, I am constantly working to set my standards higher and achieve more things – whether it be small, such as improving a detail in my turns for example, or whether it be big and involve doing a new trick. I overcome such hurdles by focusing and performing,” she stated. Emily trains daily at home, at a local gym/physical therapy facility, and at various skiing locations. Primarily she trains from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. each day when she’s at Bristol Resort near Rochester, New York, and in Vail, Colorado.

Emily began skiing when she was two years old. Her interest in skiing came as a natural result of growing up around the sport. Her dad, Dr. Josh Szabo ’89, is a doctor for the U.S. Freestyle Mogul team. She recalled, “[my dad] asked me when I was six if I would like to join a local team at Seven Springs, so I said ‘yes’ and gave it a try.” Skiing may come naturally to her, but she trains hard to continuously improve her abilities and skill set. “By going to summer camps on snow and at water

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With dedication, rigorous training, and hard work, Emily has won numerous competitions. Last year, she won the Eastern Young Guns Championship at Holiday Valley, New York, prior to advancing within the Junior National division that she won last year. To advance to that league, she had to garner enough points from her performances at regional events to be invited to compete at the national level.

The Junior Nationals were held in Sun Valley, Idaho, on March 13-19, 2017, and at the age of 13, Emily was the youngest competitor to win this event. She represented the United States at the 2018 Junior World Championship in Duved, Sweden, in April. “Winning Junior Nationals in Sun Valley was one of the happiest moments in my skiing career so far. Nobody knew I would win, so when I did, it came as a complete surprise,” Emily fondly recalled. “I was very happy at the win, but I have to remember the mental and physical strategies that helped me win so I can employ them in the future. Not only has my win given me more practice at improving my mentality while competing, but it has also made me even more thankful for my family and coaches who made it happen.” This year, she competed in the U.S. Selections in Winter Park, Colorado; the Eastern Regional Event in Bristol, New York; NorAm Events in Val Saint-Côme, Quebec, Canada, Killington, Vermont, and Park City, Utah; Junior Nationals in Park City; U.S. Nationals in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire; and the Junior World Championships in Are, Sweden. Emily placed seventh in singles at Junior Nationals and finished in the top 16 in duals. She placed nineteenth in singles in the U.S. Nationals, finishing in the top 32 in duals, and sixteenth in singles and eleventh in duals at the Junior World Championship. She was also named the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) MVP Skier in the Eastern Division.

as trimester finals. One of the benefits of participating in a non-school sponsored sport is that Emily can compete and be passionate about skiing without it overlapping with her academic pursuits. “Without my coaches having links to the school, I can fully separate school and skiing in my life so I can focus on both of them separately,” she stated. Emily draws her inspiration from fellow mogul skier K.C. Oakley who inspires her both as a person and an athlete because of her athletic and academic accomplishments. K.C. made the U.S. Ski Team while graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, and Emily thinks she is truly impressive. Emily has just begun high school, and like her dad and mom, Katherine Szabo, M.D., she would like to study medicine. “The human anatomy is of great interest to me, and I would really enjoy helping people by being a surgeon,” she said. She hopes and dreams to be like K.C. and make the Olympic Team for mogul skiing, but to also graduate from a great college and get a stable job afterwards. Emily’s parting words of advice to someone who wants to compete at the national level, “always keep on pushing yourself to do your best while maintaining a positive mentality.”

Now that Emily is competing at an international level, she is learning about the importance of work-life balance in her competitive skiing career. She still has to focus on her academic studies here at Sewickley Academy. Being a world-class student athlete has its challenges essentially because she misses large chunks of school and valuable class time. “As school work and skiing are difficult to manage simultaneously, it always helps to keep in close communication with teachers so I stay up-to-date with material and homework.” She’s even found a creative outlet during the school day to help bring balance and relaxation to her demanding schedule by getting her hands into the mud. “As academics wring out my brain, a great place to wind down is in the Lower School ceramics studio to throw and glaze pots and relax,” she said. Alternatively, skiing has equipped her with the mentality to remain positive and have constructive mindsets going into big exams such

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BRIDGET HICKTON

CAN’T STOP HORSING AROUND By: Brittnea Turner Many children have heard adults say “stop horsing around” when they’re playing at inappropriate or inopportune times. Grade 7 student Bridget Hickton hears quite the opposite – “walk,” “trot,” “cantor,” “reverse” – and gets to horse around; her parents even encourage it!

Bridget was a little nervous at her first few competitions and it took a long time before her nerves went away. But now that she’s competing in nearly 15 competitions a year, she gets more excited than nervous, compelling her to do well in the arena.

Bridget set her eyes on horses and equestrian sports at a very young age while visiting her brother Conor at Georgetown University during one of his hockey tournaments. As fate would have it, the tournament was being played in Virginia near an equestrian college, so Bridget and her family ventured over between games to watch a competition. A few years later, at the ripe age of five, the Hicktons were visiting friends, one of whom owned a horse that wasn’t being ridden on a regular basis. Bridget begged her mom to let her ride and the journey into the saddle arena began.

“I had a groom my first show; one of the advanced girls walked me through everything,” she recalled. “It’s kind of like practice at home, but you get more dressed up, it’s much more professional, and there’s a judge in a normal arena. You complete a course, which is a series of fences, and you get judged on your ride and get placed.”

In order to participate in equestrian competitions, one needs to find a barn that’s willing to take on young riders. An eager Bridget had to wait until she was eight years old to join the sport, but began riding lessons when she was seven at a local barn in Sewickley called The Classic Equestrian Riding School. “When we [she and her mom] first went to meet Sandra (Sandy Dooney), the owner and head trainer of the riding school, she showed me around the barn and then scheduled a lesson for me,” she recalled. “We went over the next day and Sandy helped me tack up the horse and then put me on the lunge line, which is a line the trainer connects to the horse and the horse just walks around in a circle. I started getting regular lessons and as I became more advanced, I started having lessons off the lunge line and jumping really small fences. I’ve been riding for about five years now.”

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There are three categories within show jumping. Hunters and jumpers are the two divided categories and within hunters there is another category called hunters and equitation. The jumpers category is about speed and, according to Bridget, not knocking the rails off the fence. This category is judged based on the rider’s ability to follow the rules versus how the rider looks. Alternatively, in hunters and equitation, the judges are evaluating how the rider looks, not how the horse looks underneath the rider; and in the hunters category, the round is all about the horse. The most expensive horses are valued for their ability to compete in this category because they don’t need their riders to guide them through a course. “Our whole barn has a meeting towards the end of the show year, which runs from December to mid-October. November is a transitional month to the next show year. During the meeting, the barn members plan for the upcoming season, ask for availability for shows, and determine the level each participant is going to ride in,” Bridget explained. She competes in the hunter and equitation division.

Bridget formed a new duo with her riding partner Disco that she purchased in October 2016. Finding him, however, was quite the process. The search commenced to vett a good horse the prior year when she physically and mentally outgrew the horses she had leasing rights to compete on. Vetting requires the horse to get a checkup and the rider to participate in on-site visits to see if their temperaments match. The search included using horse-buying sites such as bigeq.com where she would communicate back and forth with a horse’s seller. Disco, a Hanoverian, was the first horse she really liked who actually passed the vetting process.

Bridget’s consistent training and dedication combined with the inspiration and support of her mom, trainer, barn family, and her many siblings, has proved successful. She continues to step up her game and advance in her sport which is judged by the fence height jumped. Three years ago, she started out doing cross rails; two years ago she was able to jump two and half feet; and now she’s able to soar over three foot fences. She has placed in every competition she has entered, and this year she competed in three events – two equitation divisions and one hunter division. “I won both the equitation divisions and came in second in the hunters,” she said proudly.

“Horses are measured by hands, which is four inches, so he is about 16.125. Horses are not measured to their heads; they are measured to their withers, which is where the neck meets the body, so he’s a pretty good size. He’s pretty bulky and very built in accordance with his breed,” she said of her horse. “Disco is what’s called a bay, which is any shade of brown. He’s really dark, chocolatey almost, with a white stripe on his face and three white socks. I think he’s cute,” she laughed. Disco is his barn name, but in the competition arena he goes by Dream Dancer.

As far as hopes and dreams in her sport are concerned, she stated, “I want to have a very good competition year. I just want to have fun with it while competing at my highest level.” So what advice would she offer to someone who wants to compete in equestrianism? “I would say that even though there are many challenges, keep doing it because you will fall in love with the sport.”

She doesn’t have a favorite horse from her years of competing, but she does have special fondness for Kalypso, the horse she competed on for most of the past year. Disco and Bridget are still learning how to work as a team, as he’s not the easiest horse to compete with because he often gets spooked. During the school year, Bridget attends competitions twice a month on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and once a month during the summer. Finding an even balance between sport and school can be challenging, especially during the peak season in January through May. However, the flexibility of the class rotation schedule at Sewickley Academy – missing one class in each of her subjects over the course of a long weekend – has afforded her the flexibility to pursue her passion. “Sewickley Academy has helped me be a better athlete by supporting me and my riding,” she said.

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Sewickley Academy Athletes

Benefit from Multi-Talented Athletic Staff By: Win Palmer Sewickley Academy has an incredible coaching staff that comprises more than 40 people, about half of whom are full-time employees. These dedicated men and women fulfill the mission of the school on a daily basis through their teaching of fundamentals, individualized skill development, emphasis on team development, stress on sportsmanship, and concern for the personal safety and welfare of each member of our athletic teams. Assistant Athletic Director Heather Border and I are proud to guide, assist, and support these wonderful and caring people. Furthermore, Sewickley Academy is most fortunate to have three talented members in addition to our athletic staff – Athletic Trainer Suzi Peluso, Mental Training and Peak Performance Consultant Dr. Aimee Kimball, and Director of Strength and Conditioning Ivan White – who make a huge difference in the quality and care of our student-athletes.

Athletic Trainer Suzi Peluso Mrs. Suzi Peluso joined our school as a full-time employee over 20 years ago. During the day, she assists School Nurse Beth Brown in the health room, coordinates transportation schedules, and performs impact concussion testing. Beginning at 2:30 p.m., Suzi officially begins her duties as the Academy’s athletic trainer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “the demand for athletic trainers across all practice settings is increasing and estimates that the athletic training profession will grow 21% by 2022.” As the awareness of the long-term effects of concussion and injury grows through detailed studies and statistics, so does the understanding of the importance of safety in youth sports and the effectiveness of athletic trainers in prevention and rehabilitation. The significance of the unwavering abilities of Suzi serves a greater purpose in the lives of our students and families. Working with students in the Lower, Middle, and Senior Schools on a daily basis allows Suzi to get to know our students from many perspectives. Thus, when dealing with a student on the field, gym, or court, as well as in the training room, she is able to offer more than just a medical diagnosis. Her ability to be serious combined with her wonderful sense of humor and insightful understanding of our students produces that rare combination of skills of the consummate professional. Our students trust her immensely as

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they know she will do what is best for them. Our coaches value that Suzi will make the decision, along with a treating physician, as to the return to play of a student athlete. Suzi contacts parents whenever she is made aware of a head injury or potential serious injury that needs further evaluation. If the injury occurs at an away game, the coach will contact her as soon as possible so that she can work closely with the student’s parents. In addition, a number of years ago Dr. Shannon Mulholland (former Director of Support Services, current Head of Middle School) worked closely with Suzi and myself to develop a communication plan that involves the parents, the faculty from an injured student’s division, and the student’s coaches so that students can receive academic accommodations while they are unable to participate in athletics due to a head injury. As they make progress to return to participation, the accommodations may change, and, upon return to full participation, they no longer receive accommodations. There is no data to reflect how many schools are actively engaged with their community to support students and families during this time of need, but Suzi’s work in this area is superior.

Director of Strength and Conditioning Ivan White

Mental Training and Peak Performance Consultant Dr. Aimee Kimball

It’s hard to believe this now, but in the early 2000s, students received their training in the fitness room through the direction of their individual coach or a coach of another sport who was willing to help that student out. Our coaches had an interest in the area of physical training but did not have the appropriate skill set and education. For 13 years, our students, faculty, and staff have been fortunate to receive the guidance and expertise of Mr. Ivan White, who is not only well trained for this position but has over 25 years of experience in training students and adults.

Dr. Aimee Kimball received her Ph.D. specializing in sport psychology from The University of Tennessee. She spent nine years as the director of mental training at UPMC Center for Sports Medicine before founding KPEX Consulting. Dr. Kimball is the director of player and team development for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL, and she was previously the mental training consultant for the Pittsburgh Penguins for a decade, where she was part of their 2009 and 2016 Stanley Cup Championships. Aimee has been working with Sewickley Academy student-athletes for the past 13 years.

Ivan approaches the fitness center and the core training room as a testing ground for preparing students with foundational skills of lifelong wellness. This foundation is both safe and efficient as he assesses each student by providing individualized learning in a group setting. He focuses on developing the students core strengths by addressing the needs of the body while adapting to the age appropriateness of the exercise. If you were to visit the fitness center on a busy afternoon, you would witness Ivan leading our students through a healthy balance of serious and fun approaches. Female and male students alike appreciate how hard he pushes them to stretch their minds and their muscles while making it fun. He often participates in the activity to lead by example before walking around the room to individually help the students.

The mind impacts you from the moment you wake up. Dr. Kimball focuses on peak performance. When she meets individually with a player, she’ll talk about what’s wrong but, more importantly, she’ll focus on what is in the athlete’s control and work on throwing out what is not. Her role is to give the student a different perspective and not let him/her hold himself/herself back. You may wonder why coaches can’t provide similar insights. First, Dr. Kimball’s training and background are impeccable. She is not here to make judgmental decisions about a player that a coach has to, such as playing time, roles on the team, etc. Thus, students are usually far more comfortable admitting to weaknesses and having critical conversations with Dr. Kimball, knowing their conversations are confidential.

Ivan’s philosophy is to help students learn what they can do that is best for their bodies right now. The activities target stabilizing muscles such as the abs, lower back, obliques, shoulders, and other joints. After the students have developed habits and routines to establish growth in these areas, they begin to build on primary muscles such as the chest, back, and legs.

Through work with student athletes and teams over the years, she understands how players are wired. It’s ridiculous to say to a worrier, “Don’t think about it, it’s not a big deal.” Instead, she allows that person to worry but teaches the athlete to control those thoughts, choose when it’s okay to overthink, and how to put unproductive thoughts to the side. Dr. Kimball teaches our students the skills to be mentally tough so if they are challenged Ivan works closely with Suzi to ensure that the proper rehabilitation is taking place for any student who is recovering from an injury. One of the most enduring in any area of their life, they know how to fix it on their own. These talented folks make such a difference at Sewickley Academy. Their qualities about Ivan is his passion for helping the child who is nervous upon dedication and support for our students, coaches, and parents is just one of entering the fitness area for the first time as well as the serious athlete who wants to pursue a collegiate career in sport. He truly cares about every student! many reasons why Sewickley Academy is such a special community!

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REUNION WEEKEND

REWIND OCTOBER 6 – OCTOBER 7, 2017

1 Reunion weekend kicked off in the Events Center and Means Alumni Gym with the induction of Tamara “Tammy” Hoch ’03, Tommy Kehoe ’04, Corey Diethorn ’04, and the 1997 State Champion boys basketball team into the Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, October 6, 2017. Each inductee expressed gratitude for the life lessons learned while attending the Academy, and told the students in the audience that they have been given a strong foundation to achieve excellence in their academic, personal, and professional lives. The ceremony ended with a “knockout competition” between the Hall of Famers and a group of Middle School students. Immediately following the ceremony, a reception was held for Hall of Fame members, their families, and friends in the Core Training Room. Friday evening, members of the Sewickley Academy community, including past and present faculty, staff, and administrators, joined alumni for an evening of laughter, friendship, and nostalgia at Allegheny Country Club. Attendees looked through old yearbooks, nibbled on sliders, fish tacos, and mini desserts, and enjoyed cocktails, conversations, and one another’s company.

The fun continued on campus Saturday morning at the dedication of the Cavalier House. The house, which is now home to the Advancement Office, was built in the early ’60s for founding Head of Senior School Mr. Jim Cavalier and his family. Mr. Cavalier, his wife Patty, and daughter Elisa ’77 shared memories of their home with those in attendance. The party ended with the singing of “Happy Birthday” to commemorate Mr. Cav’s milestone 90th birthday, which was in 2017. Many of those in attendance left campus and headed down to Nichols Field. A picnic lunch featuring a beer and bloody mary bar was served at Snyder Pavilion, and guests stuck around to cheer on the Panthers in action during the JV and varsity soccer games. Later that evening, alumni classes ending in ‘2 and ‘7 gathered at homes and restaurants in the area to celebrate their individual class reunions. Special thanks go to the organizers and hosts for their hard work in making these gatherings such happy occasions.

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5 1. Members of the Class of 1957 reunite at Jamie Wardrop’s house. Pictured: Bill Marks, Craig Wilson, Dick Hull, Peter Amerman, and Jamie Wardrop. 2. Members of the Class of 1982 celebrate their reunion at 424 Walnut in Sewickley. Pictured: Gaynor Ibbotson, Karen Gray, John Moyer, Alyson (Barker) Korman, Chris Standish, and Kate (Poppenberg) Pigman. 3. Flat Panther sighting! Derek Chimner ’04, Dana Mathews ’04, and David Quinn ’04 catch up at Allegheny Country Club. 4. Jim Holbrook ’77 and Diana and Chris Brazill ’77 are all smiles during the party at Allegheny Country Club.

5. Members from the Class of 1987 gather at Allegheny Country Club Saturday evening. Pictured: Dean Campbell, Christine (Wettach) Trebilcock, LeeAnne Sebastian, Heather Burton, Chris Miller, John Renda, Bill Driscoll, Todd Groff, Scott Elste, Joan (Cross) Feick, Karen Lautanen, Andrea Urban, Jean (Symons) Moore, Frank Courtney, Pilar Tanning, Bridget (Regan) Monahan, and Chris Hutchison. 6. Craig ’77 and Francye Kinney host a party at their house in Sewickley for the Class of 1977. Pictured: Michael Robinson, Craig Kinney, Myles Harrington, Althea (Standish) Kaemmer, Tom Tiernan, Jeff Lenchner, Tyrone Johnson, Jim Angel, Jim Holbrook, Candy (Kappel) Bolte, Jim Wiltman, Rusty Scioscia, Lisa (Baker) Seymour, Michael Waller, Elisa Cavalier, Tim Hastings, Graham Standish, Jay Miller, Mark Zappala, and Jim Doyle. 7. The lovely ladies of the Class of 1992 enjoy each other’s company at Willow. Pictured: Ellen (Traupman) Berge, Andrea Sirko-Delancy, Heather (Snyder) McLane, Lundy (Semple) Waldo, Danielle Proctor, Cassie Glessner, Tamara (Spanovich) Brownfield, Heather (St. George) Gibson, and Anne (Fickess) Spadafora.

8 8. Chair of the Board of Trustees Kate (Poppenberg ’82) Pigman, founding Head of Senior School James “Jim” Cavalier, and Head of School Kolia O’Connor cut the ribbon to officially dedicate the Cavalier House, now home to the Advancement Office. 9. The boys are back in town! Benjamin Orsatti ’97, Tom Medvitz ’97, Christopher Yanakos ’97, and Ethan Takahashi ’97 reminisce on their days at SA at LULA. 10. Jay Miller ’77, David Bradley ’77, Jim Angel ’77, Chris Brazil ’77, Candy (Kappel ’77) Bolte, Elisa Cavalier ’77, and Althea (Standish ’77) Kaemmer pose for a picture with “Mr. Cav.” 11. Bob Mann ’67, John Diven ’70, Ridge Diven ’67, and Susan (Nevin ’67) Cockrell discuss their days at SA at Allegheny Country Club. 12. Kate (Poppenberg ’82) Pigman, Clotilde Scioscia, Rusty Scioscia ’77, and Paul Pigman reminisce during the reunion party at Allegheny Country Club.

13. Happy 90th Birthday Mr. Cav! Alison (Walter ’67) Martin, Kathy (Angevine ’71) Burneko, Billie Spencer ’67, Mary Graham ’67, Dingy Hays ’67, Sheryl Angevine ’67, Candy Fowler ’67, and Ridge Diven ’67 celebrate Mr. Cavalier’s birthday Saturday morning at the Cavalier House dedication. 14. Dick Hull ’57 and Cynthia and Peter Amerman ’57 raise a glass to the good old days at SA. 15. Christopher Yanakos ’97 and Lad Hudac ’97 catch up during their class party at LULA.

Where Are They Now? MARGARET “JUDY” LACKNER

RIDGE DIVEN ’67

Judy Lackner served as the Senior School librarian from 1966-1988 and advised The 7th Pillar student newspaper for 14 years. “The Academy was a wonderful place to be,” she recalled, “it was a highlight of my life. I looked forward every morning to coming to school, to see the kids, and enjoy whatever might happen during the day.” There were many unusual and happy moments, from the Dithridge’s dog that came to classes and the library every day to moving the entire book collection so that new carpet could be installed. “Everyone wanted to help. So Sally Wickwire and I organized the kids to carry the books in shelf order from the library to the seats in the gym. Then when the library was finished, they carried them back – in order – to their rightful spots on the shelves.” Cliff Nichols remarked that, “Judy Lackner could have organized D-Day.”

There were cheers all around when Ridge Diven returned to campus this fall for his 50th class reunion and shared in the excitement of the first induction of an Academy team into our Sports Hall of Fame – the 1997 basketball state champions. Ridge himself was inducted in 2002, honoring his long-time career at our school as a coach (23 years) and athletic director (11 years).

While she was not directly involved in D-Day, Judy served as a Woman Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVE) from April 1944 to August 1946. Trained at Smith College for two months, she was commissioned an ensign and worked at the Port Director’s office in Baltimore and at the Bureau of Ships in Washington, D.C. Judy, a graduate of Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University, learned to use a computer at the Academy, where “Apple IIE’s were everywhere.” After retirement, Judy added to her skills by working with her son Vince to write the original documentation for his computer program that handles trusts and estates. She also assisted her sister, Elizabeth Lesquin, to investigate their Skeehan family history for a book covering their origins in Ireland to the United States through 1956. She has continued to write about the Lackner family history in years since. At age 94, Judy has remarkable recall and is a total delight to talk with about Academy history. She can be reached at v.lackner@verizon.net.

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Transferring from Avonworth High School to Sewickley Academy in the fall of 1964, Ridge was an outstanding athlete, scoring a career record of over 1,000 points and was named Most Valuable Player in basketball. Ridge also began his long and successful run with lacrosse, which was making its debut in Western Pennsylvania. He coached seven Midwest Scholastic Lacrosse Association (MSLA) champion lacrosse teams at the Academy from 1979 – 1991, and was named the MSLA or United States Lacrosse Association Lacrosse Coach of the Year nine times. He became a charter member of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Chapter, along with Tim Hastings ’77, in 2001. Ridge moved to Baltimore to become the athletic director at the Park School where major upgrades were made to the athletic department during his 17year tenure. Heading up a strong athletic program in all sports, he was named Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Athletic Director of the Year in 2002, 2011, and 2014. He is the only athletic director to date who has received this honor three times. Now retired and recently widowed, Ridge spends his time on the eastern shore of Delaware where his favorite pastime is watching his grandchildren grow and prosper from the sidelines. “My real success, and what I am most proud of, are my three daughters and their families, and the years Karen and I spent together.”

The Night He Invented Champagne Alan Jay Lerner was the much-heralded lyricist for such classic favorites in musical theater as My Fair Lady, Brigadoon, Camelot, and Gigi. From well-known numbers like “The Rain in Spain” and “I Could Have Danced All Night” (with Meredith Doyle ’12 as Eliza) to little known numbers like “A Walk Around the Garden” (sung by Henry Shenk ’74) and “I Loved You Once in Silence” (sung by Michael Knaub), the evening of Alan Jay Lerner’s music was as bubbly delightful as the champagne offered to guests at intermission. This third show in the series of fundraisers written and produced by Henry Shenk ’74 to endow the Mario Melodia Performing Arts Scholarship showcased alumni and friends from five decades of SA experiences. The cast included: Henry Shenk ’74 Connie (Wood ’74) Spencer Baird Standish ’75 Lisa (Baker ’77) Seymour Patrick Brannan ’95 Julie (Bevevino ’99) Fulesday Meredith Doyle ’12 Felicia Niebel ’21

Joe Jackson, SA dance teacher Michael Knaub, former faculty Meghan Lloyd Paula Signorino-Richter Nathan Bell, SA technical director

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Alumni Holiday Party The Alumni Holiday Party was held at the Edgeworth Club on Friday, December 22, 2017. A record crowd of alumni, from numerous decades, gathered to reconnect and celebrate in the beautifully decorated festive surroundings.

1. Greg Curran, Ellen (Goehring ‘85) Skirpan, Jim Cavalier, Elisa Cavalier ‘77, and Margot (Moyles ‘80) Curran celebrate the season at the annual alumni party.

There was definitely much to celebrate this year! The Class of 2007 celebrated their 10-year reunion, and the Class of 2012 celebrated their five-year reunion. The Lasorda family was present to offer tastings of the Lasorda Family Wines, including chardonnay from Monterey, California, and cabernet sauvignon from Paso Robles, California.

2. Kim (Harris ‘88) Hassell and Shelley (Harris ‘96) McRae get into the holiday spirit at the Edgeworth Club.

We have continued with the new tradition of holding the party closer to Christmas when many are home to celebrate the holidays with family. Families continue to come together – parents and alumni – a tradition that has been growing the past few years. We always love seeing each and every one of our alumni. Cheers to a happy and healthy 2018! 62

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3. Dana Mathews ‘04 catches up with former teachers Larry Hall and Thom McLaughlin. 4. Rodney Skirpan ‘85, Ellen (Goehring ‘85) Skirpan, Tom Jones ‘85, Valerie Gaydos ‘85, Anthony Saveikis ‘85, Elena (Foster ‘85) Dryden, and John Zimmerman ‘85 toast to the season.

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60TH CLASS REUNION

Alice (Baker) Duff is looking forward with trepidation to our 60th Reunion!

62 Stephanie (Rice ’62) Ellis‘ family visits her in Kauai. (from left to right): husband Michael, daughter-in-law Nicole with granddaughter Makenna (1), son James Ellis with granddaughter Kaila (3), and Stephanie on their October visit to Kauai.

Nancy (Bennett ’66) Haynes’ grandson Jackson and granddog Ophelia pose with pumpkins and a headdress designed by her daughter Inslee. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Shrier

Susan (Hawk ’75) Coy, Helen (Anson ’75) Yourd, Julia (Canter ’75) Grimes, Mary Beth (Ribar ’75) Matheson, Betty Ann Doyle ’75, and Martha Prine ’75 celebrate their 60th birthdays in St. Croix.

Stephanie (Rice) Ellis was sorry to miss the class reunion but had a good excuse – her son Michael and family came home to Kauai, Hawaii, for a friend’s wedding and enjoyed important family time as well. Stephanie assures us that she will help organize the next reunion, as she has done so ably in previous years.

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Deepest condolences to Richard Hefner whose wife Martha passed away on October 5, 2017. “She brought joy and happiness in both good times and bad,” he said. “She made me a better man. I will miss holding her hand as I walk through life.” Heather Semple ’78 hosts a Labor Day party in the barn at Rockledge Farm. Pictured: (Front) Simon ’27 and Claire (Kendrick ’78) Stanton, Chip Carton ’78, Andrew Nimick ’78, Nicholas Griswold; (Back) Heather Semple ’78, Anna Singer ’76, Kathy (Walker ’78) Bantleon, Katie Jones ’78, Eli Stanton ’25, Cherry (Semple ’69) White, Mary Odom ’76, Susu Cook ’78, Liza Thornton ’76, Holly Siefert ’01

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Martha Prine writes, “In May, Helen (Anson) Yourd, Betty Ann Doyle, Julia (Canter) Grimes, Susan (Hawk) Coy, Mary Beth (Ribar) Matheson and I celebrated our 60th year at my sister Peggy (Prine ’70) Joy’s beautiful vacation home on gorgeous St. Croix! (We missed you, Sarah (Edson) Gauthier!) It was a week full of laughs, memories (old and new), bioluminescent bay kayaking, snorkeling, beaches, restaurants, and just hanging out! We’d like to thank Sewickley Academy reunions for reconnecting us over the years!

Nancy (Bennett) Haynes is overjoyed to announce she is now officially “Nana” to her daughter Inslee and son-in-law Anderson’s little boy Jackson Haynes Fariss, born May 25, 2017. Such joy! Nancy still resides in Virginia, but spends time in New York visiting her daughter’s family, where Inslee is an artist and illustrator: https://inslee.net.

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Heather Semple hosted a Labor Day party on a chilly September day in the barn at Rockledge Farm in Sewickley Heights. Many SA friends braved the weather to come and welcome fall together. Heather has her own art appraisal company, ECI Fine Art Appraisals and Consulting, after many years of being curator for some of Pittsburgh’s most noteworthy art collections.

80 Jim Bower shared that Academy friends got together last June in Woodstock, Vermont, to share stories of times past and present, including Sandy (Atwood ’67) Vincent, John Atwood ’79, Evans Gebhardt ’80, Bill Atwood ’80, Lydia Ciarallo ’81, and Kathy Atwood ’83.

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25TH CLASS REUNION

Natalie (Gielata) Friel is still living and working in Switzerland, leading a 350-person organization of mostly German speakers. She writes, “It is my daily challenge to learn and use a new language! We are enjoying seeing so many new parts of Europe, but always miss the U.S. and our friends. It was so nice to see Becca (Rebecca (Amy) Stage) and Lilli (Dell’Aquila) Cannon over the summer!”

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Russ Fincke reported, “We’re doing really well here in Taipei, Taiwan. Baby Laura is healthy and happy (most of the time!). She loves to take walks around the neighborhood and attempt to touch all of the interesting and colorful things in the local markets. It’s a good thing her arms are still short! Daphne and I are planning a trip to California to see family in the spring and enjoy watching Laura grow and change so quickly in the meantime.”

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15TH CLASS REUNION

After sending out an update email to her network, Ester Barbuto received a serendipitous response from fellow classmate Dane Wetschler who happened to be visiting Seattle. On a rainy Saturday, the two had a chance to catch up over fancy beers with new friends. They last saw each other in 2005 and had many life adventures since then. Estee recently graduated from the

University of Virginia’s Darden Business School and now works in strategy for mixed reality experiences at Microsoft, and Dane is in the San Francisco Bay Area pursuing a design-focused MBA. Small world! Derek Chimner caught the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first home game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings at Heinz Field with fellow fans Kenny Burgess ’06 and Hurricane Irma-evacuee Marina Kalis ’05. Kenny lives in Philly with his wife, Amanda Thompson. The couple married in January 2018. Marina has since moved to Houston, Texas, to be closer to her brother Michael ’07, and to get away from Florida after the severe hurricanes from the summer.

Natalie (Gielata ‘96) Friel poses for a picture at Mt. Pilatus in Lucerne (in the Alps).

Turn

Yourself In! Here’s your chance to submit a class note for the next issue of Sewickley Speaking. Help us share your milestones and achievements with your Sewickley Academy network!

Marina Kalis ’05, Derek Chimner ’04, and Kenny Burgess ’06 cheer on the Steelers at Heinz Field.

Please submit your story today by visiting our website. If you have a digital photo you’d like to share, please send it to alumni@sewickley.org with a note identifying the people in the photo. Ester Barbuto ’04 and Dane Wetschler ’04 catch up on a rainy Saturday in Seattle.

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Russ Fincke ’98 with daughter Laura on a moon pillow at home in Taipei, Taiwan.

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The Mane Event: Brian Lenehan ’70 Earns Lifetime Achievement Award in Judging By: Susan (Ratcliffe ’55) Sour, Ph.D. “The very best riders look effortless on a horse. It doesn’t matter how athletic you are, you have to be completely in tune with the animal, almost invisible. The observer doesn’t see any movement in the rider’s body as the horse makes its rounds,” Brian Lenehan ’70 said. “Horses and riders cover a wide spectrum of talent and attitude, but champion riders get to know horses on every level and become one with their mount.” Many Academy alumni (mostly girls, truth be told) were “barn rats” at the stables in Sewickley Heights where Brian and his talented family lived and trained in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. His father, Daniel P. Lenehan, created a legacy not seen before or since. An Irish immigrant, Dan set a high bar for young riders to achieve, and equally as important as skills in horsemanship was their willingness to care for the horses they rode. Currying, cooling down, watering, cleaning bridles, all were part of the chores riders were expected to manage under his watchful eye. His repeated mantra was, “You are only as good as your horse.” “It’s a very physical business, and you have to be prepared for that,” Brian explained. “Caring for horses is physically demanding. Breaking a young horse isn’t easy – you quickly realize that the horse outweighs you. They are big, powerful animals; they demand respect. At the same time, they need a firm hand in training in order to get the positive result you want. You have to be very careful, and you have to treat them well.” Early in his career, Brian had already become one of the top young riders in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, winning championships on ponies wherever he competed. Of particular note, he qualified ponies in the mid1960s for the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden and the prestigious Devon Horse Show in Philadelphia. By the age of 19, Brian was so sought after by owners who wanted him to show their horses that he turned professional, continuing to ride young hunters and jumpers to championships throughout the Mid-West, South, and East.

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Brian credits his father with helping him make the decision to become a professional. His father reminded him that being his own boss had many rewards. Being able to pick and choose among the many opportunities presented would make for a happier life. “Riding in the 70s was a little like being a rock star – everybody in the business knew who you were and wanted you to ride for them,” he reflected. Through his father, who had moved to Southern Pines to breed horses and earned a considerable reputation as a top judge in the country, Brian had ready entrée into the national scene of horsemanship. Brian rode several horses to top five finishes in the American Horse Show Association (AHSA) horse of the year standings. In 1984, he began training at Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut, where he helped his former wife Leslie Burr purchase and prepare Grand Prix horses for international competition, including Albany, the 1984 American Grand Prix Association Horse of the Year and team gold medalist at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He trained Leslie to victory on McLain in the 1986 World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden. “While continuing to compete and win on a national level myself, I trained several junior and amateur riders to national championships and top placings in the National Medal in Harrisburg and the Maclay finals at Madison Square Garden, including Nicole Shahanian, who won both finals and later went on to represent the United States Olympic equestrian team,” Brian shared. These were all proud moments in his long, distinguished career as a rider and trainer. “My greatest strength was the breaking and starting of young horses. However, my greatest fulfillment was in seeing the development in talent and confidence of the young people I taught and worked with as they went on to successes of their own” Brian recollected. “This, no doubt, can be attributed to the years of instruction and patience I received academically and athletically from the remarkable faculty at the Academy.”

Brian retired from competitive riding when he turned 50. When asked how many bones he had broken during his riding years, he admitted to likely having a few concussions which went unnoticed at the time. “As for bones, I have probably broken more bones tripping over my dog!” he laughed. For 40 years, he has been a licensed judge in hunters, jumpers, and hunter seat equitation. He has judged every major show in the country, including the National Horse Show, Pennsylvania National, Washington International, Devon, and the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. In 2014 Brian was awarded the Daniel P. Lenehan Memorial Trophy for lifetime achievement in judging, a proud and very sentimental moment. In addition to judging shows, he also teaches judges clinics for the United States Equestrian Federation. As for the most memorable moment in his life in sports, he admitted it was on the soccer field at Sewickley Academy long ago. “I came on the field halfway through a big game against Shady Side and was playing left wing. We had never beaten Shady Side and were tied at 0–0 with only a minute left,” he recalled. “I remember my dad standing on the side lines in his boots and jodhpurs as I kicked the winning goal. That was the most exciting moment in my sports life!”

For those not familiar with the sport, “hunters” show over simplified courses meant to mimic traditional hunt field obstacles. Judges look for horses that are well mannered, athletic, and attractive to ride safely and smoothly over the fences. “Jumpers” show over technically difficult courses that often twist and turn. The judging is objective and mathematical, based on whether the horse knocks down a fence, balks, or does not complete the course in a certain time limit. All of those mistakes incur “faults” or penalties. The horse with the fewest faults and the fastest time wins the competition.

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Kristin Buterbaugh ’05 marries Clinton Henry at Heinz Chapel in downtown Pittsburgh in August.

Logan Antill ’12 marries Austin Jones on Martha’s Vineyard in September.

2013 classmates join Austin Braksick at his wedding. From left to right Patrick Dellinger, Jordan Milo, Luke Schramm, Austin Braksick, Brooks Antill and Jeffrey Cronin.

Kristin Buterbaugh married Clinton Henry on August 12 at Heinz Chapel, with a reception at the Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh. Among the attendants were her sisters Kaitlyn ’11 and Allison ’08, and her brother Ryan ’02, his wife Kristen, and their baby Logan. Kristin is now a fourth year resident in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Her husband is chief information officer of the Americas for Intertek.

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Trinity Kronk is engaged to Austin Samson and planning a wedding for the summer of 2019. Trinity is currently studying medicine at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Trinity graduated from Emory University where she majored in neuroscience and behavioral biology and minored in dance and movement studies. Her fiancé is a graduate of Lewis University, where he majored in aviation administration, and currently works in the Army in the 3rd Infantry Division. He will be pursuing his master’s in Dublin in the fall.

Jane Blaugrund ’16 is a sophomore at Princeton University where she is active in the Princeton Triangle and the singing group The Wildcats.

Justin Pryor ’17 catches up with former coach Derek Chimner ’04 over lunch in Washington, D.C.

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10TH CLASS REUNION

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Austin Braksick married Anna Stagge on December 30, 2017, at St. William Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sewickley Academy alumni in attendance included Maddie Braksick ’16, Micaela Becker, Rachel Becker ’15, Caroline Becker ’17, Luke Schramm, Jeffrey Cronin, Brooks Antill

Jordan Milo, Patrick Dellinger, Arden Shirley, and Kelsey Milo ’16. Austin and Anna are living in Denver, Colorado, where Austin is working in sales for Xactly, a cloud-based software solution for improving commission and compensation strategies.

16 Jane Blaugrund returned to Pittsburgh in February to appear with the Princeton Triangle in this year’s original show Spy School Musical. The Princeton Triangle is celebrating its 127th year of student-written and produced musicals that highlight current issues in a stylish, witty script. Jane and the cast first performed their show on campus in the fall, then toured in Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Westport, Connecticut, this winter, and will revive it again for campus reunions in the late spring. Jane also starred as Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar at Princeton last spring. Majoring in English with additional interests in environmental issues, Jane also sings in the all-female a cappella group The Wildcats which tours each fall.

17 Justin Pryor, who is studying at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C, had a chance to grab lunch and catch up with former basketball coach Derek Chimner ’04, who was passing through town.

ARTS HALL OF FAME

NOMINATION: The Arts Hall of Fame is a society reserved for Sewickley Academy alumni and former faculty who have distinguished themselves in the visual or performing arts at Sewickley Academy and have gone on to further distinction in higher education and beyond. Eligible former faculty are those who served the Academy for a minimum of 10 years and who were outstanding in their commitment to the development of artists at Sewickley Academy. In addition, these individuals will have maintained an active commitment to the arts beyond Sewickley Academy as well as engaged in ongoing professional development.

REUNION WEEKEND 2018 Please submit your nominations for the prestigious honor to the Alumni Office

OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 6

at www.sewickley.org/hof.

Milestone Years: ’3s and ’8s Former Inductees include:

The weekend will include:

• Jim Caruso ’76

• John Moyer ’82

• Katherine Clarke ’70

• Greg Nicotero ’81

• Madeline Lord ’66

• Anna Singer ’76

• Mario Melodia

• Garner Tullis ’55

• Judith Mikita ’76

• Arts Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony • Reunion Celebration for all classes • Individual class parties

…and much more! Questions? Contact Director of Alumni Relations Susan Kinser at skinser@sewickley.org or 412-741-2231.

Senior Swimming

Standout: James Thornton ’70 By: Kaitlin Busch Jim Thornton ’70 and his twin brother John were two peas in a pod during their younger days at the Academy. Although their friends could tell them apart, teachers sometimes couldn’t, and Jim admittedly switched classes with John once or twice. They also found themselves in headmaster Cliff Nichol’s office over a chipmunk in Grade 4. “My brother and I were interested in science and biology. We found a dead chipmunk at our house and, thinking we’d get credit for bringing it to science class, we wrapped it up and brought it to school. We were used to seeing a collection of these types of various things in bottles in class,” Jim explained. “Our teacher wasn’t there when we arrived in the morning. We knew we couldn’t keep the chipmunk with us throughout the day, and we were scared some other kid would find it and get credit for bringing it in. So, we put it on the window ledge and hid it in some ivy. It became unusually warm that afternoon and it started to fester. Unbeknownst to us, the window ledge we hid the chipmunk by was Mr. Nichols. He smelled it and found it when he opened the window. Somehow, he figured out it was us and he called us into his office because he thought we did it maliciously. We didn’t, but in retrospect I can see why he didn’t believe us.” Although athletic, Jim was not particularly great in PE class (he admits to earning a gentleman’s C- in Mr. Partenheimer’s class). He decided to take up swimming, and since the Academy did not offer a program, Jim and John found themselves at the Sewickley Valley YMCA where they joined the Sea Dragons in Grade 6. The pool, at the time, was relatively small – only 16 yards long. But to a beginner, the length was daunting. “At the first swim practice, the coach told us to swim 100 yards, which was six lengths of that pool. I remember thinking, ‘How does anyone do that?’” Jim’s passion for swimming went from recreational to more seriously competitive when he met Robert Levine. “The summer I was 13 years old, my brother and I started swimming at Allegheny Country Club. There was a lifeguard who was a swimmer for Pitt and he took us under his wing,” Jim reflected. “He gave us lessons, which was really helpful.”

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The Thornton twins went to Andover for boarding school for their sophomore and junior years where they continued their swimming careers. John came back to the Academy his senior year, while Jim went to Shady Side Academy to spend time in the water. His hard work paid off, as he was “semi-recruited” by the University of Michigan. In the Mark Spitz era, Jim had a hard time balancing sports and academics, and the pressure of two-a-day practices while studying became too much for him. “I was in over my head there; I was the second worst person on the team,” Jim remembered. “College swimming was a grind, it was really arduous, and it was a relief to stop after my freshman year.” Although he was no longer a collegiate athlete, Jim still swam when he could for fun and exercise. He said it always helped to improve his mood. After a stint teaching fifth and seventh grade in Florida, Jim applied to graduate school at the University of Iowa where he met his wife Debbie. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction Writing and a second master’s in journalism. “Learning how to write in a literary way and in a journalistic way was the perfect combination for magazine-style writing,” he said. “I made my living for the last 35 years as a magazine writer and I think that learning how to write at the Academy was really instrumental.” In 1987, John was getting married in Philadelphia so Jim went to New York to introduce himself to a few editors on a whim just so he could “write off the mileage.” The impromptu meetings paid off – Jim landed a few assignments from Sports Illustrated and SPORT before taking a job with Men’s Journal. A series of three first-person health articles, where he underwent unnecessary health procedures to write the articles, landed him a National Magazine Award. Jim followed his editor at Men’s Journal to National Geographic Adventure, where he spent the next couple of years traveling the world to write articles. When that magazine went under, Jim pursued contracted jobs where he would get paid monthly to produce a certain number of stories. He worked with Details before landing a gig with GQ. After three years, he joined the editorial team of Men’s Health and was nominated for three more National Magazine Awards.

Jim quickly became a workaholic and the stress of his job was taking a toll. He was battling depression and needed to find an antidote. His drug of choice? Swimming. “One of the hardest parts of being a freelance writer is the constant hustle to get assignments. You don’t want to turn anything down because you’re afraid the work will dry up, so there is constant stress over money,” he said. “My brain could be driving me crazy and swimming would turn down the noise. You’re only one swim away from a good mood.” Now semi-retired, Jim does some online writing for numerous websites including Swimmer, the U.S. Masters Swimming publication. “A lot of the writing I do now is first-person,” he explained. “It is a lot easier to interview myself then someone else and I never have to worry about being misquoted.” Jim and his wife Debbie also run the Old Economy Inn, a bed and breakfast, in the Old Economy Historic District in Ambridge. They rent three apartment-style suites out to visitors, which includes a “delicious” breakfast and top ratings from Airbnb. Jim still pursues his passion for the pool by training four times a week at the Sewickley Valley YMCA. Since he started competing with U.S. Masters Swimming, he’s gradually amassed 113 Top 10 age group rankings, including a few first place finishes. “My all-time best swim was when I was 60. I was number one in both the country and in the world that year in the 200 short course meter freestyle,” he said proudly. In 2017, having “aged up” to the 65-69 age group, Jim notched two more No. 1 performances, posting the fastest times of the year in the 100 freestyle in both the short course and long course meters. “Going from being a C- PE student to the number one ranked swimmer in the world is very gratifying. It’s kind of a tribute to perseverance,” he said humbly. “Even if I wasn’t competing, I’d still swim. I like it more for what it does for my physical and mental well-being. It’s a motivating sport, and it’s just icing on the cake if I do well.”

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IN MEMORIAM ALUMNI BETSY (SUTTON ’45) JEVON, 87, of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, passed away Saturday, October 14, 2017. She was born September 10, 1930, in Sewickley, daughter of the late Walter M. and Dorothy (Harriman) Sutton; beloved wife of Richard S. Jevon ’45; mother of William L. Jevon of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Thomas H. Jevon of Evanston, Illinois; grandmother of Caroline E. Jevon; and sister of Thomas D. Sutton of Coshocton, Ohio, and the late Harriman Sutton. Betsy was a school administrator for LaRoche and Robert Morris colleges. SARAH “SALLY” (STITES ’62) OWENS, 70, of DeLand, Florida, passed away June 21, 2017. She was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, on March 11, 1947, and moved to Florida in 1988 from North Carolina. Sally enjoyed knitting, walking, going to the beach, and she loved her pets. She attended LifePoint Community Church in DeLand. She was predeceased by her husband of 38 years John Owens, Jr. Survivors include her son John Owens, III (Tamara) of Nebo, North Carolina; daughter Ann Marie Pike (Billy) of Foster, Rhode Island; five grandchildren; and one greatgranddaughter. Sewickley Academy classmates especially miss her great sense of humor and contagious optimism. PAMELA (KORB ’66) REED, age 68, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, died Friday, March 17, 2017, at her home surrounded by her family while under the care of Hospice of the Panhandle. Born October 31, 1948, in Elmira, New York, she was the daughter of the late Byron Judson and Helen Loretta Case Korb. Before moving to Berkeley Springs, Pam was the owner of The Book Store, Etc., in Hagerstown, Maryland, from 1989 until 2001. She was a member of the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Moose Chapter 1311, Zonta Women in Business, and the Hagerstown Chamber of Commerce. She loved to read, go out for dinner, and take rides in her convertible. She also loved to play a rousing game of Wizard, Dominoes, or Scrabble with her family and friends. Pam is survived by her husband of 43 years Geoffrey Thomas Reed of Berkeley Springs; her son Rapp Judson Clark (Suzette) of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; her daughter Adrian Reed Michaud (Dean) of Ottawa, Ontario; her sister

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Penni (Korb ’67) Hamm of Purcellville, Virginia; three granddaughters Chelsey Clark, Lindsey Clark, and Daycotah Durboraw, and two grandsons Geoffrey Michaud and Johnie Durboraw. PAUL JOHN SCIOSCIA, M.D. ’78, age 57, passed away December 3, 2017. Born July 6, 1960, in Oak Park, Illinois, he was the youngest son of Evelyn (Kark) Scioscia and the late Eugene Scioscia, Sr. He graduated from Vanderbilt University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He began his career 20 years ago in Jacksonville, Florida, ultimately joining Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery as one of the founding partners. Paul loved his family, traveling, golfing, cooking, spending time with his friends, and caring for others. Paul is survived by his children Jenna, Olivia, Christian, and Ava; his mother Evelyn; his brother Eugene, Jr. ’75; his sisters Angela ’72 and Debora ’76; and the mother of his children Elyssa. He was predeceased by his father Eugene, Sr. and sister Andrea Marie ’73. WILLIAM (“BILL”) FREDERICK WENNING, III ’85, was born on September 28, 1966, and died on December 4, 2017, from complications of multiple sclerosis. He grew up in Beaver Valley and graduated from Sewickley Academy and Geneva College. Bill worked at Ceramic Color & Chemical Manufacturing Company. He is survived by his parents Judith and William Wenning; his sister Carolyn; and his daughter Ellen. A classmate and close friend remembered, “Bill crossed the cliques of adolescence – star lacrosse defenseman, talented painter, poet , and boldly funny iconoclast. He provoked me to read Rimbaud, Bukowski, and Ginsberg, and we burned with discussion on these cross-currents into the night. He was a stunning original.” Those interested in contributing to a memorial to Bill created by classmates can write to David Darby at dmddarby@comcast.net.

As of January 2018

FAMILY OF ALUMNI Karl I. Boyer, father of Bran ’81, Brook ’83, and Blyth (Boyer ’85) DelBene Brittany Leigh Burge, sister of Elle Burge ’13 Frederick L. Cook, husband of Ann (Wykoff ’42) Cook Eugenia Nash Devens, mother of Julia (Halcomb ’60) Woodward, Helen (Halcomb ’66) Moriyama, Charlie ’74 and Sam ’77 Halcomb, and Rody Nash ’79 Martha LaVerne Littlejohn Phillips Hefner, wife of Richard L. Hefner ’69 Dr. Walter F. O’Donnell, father of Christopher ’86, Meghan (O’Donnell ’89) Rogers, Brennan ’92, and Conor ’14 Stephen McVeigh, husband of Sally (Oliver ’67) McVeigh John F. Moyer, Sr., father of Jaye Moyer ’74 and John F. Moyer, Jr. ’82 Evelyn G. Obbard, mother of Peter ’80 and Alexandra ’88 Sour Rita Ann Ratcliffe, wife of Stephen J. Ratcliffe ’58

FRIENDS OF THE ACADEMY K. SCOTT CARTER Scott Carter, of Leet Township, passed away at home on December 11, 2017, after a brief illness. Scott graduated from high school in Port Clinton, Ohio, and received his bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He began his teaching career at North Allegheny High School, and served two years in the Peace Corps in Ghana. He retired from Sewickley Academy after 39 years, during which he taught science and math and was Assistant Head of the Senior School and Director of College Guidance. He also served the

community for many years as a volunteer paramedic with Valley Ambulance. His great avocation was music, and he played oboe with the East Winds Symphonic Band and was a member of the Washington Symphony Orchestra (PA). He is survived by his wife of 53 years Joan (Eberhard) Carter; his two daughters Jerilyn (Carter ’86) Scott and Kendra (Carter ’90) Melodia (Craig ’88); his four grandchildren Laura Kuo, Rachel Kuo, Van Melodia, and Chelsea Melodia; and his honorary grandson Leo Hill. He is also survived by his brother Tim (Diana); and was predeceased by his brother Bruce. Scott was one of the first faculty members of the new Senior School which opened in the fall of 1963. Scott joined founding head Jim Cavalier the following year and immediately became an invaluable part of the faculty and early administration. Scott loved to tell the story that he was “actually hired sight unseen.” He was working in Africa after two years of teaching at North Allegheny High School. “Headmaster Cliff Nichols called (fiancée) Joan to come in for an interview since he couldn’t meet me in person, and they had a great conversation.” During his time in Ghana, Scott became fluent in Swahili. He taught Swahili in the May program and continued to teach it in an independent study the following year. Mr. Cavalier praised Scott’s time at the Academy, “From his early days as a faculty member until his retirement, Scott had a major impact on the Senior School, first as an outstanding, popular teacher and then as a highly effective administrator.” Scott’s influence as a teacher and college counselor on four decades of students is inestimable.

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SEWICKLEY ACADEMY 315 Academy Avenue Sewickley, PA 15143

Sewickley Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 13th Annual Hansen Cup Memorial Golf Tournament

u s fo n io

September 17, 2018 | Allegheny Country Club

To register or for more information visit: www.sewickley.org/sahansencup