SD
Coach Render Reaches Milestone Dr. Kevin Deitrick, USC Athletic Director
History was made this past August, when Coach Jim Render won his 400th career football game, a milestone that only 28 other coaches in high school football have achieved. The victory came on August 31 before a packed crowd of community members, family, and former players, when Upper St. Clair defeated Peters Township, 16–14. The winningest coach in WPIAL football history, Coach Render’s head coaching career began in 1970 at Carrollton, Ohio. His next stop, which lasted for seven years, was in Uniontown. The final year at these two schools was a championship season for Coach Render and his teams. In 1979, Jim moved to Upper St. Clair to coach the Panthers, where championship seasons have come to be expected. Over the past 39 years, USC has won 22 conference championships, played for the WPIAL championUpper St. Clair head ship title 11 times, and has had five WPIAL wins. Jim’s USC team is four-for-four in state semi-final games, with football coach Jim Render a PIAA championship that included Pennsylvania’s first-ever 15–0 record in 1989, and a 16–0 state championship in 2006. Runner-up honors were earned in 1992 and 1997. Jim and his teams have won numerous conference, district, and state honors. Jim served as assistant coach in the BIG 33 game in 1990 and as that team’s head coach in 1993. Both were Pennsylvania victories. In 2003, he was the West Coach for the Pennsylvania East-West All-Star Game. Jim was inducted into both the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Scholastic Hall of Fame (1998) and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (2005). During the summer of 2013, Jim was honored by Lou Holtz and the Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame. Introduced by East Liverpool, Ohio, icon and longtime friend Frank C. Dawson, Jim was presented a Lifetime Achievement award by Coach Holtz. Jim and his wife, Pam, are the proud parents of two sons, J.T. and Eric, and have four grandchildren. Congratulations Coach Render on your milestone accomplishment. The Upper St. Clair community is fortunate to call you its coach for the past 39 Coach Render, Coach Render, with his wife, Pam, being recognized for his 400th win at the Pittsburgh years! n 1989–1990 USCHS Steelers verses Kansas City Chiefs home game this past September
yearbook photo
Pantheon Choir to Perform at Carnegie Hall
The USCHS Pantheon Choir, under the direction of high school choral director Lorraine Milovac, has been invited by Mansfield University director of choral activities Dr. Peggy Dettwiler to participate in Performing Arts Educators 13th annual choir invitational. Titled “Every Life Shall Be a Song: A Choral Concert featuring the Works of Women Composers and Poets,” the performance will be held in the Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall in New York City on Sunday, January 20 at 2 p.m. The Pantheon Choir is one of eight high school choirs selected to sing 15-minute solo spots in a concert that will conclude with a combined choir grand finale, with the awardwinning Mansfield University Concert Choir serving as the core group. The massed choir will be accompanied by piano, brass, and percussion to perform composer Gwyneth Walker’s “Every Life Shall Be a Song” and “How Can I Keep From Singing?” In addition to Walker being present for the performance, USCHS Pantheon Choir a prominent woman on the world stage will read profound statements between solo choir performances. Contact Lorraine Milovac at lmilovac@uscsd.k12.pa.us or choral booster The Pantheon Choir has received many invitations to sing president Rachel Lowden at lowdenr@verizon.net for more information. at Carnegie Hall, but none as special as this one. Tickets will For a list of other School District musical performances between now and the end of the year, see page 34. be available to the public for the concert. n
Winter 2018
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
29
