Sewickley Herald notebook: 

RAY FISHER TRIBLIVESUN, DEC 7, 2025 • 11:01 AM

Montagnese honored

PIAA and WPIAL Class A boys cross country champion Jonah Montagnese of Quaker Valley was named first-team all-state by the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association.

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, August 31, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Submitted | Cecilia Montagnese

Quaker Valley’s Cecilia, Jonah and Lucy Montagnese pose after the 2024 WPIAL cross country championships at White Oak Park.

The path is clear for Quaker Valley’s Jonah and Lucy Montagnese as they aspire to follow in their sister Cecilia’s championship footsteps.

Cecilia Montagnese’s firmly cemented her high school legacy in cross country as a senior last season, winning the Class 2A championship at White Oak Park.

The Quakers, with 127 points, placed third in the girls team scoring behind Hampton (65 points) and Blackhawk (75 points).

“I’m hoping that both of them can defend my WPIAL title, especially my sister,” Cecilia said. “I’m really excited to see what their future in running looks like, and hopefully we have some future WPIAL champs.”

Younger sister Lucy, a sophomore, believes Cecilia provided both siblings with an inspirational running display at the 2024 district event.

“I am so proud of Cecilia,” Lucy said. “Her race was an amazing show of grit and perseverance and (setting a PR) by over a minute is a crazy impressive achievement.”

Lucy Montagnese received her first taste of varsity competition as a freshman last year and ended up sixth at the WPIAL finals.

“This season, I am looking to individually succeed in bigger meets,” she said. “I don’t have a specific goal time in mind, but I would definitely like to be around or below 18:30 at meets with flat, faster courses.

“Additionally, I would like to defend my sister’s WPIAL championship, keeping the WPIAL crown in the Montagnese family.”

The QV underclassman then added, “We are going into the season with the same mindset as last year — no big expectations or goals but just making sure we each push ourselves as much as we can in our training and hoping to do our best at each meet.

“We actually have a slightly bigger team than last year with some upperclassmen joining and with a couple new freshmen. These additions are appreciated after losing three of our varsity runners from last year, and I am excited to see what the team can do.”

Quaker Valley won the WPIAL Class 2A boys team championship in 2024 for the 11th time in school history with an 83-point total, easily defeating runner-up Beaver, which had 132 points.

The Quakers were sparked by Jonah Montagnese in third place with a career-best 15:46.5 time, Clark LaLomia, who finished fourth in 15.55.8, Tyler Bell, River Capek, Jackson Pethel, Ryan Kempton and Gio Ramella.

It appears Montagnese has a clear road to matching his older sister’s WPIAL achievement in 2025 and/or 2026. The top two finishers in the 2A race, Freeport’s Michael Braun and Hampton’s Christopher Belch, were seniors last year.

“Cecilia’s performance was pretty awesome to watch,” Montagnese said, “and I think her performance will definitely motivate me.”

Montagnese and Ramella are juniors in 2025; Bell, Capek and Kempton are seniors.

QV’s boys team connected for a top-five showing in the state last season as Montagnese and LaLomia zeroed in on top-10 finishes.

Cecilia Montagnese was a four-time WPIAL qualifier in cross country and advanced to the PIAA finals three times. She placed third in the state with a time of 18 minutes, 49 seconds on the Parkview cross country course.

“Cecilia’s performance was exceptional,” said Ryan Kelly, QV’s coach. “She showcased incredible stamina and strategy, maintaining a strong pace throughout the race. The PIAA championships were an amazing experience for everyone involved.”

The QV girls ended up 11th in the PIAA team scoring a year ago as the Montagnese sisters and then-sophomore Maggie Doz were the Quakers’ leading runners. There were only three seniors on the squad.

“This summer has been full of dedicated training for myself, my brother and my teammate, Maggie,” Lucy Montagnese said. “Maggie and I have been pushing extremely hard this summer, and I think there are great things in store for both of us. I had a training plan made by Quaker Valley’s distance coach, Ron Graf. I did a variety of workouts.

“Since mid-July, I have been running 40 miles each week, spread over six days with Sunday as a rest day. Coach Graf is extremely knowledgeable and an overall amazing coach, and I trust that his plan will help me to achieve the success I am looking for this season.”

Doz is a junior this year who aims to wrap up the WPIAL season as a district medalist.

“I think our team has a lot of potential, and it is not out of the question to make it to states again,” Doz said. “I expect that by the end of the season, our team will definitely have improved because there are a lot of new runners who will get the hang of racing a 5K by the end of October.

“Personally, I want to run a 19:10-or-faster 5K and get top five at WPIALs. The team and I are very excited for this season.”

Two other leading returning runners for the QV girls team are Kate Steinfurth and Rose Pocasangre, both juniors.

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, August 31, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Courtesy of John Doucette

The 2025 Quaker Valley boys cross country team.

The Quaker Valley boys cross country team is focused on making it an even dozen this season.

QV won the WPIAL Class 2A boys team championship last season for the 11th time in school history with an 83-point total to easily defeat runner-up Beaver.

The Quakers were sparked by the individual efforts of Jonah Montagnese, who placed third with a career-best 15:46.5 time, Clark LaLomia, in fourth place in 15.55.8, Tyler Bell (16:53.4), River Capek (17:03.5), Jackson Pethel (17:17.2), Ryan Kempton (17:55.2) and Gio Ramella (18:20.8).

Montagnese and Ramella are juniors this year; Bell, Capek and Kempton are seniors. Montagnese and the QV runners have been on a particular mission for the last three months.

“The team has all been working really hard all summer to train for this season,” Montagnese said. “We all are really determined to defend our WPIAL championship.

“I think if we put forward our best efforts, it’s going to be really hard to beat us. We have a really talented group and we all know that the championship is in our reach and we want to defend it.”

Montagnese has set lofty targets for 2025 both for himself and his teammates.

“My goals are to hopefully win a state and WPIAL championship individually,” he said, “and to help lead my team to success.

“My coach, (assistant) Ron Graf, made my training plan for the summer, and I’ve been ramping it up in preparation for the season. I have been doing 70 miles each week, which consists of running twice a day three times a week.”

Bell believes if the Quakers remain healthy, successfully defending their WPIAL title isn’t out of the question.

“I think our team is looking very strong and should be a contender to win many of the races this year,” he said. “Our team has grown so much over the past couple of years, and that depth should help us as the season progresses.

“Of course, we lost two great runners due to graduation, but we are returning and gaining a lot of experienced and new runners. I think as long as we remain healthy and continue to push ourselves, we have a really good chance of repeating as WPIAL champions. And we hope to do even better at states.”

Bell is optimistic that his senior season will be memorable.

“I hope to remain healthy all season long and enjoy my senior year,” he said. “I want to medal at states and help the team win WPIALs and place at states.

“I’m really looking forward to the season and getting to be part of this great team, led by some of the best coaches in the WPIAL”

QV’s boys squad wrapped up last year with a top-five Class 2A performance in the state.

“The boys placed fourth,” said QV coach Ryan Kelly, “which is a commendable achievement. Their collective effort and teamwork shined through.”

Montagnese and LaLomia ended up seventh and ninth at Hershey.

All in all, the QV cross country program continues to expand.

There are 32 athletes on the boys team, an increase from the 24 on last year’s squad.

And senior leadership appear to be plentiful.

This year’s team also includes seniors Aiden Dwyer, Tadhg Hamill, Mike Minnock, Finn Musial, Joe Nastasi, Aidan Westwood, Conner Westwood, Nick Winnowski and Austin Young.

Bill Auth, Brody Holles and James Irwin are juniors; Jonathan Hutchens, Damien McClay, Liam Seningen and Eli Walker are sophomores.

The freshman class also is well represented with the likes of Ted Beauregard, Henry Burns, Yousab Ghobrial, Wesley Horton, Henry Howard, Nathan Iliff, Gavin Kahrs, Henry Topol, Graham Walker, Drew Young and Oliver Zutter competing this season.

QV’s section foes are Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Carlynton, Eden Christian Academy, Hillel Academy, Northgate, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Redeemer Lutheran, Sewickley Academy, South Side and Winchester Thurston.

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, September 7, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Courtesy of John Doucette

The 2025 Quaker Valley girls cross country team.

The Quaker Valley cross country teams began the 2025 season with a fast start.

And that was prior to competing in their first big event on the schedule, the Red White & Blue Classic set for Sept. 6 at White Oak Park.

The Quakers participated in a three-team scrimmage Aug. 26 at Blackhawk along with the Cougars and Riverside.

“Both of our teams handled the Blackhawk course well for this first race of the season,” QV coach Ryan Kelly said. “We are proud of how our student-athletes supported each other throughout the race.

“We are excited about the potential of both cross country teams. The boys return with a strong senior group and promising freshmen, giving us both depth and experience. The girls team features a solid veteran core supported by younger runners eager to make their mark. We expect both squads to grow consistently and be highly competitive in our section and invitationals.”

The QV boys dominated in the team scoring at Blackhawk with five individual times among the top seven.

QV junior Jonah Montagnese opened the season strong with a first-place finish thanks to his 16:09 time.

Senior Tyler Bell, freshman Henry Howard and senior Ryan Kempton placed third, fourth and fifth and were followed by junior James Irwin in the seventh spot.

“They all showed that they will play key roles in our scoring this fall,” Kelly said. ”Jonah Montagnese, Tyler Bell, Ryan Kempton and River Capek were standout performers last season, with Jonah regularly placing near the front of invitationals as well as the WPIAL and PIAA championships.

“Gio Ramella, a junior, and seniors Michael Minnock and Aidan Dwyer also return with valuable varsity experience.”

Sophomore prodigy Lucy Montagnese took first place in the girls race at the scrimmage with a 20:52 performance. Junior Maggie Doz and senior Mia Gartley placed third and seventh.

“We anticipate this trio will set the tone for our girls team,” Kelly said, “with support from juniors Kate Steinfurth and Rose Cline.

“Lucy Montagnese emerged as one of the top runners in the WPIAL last year, while Maggie Doz and Kate Steinfurth bring championship experience, as well. Junior Rose Pocasangre and senior Kendra Hines also return as steady varsity contributors.”

Kelly was pleased with the outstanding overall depth revealed by the QV runners at the low-pressure event at Blackhawk.

“Our freshmen and newcomers impressed in their first outing,” Kelly said. “Henry Howard, James Irwin, senior Aiden Dwyer and freshman Gavin Kahrs turned in competitive races, showing they will strengthen our depth.

“On the girls side, Mia Gartley, Rose Cline, junior Fiona Mikita and freshmen Alexis Kempton and Abby Yates all showed promise in their first (varsity) 5K.”