Sports
North Allegheny aquatics team poised to prolong WPIAL title winning streak
By: John Grupp Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 11:01 AM Andrew Palla | For TribLive Dani Hinkson from North Allegheny competes in the 200-yard IM at the WPIAL Class 3A swimming championships on February 29 at Pitt’s Trees Pool. This season, the North Allegheny swim team has designed T-shirts that echo a well-known Vince Lombardi […]
By:
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 11:01 AM
Andrew Palla | For TribLive
Dani Hinkson from North Allegheny competes in the 200-yard IM at the WPIAL Class 3A swimming championships on February 29 at Pitt’s Trees Pool.
This season, the North Allegheny swim team has designed T-shirts that echo a well-known Vince Lombardi saying.
“If you pursue perfection, you may find yourself among the stars of excellence,” remarked Tori Tieppo, a member of a talented junior cohort at NA. “You aim for the highest, and you will inevitably end up in a good place.”
The prospects look more than promising for the Tigers to secure gold medals that correspond with their custom shirts this season.
The NA girls’ swim team boasts an impressive record, having clinched 16 straight WPIAL titles, positioning them as the second-longest streak in any sport in league history, trailing only the Bethel Park boys swimming team, which has 20 titles (1981-2000).
The two-time defending PIAA Class 3A champion NA girls’ team returns seven swimmers and three divers who participated in state competition last year and are solid favorites to capture yet another WPIAL title.
“The girls are eager to compete,” said coach Patrick Wenzel. “Naturally, as the defending champions, some pressure is inevitable. We simply try to alleviate it and focus on what is within our control.”
While they have graduated Division I swimmers Natalie Sens (George Washington) and Greta Mott (George Mason), the Tigers have ample returning starters and emerging talent to uphold their legacy.
Junior Claire Bacu, the reigning WPIAL Class 3A champion in the 500 freestyle, alongside classmate Dani Hinkson, who triumphed in the WPIAL 200 IM last season. Tieppo secured fourth in both the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, while fellow junior Eva Ogden contributed to two WPIAL title-winning relay teams. The junior lineup is further strengthened by breaststroker Shelby Sundgren and freestyle competitors Madden Woycheck and Emma Dietz.
“Our junior class is large and robust,” said Wenzel. “We lost a couple of very strong athletes, but we aim to sustain a high level of competition this year.”
Talent extends beyond the juniors; senior sprinter Julianne Weaver, sophomore distance swimmer Julia Tengowski, and promising freshman Evey Masztak provide the Tigers with a powerful and diverse roster capable of excelling in both dual meets and championship formats.
A dynamic diving program enhances the Tigers’ chances as well. Seniors Lola Malarky and Juliet Hood, along with junior Maggie Lapina, clinched the top three spots at the WPIAL diving championships last season and all three ranked in the state’s top 10.
“We are extremely grateful for the level of skill we have in diving,” Wenzel remarked.
The NA boys’ team, with two consecutive WPIAL titles and 16 in the last 19 years, is also anticipated to perform well. Senior Grant Regule is the current champion in the WPIAL Class 3A 50 freestyle, and senior Gus Miller was the runner-up in the 200 IM. A junior trio, including Zachary Totin (third in the 100 butterfly), Danny Lesinski, and Dylan Seiford, formed part of a WPIAL championship 200 free relay team.
“The boys’ team is incredibly motivated to prove their potential this year,” Wenzel stated. “They’ve put in significant training over the summer and are eager to keep pace with our girls.”
Even with the WPIAL team title seemingly within reach, the North Allegheny girls are driven by personal aspirations.
Bacu seeks to break the school record in the 500 freestyle (4:51.80), while Hinkson, recognized as one of the top butterfliers in the WPIAL, aims to qualify for the PIAA finals in the 200 IM after narrowly missing it by three-hundredths of a second last season, finishing 17th. They both readied for the season by participating in the USA Swimming Futures Championships from July 25-28 in Richmond, Va.
Tieppo acknowledged the weight of the WPIAL title streak but emphasized it does not weigh heavily on their minds.
“We understand the legacy we uphold, and we carry that with us as we train,” she remarked. “We maintain our diligence, knowing it will lead to something significant.”
Golden years
Below are the longest championship streaks in WPIAL history.
Team streak years
• Bethel Park boys swimming, 20, 1981-2000
• North Allegheny girls swimming, 16, 2009-present
• Burrell wrestling, 15, 2007-21
• Sewickley Academy boys tennis, 15, 2004-18
Tags: North Allegheny
Sports
Surfers Dharma – The Journey to Purpose (ft. Koa Smith, Tom Carroll, Pacha Light)
Filmmaker and narrator Uriel Jean Armel sets out to document what it means to live with purpose. Along the way, iconic surfers including Tom Carroll, who turned his struggle with addiction into a gift, and rising voices for activism and awareness through surfing like Koa Smith and Pacha Light share their own stories of transformation. […]
Filmmaker and narrator Uriel Jean Armel sets out to document what it means to live with purpose. Along the way, iconic surfers including Tom Carroll, who turned his struggle with addiction into a gift, and rising voices for activism and awareness through surfing like Koa Smith and Pacha Light share their own stories of transformation.
Through this movie, we aim to bring awareness on environmental issues in Indonesia.
If you would like to support this cause, you can reach out to Risman via his IG page: Lombok Plastic Free IG page @lombokplasticfree
Or, Sungai Watch who provided us with some additional footage. Their their teams are cleaning up beaches and rivers of Indonesia, installing barriers to prevent the trash from coming to the ocean: @sungaiwatch – you can also support and donate through their webpage: sungai.watch
If you are interested in the topics of healing and meditation, head over to the website of Dr Joe Dispenza (drjoedispenza.com), both Koa and Uriel have been attending his retreats and found deep healing through his studies and practices
Thank you to all our kickstarter donors who made this journey possible. To be continued!
Sports
Garbiñe Muguruza and Kosovare Asllani plot sporting pathway to social sustainability …
A former World No.1 in women’s tennis and a footballer who has played in the top divisions of Spain, England, France, Italy and the USA joined forces with Laureus and sustainability partner, EY, at the Laureus World Sports Awards earlier this week, to begin a new chapter in social sustainability in sport. Both two-time Grand […]
A former World No.1 in women’s tennis and a footballer who has played in the top divisions of Spain, England, France, Italy and the USA joined forces with Laureus and sustainability partner, EY, at the Laureus World Sports Awards earlier this week, to begin a new chapter in social sustainability in sport.
Sports
Amer Sports' SVP Sustainability, Anne Larilahti, joins WFSGI Board
We are proud to share that Anne Larilahti, Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Amer Sports, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI). Anne has led sustainability efforts at Amer Sports since 2022. As a board member, she will share her experience and help shape […]
We are proud to share that Anne Larilahti, Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Amer Sports, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI).
Anne has led sustainability efforts at Amer Sports since 2022. As a board member, she will share her experience and help shape the direction of the sporting goods industry on key issues such as physical inactivity, sustainability, and responsible business. We talked with Anne about what this means for her, for Amer Sports, and for the future of the industry.
What is WFSGI, and why is it important for Amer Sports to be involved?
The WFSGI is a global organization that brings together companies and associations from across the sporting goods industry, from big brands to manufacturers and national federations. It’s a platform for joint action on the challenges and opportunities we all face, like promoting physical activity, advancing sustainability, and working on international trade issues facing the industry. For Amer Sports, being part of WFSGI means we can contribute to and learn from industry-wide solutions and bring our perspective into global conversations.
What will your role be as a board member?
I am honored to join the WFSGI Board as a representative of Amer Sports at this pivotal time for our industry. I will bring in perspectives from sustainability, especially on topics like decarbonization, circular business models, and inclusive access to sport. I’m also interested in how we as an industry can better connect with public health and policy stakeholders to encourage more active lifestyles.
Physical inactivity is one of WFSGI’s key focus areas. Why does that matter?
It’s a huge global issue. According to the World Health Organization, 31% of adults worldwide—that is 1.8 billion people—don’t get enough physical activity. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a global public health crisis. Physical inactivity is linked to chronic diseases, mental health challenges, and reduced quality of life. As an industry, we have both the responsibility and the opportunity to help reverse that trend. We can create more inclusive products, support community sports, and work together to remove the barriers that keep people from moving.
What are you most excited about in this role?
At Amer Sports we believe that sport has the power to drive positive change by improving health, strengthening communities, and inspiring more sustainable ways of living. I’m excited to work together to turn that potential into action with others who are passionate about the same goals. It’s a valuable opportunity for us to learn from global peers, contribute to industry-wide progress, and share how our brands are working to make sport more inclusive and sustainable.
We congratulate Anne on her appointment and look forward to the impact she will help deliver in this new role.
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