by Felicity RoccoThe girls praying together before the game. This year Apollo-Ridge had the honor of having both a girls and boys soccer teams with Leechburg. The Leechburg Blue Devils took our boys, and the Apollo-Ridge Vikings took the girls. The Blue Devils went 9-5-1 in their overall record and were coached by Brad Walker. The Vikings ended up third in the section!
0 Comments
by Kate MyersPhotos by: Lici.Jo.Photos Kate Myers directing the half time show! Ladies, gentlemen, and munchkins of Oz, get ready for your ruby red socks to be knocked of your feet, as the Apollo Ridge marching band performs its latest show: Wicked!
Like most things, the A-R High School Marching Band experiences suffered last year from the effects of COVID. Practices were minimal, there was no actual marching involved, and the band was not allowed to perform at any away games. However, the band has come back in full swing with the Wicked-themed show this year. The show has three pieces and includes themes from "No One Mourns the Wicked," "Dancing Through Life," "For Good," and "Defying Gravity." The band is under the direction of drum majors Kate Myers and Aaron Worst, drum captain Summer MacPherson, and director Gavin Virag. by Gregory KlingensmithThe A-R.H.S. Cross Country Team! The Apollo-Ridge High School Cross-Country Team was led by Daniel Dunmire, a prolific track athlete in long distance running, Nathan Kavulic, basketball and baseball player for the Vikings, Aaron Worst, musical start and core member of the track team, and Ashby Abernathy, an outspoken student who gets kids involved in school through TPUSA. The team also included Junior Kyra Myers, who joined the team last year to become Apollo-Ridge’s first female cross-country participant. The team was also joined by underclassmen, Thomas Pierce, a first-year runner. The Viking X-C team had four meets with Myers and Dunmire making it to the WPIAL championship.
Team Captain Daniel Dunmire said of his experience over the last several years, "I've competed for four years, and it has given me a lot of physical and mental strength that I didn't have before. It was an honor to run my senior year with my coach (Coach D.) and great teammates." Also adding to Dunmire's sentiments, senior Aaron Worst joked, "I coulda ran faster, but it gave me companionship with my teammates and a family feeling." In addition, senior Ashby Abernathy shared, "It gave me close relationship with my friends." Concluding the commentaries, senior Nathan Kavulic added, "It gave me a way to be competitive while spending time with my friends and staying in shape." It was a great experience for all involved, and Coach Desiderato hopes to get many more involved in the coming year. Congratulations to the cross-country team on a great season! by Felicity Roccophotos by: Lici.Jo.Photos This time last year, the beautiful cheerleaders at Apollo-Ridge were begging to be allowed on the sidelines on Friday nights. The squad was no only allowed to cheer at home games, but also at away games too! Seniors Emma Frain, Emma Sinnamond, Emma George and Madi Lydon were honored in a traditional way this year and escorted by their parents down the field on Senior Night. As we know it, the girls will be allowed to cheer at the basketball games too! Being able to go to away games helped the girls get more involved and the cheerleaders spending more time together helped the underclassmen created a closeness as a team and created a closeness that did not exist last year.
Senior Madi Lydon stated, "I think having a full season with the football team, the marching band, and all the cheerleaders together definitely was more fun. Having that as a our final year together just boosted the morale of the school in general." In addition, Senior Emma George shared, "I really enjoyed my senior football season of cheer because I got to enjoy time with my friends and be able to assist the underclassmen to experience a normal football season." It is nice to see the girls back on the sidelines! by Greg Klingensmithphoto by: Lici.Jo.Photos Greg Klingensmith blocking and Karter Schrock going for a pass. The 2021 Apollo-Ridge football season was a roller coater of ups and downs throughout the whole season. The team, which was led by captains Angelo Cicco, Bradey Schrock, and Greg Klingensmith, played through an injury-plagued season. Heading the backfield for the Viking’s offense was sophomore, Karter Schrock. Schrock missed a few games due to and ankle injury, but he more than surpassed expectations for such a young quarterback. Star running-back Nick Curci had high hopes coming into season with preparations coming from multiple summer camps at top colleges in the Northeast.
Arguably, the most important part of the team were the linemen. Seniors Greg Klingensmith and Bradey Schrock returned this year with very high expectations. With both being 4-year starters, they provided a much-needed veteran presence on a predominantly young team. Schrock and Klingensmith both earned All-Conference First Team honors last year and continued their dominance into their senior year. Klingensmith, OT & DL, came off an All-Conference Lineman of the Year campaign last year, and also had high expectations coming into this season. Currently, Klingensmith has offers from Clarion University and Lawrence Tech and expects more to come in the coming months. Rounding off the Senior Class was wide-receiver, Angelo Cicco. Cicco had an increased role last year and helped the young players on the team this year by providing knowledge that he learned in his four years of play. The Vikings had a rough start to the season with three losses coming from non-conference teams. After having a game cancelled due to Covid, the Vikings picked up wins against Burrell and Summit Academy. Getting into conference play proved to be a big challenge, and they suffered three more losses to teams in the conference. Despite the unfavorable record, the Vikings showed determination and heart by playing through injuries and Covid-19 cancellations. |
AuthorsFelicity Rocco |