NEW BETHLEHEM — It might never be as unique of a season-opener for at least one team.
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Redbank Valley’s Caylen Rearick drive to the basket against Punxsutawney’s Katelyn Griebel (11) and Chloe Presloid during Friday’s game in New Bethlehem. The Lady Chucks topped the hosts, 59-48.
- Photo by Mike Maslar
Redbank Valley’s Alivia Huffman (25) drives to the basket against Punxsutawney’s Sarah Weaver during Friday’s game.
- Photo by Mike Maslar
Redbank Valley's Madison Foringer puts in two of her team-high 19 points in Friday's 59-48 loss to Punxsutawney.
- Photo by Mike Maslar
DuBois Central Catholic’s Ethan Kness (4) scores inside against St. Joseph’s Jonathan Clark (11) during second-quarter action Friday night. Kness scored 10 points in the Cardinals’ 63-34 victory.
- Photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
DuBois Central Catholic’s Damon Foster hits one of his two first-quarter 3-pointers Friday night against St. Joseph’s. Foster scored 12 points, all in the first half.
- Photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
DuBois Central Catholic’s Alec Srock (11) drives past St. Joseph’s Nathan Cross (2) to score during first-half action Friday night. Srock finished with a game-high 14 points in DCC’s lopsided 63-34 victory.
- Photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
DuBois Central Catholic girls basketball coach Jordan Hoover yells out a play during the Lady Cardinals’ season opener against Punxsutawney. Hoover is in his fourth year as the DCC girls head coach. He also is a varsity football assistant coach at Brockway.
- Photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
Brookville’s Danny Lauer (14) defends a driving Gabe Kengersky (5) during Friday’s game. Lauer finished with 18 points in the Raiders’ 66-42 win over the Chucks.
- Photo by Rich Rhoades
Brookville's Griffin Ruhlman (back) bodies up against Punxsutawney's Ethan Presloid during Friday's game. Ruhlman finished with 15 points and seven rebounds in the Raiders' 66-42 win.
- Photo by Rich Rhoades
DuBois Central Catholic freshman Kayley Risser scores inside during first-half action Friday night against Punxsutawney. Risser, playing her first varsity game, led DCC with eight points in a season-opening 67-18 loss to the Lady Chucks.
- Photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
Dick Esposito, who has been involved in coaching various sports since he was a teenager, has spent 34 years coaching basketball in the Tri-County Area. He is currently in his second stint as head coach of the Brockway girls basketball team. In the past, Esposito served as a head coach for th…
- File photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
St. Marys senior Samantha Hayes returns a shot during a home match against Elk County Catholic this fall. Hayes is a four-sport athlete who competes in tennis, cross country, basketball and track and field for the Lady Dutch.
- File photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
Elk County Catholic senior Nick Crisp finds room to run during a home game this fall. Crisp is a two-sport athlete who plays football for the Crusaders and wrestles at St. Marys through a co-op between the schools.
- File photo
St. Marys senior Kyla Johnson, shown making a pass this past season, is a four-sport athlete who competes in soccer, cross country, basketball and track and field for the Lady Dutch.
- File photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
St. Marys wrestling coach Dom Surra reacts after Tyler Dilley won his 132-pound fifth-place at the 2019 PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships. Dilley was the first, and still the only, Dutchmen to land on the podium during Surra’s 10-year coaching tenure.
- Photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
Elk County Catholic quarterback Mason McAllister breaks free from a trio of Cameron County defenders to gain extra yardage during a game this past season. McAllister, a senior, is a two-sport athlete who plays football and basketball for the Crusaders.
- File photo
Elk County Catholic’s Mark Kraus (33) pulls in a rebound between Brookville’s Logan Byerly (44) and Griffin Ruhlman (23) during a game last season. Kraus, a senior, is a three-sport athlete who plays golf, basketball and baseball for the Crusaders.
- File photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
Elk County Catholic girls basketball coach Ken Pistner, right, yells out instructions during the Lady Crusaders’ win against Ridgway in the AML semifinals last year. Pistner has led the program for 18 years now.
- File photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
Brookville’s Ian Pete, right, runs the fast break with Noah Peterson, left, beside him during Friday’s game against Penns Manor. Pete scored 10 points.
- Photo by Daneen McMaster
Brookville’s Jace Miner (32) drives to the basket during Friday’s first game against Penns Manor. Miner scored 20 against the Comets, then 24 in a win over St. Joe’s in the final game.
- Photo by Daneen McMaster
Elk County Catholic’s Mark Kraus scores in front of an A-C Valley defender during a District 9 Class A semifinal victory last year. Kraus, the team’s second-leading scorer as a junior, returns to lead an ECC squad that lost six seniors — all starters or key reserves — from a squad that went …
- File photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
Brookville senior quarterback Jack Krug was voted the Big School South Division Offensive MVP as part of the All-Star teams released for the four divisions of the District 9 Football League.
- File photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
St. Marys’ Christian Coudriet (14) battles for extra yardage during the season opener against Bradford. Coudriet was named the District 9 Big School North Offensive MVP.
- File photo by Craig Moyer
St. Marys’s Sean Lathrop (18) puts a big hit on a Bradford player as Alex Lukashunis (71) helps make the tackle during the season opener this past season. Lathrop was named the District 9 Big School North Defensive MVP.
- File photo by Craig Moyer
DuBois head coach Jason Gustafson gives his team instructions from the sideline during a home match against Punxsutawney this past season. Gustafson has served as the girls volleyball coach for 12 seasons, while also coaching the boys volleyball team for eight seasons.
- File photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
Brookville’s Jack Krug (6) breaks free to the outside on a scramble as he gets a block from teammate Kyle MacBeth (88) during a win at Central Clarion in the regular season. Krug has been named the TCW/CE Player of the Year after a stellar senior season that saw him throw for 2,369 yards, 31…
- File photo by Chris Wechtenhiser
Redbank Valley’s Blane Gold has been named the TCW/CE Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to the PIAA Class A quarterfinals. Along the way, the Bulldogs won their first District 9 title since 1996 and captured the program’s first-ever state playoff win as part of a 7-1 season.
The Clarion volleyball team poses with the PIAA Class A championship trophy and banner after sweeping District 11 champion Marian Catholic in the finals back in November for the second state title in program history. The Lady Cats were the only team from the Tri-County Area to capture PIAA g…
Redbank Valley volleyball coach Matt Darr checks off a box on a banner in the gymnasium after his team captured the District 9 Class 2A title against Keystone on Nov. 5. Darr is resigning after his fifth season in his second tenure with the Lady Bulldogs and 15th overall.
Redbank Valley’s Chris Marshall hauls in a pass for a 33-yard TD from quarterback Cam Wagner for the first points of last Saturday’s game against Northern Bedford. Defending on the play is Northern Bedford’s Lucas Heck (24). The Bulldogs take on Reynolds in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals Sat…
- File photo by Rich Rhoades
The captains of the Redbank Valley girls soccer, volleyball and football teams show off their District 9 Championship plaques that were won last week within a six-day span. In front, from left, are soccer players Austin Kirkpatrick, Alaina Hook and Rhiannon Laughlin, then volleyball players …
Clearfield’s Karson Kline grabs an interception during the first quarter of Friday’s game against Bedford. Kline also caught five passes for 97 yards, but Bedford picked up a 40-21 victory.
- Photo by Rich Murawski
Clearfield’s Logan Firanski steps out of a Bedford tackle during Friday’s game. Firanski caught two passes for 36 yards in the Bison’s loss to Bedford.
- Photo by Rich Murawski
Clearfield quarterback Oliver Billotte sneaks the ball into the end zone as Bedford's Ashton Dull tries to stop him during the second quarter of Friday's game. Billotte ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, but Bedford won the game 40-21.
- Photo by Rich Murawski
Curwensville’s Thad Butler (14) tries to run away from West Branch’s Camden Kopchik (1) during second-half action Friday night. Butler ran for 136 yards and a touchdown and also returned a kickoff for a score in a 21-14 loss to the Warriors.
Curwensville's Collin Jacobson, left, is dragged down to the ground by West Branch's Kyle Moore on a kickoff return in the second half Friday night.
DuBois’ Ruben Estrada (20) makes a diving tackle in the backfield on Punxsutawney’s Kameron Falgout (7) during the fourth quarter Friday. Estrada also sacked Falgout on the night, forcing a fumble and coming away with the recovery in a 7-0 loss.
- Photo by Craig Moyer
DuBois’ Brycen Dinkfelt and Christian Kirk (50) team up to tackle Punxsutawney’s Zeke Bennett (20) during the third quarter Friday night. The Chucks won 7-0.
- Photo by Craig Moyer
DuBois’ Austin Mitchell (6) gets around the edge on a carry during the second quarter against Punxsutawney Friday. Mitchell led the Beavers’ offense with 58 yards on 13 carries and was also 2-of-4 passing for 10 yards in a 7-0 defeat.
- Photo by Craig Moyer
Brookville’s Robert Keth runs into the end zone for the Raiders’ first touchdown in Friday’s District 9 Class AA Championship game in Brockway. Keth caught eight passes for 68 yards and also ran for a touchdown to account for his team’s both TDs in a 16-14 loss to Karns City.
- Photo by Rich Rhoades
Karns City's Owen Colwell (84) connects on the game-winning 27-yard field goal out of the hold of Eric Booher (7) at the end of Friday night's District 9 Class 2A Championship game in Brockway. The Gremlins avenged an earlier 44-0 loss to the Raiders with a 16-14 win.
- Photo by Rich Rhoades
Brookville’s Ryan Daisley (25) upends Karns City’s Kaden Scherer (3) for a tackle during Friday’s game in Brockway.
- Photo by Rich Rhoades
Elk County Catholic’s Nick Crisp, shown here carrying the ball during a Week 2 game at home against Cameron County, rushed for 125 yards on 19 carries for three touchdowns while also returning an interception for a score in a 42-14 road win over the Red Raiders Friday night.
- File photo by Craig Moyer
Curwensville running back Chase Irwin breaks a tackle on the way to a 4-yard touchdown run during the second quarter of Friday's game. The Tide beat Bucktail 36-0.
- Photo by Rich Murawski
Central Clarion’s Hunter Craddock (44) tackles Karns City’s Kaden Scherer (3) Friday night during a District 9 Class 2A semifinal game. Craddock scored the Wildcats’ lone touchdown on a 50-yard catch in the fourth quarter of a 34-9 loss to the Gremlins. He had three grabs for 59 yards in the game.
- Photo by Bri Kirkland
Curwensville’s Duane Brady carries four Bucktail defenders on this 13-yard run in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game. Brady returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and recovered a fumble to help the Tide to a 36-0 win.
- Photo by Rich Murawski
Curwensville’s Thad Butler runs the ball during the second quarter of Friday’s game against Bucktail. Butler carried 11 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns in the Tide’s 36-0 victory.
- Photo by Rich Murawski
Ridgway’s Ben Briggs is tackled from behind by Brookville’s Hunter Smith for a short gain in Friday’s game.
- Photo by Rich Rhoades
Ridgway’s Will Howard (8) pulls in a catch and is brought down by Brookville’s Ryan Daisley (25) with Tate Lindermuth (22) closing in during Friday’s game.
- Photo by Rich Rhoades
Brookville’s Robert Keth (2) hauls in a pass from Jack Krug during Friday’s game as Ben Briggs (7) defends for Ridgway. Keth caught five passes for 153 yards with a touchdown while throwing a 58-yard TD pass to Krug as well.
- Photo by Rich Rhoades
- By Chris Wechtenhiser chrisw@thecourierexpress.com
DuBOIS — The DuBois swim teams opened the season Thursday night with a strong performance, setting more than 30 new lifetime bests in a sweep of visiting Bradford.
- By Chris Wechtenhiser chrisw@thecourierexpress.com
WILLIAMSPORT — A shorthanded DuBois wrestling team made the long trip out Interstate 80 to Williamsport Thursday night and suffered a 41-26 loss at the hands of the Millionaires.
- By Chris Wechtenhiser chrisw@thecourierexpress.com
DuBOIS — Everyone who coaches has a story about how they got started, and those reasons or moments often run the gamut in regards to why they decided to get involved with the profession.
- By Chris Wechtenhiser chrisw@thecourierexpress.com
DuBOIS — Playing its third game of the week, the DuBois Central Catholic boys basketball team put together its best all-around performance of those games Friday night to come away with a 63-34 mercy-rule victory against visiting St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy.
- By Chris Wechtenhiser chrisw@thecourierexpress.com
DuBOIS — Entering the year with a young roster, DuBois Central Catholic girls basketball coach Jordan Hoover knew the beginning of the season might be rough, especially with three-week interruption due to COVID-19.
- Chris Wechtenhiser
BELLEFONTE — The DuBois boys basketball team finally got on the court for real Friday night, opening its season with a hard-fought 64-60 win at Bellefonte thanks in large part to a huge fourth quarter from senior Lennon Lindholm.
- By Chris Wechtenhiser chrisw@thecourierexpress.com
ST. MARYS — While every athlete loves to win, for some the experience is about more than just that. It’s about having fun and making friendships that last well past high school.
- By Chris Wechtenhiser chrisw@thecourierexpress.com
BROCKWAY — It’s often said once you catch the coaching “bug,” it is hard to let it go.
- By Chris Wechtenhiser chrisw@thecourierexpress.com
ST. MARYS — Every athlete has a reason they enjoy competing in sports, and those reasons can be a wide range of things.