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Hopewell Girls Junior High Volleyball

Hopewell Junior High Girls Volleyball – Mid-Season Recap

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 3 minutes read

8th Grade Team
After dropping their first three matches of the season, the Hopewell Girls Volleyball 8th Grade team has found its rhythm and responded with two straight wins, moving their record 2-3. Showing strong improvement in communication, serving, and overall teamwork, they head into the 2nd half of the season with excitement and high expectations.

Key Contributors for 8th Grade

Ariana Fischer – Middle Blocker & Serving

Brooke Otto – Setter & Serving

Afton Budris – Outside Hitter & Serving

Sam Holsinger – Setter & Serving

Stella Sannan – Libero, Back Row & Serving

Alyssa Phillips – Outside Hitter & Middle Blocker

Amiyah Shell – Outside Hitter & Middle Blocker

Leah Buettner – Back Row

Sierra Perry – Back Row

Ellie McCoy – Middle Blocker

Lily Cain – Back Row

Arionna Shell – Outside Hitter

Riley Yanchik – Back Row

G’lianna Wilcox – Back Row

Kelsey Homick – Back Row

These players have continued to grow and have helped drive the team’s recent momentum with strong serving runs, aggressive net play, and consistent defensive effort in the back row.

The serving quality has dramatically improved this season with only 20 serving errors on 267 attempts. Leading the way is Otto with 66 attempts, 13 aces and only 1 error.

The net front presence has also improved. The blocking/hitting combination of Fischer & McCoy is extremely tough to hit around as teams are finding out. Budris & Phillips are becoming very strong on outside hitting thanks to excellent setting accuracy from Otto & Holsinger. And the back row play has improved quite a bit as the season has progressed from Sannan, Buettner, Holsinger, Fischer, Otto, Perry & Cain.

One of the highlights of the season so far was a statement win over Fort Cherry on Thursday afternoon, a team the program hasn’t beaten in quite some time. The match was a back-and-forth battle that showed the team’s resilience and determination.

· Set 1: 25-23 (Win)

· Set 2: 28-30 (Loss)

· Set 3: 15-9 (Win)

The victory was a major boost of confidence and demonstrated the team’s ability to compete with one of the league’s stronger programs. Below are a few clips from the game showing the team’s excellent communication and ability.

 

Coach Terry Borkovic also shared his thoughts on the team’s progress- “We started off the season a little slow. Recently, the girls are coming together and playing awesome volleyball! The Fort Cherry win gave the girls confidence. Fort Cherry is one of the better teams in the league. I’m excited for the next few weeks. Really proud of these girls.”

With improved chemistry and confidence building each match, the team looks to carry their momentum into the second half of the season and continue developing their game.

 

7th Grade Team

The 7th Grade team is off to a 1–4 start to the season, highlighted by an exciting victory in their opening match vs Avonworth. While the record reflects a challenging first half of the schedule, the team continues to grow each week, showing determination, teamwork, and a strong commitment to improving on the court.

Several players have stepped up and played key roles for the team. Rilynn Davis has been a steady presence at Libero, anchoring the back row with strong defensive play and consistent serving. Adelynn Gray has contributed as both Setter and a back row player, helping keep the offense organized while stepping into multiple roles when needed. In the middle, Isla Rock has brought energy and aggressiveness as a Middle Blocker, while also contributing from the service line.

Kendall Bain has been another versatile contributor, playing Setter and back row while providing strong serving and leadership on the court. Kendall Miller has helped stabilize the back row with reliable passing and serving, while Kaleah Potter and Jayden Kemp have both contributed valuable points from the service line. At the net, Vanessa Kurta has added presence as a Middle Blocker, continuing to develop her role in the front row.

Head Coach Lexi Thompson shared that while the team has faced some tough matches early in the season, the players continue to show a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. “Our season is off to a challenging start with a 1–4 record, but the team continues to show growth, resilience, and improvement. I have a hardworking group of girls who show up ready to improve and compete every day,” the coach said.

The focus moving forward will be on finishing sets and capitalizing on close moments during matches. With the team continuing to gain experience and confidence each week, their hard work and commitment are laying the foundation for a strong finish to the season.

7th Grade Roster:
Rilyn Davis

Adelynn Gray

Isla Rock

Kendall Bain

Kendall Miller

Vanessa Kurta

Kalean Potter

Jayden Kemp

Savi Neophytou

Malena BonAnno

Eva Hein

Callie Sadler

Gia Yurcina

Kyla McNutt

Natalie Benninghoff

Remaining Schedule:

7th Grade – 3:30 PM / 8th Grade – 4:30 PM

Tuesday 3/10 – Away vs Montour

Thursday 3/12 – Away vs Avonworth

Monday 3/16 – Home vs West Allegheny

Tuesday 3/17 – Away vs Quaker Valley

Thursday 3/19 – Home vs South Fayette

Tuesday 3/24 – Away vs Fort Cherry

Thursday 3/26 – Home vs Montour

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Hopewell HS Softball

Hopewell HS Softball 2026 Preseason Preview

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 2 minutes read

Heading into the 2026 season, the Hopewell softball team will look much different than a year ago.

After graduating four seniors and welcoming eight freshmen to the roster, head coach Ronda Koblek says the early focus has been on building chemistry, leadership, and a shared team identity.

Despite the youth, Koblek is encouraged by what she has seen so far.

“This is a young group that is learning quickly,” Koblek said. “They’ve embraced the challenge of stepping into bigger roles, and you can already see the growth; not just in skills, but in how they support each other and compete every day.”

A Young Team Finding Its Identity

With so many underclassmen expected to contribute, the Vikings will rely heavily on talent, work ethic, and internal competition to shape the lineup.

Koblek believes the team’s identity will revolve around development and drive.

“There’s a lot of talent on this roster and the players are extremely coachable,” she said. “They push each other in practice and respond well to challenges. We know we have a lot to prove, but the commitment to getting better every day is there.”

That daily competition has been a key part of the offseason.

With several players capable of contributing in different roles, starting spots are far from guaranteed.

“Our lineup could change from week to week,” Koblek explained. “Players are competing hard for opportunities, and that competition is making everyone better.”

Leadership by Committee

Hopewell enters the season with just one senior, Allison Ramaley, which creates a unique leadership dynamic.

Because Ramaley is a multisport athlete, she hasn’t always been available during the offseason, but Koblek believes the experience she gained from last year’s senior class will help guide the team.

“At the same time, leadership can’t fall on just one player,” Koblek said. “We need multiple players stepping up through their voice, their effort, and the way they support their teammates.”

That shared leadership approach could ultimately become a strength for a team filled with young players eager to prove themselves.

Earning Every Opportunity

One of the central expectations Koblek has set for the team is simple: nothing will be handed out.

“No one has a locked-in starting role,” she said. “Everything is earned through effort, accountability, and consistency.”

That mentality has helped create a competitive environment in practices, something Koblek believes will pay off during the season.

“When players know opportunities have to be earned, it builds a stronger culture and keeps everyone focused on the team.”

Freshmen Ready to Make an Impact

Hopewell’s Lillian Otto

The eight-member freshman class brings an influx of talent to the program, and Koblek believes several of them could contribute right away.

The biggest hurdle, she says, is helping younger players understand they belong at the varsity level.

“Once they realize they can contribute and trust themselves, we’re going to take a big step forward,” Koblek said. “The talent is there.”

Developing the work ethic and confidence to match that talent will be key as the season unfolds.

The Path to a Successful Season

For Hopewell to put together a strong season, Koblek says the formula is simple: consistent effort and shared accountability.

“We need players to step up mentally and physically,” she said. “Leadership and responsibility aren’t tied to age. When everyone competes every day and trusts the process, success becomes something the whole team builds together.”

With a deep roster, emerging leaders, and a talented freshman class, the Vikings may be young, but the foundation for the future of Hopewell softball is already taking shape.

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Hopewell Track and Field

2025-26 Hopewell Track and Field Season Preview

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 3 minutes read

The Hopewell Track and Field team enters the 2026 season with its usual high expectations.

Despite graduating a strong group of seniors last year that combined to set 6 outdoor school records, the team also returns many accomplished underclassmen who can carry the torch forward and continue to rewrite the record book. Fourteen athletes return who qualified for the WPIAL Championship meet last year, and five of them already have a school record to their names.

The distance runners are led by seniors Antony Flitcraft and Madi Inderelst. Antony had a strong winter of training and is in shape to have his best season in the 1600m and 3200m. Sophomore Jack Biega showed a lot of promise during his freshman year, running 2:05 in the 800m and anchoring the 4×400 relay to a new school record. Joel Olshanski is another returning letter winner in the distance group. With some talented newcomers joining the fold, they could make a formidable 4×800 team.

Screenshot

 Madi Inderelst qualified for WPIAL last year in the 800m, 4x800m relay, and the girls school record 4x400m relay. She finished the winter with a personal best indoor 800m, so she is ready for a big senior season before she leaves to continue competing at Geneva College. The entire 4×800 relay returns with seniors Keira Mann, Caylee Sundy, and sophomore Skylar Elias. Skylar also had a huge winter season, taking several minutes off of her 3200m time, and setting the school record in the event.

The sprints and hurdles group also returns a large number of key contributors. Seniors Josh Brunton and Julian Baldwin are coming off of serious leg injuries but look like they will return to form. Along with fellow senior Nick Adams, they lead a deep group of speedsters who will be fighting for legs on the 4×100 and 4×400 relays that could be all-time greats.

Sophomores Nasir Wade and Tre Cameron return with anchor leg experience, and both had impressive freshman seasons in the 100m and 200m. Junior Marqwone Nakoa may be the most improved athlete from last year as he put in tremendous work over the winter and had a very good indoor season. Junior Luke McGrail is ready to continue Hopewell’s strong hurdle tradition after putting up impressive times in the 60m hurdles indoors. He will also be a player in the sprints, relays, and jumps.

On the girls’ side, senior Maya Richburg returns as one of the top 100/200m sprinters in the WPIAL. She has her sights set on the 100m school record of 12.38, which was set the year she was born. Senior Holly Biesenkamp returns as well. Junior Avery Boyd owns the curve on the 200m and the 4×100 relay. Sophomore Harley Hample had a terrific indoor season and has the potential to be a WPIAL contender in the 400m. Sophomore Tessa Burgess qualified for WPIAL last year in the 100m hurdles and looks to be even stronger after breaking the indoor 60m hurdle record this winter.

In the field events, the boys return several strong jumpers. Seniors Nick Adams and Bryce Ray are 20’+ long jumpers, and Adams is a consistent 41’+ triple jumper. Sophomore Avery Bokor was one of the top freshmen in the WPIAL last year with a 5’10” high jump and 19’ long jump. 

Hopewell’s Avery Bokor

 

Hopewell’s Bryce Ray

Avery Boyd returns for the girls in the long and triple and will be joined by Holly Biesenkamp and Tessa Burgess. Harley Hample and Lahna Murray can have a big year in their second season of high jump.

The top javelin throwers of both the boys and girls return from last year. Senior Vinny Boris will build on his strong finish from last year for the boys. Junior Marlee Page was a WPIAL qualifier last spring and should contend for a medal this year. 

Sophomore Brody Rock led the team last year with the discus and shot. He has the ability to be as good as he wants to be. 

Junior Emma DiCicco returns as the girls’ top discus thrower and shot putter, along with Amelia McCloskey. Emma took a lot of first place points in the section meets last year and looks to become a contender in the invitationals this season.

Senior pole vaulter Emily Bauknight was a WPIAL qualifier last year and is determined to make it to the state meet and go after the school record of 10’3” that is currently shared by Meghan Parrish and Emily Pleslusky. The boys return junior Chris Holland and expect to have a number of promising rookies.

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Hopewell HS Gymnastics

Hopewell Gymnastics Results from WPIAL Championships

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 1 minutes read
Hopewell High School gymnastics competed this past weekend in the Bronze Judges Invitational and the WPIAL Championships.
Hopewell finished their regular season with a 5-2 record in the section. The Vikings were ranked 3rd in Section 2 and qualified for the WPIAL Team Championships.

At those championships, Hopewell finished in 6th place thanks to the help of all 6 team members: Madison Bradford, Camryn Pedaline, Makenzie Zupsic, Lia Eberhardt, Reece Jesko and Stella Vallecorsa.

Here are the Individual Results from those two meets:
At the Bronze Judges Invitational– freshman Madison Bradford finished 1st on Beam and 4th on Floor. Freshman Camryn Pedaline placed 2nd on Floor.
At the WPIAL Championships– junior Reece Jesko finished 5th in the All-Around in the Intermediate II (Silver) division. Freshman Makenzie Zupsic placed 2nd on Bars in the Intermediate I (Gold) division.
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Hopewell Bowling

Hopewell Vikings Bowling Team Sweep MAC Tournament a Year Ahead of Schedule

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 4 minutes read

The Hopewell Vikings participated in the annual Midwestern Athletic Conference (MAC) Tournament at Sim’s Lanes on Saturday submitting 4 teams into three different divisions featuring 12 schools, 36 teams and 190+ high school bowlers. To say the Vikings had a banner day for their program would be an understatement.

The plan was always next year.

The Viking Men were walking into the tournament with 4/5 of their Varsity starters being underclassmen. The Lady Vikings were starting five Juniors, two of which are bowling for their first time. They both faced senior heavy teams and were aiming to leave the tournament with top three finishes with the hope that experience would help next year where the goal would be to win the tournament.

The Vikings decided not to wait.

The JV Vikings started the action by winning the silver division. Junior Will Holland, who operated as the sixth man for the Varsity team all year, shot the highest game IN THE TOURNAMENT with a career high 248 and his first career 600 series with a 612. Holland led the JV Vikings to a tournament win as his finish was good for first team all-tournament, #2 overall in the division. Holland was followed by junior Aiden “AJ” Klette who added a 522 series and a second team all-tournament finish and sophomore Thomas Turino who made the all-tournament third team with a 451 series.

Holland, Klette, & Turino were joined by sophomore Jordan Jacobs and freshman Desmond Sembower who completed their division winning team.

Hopewell also submitted an underclassmen silver team led by sophomore Diego Ocasio who shot a career high 169 game and 399 series and sophomore Joe Bulebush who added a 389 series to the team rounded out by sophomore Sam Bologna and freshmen Nathan Cronin, Caleb Hughes and Frankie Taylor. Despite being made up entirely of underclassmen, this team finished 7/9 in their tournament division.

The Lady Vikings then took their turn, and they made it look easy.

After a third place finish last year, the Lady Vikings ran away with the lady’s division with a 175-pin victory started off by a team high 751 game to start the tournament. The Lady Vikings were the only team in the field to break 700 all day, had the highest game in each individual game, and posted the three highest scores in the tournament with a 751-690-678 series. The Lady Vikings defeated the three-time defending champion, Montour Spartans in a victory that showed how far the program has come in a few short years.

Led by FIVE all-tournament team finishes, Junior captain Annabeth Sembower posted the second highest game in the tournament with a 184 and the third highest series with a 527, good for all-tournament first team for the second straight year at the MAC for Sembower. She was joined on the all-tournament first team by fellow junior and third year letter winner Krysten Clary who led the Vikings in game 1 with a career high 170 game and career high 451 series to make the first team for the first time in her MAC career.

Juniors Marlee Page (385), Eileen George (383) and Danica Jackson (373) all made the all-tournament third team rounding out the effort for the Vikings where all five starting women as Juniors finished in the top 15 of the tournaments individually. Freshman Lacey Seretti was also able to contribute a few shots to the effort that saw the Lady Vikings win the prestigious title a year ahead of schedule.

Finally, the men’s gold team was up, and they took it down to the wire.

The Vikings over-achieved last year with a surprising second place finish in the tournament. They came into the tournament this year ranked second overall and were looking for a top three finish. Instead, the Vikings decided they were also going to be impatient, and they were going to win the tournament a year ahead of schedule as well.

The Vikings were led by junior Ayden Gault who put together the most complete tournament performance of his career so far. Gault shot a 245-216-196 and a 657 series individually and anchored the Vikings Baker game series throwing the tournament deciding tenth frame for the Vikings who defeated section rival and defending champions, New Castle, by 27 pins to win the MAC tournament.

Gault’s 245 served as the highest game in the gold division and his 657 series placed as the second highest total – good for first team all-tournament for the first time in his career.

Gault was followed by sophomore Max Butter who shot a 571 series and a 220 third game that saw the Vikings close the gap between them and the leader and give them a chance win the tournament. Butter earned all-tournament team second team honors for his performance.

Junior Aidan Heppner added a 218 game and 564 series, and sophomore Nolan Houy scored a 543 series to see both bowlers make the all-tournament third team. Houy might have been the tournament hero, converting a huge 4-9 split in the second Baker game that changed all of the momentum in the Vikings favor.

The team was rounded out by senior captain Brayden Mowry, who admittedly struggled early in the day, but rolled out of the lead-off spot for the Vikings in their Baker games and went a perfect 6/6 with marks in the Baker format.

The plan was always next year, but the Vikings’ impatience changed everything.

This marks a tremendous day for the program and an outstanding start to the 2026 postseason that will see the Lady Vikings and the Vikings participate in the WPIBL championships this week.
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Hopewell Bowling

Congrats to Hopewell HS Boys Bowling Team for Winning Section Title

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 3 minutes read

The Hopewell Vikings bowling program authored a historic chapter on Wednesday at Sheffield Lanes, completing a clean sweep of the Rochester Rams. On a night defined by high stakes and Senior Night celebrations, both the Boys and Girls teams solidified their dominance heading into the postseason.

Boys Varsity: Back-to-Back Champions

Entering the match with no margin for error, the Boys Varsity team needed a perfect 7-0 win to secure their second consecutive section title. They delivered exactly that.

The effort was headlined by senior captain Brayden Mowry, who turned his Senior Night into a career-defining performance. Mowry led all scorers with a career-high game of 253 and a career-high series of 636. Supporting the charge were juniors Ayden Gault (201) and Aiden Heppner (206). The Vikings finish the regular season with a stellar 9-1 match record and a 61-9 overall mark.

Lady Vikings: Record-Tying Dominance


Already section champions as of last week, the Lady Vikings sought to etch their names in the school record books. With a sweep of the Rams, they finished the season at 9-1, tying the program record for the best season ever.

Led by junior captain Annabeth Sembower who shot a match best 457 series and a match high game of 169, the Lady Vikings did just that. Junior Krysten Clary added a 159 game, and a 445 series and junior Danica Jackson added a 160 game and 410 series to the win for the Lady Vikings.

The Lady Vikings also finish this season with an overall record of 61-9 and there will be a LOT to say about that a year from now when we celebrate what this special group of junior Lady Vikings has meant to this program and the culture of Hopewell Bowling.

MVP Honors went to freshman Lacey Seretti who finished the regular season by competing in her first varsity match and bowling over her average.

The men and women will both be in action next week during the WPIBL playoffs!

JV Highlights: “Nuclear” Numbers
The JV Vikings matched the varsity energy with a 7-0 sweep of their own. Junior Aiden “AJ” Klette put up “nuclear” statistics, recording his first career 200+ game (235) and 500+ series (573). Klette’s series was the second highest of the entire event, even outperforming Rochester’s top varsity junior.

Freshmen Caleb Hughes (164) and Richie Yeager (150), along with sophomore Diego Ocasio (374 series), all posted career highs.

MVP Honors were shared by Klette and Mowry for their career high performances.

After the match, the Vikings celebrated their lone senior – Brayden Mowry with a brief reception. In which, Mowry was introduced as the inaugural member of the newly formed 18,000 pin club.


Mowry finishes his career with 19,221 total pins over four years in which he accomplished the following: 4-year letter winner, 4-year varsity starter, 3-year scholar athlete winner, 3-year playoff qualifier, 2 section titles, 1 year as captain, 1 year of individual playoff qualifications, 0 missed practices and 0 missed matches over a 4 year career. Mowry’s 31-9 career record as a Viking stands as a benchmark for the program as it has turned a corner over the last few years.

Mowry’s contributions to the bowling program have been enormous, but his contributions to Hopewell as an athlete are also tremendous considering his career statistics. His successes on the lanes stand toe to toe with those of any of his peers. He’ll leave the program better than he found it and he leaves behind a very tall task for his teammates as they continue the program going forward.

The Vikings will attend the MAC Conference tournament this weekend where they expect to contend for podium finishes in all three divisions.

PERSONAL RECORDS
BOYS VARSITY: Brayden Mowry High Game 253, High Series 636
LADY VIKINGS: Krysten Clary High Series 445. Fiona Zelechowski High Game 131.
JV VIKINGS: Aiden Klette High Game 235, High Series 573. Caleb Hughes High Game 164. Richie Yeager High Game 150. Diego Ocasio High Series 374.
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Hopewell Girls Youth Basketball

Little Lady Vikings 6th Grade Continue Their Winning Ways

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 2 minutes read

Girls’ basketball in Hopewell is developing a strong pipeline of talent not only at the varsity and junior high levels but in the youth programs as well.

The Hopewell 6th Grade Lady Vikings travel team started action in the South Side tournament last weekend with games on Friday and Saturday but action on Sunday was canceled because of the weather.

In the first game, Hopewell soundly defeated Burgettstown by the score of 30-9. The scoring was spread out evenly between Peyton Raines, Amzey Budris, Emmy Bokor and Piper Bokor.

In game two, Hopewell pitched a shutout, beating Beaver, 27-0. The leading scorer for Hopewell was Gigi Ceccarelli with 7 points, with Emmy, Piper and Sophia Tiller leading the way defensively and completely locking down the paint for the entire game.

After a week off because of weather, the Lady Vikings were back on the court yesterday to complete the tournament, and they came away as champions!

In the semifinal game, Hopewell defeated Beaver, 26-16 and then beat Burgettstown in the championship game, 43-8. They were able to pick up this tournament win despite being without Budris, their starting point guard.

In the two games on Saturday, Emmy Bokor led the offense with 25 points, while Peyton Raines contributed a crucial 21 points, with Piper Bokor adding another 15 points.

The team’s toughness, physicality, and suffocating press did not go unnoticed as they drew the attention and compliments of all the officials and numerous spectators at the tournament!

After competing in those two games, this group of girls had to play another league game on Saturday and came away with a 31-13 win over Beaver Falls.

The Hopewell coaching staff was very complimentary of the team defense led by Piper Bokor and Sophia Tiller in the paint, while Lily Burgess and Reese Budavich played tremendous perimeter defense.

This team has been playing together since 3rd grade and shows continued growth and dominance. Led by strong work ethic, great attitudes and incredible friendships. Valued resources like Craedel Kimbrough and legendary coach Joe Faletta have invested in this group of girls- recognizing the potential for this group of girls and pushing them every week.

Next up: return to league play Wednesday night vs Cornell at M7

Hopewell 6th Grade Girls Travel Team:

Emmy Bokor

Peyton Raines

Piper Bokor

Amzey Budris

Sophia Tiller

Gigi Ceccarelli

Lily Burgess

Reese Budavich

Hayden Sullivan

Alaina Jacobs

Katerina Spiropoulous 

Coaches: Katherine Bokor and Brandi Budris

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Hopewell Bowling

Hopewell Girls Bowling Team Win First Section Title Since 2014

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 2 minutes read
In a high-stakes showdown at Sims Lanes on Wednesday, the Hopewell Vikings bowling program delivered a historic performance against the New Castle Hurricanes. Despite adverse weather conditions throughout the week, the Vikings rose to the occasion, with the Lady Vikings securing a long-awaited section title and the Boys Varsity keeping their championship hopes alive in dramatic fashion.
LADY VIKINGS
For the first time since 2014, and only the third time in program history, the Lady Vikings are Section Champions! They defeated New Castle 5-2 in a hard-fought match to clinch the title, securing a guaranteed seat in the Pennsylvania Regional Playoffs and a berth in the WPIBL Championships.

Junior captain Annabeth Sembower led the way with the most consistent performance of her career. In the highest-stakes match to date, she led all scorers with a 176-185-181 (542) series and delivered a massive tenth frame in Game 2 to seal the section title. Junior Eileen George also stepped up early, contributing a career-high 185 to help the Vikings dominate the opening game.

Game 2 proved more dramatic. After the Vikings took Game 1 by 140 pins, the Hurricanes battled back to keep the match tight until junior Danica Jackson took over. Jackson iced the game—and the section—by rolling a career-high 197, including a run of four straight strikes, to erase New Castle’s early lead. She finished with a career-high 444 series, earning team MVP honors for her heroics.

BOYS VARSITY
The Hopewell Boys fell 2-5 to the Hurricanes, marking the end of a historic 20-match winning streak dating back to the 2023-2024 season. Despite the loss, the Vikings achieved their primary objective: winning a critical third game to keep control of their postseason destiny.

After underperforming in the first two games, the Vikings found themselves in a must-win situation in Game 3. Sophomores Max Butter (201) and Nolan Houy (203) set the pace, but the real drama unfolded in the final frame. Trailing by 40 pins, the Vikings produced their best tenth frame of the year in front of a capacity crowd.

Junior Ayden Gault ignited the rally with two strikes. Butter and Houy followed with clutch marks, and senior captain Brayden Mowry added two strikes of his own. Needing a strike to seal the game, junior Aidan Heppner stepped up and struck out the tenth frame, securing an 18-pin victory. In the biggest moment of the season, the team scored 122 out of a possible 150 pins in the final frame. With a 7-0 win next week, the Vikings can still clinch a share of the section title and earn a first-round playoff bye.

MVP honors were earned by Max Butter, who scored well, but more importantly kept the Vikings buoyed as they struggled early in the match.

BOYS JUNIOR VARSITY
The JV Boys also faced a tough afternoon, falling to the Hurricanes. They were led by junior Aiden Klette (422 series) and sophomore Jordan Jacobs (420 series). Sophomore Sam Bologna chipped in the team’s high game of 162, while junior Revan Fazio celebrated a personal milestone with a career-high 148 game.

The Vikings complete their regular season next Wednesday at Sheffield. Following the match, the team will honor lone senior captain Brayden Mowry as they await their final playoff seeding.

PERSONAL RECORDS
LADY VIKINGS: Eileen George, High Game 185. Danica Jackson, High Game 197, High Series 444.
JV VIKINGS: Revan Fazio, High Game 148.
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Hopewell Bowling

Hopewell Bowling Team Splits Match vs. Beaver Falls.

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 3 minutes read

The Hopewell Vikings completed their 8th match of the year on the same day they finished their first semester of the 2025/2026 school year. Fresh off of early dismissal for midterm exams, the Vikings traveled to Sim’s Lanes to take on the Beaver Falls Tigers in important matchups for all three teams.

BOYS VARSITY

The Viking Boys had an opportunity to exert some pressure on their competition along the way to a hopeful section title and took full advantage, taking all 7 games from the Tigers in a very close match.

Junior Ayden Gault led all Vikings for the third straight week with yet another 600 performance. Senior captain Brayden Mowry came out of the gate with a career-high 253 game to lead the Vikings to a game one victory. This marked the first clean game of the season for Mowry and added the high game of the match.

Gault led the way in match two with a 220 game and was followed closely by junior Aidan Heppner, who added a 198 clean game to the Vikings’ 23-pin victory that decided the match.

However, due to the way league tie-breakers work, the Vikings needed game 3 in order to maintain their section lead heading into the last two matches of the season. Gault threw the first six strikes of the pivotal match and scored a 214 final game, while Heppner threw the last four strikes to ice the win with a final score of 933-924.

With this victory, the Vikings guarantee themselves a playoff berth. They will have the upper hand heading into next week where they’ll have a chance to clinch their second straight division title. They’ll head into the match as underdogs but have a defined path towards winning the section.

LADY VIKINGS

The Lady Vikings suffered their first loss of the season with a 5-2 loss to the Tigers.

Junior captain Annabeth Sembower added a 181 game and the match high series of 475 to a very close match. Junior Krysten Clary scored a career-high 166 in the pivotal game 3 that the Lady Vikings won by just 5 pins (660-655). Freshman Fiona Zelechowski continued her trend of improving every week with a new career-high series of 319.

MVP honors went to sophomore Layla Biller, who stepped up replacing one of the Vikings’ usual starters and bowled above her average in a tough spot for the rookie bowler. Biller held her own to keep the Vikings in the first two games and helped put them over the finish line in the third.

While this drops the Lady Vikings to a season record of 7-1, they remain in the driver’s seat of the Northwestern section with a chance to win the section next week. By taking two points in the match, they maintain control of their own destiny and own most tiebreaker scenarios as they look to qualify for the playoffs for the second straight year.

BOYS JUNIOR VARSITY

The JV Vikings left Sim’s Lanes with the most to be happy about. They were able to avenge their week 3 loss with a 7-0 sweep against the Tigers.

Sophomore Thomas Turino notched his very first career “200” game with a 206 in game 2, and then immediately followed that up with his second career “200” game with a 203 in game 3. Turino led the Vikings with a 551 series. Freshman Desmond Sembower added his career high with a 200 first game to lead all scorers in game one—this was also Sembower’s first clean game in a Viking uniform.

Sophomore Joe Bulebush added 184 and 179 games to a day that saw the Vikings shoot a season-high 876 game three. Sophomore Nate Cronin also added a career high 158 game. For context, of the 54 varsity men’s teams in the WPIBL, 44 of them average less than 876. This incredible score sets the Vikings up nicely heading into the MAC Conference tournament in a few weeks.

For the second straight week, MVP honors were earned by JV Vikings, with Turino and Sembower sharing the honors to commemorate their first career 200 games and first career 500+ series.

The Vikings will return to Sim’s Lanes next week for a huge match-up against the New Castle Hurricanes with section titles up for grabs!

PERSONAL RECORDS
BOYS VARSITY: Brayden Mowry High Game 253
LADY VIKINGS: Krysten Clary High Game 166. Fiona Zelechowski High Series 319.
JV VIKINGS: Thomas Turino High Game 206, High Series 551. Desmond Sembower High Game 200, High Series 523. Nathan Cronin High Game 158.
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Hopewell Bowling

Hopewell Vikings Bowling Team Sweeps Beaver

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 3 minutes read

The Hopewell Vikings competed in a fun match against the Beaver Bobcats on Wednesday at Sheffield Lanes.

This marks the second to last home match for this year’s Vikings and involved a complete and total team effort to get huge wins for both teams.

BOYS VARSITY-

The Vikings defeated the Bobcats 7-0. In what is becoming a theme for this season, the Bobcats rolled significantly above their team average for the match and made the match a very competitive one.

The Vikings were led by junior Ayden Gault who continues his hot streak with a match high game of 234 and match high series of 214. This marks the fourth consecutive incredible match for Gault who leads all Vikings with an average of 200.52 through 7 weeks of the season.

While Gault led the scoreboard he was followed very closely by his teammates in a great team effort. Senior captain Brayden Mowry added 212 and 224 games. Sophomores Max Butter and Nolan Houy added 201, 203, and 204 games. And junior Will Holland, making the first varsity start of his career added 195 and 204 games filling in as the sixth man and making a huge impact in a tough situation. Holland has managed to average over 180 when coming in for varsity duty this year and has given the team serious competitive depth when needed.

The Vikings exploded for a final game in the match of 1029, their third highest game of the season and the first time they’ve broken 1,000 in the third game of any match.

This takes the Vikings record to 7-0 as they head into the toughest part of their schedule. The next two weeks will determine if the Vikings will be making a third consecutive playoff appearance and what their positioning will look like.

GIRLS VARSITY-
The Lady Vikings also found themselves in a competitive match but took care of business defeating the Lady Bobcats 5-2.

The Lady Vikings were led by junior captain Annabeth Sembower who shot a match high game of 176 and a match high series of 447. Sembower was followed very closely by junior Krysten Clary who shot a career high 147 game and career high 422 series.

MVP honors went to junior Marlee Page who shot a 134 game in the match deciding game.

While this marks the first time the Lady Vikings have lost a point all season, the Lady Vikings remain undefeated and have all but clinched a playoff berth for the second straight year. While last year’s Lady Vikings waited until the last day of the season to qualify for the playoffs via the wild card, these ladies are set to clinch their spot early and claim a playoff spot in back-to-back years.

BOYS JUNIOR VARSITY-

The JV Boys lost the first game of their match before battling back to win their match 5-2.

The Vikings were led by sophomore Joe Bulebush absolutely exploding for a career high 208 game and career high 519 series. This marks both the first 200 game and 500 series for Bulebush who has made a giant leap year over year. Sophomore Sam Bologna also contributed a career high 166 game in a season that is seeing him put up some higher-than-average scores as well. Freshman Desmond Sembower contributed a consistent 140-145-147 box score adding a 432 series.

The Vikings voted to award team MVP honors to Bulebush for both accomplishments.

The 6-1 JV Boys will battle against Beaver Falls next week, the only team to take a match from them so far this season.

The Vikings will be back in action next Wednesday in the first of two enormous back-to-back matches against Beaver Falls at Sims Lanes.

Before that, the Vikings would like to formally invite you to attend our first ever fundraising event this weekend at Sheffield Lanes! We’re hosting a 9-Pin No Tap Tournament Sunday at 1pm. It requires no experience and will be competitive with cash prizes but also a LOT of fun. We expect to see adult bowlers of all levels participating and it should be a great time. We’ll also have plenty of (GREAT) baskets to raffle off, two 50/50 drawings, and strike ball drawings for bowlers. You don’t have to bowl to participate in the 50/50 or basket games. If nothing else, come on down and get a pizza and enjoy the environment. We’re like to thank Sheffield Lanes for allowing us to host this event and the community for rallying around us.

Hope to see you Sunday, Roll Vikes!

PERSONAL RECORDS-
LADY VIKINGS: Krysten Clary High Game 147, High Series 422.
JV VIKINGS: Joe Bulebush High Game 208 High Series 519. Sam Bologna High Game 166
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