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Hopewell JH Girls Soccer

Hopewell JH Girls Soccer Continue Their Winning Way with 1-0 Win Over Central Valley

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 1 minutes read

The dynamic duo of Amzey Budris and Kendall Bain continue to dominate on the soccer field which is good news for the Hopewell Junior High Soccer team.

Budris and Bain have been filling up the nets with goals which is resulting in wins for Hopewell. On Wednesday afternoon, Hopewell only scored one goal but that’s all they needed as they came away with a 1-0 win over Central Valley.

With the win, Hopewell improved their record to 5-2.

The first and only goal of the game was scored by Budris and assisted by Kendall Bain. The goal was scored in the first five minutes of the game.

The rest of the game wound remain scoreless. Cora Quinn and her defense would not let CV get on the scoreboard. Even after a corner kick near the end of the game that was almost put in but Cora reacted quickly and denied the goal. Cora was all over the place and the Warriors could not find a way to get past her.


Hopewell was scheduled to have a match earlier this week on Monday, but it was cancelled due to weather and field conditions.

Next up for Hopewell will be a match on Monday at 3:30 pm against Avonworth.

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Around Hopewell

Please Consider Helping Hopewell HS Trainer Lauren Linn as She Runs to Raise Money for Cancer

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 3 minutes read

When she’s not working to help our high school athletes, Hopewell High School Athletic Trainer Lauren Linn is doing her part to try and raise money for the fight against cancer.

Linn will be competing in the upcoming Chicago Marathon and will be running this race for the American Cancer Society.

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the world’s premier marathons and one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, alongside Boston, New York, London, Berlin and Toky

-October 11, 2026, is race day
-55,000 runners are expected
-Runs through 29 Chicago neighborhoods
-The race starts and finishes at Grant Park

The Chicago Marathon has one of the largest organized charity programs associated with the marathon and Linn will be running for the American Cancer Society.

ACS has an endurance fundraising program called DetermiNation. It specifically connects endurance athletes with cancer fundraising. Which is what that relates to on her ACS Shirt.


The American Cancer Society has spent more than a century working to improve the lives of people affected by cancer through research, patient support, education, advocacy, and prevention. Their work doesn’t stop when someone receives a diagnosis. They help people navigate cancer and provide resources and support throughout the journey.

This is the Team Linn will be on:  Team:Below Average Running (BAR). She’ll will be running with her cousin Nicole and friends. She’s run all my other marathons with the exception of my last one with her. She’s created a platform on social media with followers on Instagram and TikTok surpassing 100,000. Her handle is Below Average Running, and one of her slogans is “Because you don’t have to be fast to run.”

“Cancer has touched too many people I know and love, which is why I’ve joined the American Cancer Society to make a difference,” Linn tells Vikings Sports Now. “By supporting this important work, I’m celebrating cancer survivors, honoring those we’ve lost, and raising critical funds to help end cancer as we know it, for everyone. The money I raise helps fund groundbreaking research, provides vital information for those facing cancer, and supports free rides to treatment and free lodging when care is far from home. Most of all, I know the funds raised brings hope to the people who need it most.”


“By standing with the American Cancer Society, I stand with the more than 18 million cancer survivors in the U.S. today—and with those who may one day hear the words, “You have cancer.” That’s why I’d be so grateful for your support. Please donate to my efforts, and together, we can help end cancer as we know it—for everyone.”

“Specifically, I’ve had a number of close friends and family members go through this. My Aunt Kim battled a courageous fight with Breast Cancer; she lost her at the age of 48. My Grandma Linn fought and beat breast cancer late in her life. Linn’s Dad had a cancerous tumor in his Kidney; it was removed but he still goes through routine checkups. Her friend Elena fought and beat breast cancer; she also continues routine exams. Matt Sweet, a fellow coach during her time at Robert Morris battled day in and day out with incredible courage and you would have never known it.  And our own Hopewell Elementary Teacher Amanda Erwin with her current battle with breast cancer.”
WAYS TO DONATE:
-The the ACS fundraising page:
-Venmo: (We encourage you to Venmo Linn)
–Cash or Check
She plans to make a donation before her race and can submit on your behalf!

-Every $21 donated will sponsor 1 mile of this run. Every mile can represent something different:

Miles for patients.
Miles for survivors.
Miles for families.
Miles for research.
Miles for people currently in treatment.
Miles for people we’ve lost.
Miles toward a future where cancer doesn’t take the people we love.

Thank you again!!! All the support whether its monetary or well wishes are greatly appreciated!”, says Linn.

If you have any specific questions, you can reach Linn at Hopewell High School, you can message her on Facebook or message me at Vikings Sports Now and I will pass it along to Linn.

If you’re in a position to do so, please try and help Linn with this worthy cause.

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Hopewell HS Girls Volleyball

Hopewell Girls JV Volleyball Rally From 10 Down to Sweep Avonworth

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 4 minutes read

AVONWORTH- Hopewell’s Junior Varsity squad (4-4) controlled the opening set Tuesday night, then rallied from 10 points down in the second to earn a 25-17, 25-13 victory over Avonworth to even their season record at 4-4.

The Vikings jumped out to a 6-0 lead in Set 1 behind the serving of Ava Ray and a pair of kills from Alyssa Phillips, forcing an early Avonworth timeout. Hopewell maintained the advantage with contributions throughout the lineup. Lillian Otto put away a swing following a strong pass from Liliana Katcher and set from Sam Holsinger, Ellie McCoy scored on a tip and Abby Babinsack made a heads-up play at the net.

Brooke Otto later set Lillian Otto for a kill that caught the back line, while Gianna Rossi, Katcher and Ray helped steady the Vikings with strong passing.

Bella Cipolla’s serving helped Hopewell extend the lead to 20-16, and Brooke Otto connected with Babinsack for a middle kill as the Vikings pulled away. Ray closed the set with an ace for the 25-17 win.

The second set provided a much different challenge.

After Hopewell briefly led 3-2, Avonworth took control and built advantages of 10-5 and 14-6 before eventually stretching the margin to 18-8.

That’s when the Vikings began their comeback.

Phillips put away a kill off a Brooke Otto set, and Ray followed with an ace before another strong serve forced an Avonworth timeout at 18-11. Phillips added another kill, Babinsack came up with a block and Ray delivered another ace as Hopewell quickly cut the deficit to 18-14. Strong passing from Cipolla and Katcher helped keep the rally going, and Babinsack’s tip following a Katcher pass brought the Vikings within 19-18.

Avonworth eventually pushed the lead back to 23-20, putting itself two points away from forcing a deciding third set. Hopewell responded again.

Lillian Otto drove a ball through the block off a Ray pass, and Brooke Otto went to the service line with the Vikings trailing 23-21. An Avonworth error made it a one-point set before Otto dumped the ball into the middle to tie it at 23. Hopewell scored the next two points to complete the comeback and take the set, 25-23.

The Vikings outscored Avonworth 17-15 after falling behind 18-8, ushing strong accurate serving, improved passing and timely play at the net to turn the set around.

After leading throughout the opener, Hopewell showed its ability to respond to adversity in the second, scoring the final five points of the match to turn what appeared headed for a third set into an impressive straight-set road victory.

Hopewell returns home on Thursday vs. Ellwood City, opening a stretch of 4 of their next 6 matches at home.

Here’s the play-by-play:

Set #1
1-0 Hopewell on the board first off Ava Ray’s serve.
2-0 Avonworth with a wide return
3-0 Alyssa Phillips with the kill off the Holsinger set
5-0 Hopewell out to a fast start tonight
6-0 Phillips again with a kill. Timeout Avonworth
7-2 Avonworth with an error
9-3 Lillian Otto with a nice swing. Great pass up from Lilianna Katcher
10-5 Gianna Rossi with a nice read on a wide return
11-7 Ellie McCoy with a nice tip for a point
14-9 A heads up play by Abby Babinsack at the net
15-12 A serving error by Avonworth stops a run
16-13 Brooke Otto sets to Lillian Otto for a kill catching the back line
17-14 Lillian Otto with a nice shot off the net finding the floor
18-15 McCoy with another nice tip shot
18-16 A great back and forth rally by both teams. Excellent passing from Rossi, Katcher & Ray.
20-16 Bella Cipolla with a serve leading to an error. Timeout Avonworth.
22-16 Otto with a middle set to Babinsack for the kill.
24-17 Avonworth serving error gets to Set Point
25-17 Ray with an ace to close out Set #1

Set #2
1-2 Phillips tips one to the middle to get on the board
2-2 Lillian Otto stuffs an overpass for a kill
3-2 Otto again with a great swing. Nice running bump set from Holsinger
4-5 Babinsack with a hard hit ending with a point
5-6 Holsinger dumps one ending forcing an Avonworth error
5-10 Avonworth on a 4-point run. Timeout Hopewell.
6-14 Avonworth continuing pull away in Set 2
7-15 Hopewell with a great defensive play to grab a point. Diving plays from Brooke Otto &
Katcher.
8-18 Avonworth with an error
9-18 Phillips with the kill off Otto’s set.
10-18 Ray with an ace
11-18 Another good serve from Ray. Timeout Avonworth.
12-18 Phillips with another kill.
13-18 Babinsack with a great block
14-18 Ray with another ace
15-19 Another nice rally. Great passing again from Cipolla & Katcher
17-19 Hopewell continuing to grind back into the Set
18-19 Babinsack with great tip shot to the middle after the excellent pass from Katcher.
19-21 A great read from Katcher on a wide serve
20-21 A long return from Avonworth.
20-23 Avonworth with 2 quick points. Timeout Hopewell.
21-23 Lillian Otto hits one through the block. Nice pass from Ray.
22-23 Brooke Otto on the serve. Error from Avonworth.
23-23 Brooke Otto dumps one to the middle.
24-23 Hopewell grabs the lead!
25-23 Hopewell with a phenomenal comeback to win Set 2 and the match!

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Hopewell High School Football

Big Recruiting News for Hopewell 2028 4-Star QB James Armstrong

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 1 minutes read

Hopewell junior quarterback James Armstrong received a big bump in his national recruiting profile.

A few times throughout the calendar year, national recruiting services adjust their recruiting rankings on certain players, either moving them up or possibly dropping them.

Rivals.com gave Armstrong a considerable increase, which puts him near being a 5-star recruit.

Rivals now have Armstrong ranked as the No. 61 overall player in the Class of 2028, which is a 40-spot increase.

Aside from the national ranking, Armstrong is now ranked as the top-ranked junior in the WPIAL and the No. 5 ranked junior in the state of Pennsylvania.

TOP 5 2028 RECRUITS IN PENNSYLVANIA
1) Jett Harrison: 5-star wide receiver from Philadelphia (Committed to Ohio State)
2) George Parkinsin IV: 4-star defensive end from Douglassville
3) Deonte Flemings: 4-star cornerback from Erie (Committed to Penn State)
4) Ty Winn: 4-star offensive tackle from Philadelphia
5) James Armstrong: 4-star quarterback from Hopewell (Committed to Penn State)

Hopewell Quarterback James Armstrong

Through 4 games this season, Armstrong has completed 40 of 65 passes for 719 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while also rushing 76 times for 380 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The 2028 rankings will be updated six more times between now and January of 2028.

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Hopewell HS Girls Volleyball

Vikings Battle Avonworth, Fall in Three Sets

by vikingssportsn
written by vikingssportsn 5 minutes read

Avonworth — Hopewell (3-5, 2-3) showed it could go toe-to-toe with Avonworth (6-3, 3-1) for long stretches Tuesday night, but the Antelopes took control in the second set and held off another Vikings push in the third to earn a 3-0 victory in the WPIAL Class 3, Section 2 matchup. The final scores were 25-23, 25-7 and 25-22.

Hopewell came out strong in the opening set, using aggressive serving and a balanced attack to build an early advantage. Hannah McDowell helped spark the Vikings from the service line, including an ace during a run that pushed Hopewell ahead 7-3. Marina Pinschotti followed with a well-placed free ball to the middle that found the floor and forced an Avonworth timeout at 8-3.

The Vikings continued to control the set as Cici Smetana created problems from the service line and Addison Blosnick powered a ball through the block. Avonworth began to work its way back, with Julia Cernick recording her 1,000 career kill during the comeback.

Hopewell answered with some of its best volleyball of the night. McDowell hammered an overpass, Tessa Burgess dropped an impressive free ball into open space from the back row, and Mikayla Kurta came up with a big block. A beautiful backset from Ayla Pisano set up McDowell for a kill before McDowell followed with a back-row attack that gave Hopewell a 19-14 advantage. But Avonworth chipped away at the five-point deficit and eventually tied the set at 19-19. From there, neither team could create separation until the Antelopes grabbed a 23-22 lead. Hopewell fought off one set point, but Avonworth finished the comeback with a block at the net for a 25- 23 win.

The momentum carried into the second set.

Avonworth jumped ahead early and began finding openings against the Hopewell defense. McDowell provided several bright spots with a block, a push shot through the block and a back- row kill off a Pisano set, while Pisano added a well-placed tip at the net. But the Antelopes attack proved difficult to slow, turning a 13-6 advantage into a commanding 25-7 victory. Hopewell responded in the third and looked much more like the team that had controlled much of the opening set.

Arianna Fischer delivered an early block, McDowell found the corner with a push shot, and Hopewell built a 6-4 lead that forced an Avonworth timeout. Kurta later delivered a big swing off a Pisano set and hammered an overpass as the Vikings stretched their advantage to 12-8.

Avonworth again battled back, tying the set at 14-14 before the teams’ traded points down the stretch. Fischer put away a middle set from Pisano, and after Avonworth took a 17-16 lead, Kurta immediately answered with a kill to even things again. The Antelopes finally created some breathing room at 19-17. Hopewell continued to battle, getting two more well-placed shots from McDowell and staying within striking distance late.

Avonworth reached match point at 24-21, and while the Vikings fought off the first opportunity, the Antelopes closed out the set 25-22 to complete the sweep.

For Hopewell, there was plenty to build on despite the final score. The Vikings controlled much of the opening set and responded to a difficult second set by coming right back and putting themselves in position to win the third. Against a talented Avonworth team, Hopewell showed that when its passing is there and the offense is in rhythm, it can play with some of the better teams on its schedule. The challenge now is turning those strong stretches into complete sets and, ultimately, wins.

After a road heavy early season schedule, Hopewell starts a stretch with 4 of their next 6 at Hopewell on Thursday 9/24 for a section matchup vs Ellwood City.

Here is a play-by-play recap of the night:

Set #1
1-1 Hopewell on the board with a long serve
2-2 A nice pass from Ayla Pisano stops a hit
3-3 Hannah McDowell with a big swing through the block
5-3 McDowell on the serve, long return from Avonworth
7-3 McDowell with an ace
8-3 Marina Pinchotti with a free ball to the middle that finds the floor. Timeout Avonworth
10-5 Cici Smetana with a serve forcing an Avonworth error.
11-8 Addison Blosnick hits one through the block
11-10 Julia Cernich gets her 1,000th kill for Avonworth. Timeout Avonworth.
12-12 Avonworth with the point, but an awesome pass from Burgess
13-12 McDowell hammers an overpass
14-12 Burgess with an incredible free ball from the backline that finds the floor
15-12 Kurta with a big block
17-13 Pinchotti on the serve
18-14 Beautiful backset from Pisano to McDowell for the kill
19-14 McDowell with a backrow kill
19-18 Avonworth closing the gap
19-19 All tied up. Timeout Hopewell.
20-20 Serving errors by both teams out of the timeout
21-21 Back and forth late in Set 1
22-23 Avonworth grabs a late lead on the Hopewell error
22-24 Avonworth gets to Set point. Timeout Hopewell.
23-24 A long serve from Avonworth keeps Hopewell alive.
23-25 Avonworth grabs Set 1 on a block at the net.

Set #2
1-0 Hopewell in front early on a wide return.
1-3 Avonworth on early run
2-3 A long serve from Avonworth
3-6 McDowell with a nice block at the net for a point
5-9 McDowell with a nice push shot through the block
6-10 McDowell with a backrow kill off the Pisano set
6-13 Avonworth extending their lead. Timeout Hopewell.
7-14 Pisano with a nice tip play at the net for a point
7-17 Avonworth with some big swings at the net.
7-24 Hopewell backrow having a hard time controlling Avonworth offense.
7-25 Avonworth soundly wins Set #2. Hopewell will try to regain their Set #1 form in the 3rd.

Set #3
1-1 Hopewell on the board on the long serve from Avonworth
3-3 A nice read by Burgess on a wide serve
4-3 Fischer with a nice block at the net
5-4 Avonworth with a crazy free ball from the back row
6-4 McDowell with a nice push to the corner. Timeout Avonworth.
7-4 Avonworth with a long return
10-7 Kurta with a big swing off the Pisano set
11-7 Burgess on the serve and a good read on the long return
12-8 Kurta hammers the overpass
14-14 Avonworth ties it up in Set 3
16-15 Fischer with a great kill on the middle set from Pisano
16-17 Avonworth grabs the lead on a block
17-17 Kurta answers with a nice kill
17-19 Avonworth grabs a 2-point lead. Timeout Hopewell.
18-20 McDowell with a nice shot stay in it
18-21 Avonworth answers with a big swing
18-22 Timeout Hopewell
19-22 McDowell with another push shot to the middle for a point
21-23 A wide return from Avonworth
21-24 Avonworth gets to match point on a kill from Cernich
22-24 Hopewell staying alive
22-25 Avonworth wins Set #3 and the match.

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Hopewell Athletics

Get to Know Addison Blosnick, One of Hopewell’s Most Talented Female Athletes

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 5 minutes read

Trying to pick the Best or Most anything is obviously a subjective opinion and there’s no definitive right or wrong answer.

It’s just one person’s opinion and as they say, ‘it’s in the eye of the beholder’. In the end, it’s just fun discussion and a good conversation piece.

I bring this up because at recent Hopewell HS Girls volleyball matches, the skill level of junior Addison Blosnick really stood out to me. I was familiar with her from being a big part of the Hopewell HS Girls basketball team, but wasn’t aware of her skills on the volleyball court.

If you’ve seen the girls volleyball team this season or read any of Viking Sports Now’s match recaps, you probably noticed Blosnick’s name a lot for her ability to create offense.

Because of this, it got me thinking (and this is just one person’s opinion) that Blosnick is one of, if not the most talented multi-sport female athletes currently at Hopewell High School.

Vikings Sports Now had the pleasure of sitting down to talk with Blosnick about her athletic career at Hopewell and specifically about volleyball and basketball.

Blosnick is currently in the middle of her volleyball season and when that ends, it’ll be time to get on the court for hoops, which will extend out to summer since she plays AAU basketball.

For my first couple questions, I put Blosnick on the spot asking her which was her favorite and was one more difficult for her?

Hopewell’s Addison Blosnick

“I feel like I really like both of them equally. They both have their own pros and cons, I guess you could say. To me both sports are very competitive and they push me.”

“I’d say volleyball comes harder to me probably because I haven’t been playing it as much,” said Blosnick. “Basketball I’ve been playing for a long time. I feel like volleyball is more challenging because there’s more technique to it than basketball.”

Speaking of basketball, Blosnick has been a regular member of HC Jeff Homziak’s rotation since her freshman season. A big part of her game is her size, which see uses to get into the paint to both score as well as rebound.

“I think the strongest part of my game is getting to the hoop for layups and scoring inside,” said Blosnick. “A big part of that is my height which helps me out. I wouldn’t say that I’m the strongest shooter but I’m getting better. From my freshman year until now, I would say that I’ve improved the most with my outside shooting along with my free throw shooting. But I’m definitely most productive around the hoop and in the paint.”

Hopewell’s Addison Blosnick

When you put time into something and practice a lot, you get better, which is the case with Blosnick and basketball.

For the last 5 years, Blosnick’s played AAU basketball with Strick Hoops and credits that for any noticeable improvement she’s made over the years.

“I think AAU has definitely made me a better player. Doing the private workouts over the years and the work I get in with the team has helped me. Aside from the work I get in during the school year here at Hopewell, I’m able to follow that up with my AAU team and coaches. I’m not off for very long in basketball which helps me.”


Aside from the work she puts in, another reason for Addison’s growth is the confidence in which she’s now playing with. It’s interesting that the two sports have been completely different in terms of playing time.

In volleyball, this is the most playing time she’s received. Prior to this season, she had to not only improve her game but also wait for her opportunity behind talented upperclassman.

In basketball, there was no waiting as she’s been fortunate to get big minutes since her freshman season. Blosnick tells me she’ll be entering this season a way different player than she was two years ago.

“My freshman year, I had no idea what to expect, what was expected of me and what the environment would be. Me and the other freshman were fortunate because everyone was welcoming and I felt like they helped us. The upperclassman definitely helped us so that we were knowing what we were doing. Entering my third year now, I definitely know what I’m doing and now I’m going to be able to help the incoming players. I’m just going to be a more confident all-around player.”

Hopewell’s Addison Blosnick

Confidence is also something that’s coming for Blosnick when it comes to volleyball.

The two sports are obviously very different especially when it comes to being able to make an impact. Blosnick is a front court player for Coach Terry Borkovic’s squad and when put in position, she’s been very effective producing offensive via the kill.

Blosnick’s jumping ability combined with the power in which she strikes the ball has made her a very dynamic net player.

“My passing isn’t the strongest but I’m working on it to get better,” Blosnick tells VSN. “I’d say my hitting ability is my strength.”

“Having the chance to make kills at the net is definitely fun, especially if you’re the person that’s able to get the point. That’s a really fun moment, especially hearing the cheering and having everyone support you. My teammates are great and are definitely supportive of me when I do well.”


Blosnick and her Vikings teammates are having fun and working hard to get better and continue the long streak of earning a spot in the WPIAL volleyball playoffs. A big reason for the fun she’s having is because of the success and the long tradition of the Hopewell girls’ volleyball program.

“Honestly, every game that we enter, there’s a positive mindset and an expectation that we’re going to win. Having won so much in the past definitely helps with our confidence and even when we lose a match, no one get down and we’re all supportive of each other going forward.”

“I’m excited about the rest of our season because I believe we have a lot of skill and talent on the team. We obviously had a lot of good players last year and lost some of them, but I believe our team is still talented and have more talent coming up.”

Looking ahead to the future, Blosnick was non-committal about the possibility of playing either sport beyond high school. She tells me that her focus now is just trying to get better, to win and to have fun with her teammates.

Vikings Sports Now looks forward to following the development of Blosnick in both basketball and volleyball over the next two seasons.

Best of luck Addison!

 

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Around Hopewell

Meet A Huge Part of Hopewell Youth Soccer Ed Russman

by Laura Halleman
written by Laura Halleman 3 minutes read

Ed Russman is no stranger to soccer.

As a young player, he played from U6 through high school at Canon-McMillan, earning All-Section honors as a defender. After high school, he was a PIAA
high school referee for 12 years and a USSF referee. He continued his involvement in soccer as a coach and referee, becoming an integral part of Hopewell youth soccer.

Russman wears many hats within the Hopewell soccer community. Currently he is the Vice-President and Referee Assignor for the Hopewell Soccer Club and is head coach of a U12 travel team and the junior high boys’ team.

“When we moved to Hopewell, I knew I wanted to get involved with the soccer program in some way,” Russman told VSN. “It started in 2016 when my daughter played in-house soccer. From there, I started coaching and eventually coached some of the boys who are now in 8th and 9th grade at the U10, U12, and U14 travel levels. I’ve also coached my son’s travel teams along the way.”


“So, it’s really been a progression from being a parent who wanted to help out, to coaching, and then becoming more involved in the overall club.”

Russman is happy with the Hopewell Soccer Club’s accomplishments.

“We have an incredible group of people on our Soccer Board. We’ve officially become a 501(c)(3), continued working to improve our fields and drainage, and maintained the club’s
financial stability without requiring families to do fundraising,” he said.

“Ed has impacted our Hopewell community through soccer and wrestling,” said soccer parent Alisha Cumpston. Her son was coached by Russman. “In terms of soccer, he has served on the board for many years helping to improve and grow our soccer program. He has coached multiple teams during the same season just to allow additional kids to play.”

When it comes to soccer, Russman believes most importantly the players should have fun.


“Winning and improving are important, but I want the kids to actually enjoy coming to practice and being part of the team,” Russman said. “We’ve done water balloon practices on hot days, Halloween Costume practices, “Anything but Shin Guard” practices, parents-versus-kids games, parent soccer-ball gauntlets, coordinated a road trip to watch Messi and Inter Miami play, blindfolded penalty kicks, and even a tradition where the kids get to dump their water on me after a big win. Those are the things that I hope the kids remember years from now.”

“The biggest things I want my players to learn are how to handle adversity and owning their opportunities. My players know that we don’t blame the referee, the field conditions, the weather, the size of our community, or anything else when we lose. The other team scored more goals than we did and that’s the result. Then we figure out what we can do better,” Russman said.

Parents and players love Russman’s coaching style.

“Ed is a very vocal coach which is great,” Cumpston told VSN. “He’s always keeping things positive and engaging while helping kids learn and develop. Hopewell is so lucky to have Coach Ed.”

Nick Holsinger has a son on the U12 traveling team. “Ed brings tremendous passion in coaching. He is a high energy and vocal coach that is always coaching,” Holsinger told VSN. “He has always challenged our boys by playing better competition on. First season of winter indoor soccer we played a lot of older teams that were much better than us. We got beat by 5 plus goals every game. Fast forward three years and this same core group of boys were competing and beating Cup soccer teams on a regular basis. He believes, as do I, the only way to get better is to play against teams that are better than you.”

Holsinger said the players absolutely love and respect Russman. “There is no one who knows soccer better than Coach Ed.”

Russman has experienced many coaching highlights, including seeing former players take the varsity field for the first time.

“I’ve had some amazing coaches in my life, and I can still remember them and the impact they had on me. My goal as a coach is to have that same kind of positive impact on my players. Obviously, I want them to become better soccer players. But if they leave our program knowing how to be a better teammate, handle adversity, take responsibility, and enjoy being part of a team, then I think we’ve accomplished our goal,” Russman said.

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Hopewell High School Football

Hopewell Vikings Move Up in Latest HS Football Rankings

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 1 minutes read

For the second time this season, the Hopewell Vikings convincingly defeated a traditional top power in the WPIAL and because of that, they moved up in this weeks’ WPIAL football rankings.

Hopewell defeated Central Valley 34-6 on Friday and considering CV is a 4A program that was ranked in the top five, HC Matt Mottes program is being rewarded.

The Vikings will be in action this Friday as they’ll host Western Beaver starting at 7 PM from Tony Dorsett Stadium. Here’s something to keep in mind as we attempt to look ahead.

If and that’s a big IF, Hopewell is able to get through the remainder of their schedule unbeaten, which is a possibility considering they’ll be favorites the rest of the way, they’ll likely be one of the top two seeds in the WPIAL playoffs.

In all likelihood, we’re looking at either Hopewell or Propel Braddock Hills as the No. 1 seed. That top seed will likely be determined from the results of the last game of the regular season as Hopewell will travel to Aliquippa and Propel Braddock Hills will host Avonworth.

Here’s a look at where Hopewell sits according to various media outlets across the WPIAL.

LATEST WPIAL FOOTBALL CLASS 3A RANKINGS

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
1) Propel Braddock Hills (2-2)
2) Hopewell (3-1)
3) Avonworth (3-1)
4) Elizabeth Forward (4-0)
5) Aliquippa (2-1)

WPIAL INSIDER:

Image

Pittsburgh Tribune Review:
1 Elizabeth Forward (4-0)
2) Hopewell (3-1)
3) Avonworth (3-1)
4) Propel Braddock Hills (2-2)
5) Aliquippa (2-1)

WPIAL SPORTS NEWS
1) Propel Braddock Hills
2) Hopewell
3) Avonworth
4) Elizabeth Forward
5) Belle Vernon

PA TODAY:
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Around Hopewell

Please Consider Attending/Helping Out the Hopewell HS Girls Volleyball Pink Out Event

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 1 minutes read

We wanted to let you know about an upcoming event in Hopewell that we hope you’ll consider attending and helping out with.

This afternoon, the Hopewell High School Girls Volleyball program announced their upcoming Pink Out event on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, dedicated to raising awareness and funds in support of breast cancer.

The Hopewell High School Girls Volleyball team is committed to advocating for the breast cancer community. This year, we are proudly supporting Hair Peace Charities, an organization especially close to our program. High School Head Coach Terry Borkovic’s wife, Michelle, is a Breast Cancer Survivor, making this mission deeply personal to our Viking family.

To help them reach their fundraising goals, we are seeking donations from local businesses who share our passion for making a difference — and we kindly ask for commitments as soon as possible so they can finalize event materials.

Here’s how you can get involved:

  • In‑Kind Donations: Items such as food, beverages, raffle prizes, or services that can be used during our event. Early commitments help us plan and promote effectively.
  • Monetary Donations: Every dollar directly supports Hair Peace Charities and makes an impact on breast cancer patients. Even small contributions made this week help us meet our fundraising deadline.
  • Event Participation: Join us on October 6 for our Pink Out event! Your presence strengthens our community and helps raise awareness.

By helping out, your business will be recognized as a key supporter in the community’s fight against breast cancer. To ensure your name is included in our event materials and social media promotions, please consider responding within the next few days.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support our Pink Out event and Hair Peace Charities. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by breast cancer.

 

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Site News

Check Out the 5 Most Viewed Stories from Last Week on VSN

by Mike Vukovcan
written by Mike Vukovcan 1 minutes read

Welcome to another start of a week here on Vikings Sports Now, your only source for Hopewell Vikings athletics content.

We don’t just tell people that our website covers Hopewell sports, we back it up with content.

Last week, Vikings Sports Now produced 24 stories, ranging from blanketing the Hopewell HS football team, having game recaps on the HS Girls Volleyball team along with the HS Boys Soccer team, the Hopewell HS Golf team, Hopewell Girls JH Golf team, a photo gallery, a new 10-question feature with Hopewell athletes plus a feature on Vikings freshman golfer Noah Honess.

Because of that, VSN had a very good week of traffic with close to 6,000 views on the site.

Here’s a look at the 5 stories on VSN that received the most page views:

5 MOST VIEWED STORIES FROM LAST WEEK

1) Hopewell HS Football Drops in Latest Rankings; Can They End Long Losing Streak to Central Valley?

Hopewell HS Football Drops in Latest Rankings; Can They End Long Losing Streak to Central Valley?

2) Hopewell Bounces Back with Convincing 34-6 Win Over Central Valley

Hopewell Bounces Back with Convincing 34-6 Win Over Central Valley

3) WATCH: Postgame Interviews with Hopewell’s James Armstrong and Avery Bokor

WATCH: Postgame Interviews with Hopewell’s James Armstrong and Avery Bokor

4) Vikings Sports Now’s Photo Gallery of Hopewell’s Win Over Central Valley

Vikings Sports Now Photo Gallery of Hopewell’s Win Over Central Valley

5) Hopewell HS Golf Team Heads into Postseason Competition

Hopewell HS Golf Team Heads into Postseason Competition

 

HONORABLE MENTION: Important Parking Information for Friday Night’s Hopewell/Central Valley Game, Budris and Bain Lead Hopewell JH Girls Soccer to Win Over West Allegheny, Hopewell HS Boys Soccer Defeats Ellwood City, 10-0, in Home Opener

 

 

 

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