This is part three of a three part series featuring area athletes in fall 2024 sports. [VIEW PART TWO] [VIEW PART ONE]

The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future.

Ellwood City Athletes

Arianna Salvucci

Sport? Tennis

Grade? 12

How many years have you have participated? This is my third year playing tennis.

What do you feel is your biggest strength? I think my biggest strength is being able to hit tennis balls deep.

What is your favorite part of it? My favorite part is the practices.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Our biggest rivalry this season is Beaver.

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? My favorite memory over the year is the bus rides on the way to matches.

What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? I learned that hard work and dedication pays off.

What are your future plans after graduation? I am planning on going to Slippery Rock University to study Early Childhood and Special Education.

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I am hoping to play in a recreational tennis league for Slippery Rock.

Madelyn Lisko

Sport? cheerleading

Grade? 12th

How many years have you have participated? 13 years

What do you feel is your biggest strength? My biggest strength would be my positivity and dedication to the team.

What is your favorite part of it? My favorite part is bonding with the squad.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? I would say our biggest rivalry is Riverside

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? My favorite memory has been making signs for the football locker room and games.

What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? One thing that I have learned from cheerleading that I will carry throughout my life is persistence because it has showed to trust the process of things.

What are your future plans after graduation? My future plans are to attend a four year university and go into perfusion.

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I’m not quite positive if I will continue cheer after high school.

Lexi Barnhart

Sport? Cheer

Grade? 12th

How many years have you have participated? 12 years

What do you feel is your biggest strength? I feel my biggest strengths are leadership, tumbling, and stunting!

What is your favorite part of it? My favorite part of cheer is being with all my friends and stunting!

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? I feel our biggest rivalry’s this upcoming season are Riverside and Neshannock.

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? My favorite memory over the years is cheering with my older sister my freshman year!

What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? One thing I have learned through cheer is teamwork and communication!

What are your future plans after graduation? My future plan after graduation is to attend a 4 year college!

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? Yes, I hope to cheer in college!

Ava Robbins

Sport? Cheerleading

Grade? 12th Grade

How many years have you have participated? 11 years

What do you feel is your biggest strength? I feel like my biggest strength would be football sidelines or stunting.

What is your favorite part of it? My favorite part is cheering at football games, especially the sidelines.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? I feel like our biggest rivalry game for the boys to play is Western Beaver. Both teams are really good in our section.

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? My favorite memory has been all of us seniors cheering together for so many years and going through the experience together.

What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? I have learned so many things through cheer, but one that I will always use is that everyone has to work together to be successful.

What are your future plans after graduation? My future plans are to attend a 4-year college to continue my academic and athletic training. Then I will return back for law school.

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? Yes, cheering in college in definitely something I am interested in.

Jhenavesza Miller

Sport? volleyballl

Grade? 12

How many years have you have participated? 6

What do you feel is your biggest strength? being a leader and keeping the energy up.

What is your favorite part of it? the atmosphere of the game and having lifelong friendships with teammates.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Neshannock

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? being with teammates, believing and trusting each another.

What is one thing that you have learned through your participation in sports that will carry with you through your life? time management, collaborating and working with a variety of team members.

What are your future plans after graduation? continue schooling for education and trade.

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I would love the opportunity to continue playing volleyball.