2022 had unique sports twist
Butler County sports, 2022.
You definitely kept us busy.
Many significant happenings in the county sports world during the year are well-documented on some of these pages. But there were some oddities connected to the sports year as well.
How about Walker Vogan? A banged-up catcher for the Slippery Rock High School baseball team, he wasn’t expected to start in a game against Wilmington. He winds up belting two home runs in one inning during that game, including a grand slam.
Seneca Valley graduate Brandon Henne went to a Pittsburgh Pirate game at PNC Park with his brother, who was serving an internship with the team’s media relations department. The two were sitting in the right field stands and Brandon happened to catch the 3,000th home run in PNC Park history.
Butler’s Family Bowlaway and Sherwood Lanes hosted the state tournament in 2022 — with plenty of local success. On the first weekend of the tournament, county resident Shane Ozella rolled an 800-series.
Butler High School assistant bowling coach Jim Hepler joined his wife and children in forming a team entrant in the state tournament. They finished second in the first tournament they ever competed in as a family.
County achievements on the lanes went beyond the state tourney. Mike Rouda rolled an 875 series, breaking the county record for highest individual series that stood for 23 years. And Butler high school bowler Harley Kriess won the WPIBL singles championship.
The Butler Gymnastics Club decided to put together a boys team for the first time in years — and that team wound up winning the state championship.
Knoch’s girls soccer team won its section title — only a year after finishing dead last in its section.
Two streaks continued: North Catholic’s Maggie Foley claimed her third consecutive WPIAL diving title and Moniteau’s cheerleaders won their fourth straight District 9 competitive crown.
One streak ended: Mars’ girls soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to Moon in the WPIAL title game, ending the Planets’ unbeaten streak at 80 games.
We had two significant retirements in 2022. Butler County Community College product John Stuper retired as Yale baseball coach after 50 seasons. Slippery Rock University track and field coach John Papa called it a career after 35 years.
The most emotional game I saw in 2022 was the final football game played at Art Bernardi Stadium during the football season — a 35-18 Knoch win over Valley. It was first-year coach Tim Burchett’s first career victory as a head coach.
Knoch quarterback Codi Mullen broke the school single-season passing yardage record that night. Burchett broke down in tears after the game, having realized the dream he had for years of winning a high school football game as a head coach.
A fitting way to end the season — and a fitting note to close the book on 2022.
John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle
