< PreviousYour SchoolsYour Schools N STORIES AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ARCHANGEL GABRIEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Archangel Gabriel Catholic School Second-graders depict Bible scenes through dioramas Second-grade teachers have been working hard to make sure that their students are inspired to research Bible stories. To that end, for an assignment children chose a scene and depicted it with a diorama. Students very much enjoyed making their own projects from both Old and New Testament stories. AGS teachers have been inspiring young minds this year, as it is a very special year for them with two important sacraments on the horizon: First Reconciliation and First Communion. Recognizing National School Choice Week National School Choice Week was founded in 2011 to promote and recognize all forms of school choice, including district schools, district magnet schools, charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling. AGS is extremely grateful to have a community of people around it that puts children first and chooses Catholic education. To celebrate, AGS asked students to reflect upon why they are grateful for their school. They then had the opportunity to write their families a letter thanking them for choosing to send them to AGS. AGS rolls out new iPads to entire middle school On Feb. 11, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders each received eighth generation 10-inch iPads. The iPads have the fastest chip available in a tablet and both students and teachers are noticing the efficiency. The tablets contain an Apple School Rocket System Manager that gives students and teachers access to specific educational apps. With this system, teachers have full control to monitor, assist and ensure safety. The iPads also utilize the school’s established Google Classroom and Google Suite, which are part of the school-wide curriculum. This upgrade has been made possible through generous contributions from the community. AGS intends to continue upgrading so that students have access to personal keyboards and additional apps in the future. Students and teachers are extremely grateful to have this upgraded technology for students in sixth through eighth grade and can’t wait to continue to use them to prepare for secondary and post-secondary education. AGS Knights basketball games went live Since many fans who wanted to attend AGS basketball games this past season were not, the school aired its game virtually via Facebook Live from its new athletic page. Throughout the season, AGS asked that fans wear their blue and orange AGS spirit wear and tag their pics as they strove to build #KnightsWatchNation. AGS is thrilled to see how far it has come in the past year since it has started re-inventing the way the school shares, participates and builds school spirit. Celebrating Catholic Schools Week Each year, one week is dedicated to celebrating Catholic Schools Week. Though AGS loves to celebrate its school every chance it gets, AGS officially set aside Jan. 31 through Feb. 6 this year to focus on Catholic schools. The theme this year was “Faith, Excellence, and Service.” AGS kicked off the week by renting out The Rink at PPG Place for an event for families. The rest of the week was filled with loads of fun and focus, including a pajama day that also raised cereal donations for the Coraopolis Community Development Food Pantry. Students also got to hear a story from a special storyteller. Students wore hearts or a shirt commemorating something they love and painted a ceramic heart that was donated to community responders, in conjunction with the school’s “Knights with Heart” theme. As well, students decorated a butterfly for a mural to display and learned about the human heart from a physician. On Wednesday, AGS celebrated career day and students dressed up as their future career while they enjoyed virtual career speakers. Thursday was Spirit Day, which is a school-wide favorite. Students and faculty dressed head to toe in blue and orange Knights gear. They played “Name That Tune” and participated in a School Spirit Competition. To finish the week, because they couldn’t take live field trips, AGS decided to take virtual field trips. Students visited the Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Dallas zoos. They also visited the Connecticut Science Center and went on virtual tours of the Strip District that were conducted by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. 20 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021 Shantha Bharthi has resided in Robinson Township since 2006 and has long wanted to contribute to her community. She wanted to instill good learning practices in children and help them develop a path toward academic success. To that end, Bharthi decided to utilize her experience in the Kumon learning program and open Kumon Math and Reading Center of Robinson Township. After a yearlong effort, Bharthi opened the center in January of 2021. It is conveniently located at Robinson Town Centre, near the post office, and is easily accessible from the Parkway and Steubenville Pike. Kumon is an afterschool math and reading enrichment/remedial program that unlocks children’s potential so they can achieve more. It is a comprehensive program that serves children in preschool through high school. Kumon’s learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading. Through daily practice and mastery of materials, students increase confidence, improve concentration, and develop better study skills. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled at nearly 25,000 learning centers in 55 countries and regions. Kumon was created by a father who wanted the best for his son. In Japan during 1954, a father and gifted math teacher named Toru Kumon wanted his young son, Takeshi, to develop a love for learning. He also wanted him to be thoroughly prepared for rigorous high school and college entrance exams. Through short, incremental assignments, Toru helped his son master concepts. Each day, he gave Takeshi short assignments to complete that allowed his son to master each concept completely before learning a new skill. The method was so successful that Takeshi was solving calculus problems by sixth grade. As Toru’s son started studying far beyond his grade level, other parents took notice. As young Takeshi’s abilities improved, parents’ interest in Toru’s unique step-by-step self-learning method grew. Today, Kumon is helping millions of students in more than 50 countries. Kumon is a structured, self-learning program that gives children the skills and mindset needed to learn concepts independently. The key to the Kumon program is the individualized learning plan, which is carefully structured by the Kumon instructor. The instructor’s individualized plan and the student’s own pace together allow the student to achieve with each step of the process. Learning at an effective, comfortable pace helps students take ownership in their progress and build confidence in themselves. “Each and every day when students come to my center, they should feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that they have learned something,” said Bharthi, who is the Robinson Township center’s director. “My hope is that by providing efficient techniques and guidance to each individual student, I will have a positive impact on our community.” Kumon’s disciplined learning method helps advance each child’s abilities in the classroom and throughout life. In fact, many Kumon students become capable of studying above their grade level. Kumon Math and Reading Center of Robinson Township is located at 1940 Park Manor Boulevard in Robinson Town Centre, adjacent to the U.S. Post Office. The center is enrolling students for in-center classes and virtual classes for pre-K through high school. The center will also be holding orientations so parents can find out more about how Kumon’s unique approach helps each child: • Master math and reading • Build study skills such as confidence, focus, and work ethic • Reduce homework stress and test anxiety The instructor will prepare an individualized lesson plan for each child and support them as they progress through Kumon. To schedule a FREE parent orientation, call (412) 790-6100. New afterschool enrichment program opens in Robinson Township © 2021 Kumon North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Kumon Math and Reading Center of Robinson Township Ages 3+ Robinson Town Centre 1940 Park Manor Blvd. Ste. 512 Pittsburgh, PA 15205 412-790-6100 Unlock Your Child’s Learning Potential with The Kumon Math and Reading Program. Schedule a FREE orientation today! STORY AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED Shantha Bharthi (top) opened Kumon Math and Reading Center of Robinson Township (above) in January of 2021. “Each and every day when students come to my center, they should feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that they have learned something.” ~ Shantha Bharthi Shantha Bharthi March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 21Moon Area School District News Kindergarten registration now open Moon Area School District residents who have a child who will be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2021 can now start the kindergarten registration process if they have not done so already. Registration is also now open for incoming first grade students who are new to Moon Area School District. If a child is currently attending kindergarten at Moon Area, they do not need to be registered for first grade. Registration Requirements • Children must be 5 years of age before Sept. 1 to be eligible for entry into kindergarten • Children must be 6 years of age before Sept. 1 to be eligible for entry into first grade • Children must be residents of Moon Township or Crescent Township The registration process is completely virtual. Visit the Moon Area School District website for more information and to register: www.moonarea.net/ content/registration. Parents registering a child for kindergarten should do so by May 4 so that they are able to participate in the district’s annual Kindergarten Round- Up event, which is scheduled for May 18, 2021. Questions can be directed to the registrar by calling (412) 264-9440 (Menu #8, Extension 1132) or by emailing registrar@moonarea.net. Moon Area School District looks forward to welcoming its newest learners! Students win on “Hometown High-Q” Moon Area High School students Anthony Colangelo, Julia Platt and Subham Sahoo appeared on the history bowl television show “Hometown High-Q” in January and won. The show, which airs on KDKA, pits teams of high school students against each other in a quiz competition. The three Moon Area students have since advanced to the next round, which should be scheduled soon. MAEF is now a Contributor Choice Agency with United Way The Moon Area Education Foundation was recently approved to be a Contributor Choice Agency with United Way of Southwestern PA. The foundation is now eligible to receive contributions through United Way for Moon Area’s STEAM programs. United Way of Southwestern PA offers donors a wide range of options to identify how they want their dollars to help. Donors can direct all or a portion of a contribution to: The United Way Impact Fund; United Way of Southwestern PA Initiatives: Moon Area Education Foundation (16321564). Donors can also call (412) 456-6824 and use the unique code (16321564) to designate a donation for the foundation. Moonlit 5K & One Mile Fun Run Walk Friday, May 7, 2021 5-9 p.m. at Tiger Stadium Register online beginning March 1 (www.moonaef.org). Challenge students place in top 10 at AIU3 History Bowl Late last year, the AIU3 hosted 287 fourth and fifth grade students from numerous school districts in Allegheny County for the 2020 Virtual History Bowl at the Heinz History Center. Students attended a presentation and virtual tour of various galleries and then competed in a scavenger hunt based on the knowledge learned from the presentation. Several Moon Area students placed in the top 10. Moon Area Middle School fifth-grader Rocco Reilsono took first place while Hyde elementary fourth- grader Ainsley Lucci took sixth place and McCormick fourth-grader Thomas Dugan took ninth place. “The History Bowl is an annual competition in which the Challenge Students participate to enhance their knowledge of Pittsburgh’s rich history,” said Sharon Gaitens, MASD K-5 Gifted Education Teacher. “The events and figures featured in this event provide students with a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the contributions of our region to the world.” Food trucks and musical performances from various district groups. All proceeds support Moon Area Education Foundation’s initiatives, including teacher grants, student scholarships, STEAM programs and outdoor classrooms. More information available on MAEF’s website. Anthony Colangelo, Julia Platt and Subham Sahoo won on KDKA’s Hometown High Q in January. 22 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021High school students named National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists Two Moon Area High School students are now finalists in the 66 th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Chancharik Mitra and Thomas Molnar will both have an opportunity to continue in the competition for two of the 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth a combined $30 million that are offered through the program. Chancharik and Thomas both received a Certificate of Merit for their outstanding accomplishments. The selection of some 7,500 Merit Scholarship winners from a group of more than 15,000 finalists is now in progress. The National Merit Scholarship Committee will begin notifying scholarship winners in March. For more about the pair’s accomplishments, visit moonarea.net or see the January Moon edition of Allegheny West Magazine at awmagazine.com. Middle school orchestra attends virtual field trip During their last class before winter break, middle school orchestra students attended a virtual field trip to watch the Erie Philharmonic perform its holiday special. Students were allowed to relax, bring their pets and even have snacks. “We all enjoyed the field trip,” said orchestra teacher Amanda Neville. “It was a bright light in a very challenging time.” This particular performance was filmed during the pandemic and was thus a learning experience for students to see how professional musicians are adapting and performing during these challenging times. Six seniors sign National Letters of Intent Six Moon Area School District seniors signed National Letters of Intent on Feb. 3 and will thus continue their athletic careers at the post-secondary level. Those student athletes are as follows: Alayna Hudzinski will compete in acrobatics and tumbling at Frostburg State University, where she plans to study health sciences. While in high school, she was the 2018 Diamond Vault State Champion and a WPIAL medalist. She was also a member of the teams that won the WPIAL in 2018 and the 2020 PA Classic. Gannon Mellett will swim at Baldwin Wallace University, where he plans to study accounting and national security. While in high school, he was a three-time varsity athlete and three-time WPIAL qualifier. Taylor Paul will play volleyball at Fairmont State University, where she plans to study early education. While in high school, she was a member of the section 4A All Stars third team. Meagan Robare will play volleyball at Allegheny College, where she plans to study biology. While in high school, Robare was named a 2020 WPIAL Coaches Association Player of the Week and a 2020 Beaver County Times Player of the Week. She was a member of the 2019 WPIAL 4A Section 2 third team, 2020 WPIAL 4A Section 2 first team and 2020 WPIAL Class 4A third team. Justin Scally will play golf at University of Pittsburgh Johnstown. He plans to study business and finance. While in high school, Scally was a 2020 WPIAL AAA boys golf champion and a two-time WPIAL section medalist. He helped lead his team to four consecutive section championships. Macy Vignolini will play softball at La Roche University next year where she plans to study engineering. While in high school she was a four-year softball letterman. Gannon Mellett, Justin Scally, Macy Vignolini, Taylor Paul, Meagan Robare and Alayna Hudzinski all signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the post-secondary level. Orchestra students attend a virtual field trip to watch the Erie Philharmonic. Thomas Molnar (left) and Chancharik Mitra (right) are now finalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 23{ GroundworkGroundwork During 2021, Moon Township Garden Club members will be celebrating the club’s 100th year of promoting gardening, goodwill, and civic pride and responsibility. Several community events are planned to highlight the club’s accomplishments, history and philanthropic activities, including a garden tour themed around “100 years of gardening.” MTGC meets regularly from March to December at Robin Hill with presentations and field trips on gardening and environmental topics. To find out more about the club’s 2021 programs, visit www.moontownshipgardenclub.com or find them on Facebook. Moon Township Garden Club - celebrating 100 Years In the fall of 1919, Mrs. Stewart Johnson invited three of her neighbors who lived on nearby farms to be her guests at the Pennsylvania Women’s National Farm and Garden Association meeting in Oakland. Moon Township was predominantly a farming community, but steel and banking executives were beginning to build homes in the township. In 1920, Johnson entertained women interested in belonging to the garden club at her farm on Hassam Road, which is now known as Londonderry. This early group of gardeners went from door to door to recruit more members. This was before phones and very few women drove cars. Twenty-eight members joined and, in 1921, the club was formed. Myrtle McCormick was elected as the club’s first president. Over its first four decades, the garden club performed many good deeds, including: SUBMITTED BY THE MOON TOWNSHIP GARDEN CLUB MTGC Garden Tour Save the Date – June 25 & 26 Eight beautiful gardens will be on show during this year’s Moon Township Garden Club tour. Each garden will feature the times and music of an era from the 1920s through the 1990s. Tickets will go on sale in May. For updated information, check the garden club’s website on their Facebook page. Proceeds from the event help benefit many community projects, including the Fleur de Lune Garden at Robin Hill and the club’s scholarship fund. MTGC Scholarship Available Applications due March 31, 2021 Each year, the Moon Township Garden Club offers a scholarship of up to $2,500 to graduating high school seniors and college/university students from Moon Township and Crescent Township. To be eligible, applicants must: • be a resident of Moon Township or Crescent Township • be accepted at an accredited college or university • have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher • be planning to or currently majoring in biology, horticulture, wildlife science, environment concerns, botany, landscape design, rural and urban planning, sustainable engineering, or a related field to those listed. Moon Area High School students can obtain application forms through the high school guidance office. All other eligible applicants can receive application materials by emailing Joanne Canan at jdcanan@verizon.net. The Club’s Early Days • 1920s – Distribution of vegetable seeds to students to spark interest in gardening at home • 1930s – Donating money so milk could be sent to families with young children and purchasing and wrapping Christmas gifts for almost 100 children • 1940s – Holding a Victory Garden Exhibit and Flowers show with proceeds donated to the Army and Navy Relief Funds and contributing money to purchase vegetable seeds for the “Seeds for Peach Project” that were sent to devastated European countries • 1950s – Initiation of a ban on billboards on the “Airport Parkway” in Moon in protest of 37 trees being removed for nine billboards in eight- tenths of a mile More on the history of the MTGC will appear in the next edition of this magazine. These photos all show gardens maintained by Moon Township Garden Club members. A number of these will be on the club’s tour this June. 24 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 25Most research suggests that the popularity of tennis was at its peak in the U.S. during the 1970s. Players such as John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors and Billie Jean King energized fans with both dominance on the court and personalities that demanded attention. Though there are many variables for ranking a nation’s interest in tennis, America generally falls around fifth behind Australia and several European countries in terms of tennis obsession. New variations of court games, however, such as Cardio Tennis and pickleball, have attracted new players who may have been intimidated by starting out playing in a standard match. Additionally, the strange phenomenon of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic appears to have benefitted tennis - or at least given it an “advantage.” As the shutdown took hold last spring and people were anxious to get out of their homes and do something, public tennis courts across the country were busier than they had been in years. Tennis provided an opportunity to participate and socialize while maintaining a social distance. According to a February press release from the United States Tennis Association, there was a 44% increase in new tennis players in this country from the end of 2019 to the end of 2020. The data was collected from sports participation surveys done by the Physical Activity Council. More than 21 million Americans reported playing tennis last year, with 2.96 million of them playing for the first time. Additionally, the 3.82 million Americans who returned to the sport represented a 40% increase over those returning to the sport in 2019. Entry-level racquet sales also went up by nearly 40%. Leah Friedman, the current USTA director of engagement, says tennis has seen a recent “jolt in popularity” and is now booming. Friedman, a former tennis player at both Taylor Allderdice High School and the University of Pittsburgh, hosts the USTA program Net Generation Live, a series of free virtual tennis classes targeted at youth that focuses on building athletic skills, character development, and tennis fundamentals with fun, heart- pumping games. Previous classes include tips and messages from top American players, including 2021 Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady. For novices and casual players, tennis is a fairly inexpensive sport. After the purchase of a racquet, balls and possibly court shoes, tennis can largely be played at no cost if the weather is dry and reasonably warm. In the Allegheny West Magazine readership area, there are numerous complexes with free, multiple outdoor courts (see our list on page 29). Certain courts, of course, may close due to COVID-19 restrictions. Those who wish to advance and play year-round have more limited resources in the west Pittsburgh suburbs and will pay for court time. Players can expect costs of at least $25 for one hour of playing time and $60 for two hours, depending on the time and day of the week. Fees for individual and private lessons are determined by tennis pros. For a more comprehensive list of area courts, clubs, leagues and resources, visit www.globaltennisnetwork.com. The site allows users to view courts within a 20- mile radius and contains information on whether courts are public, private, lighted, indoor or outdoor, and whether a fee is required. Start raising a racquet! Tennis makes a comeback Tennis may be experiencing an upswing, so to speak, in America BY JILL BORDO For one-touch quick links to any of the clinics and websites mentioned in this section, along with interactive maps to courts, download our free app, AWMag Events, at awmagazine.com. 26 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021Local clinics Tennis players in the airport corridor are still feeling the void left by the closure of the Western Area YMCA in Robinson Township. Though in need of renovations, the facility offered seven indoor courts and was the only option for year-round tennis in a 20-mile radius. After a severe storm in 2018 caused $650,000 in flood damage, the YMCA board of directors voted to close the facility. Mike Lucente, former director of tennis and sports at the YMCA, spearheaded a fundraising campaign for the YMCA two years prior to the flood. Roughly $150,000 was raised in about three months for repairs to the facility’s tennis courts. Though disappointed by the decision to close the YMCA, Lucente continued to be an advocate for the game. He is particularly committed to advancing the tennis skills of local youth under the age of 10. COVID-19 guidelines permitting, Lucente plans to run weekly youth clinics at Moon Park in the spring and summer. He holds a “red and orange ball” program on a half court with smaller groups of children to teach basic techniques in skill and control. As studies show that the “core” age group supporting the tennis industry is over the age of 50, Lucente believes that the future of the game lies with the youngest players. “Gaps in the popularity of tennis can be pinpointed to focusing on junior players,” said Lucente, explaining that coaches were putting all of their efforts into advancing one or two exceptional teen players with the hope that they would turn professional. In the meantime, less talented players were overlooked and their interest dwindled. Lucente, who is the current boys varsity tennis coach at Moon Area High School, stated that he and several other local tennis coaches have been working together in recent years rather than competing against each other. Their intent is to maintain player interest and build longevity in the game. Lucente’s second main focus is on Cardio Tennis, which is a growing phenomenon for people who are more interested in a high-intensity workout than improving their serve or backhand. Cardio tennis not only provides extreme physical exercise with fun games and music, it can also introduce beginners to the game without intimidation. Special balls bounce more slowly and allow participants to control shots and have fun as they learn technique. This summer, Lucente is planning to hold clinics for junior and senior high school players at the Moon Area High School courts. For more, call him at (412) 779-0230. One of the largest and most successful youth tennis clinics in the area is the McDonald Summer Tennis Program, which officially began in 2006 with the completion of the Heritage Park tennis and basketball complex. McDonald native Alice Thomassy initiated the program with the mission of keeping participation costs low enough so that any child who wanted to learn the game would have that opportunity. Scholarships were made available and racquets were occasionally purchased for kids who “had sustained interest,” said Thomassy. Based on a peak enrollment of 122 youth one year and several other statistics, Thomassy believes that the McDonald clinic was at one time one of the largest youth programs in the USTA middle states region. A USTA representative visited the class several times and provided junior racquets and other needed amenities. Six years ago, Thomassy turned management of the clinic over to Dave Hayden, former coach of the Baldwin- Whitehall varsity tennis teams and current coach of both the men’s and women’s teams at Westminster College. Hayden said that the clinic was down slightly in 2020 due to parental concerns about COVID-19, but he expects a good turnout this summer. Because there are only two courts for use, the McDonald program fills up quickly and has no room for expansion. Hayden has added spring and fall clinics for youth and adults who want more opportunities to play. The McDonald Tennis Program will start a five-week spring session on May 4 beginning at 4 p.m. for players aged 10 through adult. The nine-week summer session runs from June 15 to Aug. 12, beginning at 9:30 a.m. It will offer six different sessions for participants, ranging from 5 years of age to adult. Both the spring and summer clinics are held on Tuesday and Thursday. For more information, contact Dave Hayden at dahayden1@comcast.net or by calling (412) 735-6477. North Fayette Parks and Recreation is also hosting a youth program for ages 8 through 17 from May 1 through June 12. Visit www.north-fayette.com for more. March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 27Equipment For tennis shoppers who prefer personalized customer service and the opportunity to see and feel merchandise, there is one brick and mortar retail store remaining in Pittsburgh that is uniquely dedicated to racquet sports. Tennis Village, located at 5419 Walnut Street in Shadyside, has been owned and operated by Debbie Rosen since it opened in 1976. Rosen held fast while other racquet sports stores around the area closed their doors. Rosen attributes the longevity of her establishment to the exceptional customer service of her staff, as well as to competitive prices, quick turnaround, and the practice of allowing customers to borrow racquets to try before making a purchase. In a 45-year period, Rosen said she and her employees have witnessed the transition from wooden and steel tennis racquets to the graphite models favored by current players. Material for tennis shoes has also progressed from classic canvas to the more supportive and durable options of rubber, mesh and synthetic leather. Perhaps the most important change to equipment, remarked Rosen, has been to the technology used in racquet strings. Tennis Village originally sold only natural gut and nylon variations, whereas current string options include natural gut, nylon, multifilament and polyester. Rosen said her store has seen an “explosion” in customers asking for polyester-based string, which is more durable and better for producing spin on the ball. She stated that the “excellent stringers” on her staff are more frequently asked for a lower string tension that is easier on a player’s arm. Another Pittsburgh tennis establishment founded in the mid-1970s is Gamma Sports. Located at 200 Waterfront Drive, Gamma is a manufacturing and distribution center for big box stores, schools, specialty tennis stores, e-commerce partners and international distributors. Individual customers, however, can order racquet sports products directly from their website at www.gammasports.com and have them shipped directly to them. Chuck Vietmeier is the director of product marketing with Gamma and has been with the company for 33 years. Prior to joining Gamma, Pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the country, has actually been in existence since 1965. The game was invented by two fathers who were trying to keep their bored children entertained during a vacation in Washington state. The summer home owned by one of the families contained an old badminton court but not enough racquets for the two families to use. So, the resourceful fathers used ping-pong paddles and a whiffle ball to create a completely new sport. The name is thought to have been taken from one of the founders’ dogs, Pickles, who liked to run off with the ball during games. Pickleball gained momentum in the Pacific northwest and a pickleball corporation was formed in 1972, mainly to assist interested players with purchasing equipment. A pickleball court is sized closer to badminton than tennis, with So, what is pickleball?! Vietmeier tested products and taught tennis at the home club of Gamma’s founder, Dr. Harry Ferrari. It was Ferrari’s creation of a superior synthetic racquet string that mimicked the characteristics of natural gut tennis string which became the catalyst for Gamma’s launch in 1974. It is Vietmeier’s opinion that the tennis industry the tennis industry started to become flat around 2000 as participation in the sport declined and young people became more interested in less competitive activities such as hiking, kayaking and gaming. Vietmeier also believes that the lack of new technology in tennis equipment has hurt the sport. Vietmeier stated that the new popularity of pickleball - particularly during the pandemic when people realized they could play on their driveways, has helped to reenergize racquet sports. Though pickleball has been around for over 50 years, said Vietmeier, “it has become the fastest growing sport in the U.S. over the last six years.” He stated that the explosive growth that began around 2015 caused Gamma to take notice and the company added pickleball supplies to its equipment inventory. measurements of 44 by 20 feet. The net height is 36 inches. Hard-surface paddles are slightly larger than those used in ping pong and the hard plastic ball with holes in it is similar to a whiffle ball. Basic rules of the game call for an underhand serve to the cross-court service zone, after which the ball must bounce once on each opponent’s side before it can be hit in the air or volleyed. Players may not stand in the “kitchen,” or zone close to the net, while volleying. Games are played to 11 and must be won by two points. Unlike tennis, points are only awarded to the serving team. While most often played as doubles, pickleball can also be a game for singles. Pickleball is a friendly, easy-to-learn game where players welcome newcomers and enjoy socialization together. Though it can offer a reasonable physical workout, it is much easier on the body than tennis. Equipment is fairly inexpensive, with basic paddle and ball sets starting at less than $50. Maureen Greco, a local retiree, organizes several pickleball groups in the area, including ones at the Sewickley YMCA and the North Fayette Recreation Center. The latter remains closed due to COVID-19 at the time of this writing but, before it closed, it did have set times for pickleball groups. Both of those facilities require a membership. Pickleball groups also play at Moon Park during the week (courts are located on the upper side near the batting cages) and at the Findlay Township Recreation Complex at Leopold Lake. The Landing on Ewing Road also has pickleball on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until noon. Donations are requested. For more, email Greco at fmgreco@msn.com. LEFT: Gear sold by Gamma Sports includes rackets with their own specially developed string, pickleball paddles and tape. BELOW: A woman plays a game of pickleball. 28 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021 Though tennis did not originate in England, it quickly surpassed croquet as a lawn game of choice during the proper times of the Victorian period. Lawn tennis was perceived as a virtuous game for both ladies and gentlemen and it spread to many of the British empire’s colonies. By the late 1800s, lawn tennis had become fashionable in America, but was primarily played in the wealthier areas of New York and several New England states. By the 1890s, the sport was gaining popularity in the Coraopolis area. In June of 1892, the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette mentioned in its Society Gossip section that the Coraopolis tennis club had 32 entries in its inaugural tournament. The Pittsburgh Dispatch reported a month later that the Coraopolis club would hold a three-day tennis invitation tournament the last week of July. The article states that, “Invitations have been extended to the following clubs of Western Pennsylvania, most of which have promised a representation of at least two members: Washington, Mansfield, Crafton, Beaver, Rochester, Beaver Falls, New Brighton, Sharpsburg, Wilkinsburg, Blairsville, Latrobe, and Saltsburg.” Players desiring to stay overnight would be accommodated at the Ridge Avenue Hotel at a rate of $1.50 per night. Records show that the Coraopolis tennis club had begun plans to construct a “very handsome” three- story clubhouse that was expected to be “one of the best in the country” upon completion. It is unclear whether a lack of funding or leadership delayed or altered the project, as there is no mention in the archives of the facility’s opening. It is possible that efforts shifted to the need for a local facility for the betterment of young men, as a grand building to house the Young Men’s Christian Association was constructed on State Street and dedicated in 1911. Tennis, as well as an auditorium and bowling alley - all of which were mentioned in the clubhouse plans - remained a focal point of the YMCA. The organization’s western Pennsylvania championships were held there in September of 1918. Tennis continued to be popular in the area in the 1960s and 1970s. Rita Wilson, the girls varsity tennis coach at West Allegheny High School, recalls how, in the 1970s, Moon Park’s courts were so heavily used that players had to sign up and were limited to an hour of court time. Those courts were originally situated near the entrance to the park. Wilson also recalls other courts located on Thorn Run Road near Robin Hill Park where a town home community now sits. Growing up, Wilson lived on the Robert Morris University campus, where her father was the director of maintenance. She played on the school’s two tennis courts, which were located behind the Amherst Acres neighborhood. That plot of land is now a parking lot. Wilson recalls that the courts offered tennis enjoyment in the summer and skating fun in the winter, when her father would freeze them over so students and locals could go ice-skating. The YMCA in Coraopolis is pictured in the mid-20th century. PHOTO COURTESY CORAOPOLIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY A bit of local tennis historyPlaces to play: Moon Area High School Five tennis courts near football stadium Moon Township Park Four tennis courts on lower side, two pickleball courts near batting cages Clever Park, Robinson Township Three tennis courts with pickleball lines North Fayette Community Center, Donaldson Park Two outdoor tennis courts by community center, indoor pickleball courts for members only Heritage Park, McDonald Two tennis courts on east side Settler’s Cabin Park Six tennis courts off Ridge Road Leopold Lake Park, Findlay Township One pickleball court Collier Township Recreation Center, Oakdale Two tennis and two pickleball courts near entrance March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 29Next >