< Previous10 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2021/January 2022% New in Town New in Town People go to the gym for lots of different reasons. Some want to lose weight and get in shape. Others, including high school athletes, want to take their athletic skills to the next level. For college and professional athletes, their livelihoods can depend on staying at the top of their game. Not all gyms serve such a wide range of individuals, but that is the concept behind a new training facility coming to the area called D1 Training Pittsburgh West. Located next to Golf Galaxy in Robinson Township, the facility is the latest for the national company, which utilizes proven training methods from top professional athletes and Division 1 coaches to help everyone reach their unique workout goals. It even offers a variety of programs for kids as young as elementary age. “Anyone who has a goal can work out here,” says Michelle Benigni, who is opening the new franchise location. Benigni, who lives in Robinson, says she found out about D1 Training last year while she was stuck at home during the pandemic. Before COVID-19 shut down the country, she had been working as a physical trainer at a gym that eventually closed. “A couple of months into the pandemic, I was really missing my gym and working with my clients,” she says. “So I thought maybe I could open my own gym and find a way to succeed where some other gyms had failed. I started Googling franchise ideas and from the moment I saw D1 Training, I knew it was a fit because it’s the same style of training I like to do.” Prior to becoming a physical trainer, Benigni and her husband started another business that went on to experience plenty of success. Later on, she started to develop a passion for fitness while putting their three daughters - Kelsey, Nicole and Renee - through school at Montour, where all three played sports. Benigni says that one of the aspects that appealed to her about D1 Training was the fact that the gym had programs aimed at a variety of ages, including school-aged athletes. That got her to thinking how much her own daughters could have benefited from the programs. According to Benigni, D1 Training can help student athletes as young as 7 develop athletic skills and healthy fitness habits. Its Rookie program, for instance, helps kids develop core body strength, coordination, balance, agility and technique in a fun and motivating team environment. Its Developmental program for middle school-aged kids helps young athletes continue to improve agility while introducing strength training, advanced running techniques, speed and injury prevention. Its Prep program for high school athletes takes those aspects to the next level with advanced plyometrics and complex strength training. Beyond that, D1 offers a variety of graduate programs for college-level athletes, including personalized one- on-one training, small group training, professional coaching, team training and even on-site training programs. Benigni says D1 also offers its athletic training program to people who don’t play sports. “To us, an athlete is anybody who has a goal and works to get there,” she says. To that end, D1 offers an adult program that involves a high-intensity, 54-minute workout that burns up to 1,000 calories while building strength. “This program is designed using scientifically-based training methods to drive results,” says Benigni. “The holistic training ensures an athletic workout for the entire body while athletic conditioning combined with high tempo metabolic circuits produces a high-calorie burn.” Physical training, however, is only part of what D1 emphasizes. The gym also seeks to build character and has these 12 words stenciled on its walls: respect, determination, fearless, confidence, responsibility, integrity, perseverance, discipline, accountability, honor, selfless and dedication. D1 is also backed by professional athletes, including Payton Manning, Chris Paul, Michael Oher, Tim Tebow and many more. Benigni says that the gym is offering special discounts to those who sign up within the first 60 days of opening. She says she’s looking forward to bringing her passion for fitness to the business, and helping people across the community achieve their athletic goals. For more, visit www.d1training.com/pittsburgh-west. New training facility for all ages opening in Robinson STORY AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED These renderings show how D1 Pittsburgh West will look once the gym is finished. The gym has lots of equipment and plenty of room for workouts. Michelle Benigni, owner of D1 Pittsburgh West, is pictured with Will Bartholomew (left), D1 CEO and founder, and Tyler Dzadovsky (right), D1 Pittsburgh West general manager. December 2021/January 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 11NAlumni Profile Alumni Profile Never underestimate the pursuit of dreams and the inspiration of a grandmother. For West Allegheny alumna Chloe Rae Kehm, 22, many years of training as a dancer coupled with multiple seasons attending Civic Light Opera’s Summer Broadway Series shows in Pittsburgh with her grandmother, Eleanor Kehm, have become the recipe for success as a professional dancer. Now, the 2017 high school graduate is traveling as a member of an ensemble with the first national tour of the Broadway production “The Prom.” The show opened in Cleveland, Ohio and is now touring across more than 20 cities nationwide. Kehm signed a contract with Networks Presentations, the tour’s production company. The musical comedy tells the tale of a modern-day moral dilemma and how it’s resolved. “I was lucky that we opened in Cleveland,” she says, as its proximity to Pittsburgh allowed the Kehms and Chloe’s friends to be there for her touring debut. Among the proud supporters were her parents, Jerry and Tiffany Kehm. Of course, her grandmother Eleanor was there, as was her grandmother Treva Huffman. “From a young age, I loved all things performing,” Chloe recalls. “[My grandmother] has been a summer season ticket holder with the Pittsburgh CLO since 1980, so seeing shows was a regular event for me. I truly do not take that for granted, because I have many friends who didn’t see a professional show until well into their high school years. Growing up I was also blessed to train with some pretty amazing humans and masters of their craft. I tried to be a sponge just soaking everything in. These moments have inspired me in their own way.” During her 19 years of training, she studied at various studios throughout the Pittsburgh area before graduating from the Wexford Dance Academy. Additionally, Chloe trained over the summers in New York, Miami, Texas and Chicago. Area residents who have attended musicals at West Allegheny High School over the years would likely remember Chloe for playing Velma in “Chicago,” Maggie in “A Chorus Line” and Millie in “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Her performance as Millie earned her a nomination as best actress at the Gene Kelly Awards, which are held annually in Pittsburgh by the Civic Light Opera to showcase the best of the best in high school musical theatre. The honor gave her the opportunity to go to New York City for the Jimmy Awards that summer. Within the next two years, Chloe would go on to perform professionally with the CLO and earn her Equity card by 19. “CLO has been nothing short of a blessing for skyrocketing my professional career,” Chloe says. “After my freshman year of college, I auditioned for the same CLO summer series that I had grown up watching and I received my first professional contract. Talk about a full circle moment!” She reprised her performance in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” as an ensemble member, plus performed in four other CLO productions of “Grease,” “Oklahoma!,” “Brigadoon,” and Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Chloe recalls when her focus on dancing exclusively transformed into her desire to pursue musical theater. “After my junior year of high school, I attended a short musical theater intensive for students auditioning for musical theater programs in college,” she says. The Intensive was called Artsbridge, in Chicago. After her time there, she realized that dance wasn’t going to be enough anymore. “As much as I was dance- focused with theater on the side, that summer intensive turned everything around for me,” she says. After attending Point Park University for two years, Chloe moved to New York City, where she began auditioning for Broadway shows. That experience, she says, was an education in and of itself. “‘The Prom’ was not the first national tour I have auditioned for,” Chloe says. “I have been lucky to be in the room for so many amazing casting and creative teams. There are so many factors that go into landing a job and I’m a believer of ‘what is meant for you, won’t pass you.’ ‘The Prom’ was the first tour that was truly meant for me in this moment.” The cast rehearsed the show over the course of just three short weeks at Carroll Music Studios on 55th Street in New York City. Musing about the future, Chloe says, “The arts are filled with opportunities. I have many dreams and shows that I would love to accomplish next, but I’m truly happy where I am now, especially coming out of a very much still present pandemic. I thank my lucky stars every day that the arts are back in my world and that I have a job doing what I love. I still wake up and pinch myself every morning.” While performing on Broadway in New York City is a major goal of Chloe’s, she also aspires to dance on a movie set. “I have enjoyed touring thus far and plan on keeping my mind and heart open for whatever comes my way,” Kehm says. For information about the tour and its schedule, visit www. theprommusical.com. Chloe Kehm signs with national Broadway touring company STORIES BY PAT JENNETTE West A grads making it in show business For a number of West Allegheny graduates, the high school’s theater art and music programs have been a springboard for professional careers in the entertainment industry. Here are two graduates who recently got some big breaks and whose careers are now on the upswing. ABOVE: Chloe Kehm is performing with the traveling Broadway production of “The Prom.” PHOTO BY KAMERA SHOOTS BELOW: Kehm is pictured at the show’s opening in Cleveland, Ohio with her mother, Tiffany Kehm, grandmothers Treva Huffman and Eleanor Kehm, and father, Jerry Kehm. 12 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2021/January 2022NAlumni Profile Alumni Profile Career opportunities happening in one’s own backyard aren’t the norm. When the new television series “A League of Their Own,” which is based on the 1992 movie of the same name, came to North Fayette Township to film scenes this fall, one young man who knew the landscape well was right in the middle of the action. Hankey Farms resident Tanner Feely, a 2017 West Allegheny graduate who completed his studies in cinema productions at Point Park University in 2020, joined the show shortly after it started production. His ride to work was, literally, a walk in the park. Filming occurred minutes down the road at the former Hankey Farms swimming pool site. “A League of Their Own” is a new television series by Amazon/ Sony. It continues with stories left untold by the original movie that focused on the creation of a World War II era women’s baseball team. That movie starred Tom Hanks and Geena Davis. Co-creators Abbi Jacobson and Will Graham pitched the series to Sony. It then got picked up by Amazon and will air on Amazon Prime. Directed by Jamie Babbit, the show features the return of Rosie O’Donnell, who starred in the original film, in a guest cameo. Cast members also include Abbi Jacobsen, D’Arcy Carden, Kelly McCormack, Chanté Adams, Nick Offerman, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Roberta Colindrez, Priscilla Delgado and Melanie Field. Nick Offerman, who starred in the TV series “Parks and Recreation,” returned to Pittsburgh as one of the leads in the series. He’s been cast as Rockford Peaches coach Casey “Dove” Porter. The TV show was filmed in various parts of the Greater Pittsburgh region, including Ambridge, South Side, Monroeville, Greensburg and North Fayette. Using the Fort Pitt Inn and the now vacant lot that was formerly the Hankey Farms Pool, scenes featuring vintage cars and buses drew locals to the site to see the excitement and view the vehicles. Assistant location manager for Sony/Amazon Studios, Sean Ebbitt, distributed a letter throughout the neighborhood alerting them to the filming details. As the vintage vehicles began lining up on Steubenville Pike, multiple residents were intrigued and took pictures. Feely, explaining how he got involved, says “League had a posting on one of the industry’s Facebook pages looking for a health and safety production assistant. I applied and was fortunate to be hired.” As the filming continued throughout the Pittsburgh region, Feely was responsible for checking everyone coming on set to make sure they had successfully completed their COVID testing. “I got to meet and talk to everyone on the production, from the crew to the actors, the lead actor and executive producer Abbi Jacobson, to the writers, directors, and even the Sony Pictures representatives who would come to overview how production was coming along,” he says. After a few weeks, he moved into the role of set production assistant, helping with the actual production of the show. Feely says he was impressed with the detail that the production crew put into recreating scenes from the 1940s. From the array of vintage vehicles that were parked at the Fort Pitt Inn to the costumes and storefront makeovers, he says, “I think for the people who live around here, the most interesting parts of the show will be getting to see all these locations you see every day and be able to say ‘Hey, I’ve been there!’” Theresa Harrington, owner of the Fort Pitt Inn, said that Sony/Amazon used their property for scenes in front of the motel and especially room 14. “They changed the whole front of the motel so it looked like the 1940s,” she explains. She adds, “We have been here around nine years. Other films that were done when Erma Dodd was here include two movies that I know of - ‘My Bloody Valentine’ and ‘Sister Act II.’ I have probably had five movies made here by students from art and film schools, movies that they make as a class project or for their degrees.” She complimented Ebbitt. “I dealt directly with Sean, who was excellent therefore the crew was excellent,” she says. “They all know their job and they get right to it.” She said the property had to be completely empty during filming. “They paid to move all of our guests to another motel so nothing could interfere with the filming,” she explains, adding, “It was a pleasure to do business with Sean. He made sure everything was done and done correctly. He was particularly accommodating to me as was the crew.” Since starting on the set three months ago, Feely says he’s excited to have received numerous offers, including opportunities to work on at least four commercials and one other television show. He’s also joined the local film unions over hire lists for grip and electric and camera department, respectively. “The pandemic set everyone back, including myself,” he says. “There wasn’t a lot of work in my field for the first year after graduation, so I had to wait and get a little later start on getting my foot in the door.” His eventual goal is to become a director of photography and hopefully write and direct his own projects. Though filming for the show wrapped up at the end of October, Feely says that any additional pickup shoots that are needed may require him to be back on set. “A League of their Own” is scheduled to air on Amazon Prime in 2022. Tanner Feely lands job in local film production PHOTO BY MARILYN WALTERS PHOTO BY JOHN BATES December 2021/January 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 13 ABOVE: Tanner Feeley, a 2017 West Allegheny graduate, landed a job helping with production of the new Amazon series “A League of Their Own.” BELOW: Vintage vehicles helped transform sites along Steubenville Pike for filming.14 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2021/January 2022 At Your Library At Your Library% New in Town New in Town When COVID-19 shut down the country last spring, Cat Cantella found herself with a lot of extra free time on her hands. An athletic trainer by trade, Cantella had been working at an area gym and could no longer work with her clients in person. So, like a lot of other athletic trainers, Cantella turned to an online video streaming service and started holding group classes with her clients virtually. They’d get up early in the morning and not only would everyone get a great workout, they’d also get some of that personal connection time they were all craving. “It really helped me personally while being locked down,” she says. “I had people reaching out and saying, ‘I’m getting up early to do these classes and they’re pulling me through the day.’” Cantella kept hosting the virtual workouts throughout the rest of the year, and with her class numbers remaining strong, by December she was looking for a brick-and-mortar studio space. The following April, she found an open storefront in the Pike Place Plaza along Steubenville Pike in Robinson Township. In August, she opened her own gym, AMP Fitness, and began holding in- person classes with the goal of helping members achieve success and giving back to the community “Now we’re all in person and it’s fantastic,” she says. Being in the physical space offers members several benefits. Not only do they get to see each other in person, but they also get to take advantage of the gym’s full range of equipment. Because the virtual workouts were limited by whatever equipment people had in their homes, Cantella says those workouts mostly focused on cardio. Now, they’ve added lifting components to the workouts. She and the gym’s trainers also get to work directly with members. Cantella says the gym has also taken precautions against COVID-19 by adding sanitizing stations and two air filtration systems. She says people can wear masks if they prefer. During a typical workout at AMP Fitness, gym members will cycle through a range of different stations during a one-hour circuit-training session. One station will likely have them running on a treadmill while another might have them lifting dumbbells, doing pull-ups or working with heavy bands. “There’s a coach telling you what to do every single second, so you’ll never feel like you don’t know what you’re doing,” says Cantella. “Our coaches are incredibly qualified and knowledgeable in their fields, with specializations and certifications in personal training and strength and conditioning certifications.” Since each day’s workout is also different, a member going to the gym three days in a row can expect to work on a different muscle group each day. One day they might be working on back and bicep muscles, while another day they might be working on core and shoulders. “We focus on push/pull style training and target muscle groups individually each and every day to promote greater physical challenges,” says Cantella. They also have a name for that feeling you get after a tough workout, when your muscles are burning and letting you know you’re doing something right. They call it “spicy.” “You’re going to feel it the next day when you go to pick up your kids or get the groceries,” she says. Cantella says that anyone new walking in will feel right at home. “If you’re walking into an AMP class for first time, you’ll be welcomed by everyone,” says Cantella. “It’s almost like you’re going to feel like these are my new friends.” AMP Fitness also gives back to the community by donating a portion of its membership fees to charitable causes. Last year, AMP raised $16,000 for a variety of nonprofits, including the Veterans Leadership Program, Americans with Disabilities Association, West Hills Food Bank, Pittsburgh Pride, March of Dimes and others. The gym also holds a monthly workout session where everyone pitches in about $20 and 100% of the proceeds go to a specific charity. Quarterly, they hold a brews and yoga event at the Southern Tier brewery in Pittsburgh’s North Side. “One thing that is very important to me is giving back to communities,” she says. “That’s always something I wanted to do.” Before opening her gym, Cantella worked as a counselor. She holds a master’s from Chatham University in counseling and an undergraduate degree from Westminster College. She says sports counseling has always been an interest for her. Through AMP, she’s been able to realize that passion and continue her eight-year career in the fitness industry. For more, find AMP Fitness online at www.ampfitnesspgh.com and on Instagram @ampfitnesscommunity for regular updates. AMP holds classes seven days per week and offers a variety of membership options. Each works out to less than $13 per class and a portion goes to charity. “We always tell people, ‘When you come in and sweat, we give back,’” she says. AMP Fitness, a studio gym focused on fitness success and giving back to the community, opens in Robinson ABOVE: Cat Cantella’s gym, AMP Fitness, grew out of an online community that started during COVID-19. BELOW: Members cool down after a workout. STORY AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED December 2021/January 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 15 If you wear glasses, then you know that there are a great many options when it comes to choosing your eyewear. Just like your prescription, no one size fits all. Here are a couple important differentiations that are important to know for anyone who wears glasses. Give us a call for more information. y > Learning Curves Learning Curves Progressive addition lenses: premium versus standard Progressive lenses are also called multifocal lenses, progressive edition lenses, varifocal lenses, progressive power lenses, graduated prescription lenses or progressive spectacle lenses. Most commonly, they are referred to as “no-line bifocals.” The difference between bifocals and progressive lenses Bifocals correct just two types of vision, helping you to see objects that are either far away or close. The lenses have the near vision prescription at the bottom of the lens and the distance part at the top. The two prescriptions are separated by a line. Progressive lenses, on the other hand, provide multiple powers of vision correction. These lenses are true “multi-focal” lenses that provide an infinite number of lens strengths in one pair of glasses. Progressive lenses require less head movement and provide a wider channel for reading. What is the difference between standard and premium progressive lenses? Standard and premium lenses offer similar benefits for your eyes, such as clearing up your vision at three distances. Read on to learn about some of the key differences between the two. Standard progressive lenses: • Require larger frames for various focal points • Are more affordable • Are covered by most prescriptions • Are suitable for most people, including children Premium Progressive lenses, on the other hand: • Cost a little more than standard progressive lenses • Have a broader viewing area • Have less visual distortion • Are custom made for each individual • Can accommodate a smaller frame • Provide the clearest vision • Are easier to get used to • Provide the most natural vision possible Premium progressive lenses can be manufactured to individual specifications. The experience is not unlike purchasing a tailored suit versus one straight “off the rack.” BY DR. CLAUDIA WENDEL Dr. Claudia Wendel has owned and operated EyeGotcha optical center in McKees Rocks since 1986. She is accepting new patients. Call her at (412) 331-9696 and visit her practice online at eyegotcha.net. Anti-reflective treatments I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “You get what you pay for.” Well, it turns out that this also applies to the choices you make when choosing an anti-reflective treatment for your glasses. An anti-reflective treatment on eyeglasses is a treatment that is applied to reduce glare and to also help protect against scratches. The treatments on glasses are cosmetic for the lenses and, depending on your vision needs, they can potentially improve the comfort and safety of your glasses. One size, however, doesn’t fit all in this case. Some eyeglass treatments come bundled in the purchase price while others come in a range of prices. This is strictly a personal decision. Uses and needs should be discussed with your eye-care professional. Some items you may want to consider when choosing an anti-reflective treatment: • Does this treatment carry a warranty? Ours, for instance, is guaranteed for two years. • What kind of extra care does this treatment require? Advantages of an anti-reflective treatment include: 1. Clearer and sharper vision than untreated lenses 2. Improved night vision 3. Reduced glare, eye strain and fatigue when using computers, phones and tablets 4. The glasses are more resistant to scratches, water marks and dirt than untreated lenses 5. Reduces the halo effect more than regular glasses 6. Lenses look clearer Making the most of your eyewear options 16 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2021/January 2022y > Learning Curves Learning Curves Michele P. Conti is an estate planning and elder law attorney. Conti attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Oxford University and Duquesne University School of Law. She received her LL.M. in taxation from Villanova University. She can be reached at (724) 784-0239 or michele@contilawpgh.com. BY MICHELE P. CONTI The three most important estate planning documents everyone needs So long as we are fortunate, we will all grow older. We will all experience life and its set of obstacles. Then, eventually, we will all die. I’m often asked what documents a person NEEDS to have prepared for when they pass away and what the repercussions are should they not plan ahead. Truth be told, if you fail to plan ahead, the state has a failsafe in place. However, the result in such a circumstance is not always what you may have chosen, and nor is it cheap. As a tax attorney, my thoughts stray to the two most important factors affecting all ages: time and money. Attorneys aren’t cheap. Court processes typically take a long time. Therefore, why not plan for yourself in case you require someone to act on your behalf? Here are the three most important estate planning documents that I recommend for my clients and that you should prioritize as well: Powers of Attorney for Finance and Medical Care Without these two documents specifying who can act for you financially, and who can make medical decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity - no matter if for a day, a month or indefinitely - this can result in guardianship. This is the process where someone petitions the court to have the judge decide on an appropriate person or third party company to act on your behalf and make decisions for you. Sounds simple enough, right? Guardianships are expensive and require depositions of a medical professional and testimony from family. This can lead to in-fighting between your family members. Fighting leads to delays and higher costs. All of this, however, can easily be avoided by drafting the appropriate Durable Financial Power of Attorney and Health Care Power of Attorney. If you become incapacitated, your Financial Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone to act on your behalf and manage your assets. Paying bills is the most common job for this agent. We may also appoint a backup agent if the originally appointed agent is unable to act on your behalf. This role ends upon your passing and then the executor of your will takes over. Your agent and executor can be the same person but it’s important that each party is aware of their role. Your medical agent doesn’t have to be the same as your financial agent, but we can all become unexpectedly ill and it’s important for us to appoint a trusted person to be our advocate and for all of our wishes to be known. This includes not only end of life goals, but also whether you want to be treated for, say, COVID-19 or a traumatic brain injury. Would you want to be put on life support? What about your wishes once you have passed away? Do you want a traditional funeral? Cremation? Or a simple memorial service? All of this can be addressed in your document. Wills Who do you want to receive your assets and when do you want assets dispersed after you die? Who is in charge of settling your estate? Do your beneficiaries require a trust to hold their share rather than distributing the funds to them outright when you die? Without a will, Pennsylvania has you covered: the Intestacy Laws are created to address which loved ones inherit your assets if you don’t have a will. Sounds great, right? Maybe not. Your spouse or children may not receive the amount you intended or thought they’d receive. They may get more or less. Blended families are usually a cause for concern when our clients learn what Intestacy Laws dictate. With a will, you have the ability to voice your true intentions rather than rely on the state. It’s important to let your wishes be known. All too often, families are fractured indefinitely for poor planning. Sometimes siblings can’t remember why they aren’t speaking but know it all started when mom died. Do your family a favor and allow your wishes to be legally drafted so there aren’t any questions when you go and aren’t here to answer them. Let this Thanksgiving be a joyful experience with lots of good memories as we enjoy the opportunity to gather once again. December 2021/January 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 17CAround Your Town Around Your Town West Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame inducts ninth class The West Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame inducted its ninth class on Oct. 16. Four outstanding former athletes and four teams that had won back-to-back WPIAL championships were recognized at an induction banquet that evening. Inductees were initially chosen in 2020 but weren’t inducted until recently because of delays caused by COVID-19. Among those recognized that evening was former West Allegheny football lineman CJ Davis, who earned numerous accolades during his time with the Indians. His accomplishments include being named to the Associated Press Class AAA All State Team and the Super Prep All-Northeast Team. He was also a Pittsburgh Tribune Review Terrific 25 Selection, Pittsburgh Tribune Review All-Class AAA Member, and All Parkway Conference Offense and Defense Honoree. As well, he was selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic. After high school, Davis played for the University of Pittsburgh before going on to play for three NFL teams. In an emotional speech, CJ recounted his time as an adolescent growing up in a military family that moved around a lot. By the time the Davis family ended up in the West Allegheny community, CJ, who was entering his sophomore year of high school at the time, had learned not to get too close to anyone. West Allegheny coaches and players on the football team won him over, however, and helped mold him into the professional athlete and person he would later become. “It was hard, so when I came to West A I think I had my guard up,” CJ said. “You guys took me in.” Throughout the evening, attendees heard from a number of other speakers who also talked about the successes they experienced and what their time at West Allegheny had meant to them. CJ’s emotional recounting of playing under coach Bob Palko, however, set the tone for the evening. Following remarks from CJ, master of ceremonies Bill Gamble introduced inductee Michelle Walker by listing her impressive lineup of achievements. At West Allegheny, Walker earned all- state honors in volleyball three years and in basketball her senior year. She helped lead her teams to four section championships, three WPIAL appearances and the program’s first-ever WPIAL championship win in 2008. In addition, Walker played in three state playoff appearances, including the team’s finals win in 2006. She was named both to the WPIAL All Star Team and the PVCA All State teams in 2006, 2007 and 2008. After high school, she earned scholarship offers from Pitt for volleyball and Duquesne for basketball. She chose the former. In remarks, Walker said she owed much of her success to her teammates and talked about life after sports following an ankle injury. Walker was later named a recipient of the West Allegheny Citizenship Award. Among Walker’s teammates was fellow inductee Dr. Korin Wengryn, who helped lead her team to four section championships, three WPIAL championship appearances, back- to-back WPIAL titles and three PIAA finals appearances. Her 2006 team won the state championship. As Gamble pointed out in his remarks introducing Wengryn, she played much of that time with a torn rotator cuff. After high school, Wengryn continued her athletic career under a full scholarship at West Virginia Wesleyan College. She now works at Encompass Health in Sewickley. Both Wengryn and Walker were teammates on the 2008 WPIAL winning team, which was also inducted that evening, along with the 2009 team. As Gamble pointed out in his remarks, it was a feat that no other team in the program’s history had accomplished. Though the coach of those teams, Lisa Schultz, could not attend, former West Allegheny high school principal Dan Smith did deliver remarks and recounted each team’s seasons. He lauded Schultz for her leadership and the players for their character, saying, “They brought a sense of pride to the school and the community as successful student athletes, successes that created a positive impact on their teams and adult lives.” Current West Allegheny varsity baseball coach Bryan Cornell accepted Zak Sinclair’s induction after Gamble recited Sinclair’s impressive lineup of athletic achievements on the baseball diamond. At West Allegheny, Sinclair set numerous school records STORY AND PHOTOS BY DOUG HUGHEY Joe Pustover, president of the West Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame, and Bill Gamble, master of ceremonies, present inductees with their awards. They are (from top) CJ Davis, Dr. Korin Wengryn and Michelle Walker. 18 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2021/January 2022CAround Your Town Around Your Town in both the offensive and defensive categories, earning 2007-2008 Gatorade Pennsylvania Baseball Player of the Year honors. He was later drafted in the 34th round of the 2008 MLB amateur draft by the Boston Red Sox. Sinclair went on to play for North Carolina State University. A series of injuries cut his playing career short, however. Sinclair was unable to attend due to a family emergency. Cornell and several former players from those 2007 and 2008 teams also talked about the teams’ back-to-back WPIAL-winning seasons. In introductory remarks, Gamble recounted how the 2007 team defeated an 11th-seeded upstart Blackhawk team by 6-3 to win the championship before losing to Punxsutawney, the eventual state champions, in the first round of the PIAA playoffs. In 2008, the team defeated Trinity 4-1 for its second consecutive WPIAL championship. It was a match where Sinclair struck out 10 and allowed just three hits. The team also broke Trinity’s 23-inning scoreless inning streak. They then defeated Perry 15-1 in the first round of the PIAA but lost in the quarterfinals. “When I talked to some of the guys on the team, they all say the exact same thing, that those were some of the best days of our lives and I’m so thankful it’s finally cemented in history that this team will never be forgotten,” said Rob Cole, who was a senior on the 2007 team, in remarks. Because of delays inducting this class caused by COVID-19, the hall of fame did not induct a 2021 class but is now considering inductees for its Class of 2022. That class is scheduled to be honored next year. To nominate, and read more about past inductees, visit westahalloffame.org. Find and follow the hall of fame on Facebook @WestAHallofFame. ABOVE: Members of the 2007 and 2008 Indians baseball teams accept their awards. BELOW: Dorin Dickerson (far left) and Bob Palko (second from right) join Bill Gamble and the inductees for a photo. December 2021/January 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 19Next >