Anyone interested in running for USCXC in the Fall of 2024, mark your calendars for TUES 6/4/24 right after school in room 226. We will hold an informational meeting to get ready for the summer training. Also if you have not started logging your miles, it is not too late! See the Summer training information packet for all the needed details (https://docs.google.com/document/d/11mcMBm52YgkyTHLdQcmHUJfN0-Nyy2QCr6XkIropMhg/edit?usp=sharing) If you know you are going to be part of the team in the Fall but cannot attend the June 4th meeting, please reach out to Mr. Petrick or Mrs. Chermak. If you know someone who wants to join the team, but cannot attend the meeting and is not a member of this SprotsU page, please ask them to contact Mr. Petrick or Mrs. Chermak for details.

Hello!

A quick reminder that Indoor Track starts this week. If you haven’t completed registration yet, please do so ASAP. Here’s the link: https://uscsdathletics.com/main/adnews/ID/56603876

Wishing Sawyer Weinmann, Lydia Rhodes, and Meredith Rhodes a fantastic race as they represent USC at the PIAA state meet in Hershey, PA tomorrow, Saturday 11/4. The girls run at 11:00 and the boys run at 1:15. Live coverage can be found here: https://pcntv.com/sports/piaa-sports/crosscountry/

Post-race results will be here: https://pa.milesplit.com/meets/579828-piaa-state-championships-2023/results

It’s championship week!

All non-WPIAL athletes, please stay after school tomorrow in Cafe 321 to make signs.  There will be snacks!

If you are on Instagram, follow our NEW account at @usc.xc 

It’s our final pasta dinner! Wednesday 10/25 6-7:30 at the Hess home, 2519 Morton Rd. However please do not park on Morton Rd. Cars can be parked on Lattidome, or on Shenandoah, in front of the Weinmann home (2528 Shenandoah) 

Banquet is on 11/1. Thanks to all those who RSVPd already.  If you have not done so, please check your email and RSVP on the Google form.  Don’t forget to send payment by your method of choice. 

WPIALS on THURS 10/26, students will arrive at school then go directly to the athletics location.  They will NOT check into homeroom.  Students will miss the entire day of school, so remind them to plan accordingly with academics.

• 1 bus will depart for White Oak Park promptly at 7:55am.
• WPIAL typically sells shirts, hoodies, so bring cash if you plan to purchase.
• Bring drinks, snacks, to stay properly fueled.
• ALL ATHLETES must have identical uniform tops and school issued shorts= Coaches will coordinate this next week for the team so everyone matches.

Race times are the same as they were for TriStates at the WPIAL meet

• Girls AAA Race 11am
• Boys AAA Race 11:45am
• Awards for AAA 12:30pm

NOTE- ALL SPECTATORS MUST PURCHASE A TICKET TO ATTEND.  Please let everyone know this is a WPIAL mandate.  USC is AAA Classification.  Info from the WPIAL regarding ticket purchase is here

Tickets can be purchased at Gofan.co:  The links to purchase tickets are listed below.

A Championship: https://gofan.co/event/1133979?schoolId=PA68325

AA Championship: https://gofan.co/event/1133983?schoolId=PA68325

AAA Championship: https://gofan.co/event/1133977?schoolId=PA68325

Northwest design will have a truck on site for the purchase of cross-country championship merchandise.  I have provided a link below if you would like to go online to purchase merchandise.

Cross Country – https://nwd.ink/s/wpial/cross-country-championships/ 

After we wrap up at WPIALs, we will stop for lunch on the way home (probably Eat N Park South Hills Village Location).

Best guess is we get back to the HS around 4-5pm?  This depends on traffic

For athlete/teams to advance to PIAA in our AAA Classification…

In the WPIAL AAA Race on 10/26

• AAA Girls- the first 3 teams overall advance to the state meet.  Then the next 15 individual girls NOT on those teams advance to the state meet.
• AAA Boys- the first 2 teams overall advance ot the state meet.  Then the next 10 individual boys NOT on those teams advance to the state meet.
• Coaches will provide more information regarding states as needed.

For those athletes that do advance to the state meet, hotel accommodations will be coordinated by the coaches/athletics.   

However, Parents/Guardians of athletes would be responsible for setting up their own hotel accomodations for the state meet.

INFO FOR THE PIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS is HERE.   Note we are in district 7.

Congratulations to our WPIAL athletes:
Hannah Bemm
Olivia Gray
Mccauley Mack
Mckenzey Mack
Lydia Rhodes
Meredith Rhodes
Sidney Schalk
Ella Unice

Ryan Arya
Henry Ginsburg
Caleb Guarino
Andrew Hess
Jake Leggat
John Paul Rainone
Nolan Sarkett
Sawyer Weinmann
John Unice

Hi all- the service project will go on tomorrow regardless of the weather (just like cross country). Dress for rain. Also, boys, please don’t forget to inform the Aryas if you’re coming to lunch afterwards. Here’s some details:

There will be folks on hand to help direct volunteers, but here’s a list of what we’d like to accomplish:

1. Remove veggie plants in field, particularly those in rows with trellises. Shovel rotten tomatoes into buckets and dump into the compost bin on the other side of the fence. Plant material will be dumped at the fence line just to the left of the manure pile (marked with straw bale)

2. Move remaining compost under tarps into raised beds

3. Place cardboard on raise beds, except those that will be planted with garlic

4. Move cattle panels (trellises) over to cover raised beds that have cardboard down. Remaining panels will be placed along the fence.

5. Remove tbar stakes and move them to area behind the shed

Secondary tasks if weather and time allows:

1. Plant garlic unless it’s too mucky

2. Weed around berry cage

3. Move wood chip pile near berries to raise bed area

4. Weed marigold bed

5. Spread mulch near the marigold beds along fence, pull up plastic, and move roller to a spot behind the shed

6. Harvest sunchokes

Hope to see you and your volunteers tomorrow. Please dress for the weather!

We are looking forward to celebrating all our athletes! The End of Season Banquet to celebrate all our athletes will be held at the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South (164 Ft. Couch Rd.) on Wednesday, November 1 beginning at 6:30 PM.  All athletes and parents are invited to attend. Buffet dinner will be served beginning at 6:45 PM to accommodate a variety of dietary choices.  The dinner will be followed by recognition of athletes and our year-end slide show. Please RSVP as soon as possible, but no later than Sunday, October 22. Please then note that after you RSVP you will send payment either by Zelle or check.  See your email (sent 10/17) for the RSVP link and more details.

Service Project details! Saturday, October 21. We will meet in Gilfillan’s garden/parking area at 9am. (off Orr Rd just past the corner of Washington and Orr). (This location is a correction from a previous post) Since there will be riding classes for Horses With Hope, we’re asking our volunteers to park in Westminster Presbyterian Church’s lot across the street. We’ll meet at the picnic tables near the shed and form teams. There will be a variety of tasks and I anticipate we’ll work until 11 or 12. Please dress for the weather and plan to get dirty. Waterproof shoes are recommended. We’ll provide tools, gloves, and some light refreshments.

Please see your email for Gilfillan’s waiver release form that we ask that each volunteer complete and bring with you Saturday morning. If you’ve already filled out the form earlier this year, you won’t need to again.

The Arya family has graciously offered to host lunch at their home for all BOYS on the team after the service project, approximately 11:30 AM-1:00PM. The Arya home is located at 1245 Sky Ridge Dr. So the right amount of food can be provided, please RSVP to Payam at payamarya@gmail.com or the boys can RSVP directly to Ryan.

Seeking miscellaneous pictures for the slide show (pasta dinners, bus, hanging out, etc). Drop them here! https://albums.memento.com/uscxc

Monday 10/16- regular practice for TSTCA-eligible athletes; optional practice for other athletes. The list of TSTCA athletes (top 12 boys and top 12 girls) will be finalized from coaches today at practice. For the remainder of the week, the coaches ask that only athletes that have advanced to TSTCA Invite show up to practice.

TSTCA (TriStates) THURS 10/19 at White Oak Park 

• Kids go to HR check in then head out directly to the athletics entrance.
• 8am bus time to depart for White Oak Park.

Upon arrival,  coaches will distribute timing bibs/chips and do a walk through as time allows.

• USC AAA GIRLS at 11am
• USC AAA BOYS 11:45am
• 12:30 pm AAA awards

Students should bring lunch as we WON’T stop on the way home and may get back to the HS after Lunches end… probably around 2:30-3:00pm?  We may get back prior to buses leaving or after the buses leave. This depends on traffic and exit from the park. There will be shirts sold at the meet $20 each- bring cash if you wish to purchase one.

Additional info and results will be found here: https://pa.milesplit.com/meets/563928-tstca-cross-country-championship-meet-2023

Here’s the link to Mingo Classic photos. https://albums.memento.com/q/65298f410c69eeb80ced98e6

Photos requested!

If you took any photos at a pasta dinner, car wash, practice, etc. we need your help to make a great slide show. Parents and athletes can sign up for a Memento account if they have not done so already.  Click on the individual photo links for the meets below, and then login to Memento.  At that point you will be able to view, add, and download photos to whatever meet link you choose.  If parents/athletes would like to upload their own photos from an event (miscellaneous photos, bus rides, pasta dinners etc,) you can log into Memento, click on the “Create Shared Album”, then upload photos.  Once photos are uploaded, the website will assign a link to the photos.  If you create a new album, please email the link to uschsxc@gmail.com for distribution.

Pasta Dinner open to ALL athletes Wednes 10/18 6-7:30 PM at Polochak Home 1210 Turnberry Dr

Please watch your email for the banquet invite for all athletes and parents. Will be held November 1.

Our volunteer project for all athletes is Saturday 10/21 9-11 AM at Gilfillan Farms, assisting SHIM. The volunteers will be assisting with garden clean-up efforts. Please RSVP or direct questions to John Unice jgunice87@gmail.com

All non-WPIAL athletes are invited to make WPIAL signs on Monday 10/23 after school in Cafe 321.

It’s hard to believe the season is going so quickly, but we are headed to our last all-athlete meet this week and into championship season next week! We are ready to celebrate our seniors tomorrow and celebrate the whole team on Thursday. The banquet will be quickly approaching. It is scheduled for November 1 so please mark your calendars if you haven’t already. Invitations will be coming soon. We are in need of a volunteer to put together a slide show for the banquet.

Also please mark your calendars for our service project on October 21. We will be supporting the gardens at SHIM. Details to come.

Here’s the list of the meets and the photo links for the Memento website.  Parents and athletes can sign up for a Memento account if they have not done so already.  Click on the individual photo links for the meets below, and then login to Memento.  At that point you will be able to view, add, and download photos to whatever meet link you choose.  If parents/athletes would like to upload their own photos from an event (miscellaneous photos, bus rides, pasta dinners etc,) you can log into Memento, click on the “Create Shared Album”, then upload photos.  Once photos are uploaded, the website will assign a link to the photos.  If you create a new album, please email the link to uschsxc@gmail.com for distribution.

Marty Uher Invite Cal U 09/02/23

https://albums.memento.com/MartyUherInvite090223

Red, White, & Blue Classic White Oak 09/09/23

https://albums.memento.com/RedWhiteBlueClassic090923

USC Senior Recognition Rec Center 09/12/23

https://albums.memento.com/USCSeniorRecognitionRecCenter091223

Section Meet #3-4 Peterswood Park 09/19/23

https://albums.memento.com/SectionMeet34PeterswoodsPark091923

Section Meet #5-6 White Oak 09/26/23

https://albums.memento.com/SectionMeet56WhiteOak092623

Section Meet 7-8 Fairview Park 10/03/23

https://albums.memento.com/SectionMeet78FairviewPark100323

If you ordered taco kits, don’t forget to pick up on Tuesday!

Pasta dinner is Wednesday 10/11 at MAC (old Rec center) at 6 PM. This is our senior rec dinner. All athletes are invited as per usual, additionally, all senior parents are invited. Seniors make sure you fill out the form from Coach Petrick on Sports You ASAP.

MINGO CLASSIC INVITE is THURS 10/12/23 It’s a Pink Out 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗for breast cancer support, so athletes may wear pink (shorts, shirts, hair ties, body paint, etc.) if they like. (Normal uniform rules are waived). Boosters will distribute pink T-shirts to all athletes at practice on Wednesday. There is no charge this year. Students are dismissed from class at 11:50pm. 2 buses will leave for MINGO at 12:15PM. Upon arrival walk the course.

Race details…

• Coaches meeting 2:25 PM
• Mens Varsity 2:45 pm
• Womens Varsity 3:30 PM
• Mens JV 4:15 pm
• Womens JV 4:50 pm

Coaches will announce the 8 athletes in the varsity races. Everyone else will run in the JV races.

Awards are as follows Top 20 in Varsity races men and women=Long sleeve shirts
Top 20 in JV races men and women= short sleeve shirts
Varsity Men and Women Team= 8 shirts each team
Second place in varsity M&W will get 1 large tray of cookies

For any parents going- the race area can be a little tricky to find.  You can put Mansion Hill Rd. in Nottingham Twp in your maps and that should get you there, but sometimes there is not a good signal in the park, so best to have directions as a backup.  One common way to go is:

-take Bebout Rd. south through Peters/Venetia

-at the end make a left onto Venetia Rd.,  then a quick right on Sugar Run and stay to the right at the first Y to stay on Sugar Run

-pass the giant metal watering can (if you’ve seen it, you know) and take Sugar Run to the end

-make a left to stay on Sugar Run (there is s sign for Hamtom if you make a right but don’t do that)

-Sugar Run bears off to the right but you don’t want to do that- stay straight and it turns into Parkview

-as you come into the park bear to the left and follow signs for shelters 6-10

-follow Mingo Creek Rd to the next signs for shelters 6/7/8 and make a sharp left and another sharp left onto Mansion Hill to go up to the shelters

-parking is along there and is free but does get pretty crowded.  It’s a dead end at shelter 6 so if you gamble to find a parking space farther down you could get kind of stuck

Now that we learned all about proper fueling from our nutrition speaker, we know that tacos are a great meal with protein, carbs, fiber, and some salt! Our Moe’s Taco Kit Fundraiser is scheduled for Tuesday October 10.  Please consider placing an order and share this out to your friends! All YOU need to do is send the link below to anyone local you know and/or post on social media. You don’t have take orders or collect money or deliver ANYTHING!!!!! Instead, orders are placed online and paid for via a Moe’s link (below). Deadline for orders is Sunday October 8th at 12pm (NOON), but kits may sell out sooner.  Orders will be delivered to the High School Parking Lot for pick up between 4:30- 5:30pm . Moe’s will remind everyone who placed an order to pick them up. That’s it!

Click the link below and order your Taco Kit online! Please share the link with your neighbors and offer to pick up their dinner for them! 

Moe’s Taco Kit Order Form

FYI: If someone receives a “Location ID Error” after entering their credit card number, it’s an issue with their browser settings, and they can either try ordering on a different device or contact our catering team at catering@bigplangrp.com with their phone number and someone will call them directly to place the order.