the almanac F E B R U A RY 8, 2026
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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LADIES NIGHT
Bethel Park celebrates women in sports By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net
Katie Hogue and her committee of volunteers from the Bethel Park girls basketball boosters accomplished a major feat on Tuesday night, Feb. 3 when the Lady Hawks battled Baldwin in a key section matchup. During their inaugural celebration of National Girls & Women In Sports Day (NGWSD), the Bethettes from the school’s marching band performed at halftime of the girls game. The renowned majorettes even closed their performance with their traditional victory formation. “A rare appearance,” noted Hogue, who traded in her basketball jersey in ninth grade to become a Bethette. “I don’t think that they consider themselves a sport, but we consider them so important. They are the pride of Bethel Park,” Hogue continued. “We really wanted to invite
everybody and make this inclusive and we’re really excited everybody came because ultimately, I don’t think you have to play a sport to be involved in sports. I think you could be a fan, you could end up in sports medicine. There’s so many paths. So we just wanted to make sure that everybody felt included.” According to Hogue’s count from the invitations extended, there are approximately 350 females participating in the 16 athletic endeavors offered from the middle school through high school programs in the Bethel Park School District. Basketball, softball, cheer, cross country, swimming and diving as well as track and field are sponsored at both the middle and high school level while golf, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, rifle, bocce, soccer, lacrosse and flag football are offered as scholastic varsity sports
Additionally, the objective of the NGWSD event was to support and bring awareness to how many women and girls there are participating in these activities. “We wanted to host everybody,” Hogue said. “I mean, honestly, I felt like there was a void of getting all the girls together to support each other, to come to a basketball game and watch their friends play, and then, in turn, that would show them to go support their friends in their sport. So that was really the initiative. To get girls here supporting each other on this national day,” Hogue added. The game against the rival Lady Highlanders was the “perfect situation” to round up supporters of female athletics. Although the Lady Hawks suffered a defeat, 53-36, at the hands of Baldwin, the crowd of nearly 900 spectators applauded the efforts of the promoters.
Kellie McConnell (center) from Duquesne University chats with Ashley Smith (left) and her daughter, Ava Edmonds (right) during a reception in recognition of National Girls & Women in Sports Day. A celebration was held on Feb. 3 at Bethel Park High School and included free admission to the girls basketball game against Baldwin for all females who play a sport in the school district.
PHOTOS BY ELEANOR BAILEY
Members of the Bethel Park volleyball team attended the festivities held during the National Girls & Women in Sports Day celebration held at Bethel Park High School. The school sponsors 16 different sports in which females can participate.
““It’s been an incredible event,” said Cami Fisher, a two-time section singles tennis champion and WPIAL bronze medalist. “Obviously, women’s sports is just a gigantic deal, and I love that it’s recognized and celebrated. It’s really nice to be in the same room as all these amazing women athletes. It’s a very surreal experience.” Bethel Park athletic director Laura Grimm added that the boosters deserve all the credit. “They were the main organizers. They literally took this idea and grew it into what it was,” Grimm emphasized. “It was a tremendous effort on their part and an amazing event. It’s the biggest crowd I have seen here in this gym since I have been here.” The evening’s activities kicked off with a pre-game reception that featured cookies and beverages, including a signature Shirley Temple soda and bottled water. Upon arrival each guest – the coaches, boosters and student-athletes – received a commemorative white T-shirt
with the words “Everyone Watches Lady Hawks Sports” printed on the front. Even the opposing team was decked out in similar shirts designed with the Lady Highlander name and logo. A meet-and-greet followed with honored guests, including members of several of Duquesne University’s women’s sports teams as well as distinguished Bethel Park alumnae Laurel Heilman, Rachel Wojdowski and Missy (Shields) Dalbon, all Hall of Fame inductees. Bethel Park travel basketball coach Ashley Smith was eager to introduce her daughter, Eva Edmonds, to Kellie McConnell, a sophomore point guard for the Lady Dukes. Smith played basketball for McConnell’s father, Mike, when she attended Carlynton High School. “Oh this is so amazing,” Smith enthused. “I’m really proud of our organization for putting this together for the first time and getting all these women and girls in the same building, in the same room,
because women’s sports are definitely taking off, and this is great for all of them to see and be a part of.” Edmonds was thrilled to meet McConnell. She aspires to emulate her. “Meeting Kellie was really cool. I didn’t know that my mom knew her,” Edmonds said in awe. “I love watching college basketball so this experience was great. “I want to make it to college basketball whenever I’m older,” continued Edmonds, who is in the seventh grade. “I’m excited to get there, but I know I have to keep practicing, working hard, and never stop.” McConnell, herself, knows that and having strong role models are the recipe for success. Her mother, Sherri, played and coached basketball at North Allegheny High School. Her dad is a college men’s basketball referee, having officiated in two Final Fours and one national championship. “So he’s very accomplished,” SEE LADIES PAGE B2
Snow sticking around
Reminders of the winter storm that battered the region two weeks ago have been hard to ignore thanks to freezing temperatures that have prevented snow from melt-
ing. While it has been picturesque in some ways, it continued to make some streets hard to navigate and created some slick spots for drivers and pedestrians.
PHOTOS BY BRAD HUNDT
Are these women continuing to chat despite the cold and snow? No, it’s a sculpture by the late artist Seward Johnson that has been on display in downtown Bridgeville.
PHOTOS BY BRAD HUNDT
PHOTOS BY BRAD HUNDT
A mountain of snow remained in the parking lot of the Chartiers Valley Shopping Center in Collier Twp.
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PHOTOS BY BRAD HUNDT
This yard statue remained covered in days after January’s storm.
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Neither snow nor sleet are supposed to keep mailmen from their appointed rounds, and that appears to be the case with this Seward Johnson sculpture outside Bridgeville’s police station.
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