This winter sports season was one to remember for Baldwin athletes and fans.
From the basketball team making it to the WPIAL championship through wrestling making it to WPIALs to Abby Rexrode winning states in gymnastics for a second time, Baldwin winter sports teams reached a higher level this year.
Here is a rundown on some of the season’s biggest achievements:
Baldwin wrestling sent two participants to states this year and also accomplished major wins at WPIALs.
After years of having individual, but no team success, the boys decided it was time to make a change this year.
The Highlanders were led by a trio of upperclassmen: seniors Owen Klodowski and Keith Mincin plus junior Ramil Islamov. All three of these fierce competitors achieved their 100th career win throughout this season.
Mincin won the section in his weight class. The other two earned a trip to Hershey to compete in the state bracket. Islamov ended up finishing fourth in the state in his weight class, the highest finish by any Baldwin wrestler ever.
Mincin has been wrestling with Baldwin for as long as he can remember. A goal he had this year was to change the narrative around the team to try and get kids to join.
“We definitely needed a change of mindset. There is a losing culture that still shows sometimes in Baldwin, and we are working hard to try to break it,” Mincin said.
Perhaps the team’s biggest achievement was making the WPIAL playoff tournament for the first time in more than 20 years.
Mincin feels that this season was important for the program and will help future Baldwin teams keep getting better and better.
--Adam Degenhardt
The Baldwin gymnastics team’s great season included finishing third in WPIALs and states as a team, and junior Abby Rexrode winning states for the second time.
They got off to a hot start, winning their first meet against West Allegheny.
“Our first meet was very important to win, and we did. It built up our confidence throughout the season,” junior Sophia Rossa said.
Some of Rossa’s favorite moments were watching her teammates succeed, headlined by Rexrode winning WPIALs and the state championship.
“Watching all of my teammates compete at a high level was great, and all five of us stuck together all the way through states, especially with Abby winning states,” Rossa said.
There were some leaders who stepped up all year, but senior Ashley Brown stood out, Rossa said.
“Ashley Brown stepped up big all year bringing the team together and pushing everyone to be their best,” Rossa said.
Although the year was so successful, there are always things to build on.
“We can definitely build on confidence within our routines and not being afraid to try stuff we are uncomfortable with," Rossa said.
--Nico Macurak
Boys basketball made history this year by making it to only the second WPIAL Championship in Baldwin history and hosting their first home WPIAL and state playoff games.
The Highlanders had struggled before hiring head coach Jeff Ackermann in 2020. He has led Baldwin to WPIAL playoffs all four years.
Senior Nate Richards has watched current underclassmen come through the system and become important players for the team.
“I think Matt Schenk and Max Marizina both took big jumps this year,” he said. “They impacted the game on both sides of the ball.”
He also thought junior Nate Wesling turned it up this year.
“Nate Wesling really came into his own this year,” he said. “He will be a leader that the team needs next year.”
Richards, who has been on the varsity team all four years, has seen growth in not only the team, but the fanbase as well.
“We have kids at games that I have never seen there before,” he said. “Knowing that we can rally our fans behind us like this makes us want to play better.”
Richards was disappointed after the loss to Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL Championship, but he thinks the future for Baldwin is bright.
“Baldwin will have some players next year,” Richards said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they are in the same situation next year.”
--Jacob Staley
The swim team’s achievements continued right through states this year, as senior Evan Stokes broke his own school record in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Stokes originally set the Baldwin record in this event during his sophomore year at the WPIAL championship meet. This year, again at WPIAL championships, he broke his own record with a time of 58.84 seconds.
Then last week at state championships, he broke his own record once again, with a time of 58.68 seconds.
Another highlight came “when junior Spencer Maist qualified for WPIALs for the 100-yard backstroke at West Mifflin,” junior Nathaniel McWilliams said. “The team was really excited for him, and the atmosphere was great.”
Senior Alayna Kercher qualified for WPIALs in the 500-yard freestyle. She also helped lead the team, McWilliams said.
“Alayna Kercher stepped up as a leader throughout the season in leading the warm ups and team stretches during the meets,” McWilliams said.
The relay team of McWilliams, Stokes, Maist, and senior Dylan Lubarski qualified for WPIALs in the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.
“This year I made WPIALs with my teammates for two separate relays, and I dropped 26 seconds in my 500 free from last year’s time,” McWilliams said.
Not only does McWilliams have high hopes for the team next year, but he has set high goals for himself as well.
“I’m one step closer to making WPIALs next year and hopefully getting the school record as well,” McWilliams said.
--Jackson Sgattoni
The Baldwin bowling team only lost one match in the regular season, and the Highlanders qualified for WPIAL and regional playoffs.
Junior Nico Puglin praised the team’s success.
“Winning every match except one was a huge accomplishment that helped to lead us to WPIALs and later regionals,” Puglin said.
One of the team’s best performances was at WPIALs, when there were almost 50 teams and they had to be in the top 15 to move on to regionals.
“We all bowled really well and were able to get a high enough pin fall to get us regionals,” Plugin said, “This really gave our team a boost of energy.”
He said part of the team’s success came from having a competitive leader.
“Jon Clemons stepped up as a leader for us this year,” Puglin said. “He carried one of the highest averages and performed well every time we played.”
Keys to the team’s success included their practices, their consistency, and the quality of the team’s bowlers, he said.
Puglin also had many achievements throughout the season as well.
“I bowled multiple 200 games, which contributed to our team’s winning record,” Puglin said. “And I improved myself throughout the season by going to every practice and staying consistent.”
--Jackson Sgattoni
This year, the Unified Bocce team posted an improved record from past years and continued the movement of inclusion in the Baldwin community.
The team had some wins against teams that beat them last year, like South Park and Bethel Park.
“South Park was a big deal because they are very good and have beat us in the past, and it was senior night, which made it special,” senior Rylee Glus said.
Many seniors on the team stepped up to support the team in their success.
“There were so many of us, so we could all help everyone else because we did have some players this year who have never played before. Dom Meloni specifically was able to be a good leader as he always had really good rolls,” Glus said.
Even though they had a more successful season, the team is always looking for ways to better themselves in the future.
“The biggest thing to focus on will just be communication and working on different strategies. I think that sometimes we would not think things through before doing certain strategies,” Glus said.
Being a unified sport makes bocce special.
“Through the Special Olympics, the team brings together students with and without a disability,” Head Coach Tori Sgattoni said. “It fosters teamwork and unity all in a competitive manner.”
“It helps the athletes with special needs learn the game but also build peer relationships. The environment is what makes the students feel as though they have that amazing feeling other students may get when they step onto a court or field,” Sgattoni said.
--Adam Degenhardt
