Sto-Rox stars from the gridiron, the court, and other fields of play were joined by their families and friends Tuesday evening at McKees Rocks VFW Post 418 for the inaugural Sto-Rox Senior Athletics Banquet.
Emceed and organized by Sto-Rox Athletics Director Ron Butschle with the help of the VFW and local boosters, the event recognized senior participants in fall, winter, and spring sports, including cheerleading and marching band.
The Event
“We literally put this together with a 7-minute talk in less than 30 days. That’s the Sto-Rox way, and I’m so pleased that all of you have come out,” said Marlene Banks, who helped spearhead the event. “I hope you enjoy everything that we tried to put together. Next year: bigger and better.”
Banks is a former Sto-Rox School District employee who retired in 2015, but in 2018 she started Welcome to the Table, an organization that has served meals to local families in need.
Butschle was complementary of everyone involved, including district administrators, teachers, coaches, Banks, and Commander Edward P. Carter III of the VFW, who was honored for his contributions with a signed stand-up football at the start of the ceremony. Butschle’s biggest compliments, however, were reserved for the student-athletes.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know a lot of you young people, the students. I don’t know you all, but I’ve gotten an opportunity to meet a lot of you, and you’ve impressed the heck out of me,” said Butschle. “I know Sto-Rox is a tough place. It’s always been tough. It was tough in 1987, when I walked in for the first time.”
“It was tough then. And by tough, I mean resilient, OK? It’s tough just to survive day to day,” he said. “But I will tell you in my life experience, and I will say this eight days a week, there are no better people than the people in this community.”
After being hired mid-year as an interim athletic director, Butschle is now fully on board and complimented former athletic director Josh Kemp - who remains on the football coaching staff - for helping him get started. Butschle is most excited about continuing to get to know the community - and - restoring pride in Sto-Rox Athletics.
“I look at a senior who’s graduating this year, whose dad I coached,” said Butschle. “These are things that make my heart happy.”
The Honors
First up for senior honors was the football team. Newly-minted head coach Brendan Blair spoke glowingly about his seniors, who he helped lead as an assistant during the 2023 season.
“The seniors that I got were there when I started coaching football,” said Blair. “I know they’ll do great things.”
Blair on Eric McGuire
“I’ve been watching him since he was a baby! I know his whole family, it’s a small world. Eric is a hard worker, so I’m excited for him.”
Blair on Amare Harper
”Four year starter, very smart, very intelligent on and off the field. Hard work? He takes it on. There were times in games, he’d say, ‘You need me to block this dude? I got you, coach.’ I’m excited for his growth.”
Blair also paid tribute to seniors Michael Jones, Deiontaye Battles, Calvin Griffin, and Robbie Kennedy.
As for Blair - who worked his way from volunteer to assistant coach before finally becoming head coach - he believes he’s ready to lead the Sto-Rox Football Program.
“I’m here to stay, here for a while, you don’t have to worry about that,” said Blair, who was also recently hired as a substitute teacher for the district. “This is where my heart is at.”
Next up was Sto-Rox Girls Volleyball Coach and Jr./Sr. High School teacher Kevin Woods.
“Our team didn’t have a lot of wins this year, but were playing a division up - teams that have been playing since they were in 7th and 8th grade,” explained Woods, who complimented his players for sticking with the team and its schedule, especially his second-year players. “They did it without hesitating, and they did a really good job.”
He also complimented team captain Rayonna Jean-Baptiste for her commitment to the role, and Jean-Baptiste shared hugs with Woods and assistant coach Shayla Freeman. Then it was up to Freeman to honor Teriyah Burks, a Parkway West Career and Technology Center student (Cosmetology). Freeman said Burks was up for anything, even a pre-game hair adjustment for her teammates.
First-year Marching Band Director Loujaue McPherson was next up to honor lone senior Omar Greene.
“This year was extremely successful for the band. I several students who had never picked up an instrument before, who said ‘Could I play?’ We taught them. I couldn’t have done it without our major-senior, who is our tuba player, our trumpet player, and our field commander. This young man is going to go a long way.”
“Thank you for being our hype man!” shouted a group of cheerleaders from the back of the room as Greene accepted his senior athletics certificate.
Commander Carter also honored Greene for his commitment to the community, especially during holidays like Memorial Day.
“He played ‘Taps’ for the last three years now at every monument in McKees Rocks,” said Carter. “He shows up for funerals when our veterans die. I have yet to find a nicer young man than Omar.”
Dwight Hines led the charge for winter sports, honor his Boys Basketball seniors, who reached the playoffs during the season that Hines notched his 100th career win.
“You all showed me the true meaning of the word battle-tested,” he said. “You played through bumps, bruises. You played through loss of loved ones due to casualties. You played through many adverse situations but you still believed. You believed in this program and the game of basketball.”
Calling them up one at a time, Hines individually praised each his seniors - David Johnson, Justin Johnson, Aumir Nelson, Deiontaye Battles, Michael Jones - for being accountable, teachable, showing good character and sportsmanship, and being a team player.
“Heart, showmanship, ownership, never giving up, all came from a program that these guys will never forget: basketball. I, as your head coach, appreciate all that you’ve done for this program. You kept this legacy alive. Keep believing, keep striving, and become the best versions of you.”
Jasmine Kirkland, coach of the Vikettes cheerleading squad, was next up. The second year coach said this year was trying - for a good reason.
“The most… personalities,” she said to a hearty collective laugh from the audience. “The most personalities I’ve ever had in my life, in this one group of girls.”
Kirkland struggled to not show her emotions as she spoke about her devotion to her seniors, and their devotion to her.
“These girls had my back,” she said. “A lot of times when accountability needed to held - not just on my part, but their part. I expect them to come to school. You’re a student first, I do not play.” Kirkland even accompanied some of her students to class - doing it, she said - out of love.
For her seniors - Anraiya Fair, Teriyah Burks, Shea Kelley, Rayonna Jean-Baptiste, Zanya Reedy - Kirkland was exceedingly proud of for them and what the future holds.
“Although cheer is fun, it’s just a little part of your life. Because after cheer, there’s a whole life out there for you.”
After individually praising each of her seniors - including captain Shea Kelley - the senior cheerleaders performed one final cheer: “Let’s Go!”
Then it was over to outgoing baseball coach and Jr./Sr. High School teacher Brian Browing to talk about his program and its two seniors: Battles and Jones.
“He made the time to come out and try to play baseball,” said Browning about Battles, who attends another school. “I know his school schedule is different than ours, so I appreciated the fact that he made the practices and came to a couple of the games.”
As for Jones, another three-sport student-athlete, Browning was even more complimentary, especially when it came to his off-the-court role after getting hurt in the fall.
“I had (administration) put him in my 8th period (physical education) class,” said Browning. “He’s been in there all year and he’s helped me out a tremendous amount.”
“I had two students who showed up to almost every single practice, and he was one of them. He said he would give 100% for me, and he did.”
Butschle closed out the ceremony by recognizing the Sto-Rox Girls Flag Football program. Recently completing its second year, the program is on the rise under head coach Lauren Ferragonio. The sport is one step closer to becoming an official PIAA-sanctioned high school sport after a successful first reading by the PIAA’s board of directors.
In a message from Ferragonio read by Butschle, the head coach praised Mariah Blanchard and Jayonna Barnes, two first-year players who acquitted themselves well during the 2024 season.
“I wish both of you the best in whatever it is you are called to do in the next chapter of your lives,” said Ferragonio.
With that, Butschle sent a final message to the seniors.
“As you go on and do the great things that you’re going to do in your life: Be a light. It comes from you and the place that you grew up,” he said. “15136 is a special place, it always has been, and you guys have made it even better. You are now a part of Sto-Rox history.”
NOTE: There were no seniors for the Girls Basketball, Track, or Softball programs.