Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Appeal denied: Aliquippa football will be moving to Class 5A. The Quips filed an appeal with the PIAA but were ultimately unsuccessful.

Aliquippa football moved to 5A

Aiden Pournaras, Assistant Editorial Editor February 29, 2024

After years of dominance displayed by Aliquippa football, the PIAA has decided that action needs to be taken. Aliquippa has an extremely small school size in terms of population with under 300 students...

Love of the star: Many enjoy watching sports for the love of the game, but many are influenced to watch them because their favorite celebrities are at the games or promote certain teams. Some think this is good for the sports industry, but many believe it takes away from the players themselves.

Not part of the game plan

Bryson Deal, Copy Editor February 29, 2024

It goes without saying that celebrities have a lot of influence. They influence what people buy, eat and wear. In recent years, celebrities have even been influencing what sports teams fans cheer for. The...

Pinning for the win: Junior Jordan Delon wrestles Brenden Sanko from Central Valley, winning by 18-3 in five minutes and 24 seconds.

Wrestlers are back-to-back section champs

Hannah Shaffer, Editorial Editor February 29, 2024

With the Freedom Bulldogs wrestling team closing in on the end of their season, the boys look back on some of their favorite moments they created. One of these moments includes becoming back-to-back section...

Attack the glass: In the matchup against Clairton, senior Shaye Bailey goes in for a layup. Each point matters in such an intense game. Bailey fouled out in the fourth quarter of the physical match-up.

Girls basketball season comes to an end

Madison Meyer, News Editor February 29, 2024

In February, the girls basketball team was looking good, coming in third in their section after a tough game against Aliquippa, where the Bulldogs lost by a score of 40-33. Knowing that they were a hard...

Finishing the season with only two wins was not the boys’ basketball teams plan heading into the season. Towards the end of the year, the team began to show flashes of success. Three seniors said their final goodbyes after the teams final game: Logan Bickerstaff, Jonathan Hartley and Cody Patterson. The team will be losing these three vital seniors who put forth so much effort for the team. Not only did the seniors put forth the effort on the court, they also served as mentors to the younger members of the team, allowing them to learn from the seniors and get a better understanding of the sport.
“I’ve experienced many things over my four years so I’ve learned what to do, what not to do, and things like that. The experience is the most important thing when it comes down to just trying to teach and lead the younger players,” senior captain Bickerstaff said.
With the season all wrapped up, the team looks for ways to grow. Reflecting on the past is one of the best ways to grow, so you can learn from your mistakes. Teams can reflect by watching film of the games to see first-hand what they did incorrectly, or what they could have done better. Another way is to practice repeatedly. Practice makes perfect, and it is one of the ways you can continuously improve your overall skills. 
“Practicing constantly helps me grow as a player. When I’m practicing, I work on shooting more than anything else. After practicing so often, you eventually become more consistent during the games,” junior Isaiah Leisha said. 
In their last four games, the team showed signs of uniformity. They fell to the Beaver Fall Tigers by a score of 68-35 on Feb. 2. In their next game on Feb. 6, they fell by a score of 42-39. In their last two games, they broke a lasting record in Freedom boys basketball. With a win on Feb. 9 against the New Brighton Lions, the Bulldogs won by a score of 42-30, and on Feb. 12, the Bulldogs picked up a win against Cornell by a score of 58-52. No team had won back-to-back games in 20 years.
The team had many struggles this year, but the future looks bright. With many younger players, the team should have no problem building a talented team in the future.

Boys Basketball reflects on season

Brodie Falk, Assistant News Editor February 29, 2024

Finishing the season with only two wins was not the boys’ basketball team's plan heading into the season. Towards the end of the year, the team began to show flashes of success. Three seniors said their...

Last hurrah: Seniors Anthony Batagglia, Brenna McIlvain, Steffan Paganie and Wyatt Boyer pose to be recognized during their senior night game on Feb. 1. This was the bocce team’s very first senior night ceremony and celebration.

Bocce team is playoff-bound

Addison Freeman, Photo Editor February 29, 2024

As winter sports continue, the bocce season is yet to draw to a close. Throughout the months of January and February, the team has experienced ups and downs, but overall, it has been met with a very rewarding...

Above and beyond: Leaping up, senior Logan Bickerstaff grabs the ball during the team’s home game against Riverside on Jan 12. The team showcased their new skill sets as they fought to gain control of the match.

Boys basketball team returns with new mentality

Logan Larrick, Editor-in-Chief (Digital) January 31, 2024

The start of the boys basketball season has been met with tough competition. With rivals as determined as they are to win, holding them off has been a difficulty for the team. Despite the occasional close...

On a roll: Kneeling down, senior Steffan Paganie prepares to roll his bocce ball down the court towards the pallino ball, which is the target. Freedom showed their school spirit as they cheered each other on during their turns.

How they roll

Addison Freeman, Copy Editor January 31, 2024

The new year invites new resolutions, goals and ambitions. As winter sports continue, players strive to move further with their team. With the new bocce season in play, Freedom’s team is expecting to...

Dominating the court: During their matchup against the Rochester Rams, sophomore Mackenzie Mohrbacher defends her side of the court. The teams were neck and neck throughout the entire game, the Bulldogs never backed down.

Girls Basketball fights through rest of season

Jenna Haskey, Distribution Director January 31, 2024

As the Bulldogs approach the second half of their season, they are looking to get a playoff spot. With a 5-8 record so far, they still believe it is achievable. The team beat the South Side Rams, Shenango...

Skating into action: carrying the puck, senior Chase Grable works to push the puck up to his offense, for the chance to score against Wilmington on Nov.11. In hockey the team has to have good communication to give them the best chance at winning.

Hockey team prepares for playoffs, allstar game

Colton Blank, Assistant Sports Editor January 31, 2024

As the new year begins, the Central Valley (CV) hockey team nears the closing of their season with only a few more games remaining. CV Hockey works to continue winning their games and hopefully make it...

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