HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES
Last week: McKenzie ran for 211 yards on 14 carries and scored three touchdowns in a 287 victory against Greensburg Central Catholic.
Check this out: McKenzie is a 5-foot-11, 210-pound junior halfback who already has scholarship offers from Division I colleges. McKenzie has played on Washington’s varsity since his freshman year and rushed for 1,203 yards last season as a sophomore. He has scholarship offers from Pitt, Purdue, Toledo and Youngstown State. Pitt made its offer this summer after watching him run the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds at a Panthers camp.
First things first. Your name is pronounced “Shy”? The ‘a’ is just silent. A lot of people pronounce it wrong [laughs]. A lot of people pronounce it ‘Shay.’
Some people are saying this could be Washington’s best team in a while. How good is it? I think we could be better than last year [when the team made it to the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals]. People said our line wasn’t going to be that good this year, but we’re getting better, practicing hard and trying to be the best we can be.
Washington has a pretty rich football history. Do you know who the best player might be ever at the school? Yeah, Brian Davis.
What do you know about him? He was a great running back. My dad [Sean] talks about him a lot because he played with him. Davis is the leading rusher in our school history [with 4,480 yards]. I want to go for that record someday.
Do you like any particular college right now? No, I’m just waiting.
Three words to describe your coach, Mike Bosnic? Funny, big — that’s for sure — and great.
How many players on your team do you think can name the two candidates for president? Maybe five.
Can you? Is … Romney one? And Obama.
Girls just don’t understand? Too much about football.
— By Mike White
Last week: Pascoe started the season in a big way at the South Fayette girls soccer tournament, scoring two goals to help Class AA No. 5 Belle Vernon top Class A No. 4 Springdale, and then added another in the championship game win against Class AA No. 4 South Fayette.
Check this out: Pascoe is one of the top returning goalscorers in the WPIAL. A junior forward, she scored 31 goals last season to help Belle Vernon reach the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals.
You have a unique first name. Any idea why your parents named you that? Well, my dad liked some football coach whose name was Hayden (former Iowa coach Hayden Fry), and my mom liked this soap opera (Guiding Light), which had an actress named Hayden (Panettiere). So that’s what they named me.
How much better of a player are you this season compared to last? I think I’ve improved a lot. My ball skills have gotten a lot better. I’ve grown up a lot as a player.
How many penalty kicks have you made in your high school career? None. I’ve been fouled inside the box a few times, but coach Paul (Sasko) likes the seniors to take the penalty kicks.
Best player in the WPIAL? I play cup soccer with (Peters Township’s) Veronica Latsko. She is really good.
Belle Vernon’s Dorian Johnson (6 feet 6, 290 pounds) is being recruited by major Division I schools for football. How would he do if he played soccer? I think he’d be a good goalie because he’s very tall. I’ve never seen him run, but I think he’d be very aggressive and would have a good shot because he could get a lot of strength behind the ball.
Did you go on any vacations this summer? Yeah. My family went to California and Las Vegas.
Favorite thing you did in Las Vegas? I went shopping. I’m a big shopper.
— By Brad Everett