KSWA and Blue Dust Bring Wrestling Under The Bridge

Promotional Poster for Brawl Under The Bridge VI. Submitted by Frank Cunniff.

Professional Wrestling has an uncanny ability to unite people from all backgrounds. That’s no different when the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) makes its annual trip under the Homestead Grays Bridge.

“We always get a huge buzz when Blue Dust announces the event,” said Bob “Bobby-O” Orkwis, the owner of the KSWA. “The buzz still surprises me after all this time.”

KSWA Brawl Under The Bridge VI returns under the Homestead Grays Bridge on Saturday, July 17th. The first bell is at 7 PM, and general admission tickets are $5.

The event has been known as a celebration of wrestling history. In the past, wrestling legends like the Rock and Roll Express, Bill “Demolition Ax” Eadie, and J.J. Dillion have made appearances at the event. They served as a bridge to wrestling history for fans, both young and old.

“The Gavel” David Lawless (left) takes a shot from a briefcase by T-Rantula (right) during Brawl Under The Bridge IV on July 21, 2018

The KSWA’s old school feel has granted the owner and other members of KSWA the chance to meet and work with some of the favorite wrestlers and managers of the NWA, WWF, and studio wrestling days.

“I got to introduce the Rock and Roll Express while 1000 people chant their name,” said “Trapper” Tom Leturgey, KSWA Ring Announcer and writer for KSWA Digest. “It brought me back to the 1980s when myself and Bob were watching them on television in college”, said

They are excited to be back doing shows with KSWA. The promotion was halted for 14 months until this May. In that time, their fans, the KSWA Krazies, would tell them how much they can’t wait for them to come back.

“It was like we didn’t miss a beat with the first few shows we’ve done,” said Orkwis. They have been very well attended.

It’s been thanks to sponsors like Blue Dust, the key organizers of the event, and their support for keeping them going.

“The Face of Pittsburgh” Lou Martin laying on the concrete after being thrown out from the ring during a match against The Rock and Roll Express at Brawl Under The Bridge IV on July 18, 2018. Photo by Ty Polk.

Frank Cunniff, the events manager at Blue Dust, wanted to give a different feel for the events they held under the Homestead Grays Bridge. A new event alongside their Pumpkinfest and Oysterfest events that feature live music, beer, and food.

The idea for Brawl Under The Bridge was based on a pro wrestling comic book he was working on and his interest in pro wrestling.

“I had gone to some of their events at the Spirit Hall in Lawrenceville and was very entertained,” said Cunniff. “I wanted to draw on some authentic experience, and the first event was great.”

It’s now a part of Homestead and has made some of his favorite memories as a wrestling fan. During the 2016 event, ABC News reporter Michael Koenigs biked across the country for the “Election Cycle” between the political conventions.

“It was election coverage, and they got good shots of the crowd [and atmosphere],” said Cunniff. ” It was really good to get a television package.

He also says Mayor Esper and T-Rantula taking on Mayor Mystery in the Mayor vs. Mayor match in 2017 and watching and commentating a game with Bill Eadie as other great moments.

“Their style of professional wrestling is Pittsburgh’s cultural heritage,” said Cunniff. “It’s a great day to see it in this community, and you could bring the whole family.

J.J Dillon (left) legendary manager for the Four Horsemen pokes Justin Sane (right) in the eyes at Brawl Under The Bridge V on July 20, 2019 Photo by Ty Polk.

Anthony Alexander is defending the proclaimed “most prestigious title in the Commonwealth,” the KSWA Championship, in an open challenge match.

The Brawl Under The Bridge Champion, “The Face of Pittsburgh” Lou Martin, will defend against King Del Douglas in a dog collar match. Martin’s former tag partner Shawn Blanchard will be in Douglas’s corner.

Former KSWA Tag Team champions Mitch Napier and The BROhemoth will square off in a kendo stick on a pole match.

“We honor wrestling in Pittsburgh our way,” said Leturgey. This event rivals Fan Fest, our year-end show in December, and it’s great to be involved with.

This article was also published in The Valley Mirror.

Battle at The Fairgrounds II Starts Summer of Boxing in Pittsburgh

Promotional Poster for The Battle at The Fairgrounds II. Submitted by Derek Gionta.

With around 30 percent capacity, Derek Gionta managed to do what was impossible for almost 11 months this past February, bring a professional boxing card to Western Pennsylvania.

“It was a logistics thing for us just to get all of that setup,” said Gionta. “It was worth it at the end of the day because we're able to do a show and people were there to enjoy it.”

On June 4th, he will host Battle at The Fairgrounds II at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Doors open at 6 PM, and the first bell is at 7. There are no capacity restrictions. The event will follow CDC guidelines will be followed.

“I think [holding the boxing events] helps everybody's just their mental state with everything,” said Gionta. “People may have been a little nervous [at the show in February]. I think this time around, it's going to help a lot.”

The card’s main event will feature the International Boxing Association (IBA) Intercontinental Super Featherweight Title. Washington, PA native Matt “Sweet Child” Conway(18-2, 7 KO) will take on Colombia’s Johnathan “Popeye” Perez (38-26, 30 KO).

Conway is coming off a victory in January against a formidable opponent in Vincent Jennings after losses by decision in the undercards of Shakur Stevenson-Joel Gonzalez and the highly anticipated Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder fight.

Rich Cantolina (right center) and Derek Gionta (far right) talking to Referee Tim Shipley (far left) and Chris Willimas (left center) before his fight against Brock Willis on November 2nd, 2019 at Printscape Arena. Photo by Tyler Polk.

Deon Goodlow (left) Sparring with Jordan Zlacki (right) in preperations for their fights on May 8th, 2021. Photo by Ty Polk.

Dave Tomaso (left) and Richie Cantolina (right) battle at the Shriners Hall in Cheswick PA on March 7th, 2020. Photo by Daniel Cork.

Gionta has known Conway since his time in amateur boxing. He’s seen his growth as a fighter and a man.

“Seeing Matt in training and sparring, you can see his confidence growing,” said Gionta. “He’s only 25 and has been in the ring with some higher-level competition, especially against [Gabriel] Flores.”

His opponent, Perez, is described as a typical fighter from Latin America. Tough and rugged. With 30 of 36 wins coming by way of knockout, this is someone not to look past.

Deon Goodlow, another member of Gionta’s management team, will take on Ivan Hernandez. It was an easy fight to schedule for the event, and both fighters are confident they can get the victory.

“I just got a fighter’s spirit no matter who I face,” said Goodlow. “I feel like always have that chance to win, no matter what is this on the fight.

Goodlow’s fights are action-packed, like his last fight against Jordan Zlacki in Canonsburg. The two fighters were sparring in preparation for their fights over the previous month.

“You’re gonna see a lot of punches,” said Goodlow. “Watch the sparks fly, and we’re gonna get another dub for Pittsburgh.”
If we’re talking about drama, the last three fights for “Pretty” Richie Cantolina (6-0-1, 2 KO) did not lack any at all.

The first of those three fights took place after the passing of his father in September 2019.

The second fight was a wrestling match inside a sanctioned boxing fight that put him through the middle rope.

The final fight of the trilogy was a controversial draw after a punch seconds after a referee break due to a clinch.

When he talks about his last fight in March 2020, he believes a fight he needed to have in his career.

“I let talent get me to 6-0, and that fight made me realize I may have more talent, but these guys are working harder than you,” said Cantolina. “This isn't the amateurs anymore. You need to treat this as a true professional.”

He decided to walk away from his salaried position as a safety consultant and opened a boxing gym, The Sanctuary Boxing Club.

"Now that I'm training full time and coaching full time. I'm so much happier, and I'm in a better place," said Cantolina. “Not a lot of people get to wake up and love what they do.”

Cantolina is excited to get back in the ring. Before the pandemic, he was planning on four or five fights in 2020. He’ll face Darryl “Dreamking” Bunting (4-9-2, 2 KO) in the co-main event of the evening at super-middleweight.

Cantolina is excited to face Bunting, a veteran of 16 professional fights, as it will showcase his technical abilities that fit his nickname.

“'I’m excited for finally a guy that's going to stand in their box. He’s a solid technical fighter,” said Cantolina. “I'm pretty well known for my angles and my footwork. So it’s going to be a technical showcase for six rounds. hopefully, only one or two, but I'm in shape for six.”

Other fights featured on the card are a light-heavyweight matchup between Joel La Paz (10-1, 6 KO) and Latiss Norman (4-6, 2 KO).

Ryziemmion Ford (4-1, 3 KO) takes on Christopher Nelson (3-18, 1 KO) in a super featherweight clash, and Shawn Rall (0-4) takes on Brandon Grimmett (0-2 in super-featherweight action.

“These guys put a lot into boxing,” said Gionta. “They deserve the recognition and the opportunity to compete.”

Tickets are still available, $30 for General Admission and $50 for Reserved Seating. For ticket info, call 412-759-0407.

Pandemic Pugilism Brings Pay-Per-View Boxing to Pittsburgh

Basyzbek "Baz" Baratov training in prepartation for his return fight on May 15th at the Sokol Club on the South Side. Photo by Ty Polk.

The COVID-19 pandemic halted some of Pittsburgh boxing's up-and-comers opportunities from fighters to promoters last March. 

More than a year later, the local professional scene is picking itself off the canvas.

“There's a lot of unknowns, and it's not easy organizing a show right now,” said J.J. Richardson, manager for Integrity Fighter Management. “We're excited to be back in business, and our fighters are excited to have a platform again to fight on.”

Lyubomyr Pinchuk training for his fight on May 15th from the Sokol Club on the South Side. Photo by Ty Polk.

Integrity Fighter Management and Conn-Greb Boxing Gym will host "Old School Fight Series: Pandemic Pugilism" from the Sokol Club on the South Side, Saturday, May 15th.

This is the third night of boxing to take place in the area since the shutdown last March.

Gionta Management's fight night at the Washington County Fairgrounds was the first professional action the city held since the bouts they scheduled in Cheswick in March 2020. 

The USS Fight Academy in North Versailles brought amateur boxing back on March 13th, a year to the shutdown that canceled the returning Pittsburgh vs. Ireland Donnybrook.

McSorley and Integrity initially were hesitant to run a show during the pandemic, but a friend in Ohio did a few pay-per-view shows that gave them ideas.

Michael McSorley (left) talking with Jordan Zlacki (left) in between a sparring session with Deon Goodlow. Photo by Tyler Polk.

“It was the only way we could cover our expenses was a pay-per-view,” said McSorley in between a training session at Conn-Greb Boxing Gym. “And we thought this would be, you know, a good time to try it.”

Due to Allegheny County’s restrictions, the event will have a paid attendance of 96 people, and it has already sold out. The low attendance figures gave them the idea to stream the pay per view online for $26

.It will be the first opportunity for some to get back in the ring, but for most, this is their first chance on pay-per-view.

It’s both for Jordan Zlacki (2-2) of Cheswick. His last fight was in December 2019, and he’s been itching to get back into the ring.

“I’m focused on the fight, the game plan, and what I got to do, said Zlacki before his training session. “I’ve never felt better working with Mike [McSorley], and I’m happy to get back on track.”

The event takes place two weeks before Pennsylvania goes back to allowing 100 percent capacity for all occasions. Despite a baptism by fire in their entry into the PPV business, they still have plans to continue.

“We're looking forward to [a show with full capacity and a pay-per-view] maybe late summer, early fall, getting back to full capacity shows,” said Richardson.

The Pay-Per-View will cost 26 dollars to catch all the fights, and the commentary duo for the night is Matt “The Lyrical Gangster” Antonucci and the Pittsburgh Luchador. They have been frequent attendees at training sessions and producing a series of promos for bouts on the card.

“There will be a difference with us, the direct knowledge and passion [of the fighters],” said Luchador in a conference call. “We're bringing some real energy to this, and you’ll feel it.

Antonucci was already in for play-by-play because he was already scheduled to be the ring announcer. The luchador wasn’t the first choice to provide color commentary, but Antonucci hoped that he would be the eventual pick.

“I had my fingers crossed waiting for [the luchador to be officially named his broadcast partner],” said Antonucci. “It’s a huge opportunity for us, just like for the fighters on the card.”

“The Lyrical Gangster” Matt Antonucci in between fights at Spring Slugfest hosted by Integrity Fighter Management March 2nd, 2019. Antonucci will be the ring announcer and broadcaster alongside the Pittsburgh Luchador for the pay-per-view on May 15th. Photo by Ty Polk.

The luchador will be a first-time commentator at the event, and many would typically be nervous compared to his broadcast partner, who boasts 14 years of experience. 

A fan of sports growing up as a kid in the ’70s, and his experiences being in the corner for fighters has him thinking age and savviness will overcome any nerves.

“I'm too old and savvy to be nervous about this, and my life has always been about sports,” said the Luchador. “I’m preparing and working my ass off. I think it’s gonna go really well.”

The card features regulars to cards around Pittsburgh like Lyubomyr Pinchuk, Johnny Spell, Zlacki, Rosalindo Morales, Michael Manna, and Ryan Covert.

The newest combatant and Pittsburgh will be well worth the price of admission.

Mike McSorley (left) and Basyzbek “Baz” Baratov (right) training for the Pandemic Pugilism event on May 15th. Photo by Ty Polk

Basyzbek “Baz” Baratov (2-1-2), from Philadelphia by way of Kyrgyzstan, will be making his return to the ring a little over to his last fight four years ago. He’s already gunning for some of boxing’s top prizes.

“I’m ready for this fight. It’s been a long time waiting for this moment”, said Baratov. “I’m coming back as soon as possible for a title.”

This is his first fight after what he described as a “vacation.” He’ll fight at 125 lbs, but he’s typically fighting at 122-118 lbs. This will also be his second pay-per-view fight. He made a previous appearance on a Top Rank Boxing card in Nevada.

McSorley described Baz as very entertaining and could dazzle the crowd both in person and on pay-per-view.

“It's an interesting matchup because a much taller guy who’s a big puncher against a smaller guy who has a lot of amateur experience,” said McSorley.

A few of the 96 attending in person and watching the pay-per-view will be from Kyrzgstan. Living in Pittsburgh for the past three years, he’s already made the city his home.

“This is my second home,” said Baratov. “I will do my best and do everything for a title and show the people Kyrzgstan boxing.”

A combination of local fighters and international flavor will come to the South Side with eight fights scheduled to take place.

“Just wait until May 15th”, said Antonucci. “We’ll be like Public Enemy and bring the noise,”

You can pay and stream the pay-per-view here. Referrals from the fighters also give full access as well.

USS Fight Academy Welcomes Back Amateur Boxing in Pittsburgh with their First Fight Night

Steve "USS" Cjunningham standing in the ring at the USS Fight Academy in North Versailles. Photo by Ty Polk.

Steve “USS” Cunningham, a former two-time IBF Cruiserweight Champion, has been in many big fights in his career, but the biggest was with his daughter Kennedy and her treatment for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Along with his wife Livvy, they moved their family from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in 2015 and have ingrained themselves into the area’s boxing community.

“All the fighters show us respect because of my career accomplishments and my daughter’s story,” said Cunningham. “They’ve made us feel like we are at home here.”

Livvy Cunningham overseeing a fitness class at the USS Fight Academy in North Versailles. Photo by Ty Polk.

After Kennedy’s successful heart transplant in 2015, they’ve remained in Pittsburgh, opening a boxing gym in 2018 with plans to host fight nights for amateur boxers from around the city and the world.

The USS Fight Academy will hold its first-ever Amateur Fight Night on March 13th. The event will take place inside their spacious gym in North Versailles.

“It’s something we saw from the minute we walked in the gym,” said Livvy Cunningham, Steve’s wife. “It got pushed back a year, but we’re excited that it’s finally happening.”

The event will take place exactly one year to the date of the last scheduled and sanctioned amateur boxing event in the Pittsburgh area. The 2020 Pittsburgh vs. Ireland Donnybrook at Priory Grand Hall in the Northside was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of Pittsburgh’s best young pugilists were supposed to go toe-to-toe with opponents from the Drimaugh Boxing Club in Dublin, Ireland.

Steve Cunningham watching the kids boxing class. Photo by Ty Polk.

His son Steve “Tugboat” Cunningham Jr, the fourth-ranked amateur nationally at 141 pounds and plans to turn pro after high school, was scheduled to fight his second international opponent, Evan Kirwan, an Irish amateur boxing champion.

His first opportunity was the Pittsburgh vs. Cuba Boxing on the Bridge event in 2016. His second international opponent was an opportunity for people from Gateway High School to see him fight in person.

“Teachers, the principal, and vice-principal of the school were coming to see him fight,” said Cunningham. “It was very disappointing. To us, this was his coming-out party. Pittsburgh is a beautiful place, and the fans love good fighters and will get behind you.

The pandemic, as it was for many businesses, was rough for the gym. After celebrating the gym’s third anniversary this past January, they feel like they’re coming out of it stronger than ever. 

“It takes three to five years for a business to become profitable,” said Livvy.

“You’d never think that going into that third year, and you would face a pandemic. We still have some building and growing to do, but we’re on our way.”

They’ve had talented fighters come spar and train. They’ve also honed talent to compete in the USA Boxing National Championships.

In addition to Steve Jr., his younger Cruz “Missile” Cunningham and Maximus “The Gladiator Ruiz each have two national championships.

On Saturday, the USS Fight Academy will look to start the amateur career of another boxing talent.

Steve Cunningham (left) watching Abigail Neubauer (right) in a training session. Photo by Ty Polk.

Abigail Neubauer from North Hunnington started her training a year and a half ago. She started going to USS Fight Academy because her cousin started training there.

In those three days a week kids’ classes, she fell in love with boxing. When she graduated from the kids’ boxing classes last May, she began training to become an amateur combatant, which upped her training from three days to six days a week.

“OnceI stepped up from the kids’ class and never thought about going back,” said Neubauer. I’ve been waiting to do this for a while now.”

It was hard to find a competitor her weight and age class, and she was willing to whatever it takes to prepare for her first fight.

Steve Sr. always wanted to train a female fighter from scratch since opening up his gym three years ago.

Abigail Neubauer jumping rope. Photo by Ty Polk.

“Women are more fierce than men. They’re more vicious, you know, they go for the blood., It’s just different with women’s boxing,” said Cunningham. “I’m amped. We’re all amped to see how she does on her first fight.”

She says Cunningham has pushed her further than she ever thought she could go and would have never picturing boxing being the most significant part of her life.

“If you would have asked me two years ago, would I be in a boxing gym like training six days a week? I would have said no”, said Neubauer. “Once I found this place, Steve kind of took me under his wing and started training me as one of his own.”

She said her biggest challenge in boxing is the sport’s mental aspect, but she’s ready for her first challenge.

“If you manifest you’re gonna win, then you’re, it’s all about what you put your mind to,” said Neubauer. “It depends on how bad you want it, and I want it bad. So I’m going to give it my all and leave everything out on the mat.”

The Cunninghams plan to make Pittsburgh an amateur boxing hub with the USS Fight Academy as the home for future tournaments and amateur showcases.

“We want to try to do a show once every other month or show which is good for us good for the gym and keeping our athletes active before national tournaments,” said Cunningham. “I want to build-up to the point of even either doing invitationals and tournaments with other gyms.”

Tickets are available at the USS Fight Academy 1712 Lincoln Hwy, North Versailles, PA. First Bell at 6 PM. Adult Tickets $20, Children Tickets $10. All State Protocols will be followed and face coverings will be required.

Reilsono hopes to Use Lessons from Baseball to Create Better Leaders

“I always wanted to coach baseball, scout professionally, and do all these other things, said Reilsono. “I never wanted to put my eggs in one basket.”

He’s achieved those first two goals and more. Currently, Claudio is the General Manager of the Global Scouting Bureau and head coach of the Carnegie Mellon Varsity baseball team.

He hosts talk shows like Steel City Sports World and Pittsburgh Ring Talk with his friends Luther Dupree and "Smokin" Jim Frazier. He hosts a podcast with sports legends from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, holds baseball clinics, and wrote for boxing outlets.

In October, he published his first book, “Lead From The Heart Up, Not The Neck Up.” He wrote the book to give people leadership advice from his 38-year coaching career.

His parents, Olindo & Ida, came here from Italy and were very into boxing and soccer. Claudio’s first love is baseball. In August 1973, his uncle took him to Three Rivers Stadium for the first time in his life, early in the morning before a game.

Claudio Reilsono leading one of his baseball camps. Photo from claudioreilsono.com

His uncle worked at the Allegheny Club in the stadium, so he was able to show Claudio around and introduce him to the players in the locker room.

When he stepped onto the AstroTurf at Three Rivers, staring at the scoreboard and the 60,000 or so seats around him. He realized that he wanted to become a professional baseball player.

“I told my dad what I wanted to do in my life,” said Reilsono. “He told me, if that's what you want to do, me and your mother will do all we can, do everything we can to give you every opportunity in the world to make your dreams come true.”

At age 22, Reilsono was a volunteer assistant high school baseball coach at Quaker Valley High School after graduating there. After three tryouts with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles, his professional baseball career was over before it began.

Claudio Reilsono’s parents, Olindo and Ida Reilsono. Submitted by Claudio Reilsono.

“I remember sitting in the outfield with my legs crossed, smiling, but I wasn’t happy, said Reilsono. “How can I go home and tell my parents that my dream is done?”

He decided to continue his career in baseball as a coach. Rich Woznicki, his coach in high school, asked him to stay on as an assistant coach. When Woznicki got into a car accident in 1988, he took over as head coach at 23.

In his first practice as head coach, he set the precedent that he based his entire career on.

The practice was scheduled to be indoors, but it was a nice day, so Reilsono wanted to take it outside. One player complained somewhat loudly about not going outside, and Claudio felt disrespected and responded.

“I said then don’t go, I don’t care if you stay, go home or quit, we’re going outside,” said Reilsono. “The only time I get on a player is not when they make a physical error, but when they disrespect me,  the team or just don’t try, but that is very, very rare.”

Front Cover of Lead From The Heart Up, Not The Neck Up. Submitted by Claudio Reilsono.

The biggest thing he stresses in the book is having good people around you. 

You are going to do great things on the field and in the office, really in life if you have great people around you”, said Reilsono. “When you have that kind of person, man, it makes your job so much easier.”

He explains that sometimes good guys can unintentionally have bad leadership moments. He references one player who was a good player, but he was very hard on some who didn’t get as much playing time as he did.

“Being mad and hollering at somebody and degrading them isn't going to do anything,” said Reilsono. “A good leader motivates others to another level, not make them disappear.”

Claudio (left) with his daughter Ida (center) and wife Lynda (right). Photo submitted by Claudio Reilsono.

His goal in life was to impact people, and he hopes that his book can make that impact.

“I wrote this book to prove you don’t have to be a hard-ass,” said Reilsono. “I'm using baseball as a metaphor, a vehicle for leadership.”

Listen to the Claudio Reilsono show on claudioreilsono.com. Purchase Lead From The Heart Up, Not The Neck Up here.

Lady Wolverines Outlast Gateway, Remain in Hunt for 2nd Straight Section Championship

Used interview from 2:05:41 to write this article.

Senior recognition day is an opportunity to give thanks for four years of hard work and look forward to the future.

Woodland Hills held their ceremony giving thanks to Seniors from the boys’ basketball team, cheerleading squad, and saving their best for last, Peyton Pinkney, the lone senior representative on the girls’ basketball team.

“My journey here has been a ride,” said Pinkney after the game. “One not to forget. You live, and you learn. It’s a great experience to go through, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

With the WPIAL girls basketball tournaments hosting games in the higher seed’s gym for all matchups and one more home regular-season game against Franklin Regional. There will be more chances for the Lady Wolverines (9-4, 8-1) to dazzle in front of a home crowd as they did in a 49-40 win to Gateway last Saturday.

The game was a back and forth affair as the biggest lead both teams could muster was six, and they headed into the fourth quarter deadlocked at 32.

After Gateway went up 36 to 32, Woodland Hills went on an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter, that was sparked primarily by the play of Pinkney, who had 17 points in the game.

For the fourth game in a row this week, both Pinkney and Hope Hawkins (10 points) were in double figures and were vital towards the run.  

With the senior in the high post and the freshman operating in the low post knowing well, they can’t guard both of them.

“Every freshman has a senior,” said Pinkney. “Hope’s my freshman this year. I try to walk her through things I had trouble with as a freshman year. Make sure she doesn’t get mad at the game or herself.”

Kayla Walter had 8 points, added with Jasmyn Fisher scoring 6. Carmen Vasquez had 5, and Jazmine Dunn had 3 points.

Gateway’s (6-10, 2-7)  Alexis Margolis had 16, and Dynasty Shegog had 13 points.

Woodland Hills remains in a deadlock with Latrobe for the 5A-Section 4 title and will take on Franklin Regional at home on Monday. Gateway will travel to Greensburg Salem, on Monday.

Authors Document Pittsburgh’s Boxing Past

The Author of "Jack McClelland: The Pride of Pittsburg", Vincent Ciaramella holding a photo of Jack McClelland from 1900-1904, the only known copy of his signature anywhere. Used with permission by the Estate of Dr. William McClelland and Lisa McClelland. Photo by Ty Polk.

The past of the sport’s history in Pittsburgh is storied, but the history was scattered compared to other boxing hotbeds. Pittsburgh boxing’s history and legacy were lost to time in the archives of newspapers in Pittsburgh and other cities that covered those fighters.

Douglas Cavanaugh and Vincent Ciaramella captured the history of boxing in Pittsburgh in their books, “Pittsburgh Boxing: A Pictorial History” and “Jack McClelland: The Pride of Pittsburg.”

Cavanaugh from Burbank, Calif., has written about the historical figures of boxing since the ’90s. His articles received publication in boxing magazines like The Ring, British Boxing Monthly, World Boxing, and Boxing Illustrated.

He’s covered boxers from all over the world and noticed a trend in some of his favorite fighters.

“A rather disproportionate number of boxers that I liked happened to be from Pittsburgh, said Cavanaugh, so I thought okay, let’s go find a book on the subject.”

Major fight towns like Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles documented boxing history through arcadia picture books. Pittsburgh despite the legendary history of guys like Billy Conn, Harry Greb, Fritzy Zivic, and Charley Burley.

“There was just so much information that had not been documented in Arcadia book wouldn’t have done it justice,” said Cavanaugh. “So, what I thought would be a six month to a year-long journey turned into something that took a decade.

Douglas Cavanaugh (2nd from Left), with Tim Conn (Left), Art Rooney Jr. (2nd from Right) and Roy McHugh (Right) at Atrias Restaurant. Photo submitted by Douglas Cavanaugh.

He started research in 2009 by posting his findings on a Facebook page. Over time, it started picking up steam in the years that followed. The late Roy McHugh, his friend, mentor, and a longtime sports columnist for the Pittsburgh Press and Post-Gazette, likened his efforts to find a lost civilization.

“It was worth the effort,” said Cavanaugh, who wrote the introduction and copy edited the post-humous release of McHugh’s “When Pittsburgh Was a Fight Town.” “It’s fun, the families enjoy it, I enjoy it, and it’s been a great journey.”

Vincent Ciaramella’s journey towards writing his book about Jack McClelland, his great-great-grandfather, wasn’t about finding a lost civilization. It’s more about finding out about a little known family member, like people who asked about their family’s boxing past on Cavanaugh’s Facebook page.

“Only thing I knew about him was I had a boxer in my family who fought on barges,” said Ciaramella of Bethel Park. “There was a lot of curiosity on my part. Who was this guy?”

A picture from a Newspaper from January 29,1904. It says “Herman wins Decision from McClelland”. Photo by Tyler Polk.

He would search for information about McClelland from time to time. He even won an eBay auction for a collection of articles on Jack in 2013 for 13 dollars.

He did not start actively searching for information about the former fighter until 2015 while waiting for his wife, Erica, to give birth to Enzo, his son.

“I found an article Doug wrote about him on his page, and I decided to start gathering information,” said Ciaramella.

He managed to piece together details about McClelland’s career through newspaper archives and talks with family members like his aunt and a chance meeting with Shirley Quaquarucci, the granddaughter of McClelland.

“The book was to serve two purposes,” said Ciaramella. “Highlight his career and a family that had been forgotten.”

The book covers all of Jack’s life and career. From his days as an amateur to fighting 35 round fighting around the city during his heyday. Many of the places he fought were unconventional in today’s arenas and grand halls.

McClelland would fight in places like opera halls. To this day, only one building in Pittsburgh is still standing from his days of fighting, Maennerchor Hall in McKees Rocks.

A piece of Maennerchor Hall in McKee’s Rock. The last place still standing from Jack McClelland’s fighting days. It’s currently abandoned and slated for demolition. Photo by Ty Polk.

Sometimes he would fight in tents, basements, and on a few occasions, barges that would float down the river. Fighting in the late 1890s to 1910s, it was an era where boxing was considered a brutal and illegal sport.

“They would fight with lanterns all around the rings in some places just to avoid the law,” said Cavanaugh. “I found a story about one fight that Jack held near a river, and the cops busted it. His opponent, Squirrel Finnerty, escaped by jumping out of a barge and swimming to Youngstown.”

Ciaramella covered the highs and lows of McClelland’s life both in and out of the ring. From defeating Abe Atell for the world featherweight championship at the 1904 Saint Louis World’s fair to having the title stripped away due to a technicality.

Checkered family life and questionable incidents with the law gave him some reservations about researching the book.

“I came to the part where he had a second family, and they were like starving, and the children were in rags in Allentown,” said Ciaramella. “As his career went on, he got a little weird.”

His run-ins with the law included child support issues, and some were altercations involving men of color. The latter issues were strange because fighting and training with boxers of color was no problem for Jack. Ciaramella has a theory that it was alcohol-related. Still, he can’t pin down what went wrong with “The Pride of Pittsburg.”

Jack McClelland (Middle) with his nephew Willam D. McClelland, Former Chairman of the Allegheny County Board of Commissioners (left), and Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Dempsey (right). Photo submitted by Douglas Cavanaugh. Used with permission by the Estate of Dr. William McClelland and Lisa McClelland.

“He wasn’t the nicest guy in the world, nor the meanest,” said Ciaramella. “Shirley said she had never heard him utter any disparaging remarks against races or drink alcohol in his later years. It seems he shook whatever problem he had.”

Through their processes in writing their books, Cavanaugh and Ciaramella have become good friends. Erika helped with the formatting of Douglas’s text. In exchange, he would send Vincent received a couple of pieces on McClelland that he’d find during his research.

He calls their great bond with boxing in this city akin to two kids trading baseball cards in the schoolyard.

“He loves it as much [as anyone else around here],” said Cavanaugh. “You don’t meet people like that too often who are ingrained [with history] as much as you are.”

The two authors are already making plans for their next books. Douglas says a second pictorial book is in the works.

Vincent has finished another book, “Greats in The Graveyard: A Guide to All Baseball Players and Personalities Buried in Allegheny County. It will be released in December 2020 or January 2021.


The Unconventional Path of Jerry Dickinson, Part 2

There are many reasons Jerry Dickinson, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, decided to run for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 18th district.

One was being a constitutional law professor; he feels that President Trump is looking to delegitimize democracy.

The other reason is a desire to give a better world for his two-year-old daughter, Aria.

“Fatherhood as a way of changing your outlook on the world”, said Dickerson. “It’s a huge part of what urged me to finally decide to jump into this race and try to make a change in the 18th congressional district.”

He’s campaigned across the 18th district, from Bridgeville to Monroeville and everywhere in between.

Dickinson’s focus on his campaign is getting corporate money out of politics, pledging to not take any money from big corporations, including the fossil fuel industries.

That pledge will help him accomplish his main goals of getting Medicare for all, the new green deal, and climate change.

“A pathway to universal, comprehensive health care is number one for us”, said Dickerson. “It resonates with many people in the region because of climate change and pollution.”

Dickinson has met many people around the 18th district, who were wearing respiratory masks and have asthma problems from places like the Clairton Coke Works.

“A woman I met in West Elizabeth moved there from Clairton because she couldn’t deal with it anymore”, said Dickinson. “We see these problems on the ground

Along with his campaign group of 15 to 16 volunteers, he’s knocked on the doors of over ten thousand people trying to get his name out as a candidate. Dickinson has had impromptu meetings with people all around the district about issues important to citizens.

He cites a conversation about criminal justice reform while riding on the bus in Swissvale as one of his favorite moments on the trail.

“I talked to this woman and a guy there who overheard me speaking and asked what I knew about criminal justice and ex-offenders as a candidate for Congress”, said Dickerson. “I told him about my foster brothers who’ve been affected by the criminal justice system. How I spent years [writing and visiting them].”

Dickinson grew up in the foster care system and was adopted into a multiracial family. The struggles from his brothers and sisters like “Irish”, the nickname of one of his siblings. He refers to them by nicknames to give them privacy.

“It’s the emotional impact of having grown up and lived alongside and being so intimately connected to them that has fundamentally shaped my worldview”, said Dickinson. “Many of my siblings are on opposite sides of the socio-economic spectrum, but we all viewed each other as equals.”

He believes that his experiences growing up, along with being a human rights activist in Johannesburg and working as a lawyer representing tenants in Allegheny County, makes him a person that people can believe in as congressman.

“All these experiences make going into these communities all across a congressional district easy for me”, said Dickinson. “I know what their needs are, and I’m willing to listen to them as well and talk about what it is that I can do to help them.”

He will be running against fellow democrats and the incumbent congressman in the 18th district since 1995, Mike Doyle.

Doyle has served on the committee on Energy and Commerce. He’s also on subcommittees of Energy and Power and, in January 2019, was named chairman of the subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

His chairman position in that subcommittee is the first he’s held in his 24 years as a congressman.

The 18th district is considered a safe blue district, a district in Pennsylvania almost guaranteed to be won by a democrat in general elections.

Dickinson believes that the representative in this district should have the leadership qualities that puts themselves in a leadership position the minute they get in office.

“That’s indicative of how I think most of his of the Democratic Party feel about him is that he’s a nice guy, but no one sees him as the leader of the parties”, said Dickinson. “It shouldn’t take 24 years to be a heavy hitter for the for the party.”

Dickinson won’t waste time when he’s elected. He has already planned out his first 100 days in office.

He wants to ban solitary confinement across the board and convert the money towards rehabilitation services to get people on their feet when they leave prison.

He wants to get on board with the new green deal, essentially creating a solar and wind industry in southwestern Pennsylvania. Providing federal subsidies to incentivize these green new manufacturing industries to come into western Pennsylvania compete with the fossil fuel industry.

He wants to ensure that we build and create thousands of permanent jobs in Western Pennsylvania.

“The fossil fuel industry here in western Pennsylvania does not guarantee that many permanent jobs, many of them are voluntary”, said Dickinson. “Look at the [Beaver Cracker Plant], the construction project provides 2000 temporary jobs but only 400 permanent jobs.”

Dickinson wants to take the lead on not taking corporate money and not being influenced by corporations. He also wants affordable housing and urban development in the 18th district by using a grant housing bargain.

“I want to do is do a grant housing bargain that would essentially funnel millions of dollars for inclusive and equitable development”, said Dickinson. “Through the grant housing bargain, I want to place protections against discrimination against gender identity and sexual orientation.”

Dickinson wants his campaign for congress to be about hope. He would be the first African American to be elected to congress in Western Pennsylvania.

“Yes, an African American kid from the foster care system can rise to above trials and tribulations to be a viable candidate for Congress”, said Dickinson. I hope for young people to motivate themselves to say, I can do this too. I can break glass ceilings. I can be a part of this movement.”

South Side Fight Night Brings Pittsburgh's Best Up and Comers

Lyubomyr Pinchuk trainig with Michael McSorley at the Conn Greb Boxing Gym in preparation for his fight on March 20th. Photo by Matte Bradic.

Lyubomyr Pinchuk will be looking to continue off a busy 2019.

Johnny Spell hopes to continue the fast start of his professional career.

Kelvin Smith looks to take his career to the next level.

These three fighters will be in action at Integrity Fighter Management’s South Side Fight Night at the Sokol Club on March 20.

Johnny Spell against Antonio Luciane at Printscape Arena on November 9, 2019. Photo by Tyler Polk.

"It's always fun to see fights there," said Michael McSorley, one of the promoters for the event. We have a great card, and there are still a few surprises on the card to be announced.

Lyubomyr “The Demolition Man” Pinchuk (12-1-1) captured the Pennsylvania State Cruiserweight title in his last fight to cap off a 5-0-1 2019. He may start 2020 with a test of the waters at the more lucrative Heavyweight division.

Pinchuk certainly looked ready for the battle in his sparring session. His punches with already mean intent, sounded even meaner as they hit the pads McSorley is holding. Whatever division he fights in, he'll be ready.

“I feel comfortable at Cruiserweight and maybe even more comfortable at Heavyweight where I’m much faster and quicker”, said Pinchuk.

He’s scheduled to face Tyler Vogel (3-3), in the main event of the evening.

Johnny “TTG” Spell (2-0) debuted on that same card and has won his first two fights by knockout. Both of his matches were within thirty days. He credits the start of his career to wanting to keep on learning from his trainers and other fighters at Conn-Greb Boxing Gym.

“The greats say you can never stop learning”, said Spell. “Just staying focused and pushing myself, my team has given me a lot of confidence.”

Kelvin Smith training in preparation for his fight on March 20th. Photo by Matte Bradic.

Another young fighter on the card, Kelvin “Steel City” Smith (2-2), has used the past year as a way to get back on track in the ring. A knockout victory, split decision loss, and unanimous decision win has him looking for more success this year.

“I feel like those three fights have mentally prepared me for the next one," said Smith. It gave me more confidence and made me a little bit calmer. I’m ready to get into the ring and give it all I got.”

He’ll be facing off against Rosalindo Morales (3-0), a sparring regular against other fighters trained by McSorley.

Integrity’s first card of the year will also feature the return of Amonte “The Magician” Eberhardt, he’ll face off against Latiss “No Love” Norman (4-6).

McSorley believes this fight will be the most intriguing fight on the card, Norman is 2-1 on his fight cards and says he’s a tough guy to face.

“Amonte is taking this at a slightly heavier weight than what he normally fights. It will be a good test for him coming back”, said McSorley. “We think it's gonna be a great card. The South Side is always fun so we think it'll be a packed house.”

Tickets range from $35 dollars to 100 dollars, click here for more information.

This piece for LOCALPittsburgh went unpublished due to the COVID-19 Pandemic canceling the event one week before fight night.

Pittsburgh Donnybrook Returns to Northside

After winning his final boxing match and retiring as a competitor, Michael Manna received an offer from Jim Lamb, the President of the Irish Institute of Pittsburgh contacted him about bringing back an event from his days as an amateur.

“It’s such a big thing for an amateur boxer”, said Manna. “Whether you go pro or you’re not going pro.”

The Donnybrook 2020 returns after a four-year absence on Mar. 13, to the Grand Hall at The Priory. A group of boxers from various gyms around Pittsburgh takes on a team from Ireland to show who has the best team of amateur fighters.

Manna called the return of the amateur boxing showcase a “rebuilding year” after the absence of the event. Donnybrook’s initial run, from 2014 to 2016, was the brainchild of Michael Diven, a former state representative and city councilman.

Diven brought in teams from Ireland [with help from Lamb], Cuba, and Italy to fight some of Pittsburgh’s best amateur boxing talent.

All future Donnybrooks will be run by Manna, Lamb, and Rich Donnelly. Their goal is to restore the international ties Pittsburgh amateur boxing once had.

Manna has appeared in two of these events. In the first-ever Donnybrook, he fought an opponent on short notice after one of his teammates dropped out.

Professional boxer Matt Conway fought in the first and second events and recently competed on the undercard of the highly anticipated Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury title fight.

Zach Brenner of Munhall, a boxing fan who frequents a lot of the local events around town, is excited the international showcase is back.

“Some of the great fighters from the city of Pittsburgh were of Irish descent”, said Brenner. “I’m excited to have [this event back].

Manna fought against Team Italy at the Priory in October 2017. Being of Italian descent, his favorite opportunity against international competition.

“I was the only person who could speak Italian a majority of the time, so I had to translate for [the Italian team],” said Manna. “I wanted to face the best, win, or lose. I got the chance to face a guy who is currently ranked ninth in the world in the amateur ranks.”

Michael Manna holding the American Flag at the Pittsburgh vs Italy boxing event in The Grand Hall at The Priory on October 9, 2017. Photo by Raymond F. Durkin.

Team Ireland boxers represent the Drimnaugh Boxing Club in Dublin, Ireland. The gym is coached by Michael Carruth, a former professional boxer who won the gold medal for Ireland in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Team Pittsburgh will be represented by twelve gyms throughout the Allegheny Mountain Association, the sanctioning body of amateur boxing in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.

The team that wins the most bouts will win the Ambassadors Cup. Pittsburgh won the inaugural event in 2014, Ireland won the last two in 2015 and 2016.

The fights will be broadcasted on Pittsburgh Community Television, which houses a boxing talk show “Ring Talk,” which focuses on the world of boxing and the local scene.

Claudio Reilsono, one of the announcers in PCTV’s coverage of the event, believes any event that gives young boxers stiff competition is a plus.

“Events like this could [help build internationally recognized fighters],” said Reilsono. “They get the opportunity to fight others who are serious about this and see where they are right now.”

Some people to look out for at this event are Teddy Mrkonja Jr. and Danny Bodish. Mrkonja fought in the first event in 2014, Bodish has won at all three events.

“Teddy’s out for vengeance after a bad decision in 2014,” said Manna. “I’m sure they’ll train their guy hard; the Irish don’t like to lose.”

In addition to organizing the event, Manna and Donnelly will serve as the head coaches for Team Pittsburgh. They’ll lend instruction alongside the fighter’s main coach.

“We would like to bring back the Donnybrook where it was before,” said Manna. “Hopefully, the event takes off so we can have Team Pittsburgh fighting different countries around the world.”

Get your tickets for the event here.

Boxing’s March Mayhem comes to Pittsburgh

Rich Cantolina (right center) and Derek Gionta (far right) talking to Referee Tim Shipley (far left) and Chris Willimas (left center) before his fight against Brock Willis on November 2nd, 2019 at Printscape Arena. Photo by Tyler Polk.

Since stepping into Monroeville’s Boyce Boxing Gym in November 2000, Derek Gionta has been a part of the Pittsburgh boxing scene. He started competing as a sophomore in college and later trained, managed and made matches for boxing cards since

“I wanted to learn about boxing,” said Gionta. “I followed boxing for a long time prior, and this was my chance to learn the sport from a hands-on standpoint.

Gionta will now add promoter to his boxing resume with his first event, March Mayhem, at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center in Cheswick on March 7th.

He acquired his license to promote pro fights in January. He’s helped with matchmaking amateur cards like the Golden Gloves for the past four years and pro cards for shows at the Meadows and Rivers Casinos.

Promoting shows is a different animal. Gionta is matchmaking the card, but he’s learning about the other details; ticket sales, seating charts, event staff, security, and more. He cites Mike McSorley and J.J Richardson, who promote for Integrity Fighter Management as a mentor in this process.

“They’re doing probably a consistent four shows a year, and I’ve had guys on their cards since they began,” said Gionta. “Talking to them and seeing other cards outside the area has been a big help.

The amount of pro cards in Pittsburgh is rising, every month there seems to be an event whether it’s at the casinos or by other boxing management teams. Integrity will be running a professional card in the South Side later this month.

“I’d like to add a couple shows this year, maybe even go outside the area,” said Gionta. “I’d like to run cards [when the casinos or other promotions are not holding boxing events] so [fighters] can stay active and not interfere on other shows.”

The card will be represented heavily by fighters from his team, Gionta Management, along with other fighters.

Rich Cantolina connecting on a jab to Brock Willis on November 9th, at Printscape Arena. Photo by Tyler Polk.

The main event of the card will be Rich Cantolina (6-0), who moved to the Kiski Area is excited to have a match in his new residence.

“I’ve been to the Shriners Center, but I’ve never had the pleasure of fighting there,” said Cantolina. “It’s a unique venue, and I’m super excited.”

Gionta started managing Cantolina before his third professional fight. He calls it an honor and a pleasure to be fighting on this card.

“Derek is so knowledgeable about the game. He’s been around fighting and fought himself, so he sees it from both sides,” said Cantolina. “I don’t think there’s anybody in this area, maybe the country that’s more knowledgeable about boxing.”

His opponent, Dave Tomaso (1-3), is not to be taken lightly. Cantolina calls the former NY Golden Gloves champion “rugged and tough fighter,” who had fought against ESPN top rank fighters.

“From the videos I’ve seen, you can never judge a book by its cover,” said Cantolina. “He keeps moving forward and throws a lot of punches. I’ll hopefully be able to showcase my boxing abilities, footwork, and skills.”

Kel Smith (left) and Oleg Dovhun sparring at Conn-Greb Boxing Gym in Oakland. Photo by Matte Bradic.

Also fighting on the card is Oleh Dovhun from Integrity Fighter Management (10-0) going against a former WBA World Light Flyweight Champion Jose Alfredo Rodriguez (32-10). Dovhun wants to make a statement towards challenging for a world title.

“He beat a lot of good opponents and has a lot of professional experience,” said Dovhun. “I have amateur experience. If this goes this distance, I will win, but I think I will stop him in two or three rounds.”

In addition to the two fights, other Gionta Management fighters scheduled to appear are “Lethal” Leemont Johnson (6-1), Ryizeemon Ford (3-0), Freddy Latham (9-2-2), Joel De La Paz (9-1), Deon Goodlow (1-3), and James Bryant (5-1).

“It’s exciting to see all of these guys on the same card.”, said Gionta. “They’ll feed off each other’s energy, and they are ready to put on a good show.”

Tickets range from $35 dollars for general admission to $125 for ringside seats.For tickets call 412-759-0407

Hollander Project Enriches and Empowers Community

For years, women would come up to Giselle Fetterman, the wife of then-Mayor of Braddock and now Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, telling her their ideas to start businesses.

“Our idea was to create a space that helps women who want to take their business from the living room to an office setting,” said Kristen Michaels, co-founder and co-director of ForGoodPGH. A non-profit organization for promoting diversity and inclusion.

Michaels and Fetterman started the Hollander Project in the summer of 2018. The business currently houses 11 women-owned businesses.

They named their flagship initiative after Hollander’s Pharmacy, the former tenants of the space, keeping the original design at the front of the store.

“It's been cool because people from the Hollander family have reached out to us," said Michaels. "It's a way of honoring the past and making the space useful for what the neighborhood needs now."

This space holds a range of businesses, from beauty services to notary and psychologists.

Bridget Miller runs East Side Laser Center, a for-profit business specializing in skincare. She started the Erase project about 15 years ago, a non-profit service for removing tattoos of people who want to change their lives after being involved in gangs, in jail, or made bad choices.

Two years ago, she came to Braddock to talk to Fetterman about getting the word out about the Erase Project and received an offer to take residence with the Hollander Project.

“It's very easy for my tattoo removal clients to come in and not be scared or intimidated in that building", said Miller. "That's what I strive to do. You're supposed to be accepting of people when they come to the Hollander."

They’ve held community events like book giveaways, yoga classes, cardio classes and fitness classes for kids.

Cathy Welsh and her company, Commercial Maintenance and Cleaning Service (CMCS) has been a part of the Hollander project since its inception.  Her non-profit, Helping Out Our People (HOOP), is for people and families deal with the death of people in the Woodland Hills School District to gun violence.

"Women at the Hollander help me [cope with the loss], so I could help my children," said Welsh. "Living with a major loss is the hardest."

Welsh, lost her son Jerame to gun violence a block away from her house. She started her non-profit because Jeremy liked to help the underdog.

“He comes with this kid, holding three garbage bags," said Welsh. "He told them I would wash their clothes and for the next couple of months gave the kid's mother a ride to the store on food stamp day.”

Welsh sees a lot of the same qualities in Fetterman with the Hollander. She calls it Gisele's magic.

“I don’t know if it’s because she knows what it feels like to be the underdog,” said Welsh. “I don't know like where we would be in our pain if we didn't have this place.”

One of their main goals is professional development. The Hollander Project runs entrepreneur meetups, classes for grant writing, financial literacy, and marketing workshops.

A few weeks ago, they held a special meetup with a group of women from Afghanistan who were interested in starting their own catering business. A theatre company that previously used the space set up the unique opportunity for them to meet three fellow immigrant women who run restaurants.

“It was an awesome night,” said Michaels. “It was like a perfect kind of conglomeration of our goals and their goals.”

The goal for the Hollander is to serve as many people as they can and prove that this model is replicable in other communities.

“There are communities all over that have blighted buildings and great entrepreneurs,” said Michaels. “If someone can [help those people], I think there could be potential for this kind of model to take off.”

Published in The Valley Mirror.

Three Female Police Officers Honored for Stopping Suicide Attempt

Jamie Speelman (left), Yvonne Battiste (center) and Latisha Cassidy (right) holding their courage award plaques given at the Rankin Council Meeting.

Officers Yvonne Battiste, Latisha Cassidy, and Jamie Speelman received a call looking for someone described as an adult walking up the bridge barefoot, with no coat on January 26.

“We did not even know what we were coming up on the scene,” said Cassidy. “It was a scary moment, and it was more intense because she looked younger than my youngest child.”

They found out it was a teenage girl walking on the bridge. She was preparing to jump off the Rankin Bridge into the Monongahela River.

Jamie Speelman (left), Yvonne Battiste (center) and Latisha Cassidy (right) getting interviewed by WPXI at the Rankin Council Building. Photo by Tyler Polk.

“I saw her climb the railing and knew what she was going to do,” said Battiste. “I threw the car in park and grabbed her before she jumped.”

The trio of female Rankin police officers was honored for their courage at the Rankin Council Meeting on Tuesday.

The Mayor of Rankin, Nicholas Glova, thanked them in a ceremony and gave the three officers courage award plaques, commemorating them on a job well done.

Rankin Mayor Nicholas Glova honoring the officers, by giving a speech about their deed. Photo by Tyler Polk.

“Your quick thinking and physical ability as well as risking your own safety reflects greatly on you and our police departments,” said Glova.

Since the day they saved her life, the officers are still in contact with the teenager and her family.

“We get together every day and talk to them and make sure that they are okay,” said Speelman. “We still get to be a positive impact on their lives.”

Published in The Valley Mirror.

End of An Era: Mon Valley State Representative Retires

William C. “Bill” Kortz’s decision to become a politician was made at the middle of the night in July 5, 2005. A thirty-year member of U.S. Steel as a manager and senior process leader. He cited a pay raise as an incentive as a reason, but he believed government at all levels was in a bad place.

“The answers I was getting about [why everything was so bad with government] were nonsense, so I threw my hat in the ring,” said Kortz.

On Jan 21, Kortz announced his retirement as the State Representative of the 38th District of Pennsylvania. He will serve out the rest of his term, which ends November 30.

Kortz was won the three-way race for 38th district in the 2006 Democratic Primary, beating out then incumbent Kenneth W. Ruffing and C.L. Jabbour. He won the 2006 General Election, against Daniel J. Davis.

He doesn’t have a favorite moment as state representative, but he was always happy when the job got done. He’s happy with the most recent bill signed into law. Senate Bill 147 permits additional hunting on three Sundays per calendar year.

The bill, takes effect in February 2020, covering one Sunday during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons. An additional Sunday is covered with the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s consent.

“I’m glad we were able to do that for folks who only work six days a week like I did at U.S. Steel,” said Kortz. “This is going to be a godsend for people who enjoy hunting with their children.”

Another bill that put a smile on his face, the Act 89 Transportation Bill, passed in 2013. Giving funding to fix roads, bridges and mass transit issues in PA. According to Kortz, this decreased the amount of structurally deficient bridges statewide from 6,600 to less than 3,000 at last count.

His decision to retire was focused on his health. A surgery from a torn rotator cuff, leaving him with a frozen shoulder.

“I have 50 percent movement in my shoulder”, said Kortz. “I’m going to get this fixed, I’m going out on my own terms.”

There was no opposition from the democrats, republicans, no one was going to oppose him. It shows the respect that he’s attained from the communities he serves and his constituents.

“The man is phenomenal about working with the communities”, said Chris Kelly, the mayor of West Mifflin. “I hope that whoever decides to run for his seat has the same commitments that he displayed over the last thirteen years.”

Kortz recently helped the West Mifflin Community Foundation and convert a local park into a dog park. He helped the foundation by getting U.S. Steel involved with the project. The company donated $20,000 to the nonprofit.

“He facilitated a transaction to improve the community at no cost to the taxpayers,” said Nick Pisciottano, the president of the West Mifflin Community Foundation. “It’s one of the quintessential stories of Bill’s career. He's a facilitator to make me do better.”

Piscottano is running as the successor to Kortz in the next election. He called him one of the hardest working representatives in the entire state.

“He works incredibly hard for every one of his residents in the district and will do anything for them”, said Piscottano. “I could never, ever replace Bill Kortz.”

In addition to working on his health, Kortz is looking forward to spending time with his family and his four-year-old granddaughter.

“I want to thank the people 38th district. It's been very enjoyable. I've made tremendous number of friends. Over the years we've been doing this, and I can't say enough about the talented staff I've had working with me here in the district and in Harrisburg. But the people in the district are great, hardworking people.”

Published in The Valley Mirror.

Woodland Hills Brings Mentorship to Basketball Program

Matt Furjanic (left) introducing Chuck Cooper III to the Woodland Hills Basketball Team.

When Matt Furjanic became the boys’ basketball coach for Woodland Hills High School in October, he created a mentorship program for his young team.  

“We want to bring in former players who played for me or for Woodland Hills,” said Furjanic. “Mentor them about the value of education, being on a team and making the right decisions.” 

Furjanic brought in Chuck Cooper III last Thursday, to talk about the legacy of his father, the first African American drafted in the NBA. 

The two have a history together. Cooper met Furjanic when the coach was recruiting him to Robert Morris University. 

Members of the Woodland Hills Basketball Team listening to Chuck Cooper III's presentation. Photo by Tyler Polk.

“I did not play for him, but I remember being excited when I got a letter from coach,” said Cooper III. “He cares about those young men, to run a program like that goes beyond basketball.” 

This mentorship program goes back to Furjanic’s days at Rankin High School from 1964 to 1968. His head coach, Paul Birch, Duquesne University’s first All-American, would bring in Brue Jackson, the first black athletic trainer for a major college and former Dukes coach Chick Davies to talk to the team. 

“They would mentor us about the history of the game and Pittsburgh’s history, too,” said Furjanic. “Brue would tell us stories about Chuck Cooper being from Pittsburgh and how he’s the Jackie Robinson of basketball.” 

Deontae Williams, member of the Woodland Hills Basketball Team, wearing a Celtics hat and holding Chuck Cooper's Basketball Hall of Fame Trophy. Photo by Tyler Polk

In addition to talking about basketball, they would talk about the times they were in. For Furjanic and his high school team, there were worries about the Vietnam War and the anti-war protests. He understands the youth have tough decisions of their own. 

He believed that Cooper III’s foundation, with its focus on mentoring kids with the Beacons of Light outreach program, would be perfect for the team’s mentorship. He got in touch with Cooper in December to schedule this meeting. 

“The path to success in life is all about exposure,” said Cooper III. “If you,” to people who are successful, it is hard to understand that you can be successful as well.” 

He talked to the players for an hour, showing a video on his father’s impact on the game, talk about his life after basketball, the Chuck Cooper Foundation and the impact it has made today. 

“did not here because of you because I care about you guys,” said Cooper III, during the presentation. “I want to share our story, so hopefully it motivates you and gives you something to shoot for.” 

Members of the Woodland Hills Basketball Team, Coaching Staff and Chuck Cooper III in a group photo. Photo by Tyler Polk.

After the presentation, the team got a chance to try on some of the merchandise from the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. Cooper’s Hall of Fame jacket and trophy were on display along with gear from the Boston Celtics, the team that drafted him. 

“It was a really good, really nice experience about how things were back in the day and how his father paved the way basketball,” said Raeshon Robertson, a senior and co-captain on the Woodland Hills basketball team.  

The team was intrigued about how much the team respected him at Duquesne when they wanted Cooper to play against the University of Tennessee despite their coach not wanting him on the floor. 

Furjanic’s has brought in three mentors in addition to Cooper III this season. The next person he wants to bring in is Billy Knight, a Braddock native who played college ball at Pitt, in the NBA and ABA all-star games and former general manager of the Atlanta Hawks. 

“These talks help me as a basketball player, just be hungrier, work ten times harder than the next person,” said Jihaad Denard, a fellow senior and co-captain. “It just makes me more humble.” 

Published in The Valley Mirror.

Cyber Consistory Wants to Help Bring Ethical Hacking Out of The Shadows

Monica Michael (left) and Ival Martin (right) Looking at one of the computers at Cyber Consistory. Photo by Tyler Polk.

About six years ago, Ival Martin, the President of Aerial Energy Resources, knew he was getting hacked, but there was nothing he could do about it. The hacker beat the anti-virus software he set up.

“The screen would flash and [blackout],” said Martin. “I reinstalled the operating system, and a different antivirus software detected a Trojan horse and then said everything’s fine.”

He learned how to fight back by learning from a group about ethical hacking. Now he helps other people learn ethical hacking with his new venture, Cyber Consistory, located in the Strip District.

Ival Martin looking at the computer screen displaying information. Photo by Tyler Polk.

“I’ve been training ever since it’s a continuous process,” said Martin. “Since then, my company has not been hacked.”

Cyber Consistory wants to be a place for meeting, training, and educating ethical hackers. The name consistory comes from the term for a training school for knights in medieval times.

People can learn the basic and advanced tools of hacking and use it to work with other ethical hackers or freelance.

It is open to the public but does have memberships for some of their projects, and you don’t have to be a computer person to help.

Ethical hacking does require some people to be good at math or coding; people like journalists who can record and communicate information to the companies who request their help.

Monica Michael looking at old data from the systems. Photo by Tyler Polk.

“You don’t have to know anything about software,” said Martin. “Knowing how to deal with people and writing reports is a skill, they would fit into the team.”

If someone wanted to come into Cyber Consistory to hang out and use the computer on non-open house days, it’s $15. For fellow ethical hackers looking into joining, a monthly pass is $100. With the opportunities it provides, it almost pays itself.

“If you’re active in the group, active in the membership, then you know,” said Martin. “You give a class to the public like 40 minutes or 30 minutes or something like that on Python, for example, it’s a scripting language, or Wi-Fi security, anything, it could be really basic.”

The consistory was formerly Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh, a greenhouse before becoming the Consistory. Monica Michael, the owner of the venture, was convinced to revamp the space for cybersecurity purposes in August 2018. She calls him “the face of this business.”

“I’ve known him personally and professionally for four years,” said Martin. “He’s put blood, sweat, and tears into this. I know he’ll draw in some fascinating people who can do exciting things.”

Ival Martin holding a small operating system. All it needs is an Ethernet cord to access the internet. Photo by Tyler Polk.

Cyber Consistory is not your typical hackers’ domain. When you walk in, you are greeted in an open area designed for meetings for other businesses. The venture’s calling card is upstairs, a workspace with numerous computers displaying information and a library on hacking techniques and protocol.

Martin and people who are members even created operating systems that are smaller than external hard drives but are so powerful that they can operate like a new Mac or PC with only a USB wire and an Ethernet port.

“This server I’m holding can take an hour if you have an advanced skill level,” said Martin. “Which means it takes me a few days. I don’t claim to have massive skill; we have access to unique tools.”

Another exciting activity at Cyber Consistory is War Games, a hacking tournament that can be played solo or have 15 players playing. If enough equipment is stacked onto the system, 150 players could play this hacking tournament.

The game can be watched live like an eSport. You could see the attacks come across, the traffic coming across, and things like this in a graphical way.

“You don’t need anybody defending or attacking. So just one person could log in and run the attacks against the machines”, said Martin. “Eventually, we want to post some of those on YouTube and get more of a social media involved with that.”

Ival and Monica’s long term goal with Cyber Consistory is to get people to understand the demand for protecting your information and how hacking could affect you.

“People always think that hacking doesn’t affect them,” said Michael. “People make a livelihood off of hacking things like Instagram accounts, and they get hacked constantly.”

A Pittsburgh Boxer Fights to the End to Inspire

Since making his professional debut on August 18th, 2018, Michael “The Pittsburgh Bull” Manna, 36, of the Northside has donated his earnings from his five career professional fights.

“I will fight there any trials and tribulations that come my way,” said Manna. “That’s why I fight the way I fight and always pull through for everyone who finds strength and what I do.”

On the same date in 2019, he announced that his next fight at the Printscape Arena in Canonsburg on November 2nd would be his last.

The 365 days from his first fight to announcing his last fight began just under another 368 days before that. A run through North Park on August 15th, 2017, is where he made a covenant with God to donate his earnings from each fight to a charity.

The statistics of the run is still on his phone, reminding him of why he must continue to keep going.

Michael Manna squaring up with Randy Wachacha at Carnegie Library of Homestead on July 13th, 2019. Photo by Ty Polk.

“I think about it all the time,” said Manna. “When I’m dying and struggling and looking for air, I would say hey God; you remember how you came through and give me some air for that [run]? Can you give me some more to get through this run?”

A charity and cause he has frequented through his run is Children’s Hospital with a focus on cancer patients. His last fight in March, he gave his proceeds to Marty McElroy, a man diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor this past January.

Manna met McElroy through his job in insurance with Aflac. McElroy didn’t end up using his services, but he did what he could when he heard the news.

Through the money from his most recent fight, t-shirt sales, and his donations, he was one of the many people who supported McElroy’s GoFundMe that raised $12,661.

Michael Manna training for his final fight against Ryan Covert. Photo by Ty Polk.

McElroy passed away in April due to complications from surgery.

One of the moments that meant the most to him this year as a professional fighter was holding an open training session in the Strip District. In June, Manna, his manager Michael McSorley and two fellow fighters Oleg Dovhun and Lyubomyr Pinchuk held a training session outside of La Prima Espresso.

“People were handing cash to me in my hand with the faith and trust to me that it’s going to charity,” said Manna. “It’s more significant to me than anybody can imagine, because of my past and history. It’s truly humbling.”

Manna won his first three professional fights by knockout. His first victory on that August night was an instant classic, every shot that he landed reverberated the Priory Grand Hall, a place he fought numerous times as an amateur.

The aftermath of a stinging Michael Manna punch to Marcus Williamson on August 18th, 2018 at Priory Grand Hall. Photo by Ty Polk.

“That was probably the highlight of his career,” said McSorley, who has been his cutman for all five of his professional fights. “First professional fight in your hometown, I thought it was nice for him.”

McSorley has known Manna for eight years, back to his days as an amateur. When Manna approached him about beginning his pro career at the age of 35, he knew that his career would be brief.

“Time waits for nobody in boxing,” said McSorley. “But he stays busy, he’s been on all of our cards and fought in West Virginia as well.”

His last two fights have not gone so well, losing both matches by knockout. For his final bout, he wanted to re-acquire the grittiness from his days as an amateur. He usually trains at Jack’s Boxing Gym in the North Hills, but Manna and his son Mateo train at Third Avenue Gym Downtown for now.

Michael Manna (right) measuring up Davmond Carter (left) at Priory Grand Hall on March 2nd, 2019. Photo by Ty Polk.

“Not to be cliché, but if you look at Rocky 3, you’ll see what I mean,” said Manna. “I need to be around dirt and grit like where I came up and the pain that I went through sparring as an amateur.”

In his final fight, he will battle Butler, PA’s Ryan Covert (2-2) for the Steel City Heavyweight Championship. The belt was initially for the Cruiserweight Division; a division considered a more natural fit for him. Both men had opponents drop themselves from the card.

“I thought that the fight having a little bling would get people talking,” said McSorley. “It would give the fighters something to talk about for years to come with their families.”

The two fighters agreed to battle in what is the final fights of their careers. Both have similar starts in boxing, Covert, 41, began his career on his 30th birthday in 2008.

“I know there are better heavyweights in Pittsburgh than me,” said Covert. “It’s surreal, and I’m the son of a steelworker, so it’s a dream come true.”

He will be donating his earnings to Dan Smith’s Fear the Beard Spaghetti Dinner. Smith, a farmer, donated one of his prize pigs to Covert and was diagnosed with Leukemia a few weeks after giving him the pig.

“The fact that he donated me the pig, felt like a good idea to help out,” said Covert. “I don’t need the money; I want the Steel City Heavyweight Championship.”

Manna still wants to be a part of boxing after this fight. He plans on opening a boxing gym on the Northside with George “Geo” Heinlein, his trainer. He also wants to help coach, manage, and promote fighters.

“I want to show them how to get this money you’re making here, help make money for the rest of their lives,” said Manna. “Teach them how to invest their money, so they don’t have to fight for the rest of their lives.”

When the winner is announced, and his professional career is officially over, Manna wants people to remember you don’t always have to do things for yourself.

“You can do something bigger with the stage you’re with,” said Manna. “Anyone can do something bigger with the stage you’re given.”

a.m. Rodriguez Associates Helps with Affordable Housing and Seniors in Pittsburgh

Headshor of Victor Rodriguez. Submitted by Victor Rodriguez.

Victor Rodriguez, the President of a.m. Rodriguez Associates (AMR) believes that community development is the most important part of his company’s goals to provide housing.

“Meeting with the citizens is a priceless experience because they can help you with the whole process of development,” said Rodriguez.

AMR was founded in the 1970s by his father Anthony, an architect who has made buildings in Ohio and Pittsburgh. Victor joined his company in 2004 and took over as president in 2012.

Render of Homestead One. Photo from Victor Rodriguez.

“He’s still involved with the company but has taken a step back”, said Rodriguez. He’s heavy on design and taught me what we build for these communities are going to last a lifetime.”

AMR creates affordable housing and senior housing with sustainable techniques. All senior housing properties have their utilities paid and use cleaning products that are friendly to their immune systems.

Rodriguez says his architect Lauren Nettleton and contracting partners in SOTA Construction and pushes the envelope in green construction techniques.

“They are the greenest in Pittsburgh”, said Rodriguez. “They bring in new technologies that are affordable, keeping rents low.”

AMR creates event spaces, renovating a high school gymnasium in Mount Washington and the Joe Negri Auditorium on the grounds of Prospect High School.

They also created commercial property and affordable housing in Homestead. Homestead One on 8th Avenue, has three tenants.

“We want them to thrive in Homestead,” said Rodriguez. “The rent is low, and we give them a break on rent to start.”

While building Homestead One, Victor and his brother David established Enix Brewery. The brewery serves Spanish inspired food and has a beer garden, a music stage, with a bowling alley on the second floor.

“I wanted to start one in the 90s, but It didn’t work out,” said Rodriguez. “People expect a selection now.”

Render of Morningside Crossing. Photo from Victor Rodriguez.

AMR recognizes the demand for senior housing and always look to create innovative properties. Their newest property, Morningside Crossing plans to continue their trend.

It won the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Association award for innovation and design. Rodriguez says the award is hard to get and must show special innovative construction.

“It’s one of our most ambitious projects,” said Rodriguez. “Using our ‘Passive House’ construction technique and the focus on energy usage and air quality.”

It’s a super-insulated housing strategy that needs a little heat or air conditioning to get going. Once it reaches a preferred temperature, it stays there. Morningside Crossing also has SPECK air quality monitors that tell the seniors if it’s okay to keep their windows closed or opened.

“When the building is sealed really well, you can filter the air coming in,” said Rodriguez. “We can demonstrate that seniors are healthier when they live in the building.”

AMR’s next development is in Penn Hills. It will be a net-zero project, the first affordable housing that generates all energy in a year on-site.

“Pittsburgh is very community-oriented and neighborhood-oriented,” said Rodriguez. “We want to make it be something we all can be proud of.”

Published in LOCALpittsburgh Issue #19.

Pittsburgh Boxer Sherrell Looks Ahead to Future

Gerald Sherrell at the 3rd Avenue Boxing Gym in Downtown. Photo by Ty Polk.

Gerald “G-5” Sherrell’s journey in boxing began at the age of 10, sparring against a kid seven years older than he was because they weighed the same, ninety-five pounds. He had been around boxing gyms since he was seven, but this was his first-ever sparring session.

“I knew I had to put in the extra effort to be the best,” said Sherrell. “In boxing, nothing is given to you. I will always continue to work as hard as I can.”

The now 26-year-old middleweight is 10-1 in his professional career and going for his eleventh victory against Utah’s Clay Collard (2-1-3), September 21st at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington, PA.

Sherrell throws a shot at Shakeem Hodge during a fight at the Carnegie Music Hall in Homestead on November 4th, 2017. Photo by Ty Polk

If you see him train at the Third Avenue Boxing Gym, you’d think he was the underdog. Every training session he works until he’s a puddle of sweat.

“There’s a puddle of water everywhere I work,” joked Sherrell. “I probably slip at least once a day.”

The hard work in the gym follows to the ring. Five of his ten victories have come by knockout.

“I tell him all the time you have that superstar mentality, with the boy next door attitude,” said Caitlin McKelvey, an adviser to Sherrell. “He is as sweet as can be, but he has that light switch that he will turn on and just be a dog in the ring.”

Gerald Sherrell training with his coach, Darren Dolby. Photo by Ty Polk.

This will be Sherrell’s first fight since November 2018. He faced fellow Pittsburgh native Morgan Fitch in the undercard for “The Contender” a boxing reality show.

He got the chance to learn from boxing legends and personalities like Freddie Roach, “Brother” Nazim Richardson and Andre Ward.

“It was a blessing. It moved me up the rankings, said Sherrell. “There were a lot of experienced guys there, and I didn’t let that deter my focus.”

Among the sixteen competitors, he had the least number of professional fights with eight. He became a fan favorite for his skill and determination.

“He always had to fight his way up, against experienced guys,” said Darren Dolby, his boxing coach. “He always proved himself in time.”

Dolby had five professional fights himself and was the person who set up Gerald’s first sparring session. He remembers when Sherrell’s sparring opponent hit him with a body shot, and he was impressed by his determination.

Gerald Sherrell helping train a young amateur fighter. Photo by Ty Polk.

“He wasn’t being still on the ground, he kept trying to get up [despite telling him to relax and take his time],” said Dolby. “I talked to his father about getting him to box and guaranteeing him the Olympics and other places because of his determination.”

Dolby knows what it’s like to be fighting above your experience level. As a kid, he would put on boxing gloves and spar against his older brother after Muhammad Ali fights. They’ve been mistaken for being father and son many times.

“He’s my boxing son, could never take it away from his father,” said Dolby. “[Gerald]’s growing up and taking care of his family too.

The ten-month wait is the longest of his career. He’s anxious to get back in the ring, and the wait for him is “like a bull behind a cage.”

“I’m ready to get in there ready to get dirty,” said Sherrell. “I’m ready to put on a show, man.”

It’s a new chapter for Sherrell since The Contender; he’s focusing on taking the next step in his career. He’s looking for more televised fights and opportunities to win championships.

“I want to make Westgate proud,” said Sherrell. “I want to make my family proud, and bring a championship back to Pittsburgh.”

Pro Wrestling Legend to Make Appearance at Brawl Under the Bridge V

In front of KDKA photographer Dave Collabaine (Right) James J. Dillon (Left) holds up six fingers, signifying Shawn Blanchard's (Center) KSWA Heavyweight Title reigns. Photo by Howard Kernats.

On Saturday, July 20th, the Keystone State Wrestling Association (KSWA) will host their fifth Brawl Under the Bridge event underneath the Homestead Grays Bridge. First Bell is at 7 PM and features exciting matches like a six-man ladder match for the Brawl Under the Bridge title.

One match will feature a wrestling legend, James J. “J.J.” Dillon in the corner of Shawn Blanchard in his singles match against Justin Sane.

Dillon’s start in professional wrestling was as a referee, and he credits Pittsburgh for the start of his in-ring career, where he wrestled in 3,200 matches. He’s known for being the manager of the legendary Four Horsemen wrestling stable featuring fellow pro wrestling legends Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard.

Local Pittsburgh’s Ty Polk had an opportunity to interview J.J. Dillon.

This interview was edited for content and clarity.

Poster for Brawl Under The Bridge V. Designed by Frank Cunniff.

You started in Professional Wrestling as a referee in your home state of New Jersey. How did that opportunity come?

While I was in Reading, PA for college, they would have a live studio wrestling show to raise money every Wednesday night for one hour in the NBC Studios on Walnut Street. Then they help produce the one big show once a month that they had either at the Philly Arena or Convention Hall. One week they had a blizzard that hit on that night. Because we needed to set the ring up, we had gone down to Reading early. The storm got worse, and some of the wrestlers couldn’t make it in. But there were enough guys to be able to put together a card for an hour. They all looked at me said: “You’ve been around forever. You think you would know what to do?” I said yes, and they got me in touch with some people, and they ended up getting me on the Athletic Commission in Pennsylvania and then later in New Jersey, and that was the beginning of my career. I was the third man in the ring and Philadelphia and Boston and some of the other major arenas for some of Bruno Sanmartino’s classic title bouts with Killer Kowalski, George “The Animal” Steele, and Gorilla Monsoon. My ultimate goal, of course, was to be a professional wrestler.

You began your career wrestling in Charlotte and for “The Original Sheik” Ed Farhat in Michigan and Ohio. Why do you credit Pittsburgh as the start of your journey in Wrestling?

I was doing a TV in Dayton, Ohio, and somebody and I was supposed to grow up and do the sheets TV on that Sunday. And Jim Grabmire was there, and he said we’re going to Pittsburgh because they bring guys in for a live studio TV wrestling show that would air that it was shot there, and they were always short somebody. He said if you want to join, you’re welcome to jump in with this and go and I can almost guarantee work. So, I drove with him to Pittsburgh, and when I got there, I had the first single match of my career on Channel 11 against Killer Kowalski. At the time, I thought this probably was the closest I would ever come to dying in the ring. He would give you no rest, and he would stay on you and stay on it. When I thought I had the time to take a deep breath, get some oxygen back in my lungs. He’d slap it right out again. But how many people can say their first singles match is against Killer Kowalski? I’m very proud of that.

Your final match was in 2009 with KSWA. It was a six-man tag team match that included another wrestling legend, Dominic DeNucci. Why did you decide to do one more match in the ring?

I didn’t want to put the tights on and go back in the ring. You know, some guys in the wrestling business go on years and years. It’s like age is not as big a factor as it might be in some other things. So I was approached about coming back and having a be my final match. And I was very receptive to the idea of going back to where it all started. With Dominic across the ring which I have known Dominic, you know going way back to the early days with Bruno made that special. I wasn’t in the shape that I was much earlier in my career. So, in a six-man match, I can do some things and not embarrass myself, which was the last thing I wanted to do. It was a perfect way for me to end my career as an active wrestler.

Referee David Fedor holds up Shawn Blanchard’s hand in victory over Shane Starr
as J.J. Dillon congratulates him. Photo by “Trapper” Tom Leturgey.

In many of your appearances for KSWA, you managed one of their biggest stars, Shawn Blanchard. You’ve been in his corner for a KSWA Heavyweight title victory and his match for the NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship. You will be his manager again for Brawl Under the Bridge V in his match against Justin Sane. What’s your relationship with him and others who work in KSWA?

Shawn is somebody who throughout the years, has shown me tremendous respect. Every time I come back there, it’s always set up to be a special occasion. I get treated extremely well. It’s good to go back to where you started. I still wonder when’s the time I come back, and they won’t remember me. Every time I do come back, some people come back and tell me their story and meeting me for the first time. I enjoy coming back.

You make appearances at other independent wrestling organizations. Why do you keep on coming back to KSWA events?

Anytime I get a call where they have an event for me to come in, I’m excited to be coming in. It’s a good feeling to go back. And people come up to you with a smile on their face and then meeting you for the first time. They always want to share the dream of their first interaction in terms of where they saw you, even if they didn’t personally meet you. And now they’re meeting you for the first time, and their eyes light up. And it’s a very humbling thing. And it’s a beautiful thing to know that after all these years, the business and I worked so hard for all my life that I loved and respected, still embraces me. That’s the beautiful thing about professional wrestling. It’s timeless. It will always be there because the excitement of professional wrestling just gets passed down from generation to generation.