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Bad, but it could have been worse.
The status of Hickory High quarterback Michael Nardone still is not completely clear, but Hornets’ head coach Bill Brest was “cautiously optimistic” since Saturday’s scrimmage.
Nardone, who directed Hickory to 11 wins and the 2011 District 10 Class AA title, was injured in the Hornets’ preseason scrimmage against West Middlesex when he was sandwiched by a pair of Big Reds’ defenders. The senior southpaw signal-caller suffered a lower-leg injury.
Initially it appeared Nardone’s injury may have occurred to his left knee, but Brest said it is the left ankle.
Preparing for practice Monday afternoon, Brest, reached via cellphone said, “I don’t know anything yet; he had another (doctor’s) appointment (Monday) night. But we’re cautiously optimistic and feel fortunate about the outcome.”
Until more is learned about the extent of Nardone’s injury, Brest and quarterbacks coach Jeff Valentino are grooming 6-foot1-, 180-pund junior Matthew Voytik.
Last season Nardone notched 1,269 yards passing and 12 touchdown tosses as well as 206 yards rushing and another 4 scores for Hickory.
The Hornets, who lost to Tyrone in their PIAA playoff opener, are ranked 6th in Pennsylvania Football News’ preseason poll.
GIRLS TENNIS
ä Brookfield 4, United 1 — At Harding Park, Hubbard Twp., the host Lady Warriors (1-10 won a trio of straight-sets singles matches, including Ashley and Autumn Kirila and Ana Zarlinski. The doubles duo of Leah Bayer and Sharlene Shebeck also swept to victory.
For United (0-3), a defaulted 2nd doubles match was the lone win.
Singles: Ashley Kirila (B) def. Ashley McLaughlin, 1-0 (ret., injury); Autumn Kirila (B) def. Savannah Morris, 6-0, 6-0; Zarlinski (B) def. Danae Menough, 6-0, 6-0; Doubles: Bayer-Shebeck (B) def. Kaeleigh Louk-Brittny Miller, 6-1, 6-1; Aynnalise Moore-Taylor Gray (U) by default.
ä Hickory 5, Sharon 0 — At Hermitage, the host Lady Hornets had a handful of straight-sets wins in the season-opener, including Marissa Works, Allie Newmeyer and Lauren McGonigle at singles, and the tandems of Sharon and Rachel Mettee and Lauren Kizak-Ali McIntyre.
Singles: Works (H) def. Emma George, 6-1, 6-0; Newmeyer (H) def. Rebecca Rueberger, 6-4, 6-1; McGonigle (H) def. Kaitlyn Jones, 7-5, 6-2. Doubles: Mettee-Mettee (H) def. Abrianna DelliBovi, 6-2, 6-4; Kizak-McIntyre (H) def. Alex Hughey-Vanita Hall, 6-2, 6-1.
BOYS GOLF
Region 2 Mega-Match
Hickory’s Nick Vuich and West Middlesex’s Matt Dogan both carded 78s on Monday to share medalist honors at the 1st Region 2 Mega-Match of the season at Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in Hermitage.
Hickory shot a team score of 330 to earn 5 points in the standings. The Hornets were followed by WM (335), Sharon (375), Sharpsville (400) and Wilmington (429).
Hickory: Vuich 78, Isaac Black 83, Billy Colbert 84, Ross Rosati 85.
West Middlesex: Dogan 78, Nate Anthony 81, Brady Byers 86, Chaz Burger 90.
Sharon: Pat Artac 83, Carl Carpenter 96, Chris Franek, Louis Wareham 98s.
Sharpsville: Johnny Wolfe 96, Jalen Mockabee 99, Eric Sloan 102, Nate Hawthorne 103.
Wilmington: Colin Duffy 104, Shane McQuiston 105, Josh Bonnici 109, Ethan Seeber 111.
Region 3 Mega-Match
Coach Pat Forese’s Grove City golf team edged Slippery Rock to capture the R3-MM at Grove City Country Club. SR’s Brett Rinker shot a 73 to earn medalist honors.
GC and SR both shot 330 team scores. They were followed by Meadville (335), Warren (351) and Oil City (415).
GC: Ed Hetrick 76, Ben Lucas 81, Dylan Osborne 86, Matt Gordon 87.
SR: Rinker 73, Bob Paczkowski 82, Sam Isaaco 87, Matt Badger 88.
Meadville: Mike Bogardus 83, Charlie Holt, Zack Ford, Will Malady 84s.
Warren: Nathan Sandberg 79, Andrew Gignac 89, Darin Francisco 91, Carter Cerra 92.
Oil City: Troy McGregor 86, Andrew Pikna 105, Jeremy Watson, Nick Rea 112s.
ä Lakeview 183, Jamestown 198 — At Pine Grove Golf Course in Grove City, Sam Magargee, Keith Kepner and Casey Greggs all shot 47s as the Sailors rolled past the Muskies.
Jake Reaugh carded a 44 for Jamestown.
Lakeview: Magargee, Kepner, Greggs 47s, Richard Kite 52.
Jamestown: Ja. Reaugh 44, Keamus Schuhlen 49, Ronnie Meals 50, Jonas Reaugh 55.
GIRLS GOLF
Region 1 Mega-Match
Hickory rolled to victory at Lucky Hills Golf Course in Franklin. Hickory shot a 173 while Reynolds had a 223. Rocky Grove only had 2 players and Meadville is now in Region 2.
Hickory’s Rosy Hearns fired a 38 to earn medalist honors. Playing as independents from Grove City were Fontaine McFeaters (47) and Meg Birmingham (52).
Hickory: R. Hearns 38, Brianna Colbert, Alena Lancia 44s, Abigail Hearns 47.
Reynolds: Mane Clark 51, Izzy Schell 52, Taylor Yahner 52, Becca John 68.
