logo
Zachary Kovaleski, Holy Cross High School

Zachary Kovaleski, Holy Cross High School

Yahoo18-05-2025
Over the next few weeks, The Times-Tribune is honored to present the profiles of each member of the Scholastic Superstars Class of 2025. These outstanding students were nominated by their schools and chosen by a panel of local officials.
*
Zachary Kovaleski (Zachary Kovaleski)
*
Zachary Kovaleski, Holy Cross High School(Zachary Kovaleski)
Show Caption
1 of 2
Zachary Kovaleski (Zachary Kovaleski)
Expand
Zachary Kovaleski, Holy Cross High School
Q: What accomplishments are you most proud of and why?
A: I am most proud of being able to maintain my grades and balance my time between school, extracurriculars, work, service projects, and my hobbies.
Q: What were your most rewarding school or community activities?
A: At school, the student council has allowed me to help students find enjoyment in school, and in the community, assisting in my parish has demonstrated the impact of bringing people together for good.
Q: What is something you do to relax?
A: In my spare time, I like to write short stories, spend time with friends, take long drives, golf, and listen to music to relax.
Q: Plans after high school graduation?
A: College, major in civil engineering to ultimately become a practicing engineer and entrepreneur.
Q: Who do you most admire and why?
A: I admire my father, Jeff Kovaleski, more than anyone, for how he has been able to balance being a principal, borough council president, and committee head while also spending time taking care of his family and putting his moral values first.
Q: What advice do you have for younger students?
A: Always keep working, never give up, and be there for each other, because you never know what someone is going through or how much reaching out to them can mean. Show others that you appreciate them.
A little about Zachary Kovaleski
Hometown: Dickson City
Parents: Brenda and Jeffrey Kovaleski
Some of his honors: Valedictorian, National Honor Society, honorable mention Cum Laude on the National Spanish Exam, Voice of Democracy Audio Essay district winner.
Some of his activities: History club, chess club, Mock Trial, student council.
Some of his athletics: Baseball, golf.
Some of his community service: Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership program, Leadership Northeast's Tomorrow's Leaders Today program, Little League volunteer, church volunteer.
What his nominator said: 'He is a joy to know and an outstanding member of his own local community.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Report: Everton identify wonderkid wide option as summer rebuild continues
Report: Everton identify wonderkid wide option as summer rebuild continues

Yahoo

time20 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Report: Everton identify wonderkid wide option as summer rebuild continues

Everton Eye Southampton's Dibling Amid Ongoing Recruitment Drive Focus on Youth Drives Everton's Transfer Strategy Everton's interest in Southampton winger Tyler Dibling, as reported by The Times' Paul Joyce, reflects a clear strategic shift under David Moyes — one aimed at youthful potential and long-term growth. The 19-year-old, who scored four goals in 43 appearances last season, has become a target as the Blues attempt to replenish their wide options following several high-profile departures. Dibling's technical ability and composure on the ball were rare bright spots during a tough season for Southampton, and Will Still, the Saints boss, is keen to keep him. 'His flashes of skill provided a shaft of positivity at Southampton,' Joyce notes, highlighting why Everton's recruitment team have been keeping tabs on the teenager. Transfer Frustrations Mount Despite £45m Outlay Everton's summer business has not been without setbacks. Having missed out on prime targets like Francisco Conceição — who joined Juventus in a £26.5 million deal — and Johan Bakayoko, now of RB Leipzig, frustrations in the transfer market are understandable. Takefusa Kubo was another name that fizzled out due to Real Sociedad's high asking price. These failed pursuits reinforce the strategy Joyce outlines: 'Recruiting players on an upward trajectory as opposed to spending £50 million on a single talent.' Photo IMAGO To date, Moyes has invested approximately £45 million, including £27 million for Villarreal striker Thierno Barry, and permanent moves for Charly Alcaraz and Mark Travers. Yet the squad remains light — a consequence of exits like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucouré and Ashley Young. Dibling Among Youth Prospects Everton Are Targeting With the window open until 1st September, Dibling joins a list of names Everton are pursuing to bolster depth and future-proof the squad. Other reported targets include Bayern Munich left back Adam Aznou, 19. It's clear that Moyes is building a team for both now and later. The urgency is also evident in the makeup of the club's current tour squad in the USA. With Jarrad Branthwaite recovering from a minor injury and Tyler Onyango only present due to thin numbers before heading to Stockport on loan, the need for reinforcements is glaring. Recruitment Likely to Run Until Deadline Day Everton's recruitment push looks set to go down to the wire. The lack of senior cover and the reliance on youth players during pre-season underlines the pressure Moyes faces. With Dibling high on the radar, his development and affordability may yet make him the right fit in a summer where calculated spending takes precedence. Our View – EPL Index Analysis From an Everton fan's perspective, Tyler Dibling's link to the club offers a welcome signal that the recruitment team are serious about long-term planning — but there's also a natural hesitation. While the teenager's flashes of ability were noted during Southampton's Championship campaign, four goals in 43 games isn't exactly prolific. There's clear promise, but fans will rightly ask: is he Premier League-ready? Given Everton's wide issues last season — with a lack of consistent creativity and pace on the flanks — Dibling might represent potential more than instant impact. But this reflects Moyes's new blueprint. The likes of Conceição and Bakayoko were obvious upgrades but came at a price Everton currently can't match. Dibling fits the profile: young, available, and mouldable. There's also a broader concern among the fanbase: for all the talk of youth and upward trajectories, the squad still looks paper-thin. Losing figures like Doucouré and Calvert-Lewin leaves massive gaps, and while Barry and Alcaraz are intriguing additions, fans are cautious about whether enough Premier League experience is being retained. The hope is that Moyes and the recruitment staff have done their homework — and that Dibling, if signed, becomes more than just a depth option. There's excitement, but it comes with caveats. If this is the direction of travel, patience will be key — but so will be results, especially early in the season.

A Little Leaguer Was Suspended for a Bat Flip. So He Went to Court.
A Little Leaguer Was Suspended for a Bat Flip. So He Went to Court.

New York Times

time3 days ago

  • New York Times

A Little Leaguer Was Suspended for a Bat Flip. So He Went to Court.

For a moment, it was pure joy for Marco Rocco of Haddonfield, N.J. Marco, 12, hit a majestic home run in a Little League tournament game against a team from Harrison, in the southern part of the state, on July 16. When the ball sailed over the fence, Marco did what many players in Major League Baseball do in similar moments, and what some players in the Little League World Series have done, too. On his way to first base, he flipped his bat into the air to celebrate and continued his home run trot. The blast put his team up 8-0 and a step closer to the Little League World Series. But throwing bats around small Little League fields is generally frowned upon by the leagues. Marco was ejected from the game, and, by rule, all ejections carry a one-game suspension for the next game, too. That meant Marco would be barred from playing in a showdown against Elmora Township scheduled for Thursday night, with a chance to win the New Jersey state Little League crown. 'He was completely confused and distraught,' his father, Joe Rocco, said. So Mr. Rocco, who is a lawyer, asked a New Jersey court for a temporary restraining order, claiming that the international Little League organization, which runs the Little League World Series, was acting hypocritically because it actually promotes bat flips. The judge, Robert G. Malestein in Gloucester County, N.J., agreed, and ruled on Thursday that Marco could play, writing in his decision, just hours before first pitch, that 'Little League is enjoined from enforcing its suspension.' 'He said he wasn't going to prevent a kid from playing because he did something that they promote all over their own social media,' Mr. Rocco said after the hearing. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Chicago baseball report: Final City Series of 2025 between the Cubs and White Sox begins Friday at Rate Field
Chicago baseball report: Final City Series of 2025 between the Cubs and White Sox begins Friday at Rate Field

Chicago Tribune

time4 days ago

  • Chicago Tribune

Chicago baseball report: Final City Series of 2025 between the Cubs and White Sox begins Friday at Rate Field

The City Series returns with Part 2 beginning Friday at Rate Field. The Cubs swept the three-game series May 16-18 at Wrigley Field, outscoring the Sox 26-8. This round arrives as the July 31 trade deadline nears. The Cubs are in a position to buy while the Sox will be looking to sell. Every Thursday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what's ahead — for the Cubs and White much as a player goes through the mental pre-pitch preparation on defense, there are moments when instincts take over. Or, as Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson put it, backyard baseball kicks in. Swanson made a nifty double play in Tuesday's win against the Kansas City Royals to help starter Matthew Boyd escape a tough spot. In the fifth inning with one out and the bases loaded as the Cubs led 2-0, Kyle Isbel lined a ball up the middle that Swanson snagged, then made a diving tag on the runner at second base, Freddy Fermin. Initially called safe, the inning ended when the replay review overturned the call and ruled Swanson successfully turned the unassisted double play. 'Defense is always such a big part of this game and can bail you out in such big moments,' Swanson said. 'And for Boyd to be able to maintain his composure and continue making good pitches in that moment, you're always thinking of situations beforehand and prepared for anything that could happen, and instincts take over after that.' Swanson's stellar defense again this season is part of a collectively strong defense. The Cubs' 50 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) ranks third in the majors while fourth in Outs Above Average (OAA) with 19 and second in Defense (Def) at 22.8. Cubs pitchers know their defense is an asset, and that being aggressive in the zone and potentially allowing more balls in play can be to their benefit. 'He was so good out there that, man, that play was huge at that point of the game, and it could have been a tipping point,' Boyd said of Swanson. 'And he continues to make great plays when the game is on the line. And this is why he is who he is, right? He's kind of the heartbeat with this ball club, and it's pretty cool to see him do those things.' The Sox recently played their 100th game of the season. With fewer than 60 contests remaining, assistant general manager Josh Barfield wants to continue to see how players are progressing. 'We have a lot of young guys on this team and you see the ups and downs of young guys,' Barfield said Saturday in Pittsburgh. 'You want to see them make adjustments, continue to play with energy, play hard. 'We've been in a lot of games, finding ways to close more of these games, whether that's the offense continuing to pile on or the pitching coming in and shutting down, I think those are things we look at actively. We have a lot of guys that, while this year is really important and we need to finish it as strong as we can, we've got guys who are shooting for next year as well.' The list of young players includes shortstop/third baseman Colson Montgomery, who had a .261 average in 15 games coming into Wednesday. 'He's done a really good job of slowing the game down,' Barfield said. 'Some guys, when they get to the big leagues they just feel like they belong here. I've talked to a lot of guys that have come up here for the first time. A lot of good players. They felt like, 'When I was in the minor leagues, I was grinding, but when I got up to the big leagues this is where I belonged,' and they run from there. 'So far, it looks like that from our vantage point. From Day 1, it's never sped up on him, he's had really good at-bats, he's not trying to do too much. Just a calmness about him, which is encouraging because early in the season I think he was trying to press and prove to everybody that he was ready to come up here. Now, he's starting to settle in.' Montgomery hit his first major-league home run in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. 'You just have to keep a level head and stay neutral with a lot of things,' Montgomery said Tuesday in Tampa of some of his early lessons learned. 'And I felt like my coaches and my teammates and some of the veteran guys have helped me with sometimes you're just not going to get pitches to hit tonight and sometimes you are. And you've just got to be ready for those opportunities and if you're not seeing the ball well, you've just got to be ready for the situational hitting. And everybody here's been doing that.' The Sox scored 35 runs in their first four games after the All-Star break, matching the 2000 club for second-most in franchise history. The 1977 Sox scored 37 runs in their first four games coming out of the break. Justin Turner has never been much of a threat to steal bases, especially now at 40 years old. But in the third inning Wednesday, Turner's steal of third base off Royals 45-year-old lefty Rich Hill is the first instance of a 40+ year old runner stealing a base off of a 40+ year old pitcher since Craig Biggio did it against David Wells on July 26, 2007, according to ESPN Stats and Info. 'I've never seen him move that fast,' shortstop Dansby Swanson joked after the game. Turner's swipe was one of seven steals the Cubs recorded in Wednesday's win. Only one other team — the Milwaukee Brewers on April 20 versus the Athletics (nine) — has stolen seven bases in a game this year. It marked just the second time the Cubs have tallied seven or more steals in a game since 1924. The other time: Last season, when the Cubs stole eight bases at Pittsburgh on Aug. 26 in an 18-8 win in which they had 21 hits (12 singles) and seven walks. The Cubs lead the National League in stolen bases with 118, trailing the Tampa Bay Rays (133) for the major-league lead. Their 118 stolen bases through their 101 games to start the season are the Cubs' most since 1985 when they recorded 120 steals. Three Cubs rank in the top 10 for stolen bases in the NL: No. 2 Pete Crow-Armstrong (28 steals), No. 6 Kyle Tucker (23) and No. 9 Nico Hoerner (19). Chase Meidroth doubled in the first inning Monday against the Rays. He singled and scored in the third. The infielder doubled again leading off the seventh and collected his third double with one out in the ninth. Meidroth had a career-high four hits in the 8-3 victory. 'Hit balls hard over the plate,' Meidroth said on Monday about the key to success. 'That always goes back to the approach and swinging at good pitches. Trusting myself, trusting the guys behind me. I think over the course of 162 games, if we all believe in each other, it's going to have a lot of success for all of us.' The rookie's average had dipped to .238 before a two-hit outing Sunday in Pittsburgh. He followed that up with the four hits Monday and an RBI single on Tuesday, raising the average to .251 coming into Wednesday. 'It was a good (All-Star) break,' Meidroth said. 'But I was itching the entire time to get back here and finish out these last few games on a strong note.' 'For him to just show up every day with the professionalism he does, with the work ethic that he has, the ability to talk to anybody and everybody, to help bring young guys along, to help keep some of the veteran guys, continuing to make them as good as they can be, he just means a lot to this clubhouse. And I think that's something that people probably don't see all that often.' —

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store