Lis continues golf tradition
The bloodlines are apparent.
So is the talent Austin Lis displays as a golfer.
The Avella High School senior will continue his golf career at West Liberty University in the fall as he recently signed a letter of intent to join the Hilltoppers men’s golf team, which has become a perennially solid NCAA Division II Atlantic Region program.
Lis is just the latest in a generational line of outstanding golfers.
His grandfather, Larry Lis, defeated defending champion and future PGA touring professional Craig Stadler in the first round of the 74th annual U.S. Amateur at Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, N.J., in 1974. The elder Lis won a number of medals and best-ball championships at tournaments throughout the tri-state area and is a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Ohio Valley Golf Association Legends of Golf.
Austin Lis’ father, Larry Lis, Jr., is a four-time Ohio Valley Golf Association Golfer of the Year and won a host of local and regional amateur tournaments and events, including the 2009 Eastern Four-Ball Championship.
“It means a lot to me that my grandfather and father were so successful in golf,” the younger Lis said. “I want to keep the tradition going.”
Lis, played for the Burgettstown High School golf team the past four years as Avella had an agreement with the school to co-op in boys golf.
He helped the Blue Devils to consecutive runner-up finishes in the WPIAL Class AA Championships in 2013 and 2014.
The younger Lis is a four-time section qualifier and advanced to the finals of the WPIAL Championships three times. He is a two-time PIAA West Regional qualifier, finishing fourth in 2015. Lis placed 28th in the PIAA Class AA Championships that season.
He placed fifth in the WPIAL as a sophomore.
“My strength is my short game,” he said. “I read putts very well. My goal has always been to play golf at the highest level I am capable of playing.”
Lis, who also played basketball and is playing baseball for Avella, said West Liberty was an easy pick for him.
“I just decided it is close to home and the course (Speidel Golf Club at Oglebay Park in Wheeling, W.Va.) is a good fit for me,” he said. “I like the school and the coach, Mike Ricci. West Liberty is the first place I visited. I visited a few others, but I like West Liberty’s campus and believe it’s a place where I can study, get a good education and play golf.”
Ricci is glad to add Lis to the Hilltoppers’ talented roster.
“Although golf is in his DNA, he’s a total athlete who excelled in baseball and basketball at Avella,” Ricci said.
“In addition, he’s an outstanding student. Austin will be a great addition to our team and our university.”
Lis is the grandson of Jim Matalik, who recently retired as Avella’s girls basketball coach. Lis and his sister, Bailey, recently accepted the Roy Gillespie Memorial Special Award for Matalik at the Tri-County Athletic Directors Association Coach of the Year Banquet.
Lis said he will continue to play throughout the spring and summer in preparation for the coming season at West Liberty. The Hilltoppers finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the Atlantic Region. They will participate in the Atlantic/East Regional, May 8-10, at The Resort at Glade Springs, Daniels, W.Va.
“I will just try to keep my confidence up, knowing I am good and can get better,” the younger Lis said. “I enjoy playing and am glad to become part of such a good team. It’s a good program.”
Chartiers-Houston girls basketball coach Laura Montecalvo became the first person to play and coach in the prestigious Roundball Classic, which was held last weekend at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.
Montecalvo coached the Class 3A/2A/1A/City League team to a 69-64 victory over Districts 6 and 10.
“I didn’t know about it, but when I found out I though it was a pretty neat thing,” Montecalvo said.
Montecalvo, a Washington High School graduate, played in the 2006 Roundball Classic.
“I don’t remember a whole lot about it,” she said. “I do know that it was the second year of the resurgence of the Roundball Classic. I do remember that we had a lot of good players and going up there for practice right after track practice.”
Jala Walker of Chartiers-Houston and Washington’s Matt Popeck took home Most Valuable Player honors for their respective teams at the Roundball Classic.
Walker scored 10 points and made two steals in the final minute for the Class 3A, 2A, 1A/City League team.
Popeck, a Waynesburg University recruit and the only two-time Observer-Reporter Boys Basketball Player of the Year, scored a team-high 22 points to help Team 3A defeat Team 4A, 139-130.