As Ligonier Valley athletics made the transition to the WPIAL in the 2020-21 school year, Matthew Marinchak was one of the standouts who led the way. Marinchak, a star on both the hardwood and the gridiron, ranks as one of the best Rams in recent memory. Now, he’s thriving as a top scorer for the University of Pitt-Greensburg basketball team. Marinchak is under the microscope in this installment of the Westmoreland Alum Q&A.

Marinchak helped Ligonier Valley basketball achieve tremendous success beginning in his freshman year of 2018-19. That season, LV went 20-4 overall, including a 10-1 mark in the District 6 Heritage Conference. In the District 6 Class 3A postseason, the Rams ousted Bellwood Antis, but fell to Richland in the championship game. As a result, Ligonier Valley entered the PIAA bracket as the runner up from the district, and fell to Beaver Falls in the opening round.

The next year, Ligonier Valley went 23-4, including a perfect mark of 15-0 in the Heritage Conference. In the District 6 playoffs, the Rams defeated Penns Valley Area, but again came up short against Richland in the Class 3A title bout. Facing another WPIAL foe in the opening round of the state bracket, the Rams bowed out against Carlynton.

In Marinchak’s junior season, Ligonier Valley made the seismic shift to the WPIAL, rejoining the district for the first time since the 1960s. The Rams sputtered to a 5-11 mark overall, including 4-6 in section play. However, LV entered the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs, and notched its first postseason win with a preliminary-round triumph against Brownsville Area. The Rams subsequently lost to South Allegheny in the first round of the playoffs.

As a senior, Marinchak helped guide LV to a record of 12-11 overall, including 8-4 in section play. However, the Rams came up short against Avonworth in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs, ending their campaign.

Marinchak, an All-Conference performer on the hardwood, also excelled for the Rams football team.

However, his future was in basketball, as he matriculated to the University of Pitt-Greensburg for the 2021-22 campaign. As a freshman guard, Marinchak played in 18 contests, including 17 starts, producing 8.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest, while adding 32 assists and 19 steals. That season, the Bobcats went 12-14 overall, including a record of 8-6 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). UPG qualified for the conference tournament, but fell to Penn State Behrend in the opening round to end the season.

Last season, Marinchak started all 27 games for UPG, averaging 17.7 points and 4.1 boards per tilt, while amassing 40 assists and 30 steals. For his efforts, Marinchak was recognized as a Second-Team All-AMCC performer. The Bobcats compiled a record of 13-14, including 11-7 in conference play. In the AMCC Tournament, Pitt-Greensburg bounced the University of Pitt-Bradford, but lost to La Roche University in the semifinals.

This year, Marinchak has started all 10 contests, leading UPG with a scoring average of 14.6 points, while adding 3.4 rebounds per contest, and accumulating 8 assists and 11 steals. Thus far, UPG has gone 3-5, including 0-2 in the AMCC.

Matthew set aside time to field questions about his individual and team goals this season at UPG, how playing football benefitted him, and his trademark goggles.

Q: You have increased your scoring output drastically during your time at Pitt-Greensburg. What has been key in that improvement?

A: The main thing is the offseason, for sure. It doesn't come naturally - it's countless hours of doing stuff that really pushes my limits. Whether it's lifting or basketball drills, everything is done like game reps.

Q: What is an underrated aspect of your game?

A: I would say my defense this year. I really worked on it a lot over the summer, and my footwork to make sure I can have an impact on both ends of the floor.

Q: What team and individual goals did you establish for this season?

A: As a team, to win the conference championship and get into the NCAA tournament. For myself, I just want to be the best basketball player I can be and the best teammate I can be.

Q: Which school do you consider to be UPG's biggest rival?

A: Me personally, it’s every school in the conference. It's about every team and every win you can get, so I look at everyone as a rival.

Q: What are the best qualities of head coach Chris Klimchock?

A: His belief in the team, as well as players. No matter if you just lost the game for the team or missed every shot, he still believes in us and still has confidence in us.

Q: What led to your decision to attend UPG?

A: Coach really believed in me and showed up to a few of my high school games.

Q: What is your major and ideal future profession?

A: I'm an early childhood education major doubled with special education. No matter where it leads me, I'd like to be a teacher and hopefully a basketball coach down the road.

Q: Aside from basketball, what has been your favorite aspect of college?

A: The freedom. In between classes, I'm able to get in the gym and I'm not just sitting in a school for seven or eight hours.

Q: You were also a football standout at Ligonier Valley. How did that sport benefit you?

A: The lifting - just getting me stronger - and being a wide receiver, the footwork drills really helped my lateral quickness and defense.

Q: What was your favorite high school memory?

A: Getting to play two years of basketball with my brother.

Q: You and your brother, Michael, are known for your goggles. What factored into that decision?

A: We started wearing glasses at a pretty young age and I tried out contacts, but didn't like touching my eyes. For sports, I knew I couldn't wear regular glasses, so we got goggles, and it turned into our signature thing.

Q: If you could change one rule about college basketball, what would it be?

A: I don't know if I would consider it a rule, but I would want to make the season longer so we can play more games.

Q: To which movie or TV show can you recite nearly every line?

A: Friends.

Q: What is your favorite holiday? Why?

A: I would say Christmas. I get to spend time with family and see the snow.

Q: What is the best advice you've ever received?

A: Train like there is no tomorrow.