Chris Harlan stories, Page 69
Kentucky coach John Calipari visits Imani Christian to see 6-10 freshman phenom
Imani Christian is a small school in East Hills, yet Saints basketball coach Khayree Wilson welcomed one of college basketball’s biggest names Tuesday. Kentucky coach John Calipari was there to see Alier Maluk, a 6-foot-10 freshman who already has offers from Pitt, LSU, Seton Hall and Texas A&M. The 15-year-old...
WPIAL launches league-wide food drive with competitive twist
The WPIAL launched a league-wide food drive Monday that runs until Oct. 23 and since sports teams are involved, it comes with a competitive twist. Participating schools will compete against one another to donate the most meals. Schools are divided into six divisions based on enrollment and one winner from...
5 things we learned in Week 6 of H.S. football: ‘You can’t control the weather’
After rushing for 167 yards and two touchdowns on Friday, Mt. Lebanon running back Alex Tecza didn’t sleep well that night. The senior was thinking about all the work to be done Saturday morning. The Central Catholic vs. Mt. Lebanon matchup was one of three WPIAL games delayed Friday by...
Trib HSSN high school football rankings: Oct. 9, 2021
Class 6A Rk, Team, W-L, Last 1. Mt. Lebanon, 7-0, 2 2. Central Catholic, 5-2, 1 3. North Allegheny, 4-3, 4 4. Seneca Valley, 5-2, 5 5. Canon-McMillan, 4-3, 3 Out: none Class 5A Rk, Team, W-L, Last 1. Moon, 7-0, 1 2. Pine-Richland, 4-3, 2 3. Penn-Trafford, 5-2, 5...
Mt. Lebanon shows ‘toughness’ in lightning-delayed win over No. 1 Central Catholic
Mt. Lebanon quarterback Joey Daniels dislocated a finger on his left hand Friday night while catching a trick-play touchdown, but he was back behind center Saturday morning to finish the lightning-delayed game. Opponents in years past used to test this team’s grit, yet these Blue Devils pride themselves on their...
Defending PIHL champion North Allegheny plans to enjoy the ride
The lake wasn’t frozen, so the North Allegheny hockey team traded its sticks for oars and competed in the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival at North Park. In a long, skinny canoe that seats 20 rowers, they zipped across the water last month. On that day, the goal was to go...
Lightning postpones Central Catholic vs. Mt. Lebanon football game to Saturday
When Central Catholic visited Mt. Lebanon on Friday night, the game was supposed to be electric, not the weather. Yet, the clash between the top-ranked teams in WPIAL Class 6A was suspended in the third quarter because of a lightning storm that hung around Mt. Lebanon for more than an...
WPIAL recognizes 5 schools with Sportsmanship Award
Six-time winner Hampton was among five schools named Friday as recipients of the WPIAL Sportsmanship Award, joining Derry, Laurel, Moon and Upper St. Clair. This is the 25th year for the awards, which recognize the schools that “best demonstrate the elements of good sportsmanship,” the WPIAL said in a press...
North Hills’ Robert Dickerson commits to Bucknell for both football, baseball
College football coaches want Robert Dickerson as a slot receiver, but the North Hills senior knew he didn’t want to put away his baseball glove and bat for good. So, he found a place to play both. Dickerson recently committed to Bucknell, where he’ll have an opportunity to play football...
5 things to watch in Week 6: De facto conference champions to be crowned?
No, it’s not over ‘til it’s over. And, yes, four weeks remain in the regular season, meaning the WPIAL football schedule is far from over. But there are a few key matchups Friday night that sure seem likely to serve as de facto conference championship games. The list starts in...
Central Catholic, Mt. Lebanon battle for 1st place in WPIAL Class 6A
Unlike last week, there won’t be any motivational banner hanging over Mt. Lebanon’s locker room entrance. No history lesson. No hype. That’s because Friday’s conference matchup may decide the regular-season champion in WPIAL Class 6A when top-ranked Central Catholic (5-1, 3-0) visits the No. 2 Blue Devils (6-0, 3-0) at...
5 things we learned in Week 5 of H.S. football: Clairton’s 66-game streak is safe
The Wyomissing football team might have a thank you gift headed its way with a Clairton postmark on the package. Suddenly, the Bears are huge fans of the high school near Reading. That’s because Southern Columbia was one win away from tying Clairton’s state-record winning streak of 66 games when...
Trib HSSN high school football rankings: Oct. 3, 2021
Class 6A Rk, Team, W-L, Last 1. Central Catholic, 5-1, 1 2. Mt. Lebanon, 6-0, 2 3. Canon-McMillan, 4-2, 5 4. North Allegheny, 3-3, 4 5. Seneca Valley, 4-2, 3 Out: none Class 5A 1. Moon, 6-0, 1 2. Pine-Richland, 3-3, 4 3. Gateway, 4-2, 5 4. South Fayette, 4-1,...
North Allegheny girls soccer gets defensive in WPIAL title defense
As two-time reigning WPIAL champions, the girls on North Allegheny’s soccer team are trying to defend their title again this fall, with an added emphasis on the word “defend.” They’ve outscored their first nine opponents 53-1 and posted eight shutouts. “There are a lot of teams that are giving you...
Devin Whitlock shines but sophomore shares spotlight as Belle Vernon tops Laurel Highlands
If this matchup was meant to decide the most-dangerous playmaker in the Big Eight, Devin Whitlock certainly made his case. The Belle Vernon senior delivered another astonishing play Friday night when he returned a punt 67 yards untouched to the end zone for one of his three touchdowns in a...
5 things to watch in high school football’s Week 5
Greensburg Salem, Laurel Highlands and Steel Valley lead a collection of WPIAL football teams enjoying a revival this fall. Combined, the three went 4-16 last season before quickly shutting the door on a difficult 2020. This year, the trio already has celebrated 13 wins with only one loss. Greensburg Salem’s...
WPIAL director joins Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank coalition
WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman, who is leading a league-wide food drive this fall, was named Monday to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s Sports and Media Coalition. Scheuneman joins a 20-person council with representatives from local media outlets as well as the area’s college and professional sports organizations. The...
5 things we learned in Week 4 of H.S. football: 16 teams remain unbeaten at midway point
Laurel football coach Brian Cooper has the Spartans off to a 5-0 start, likely for the first time since 1977, but the Spartans aren’t slowing down to celebrate. “We’re really just trying to keep them focused on the next task at hand,” said Cooper, who’s in his eighth season. “That’s...
Trib HSSN high school football rankings: Sept. 26, 2021
Class 6A Rk, Team, W-L, Last 1. Central Catholic, 4-1, 1 2. Mt. Lebanon, 5-0, 2 3. Seneca Valley, 4-1, 4 4. North Allegheny, 3-2, 3 5. Canon-McMillan, 3-2, 5 Out: none Class 5A 1. Moon, 5-0, 1 2. Peters Township, 4-1, 3 3. South Fayette, 4-1, 4 4. Pine-Richland,...
North Allegheny girls golfers chasing individual, team success
Many of the golfers on North Allegheny’s girls team already have their own swing instructors, so first-year coach Sarah Morrison tries not to tinker much with their mechanics. Instead, the attorney and former college golfer has turned her attention to their thoughts between shots. “My biggest focus with them this...
Central Catholic tops North Allegheny in rematch of WPIAL Class 6A championship
Central Catholic has a new-look offense with ties to an NFL coach, but the Vikings haven’t abandoned what made them two-time defending WPIAL champions. Gannon Carothers rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns Friday night and the defense didn’t allow a point after halftime as top-ranked Central Catholic defeated No....
Central Catholic, North Allegheny meet in rematch of WPIAL Class 6A championship
North Allegheny maybe isn’t the trendy pick in WPIAL championship talk, but the next few weeks could change that discussion. At least, the Tigers hope so. Central Catholic and Mt. Lebanon remain the top teams in Class 6A, but NA faces them in back-to-back weeks. “The way we look at...
5 things to watch in WPIAL football Week 4: Covid cancellations not always ‘no-contest’
The WPIAL’s message is clear: Not every covid-related cancellation will be excused as no-contest. Many, if not most, will be forfeits. So far, only four football games met the threshold for a “no-contest” designation this fall, said WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman, while at least seven others will go down...
Carlynton football cancellation leads to Serra Catholic vs. Freeport matchup Friday
Carlynton canceled its nonconference football game scheduled for Friday against Serra Catholic because of covid-19 cases, but Serra needed little time to find new opponent. Freeport will host Serra Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday. Carlynton athletic director Nate Milsom said the football team didn’t have enough available bodies “with the...
After near-death experience, Bishop Canevin senior writing comeback story on football field
In a helmet and shoulder pads, Eli Wilson looks just like thousands of other high school football players across Western Pennsylvania. But the Bishop Canevin senior has a remarkable life story that started tragically before turning triumphant. He’s mostly kept the story to himself. “I thought people were going to...
