Michael Love stories, Page 109
Plum girls soccer ready to stare down challengers
Plum girls soccer coach Jamie Stewart said his players understand they have bigger targets on their backs this season after making a run last year that produced a trip to the WPIAL Class AAA championship game at Highmark Stadium and the program’s first-ever berth in the PIAA tournament. “We talk...
Apollo-Ridge stifles Freeport in nonconference victoryVideo
On its first play from scrimmage in Friday’s nonconference matchup with Apollo-Ridge, the Freeport offense went to the air. Vinnie Clark found Brady Stivenson wide open in the secondary, and the 56-yard touchdown completion stunned the Vikings. But the Apollo-Ridge defense clamped down from there, and the Vikings pulled away...
Indiana’s Beckwith, Kiski Area’s Miller claim titles at unique Kiski Cavalier Invitational
Cool and breezy morning weather gave way to comfortable afternoon temperatures as some of the WPIAL’s top runners kicked off their fall seasons Friday at the Gingerbread Man Kiski Cavalier Invitational at Northmoreland Park in Allegheny Township. Because of covid protocols in place limiting the overall number of people permitted...
A-K Valley football players to watch in Week 2
Logan Dexter Springdale, jr., WR/DB The Dynamos junior was dynamic in the 41-7 triumph over rival Riverview. Dexter accounted for three touchdowns, two on the ground and one in the passing game. All three scores came early as Springdale led 21-0 after the first quarter. Dexter finished with 107 yards...
A-K Valley don’t miss high school football matchups for Week 2
Class 5A nonconference Franklin Regional (0-1, 0-1) vs. Fox Chapel (0-1, 0-1) 7 p.m. Friday, Fox Chapel Stadium, Fox Chapel Both teams are coming off big losses to two of the top teams in Class 5A – Franklin Regional fell 41-7 to Gateway and Fox Chapel dropped a 53-7 decision...
Bethel Park, Plum, North Allegheny earn WPISL Week 2 sweeps
Bethel Park, Plum and North Allegheny each recorded doubleheader sweeps during Week 2 of the 2020 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Softball season. The Tigers offense exploded for 65 runs in its two games Sunday, while the Black Hawks totaled 54 runs in their contests. Montour and Seneca Valley split their doubleheader...
Volleyball coaches association reveals WPIAL Week 1 rankings
The Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association on Monday released its first rankings for the 2020 season. North Allegheny (Class AAAA), Franklin Regional (Class AAA), North Catholic (Class AA) and Bishop Canevin (Class A) have been established as the teams to beat as they are at the top of their respective...
A-K Valley H.S. football notebook: Leechburg’s prize? A matchup with Clairton
It was an explosive debut to the season for the Leechburg football team and a successful debut for coach Randy Walters. Leechburg recorded a 55-37 Eastern Conference victory over Greensburg Salem on Friday, the most points scored by the Blue Devils since 2014, when they defeated Serra Catholic, 61-25. “We...
With support of teammates, Freeport QB Garrett King ready to overcome cancer diagnosis
Garrett King was at the top of his game and eager to take over the quarterback reins for the Freeport football team. The 6-foot-1 junior was gearing up for the start of the season, but a trip to his doctor Aug. 31 for a routine yearly physical yielded some distressing...
Freeport beats Deer Lakes for 10th consecutive time
Freeport’s recent dominance over Deer Lakes continues. The Yellowjackets defeated the Lancers, 29-7, on Friday in the season opener at Freeport. It was their 10th straight victory in the series between the Class 3A Allegheny Conference rivals. “I am really proud of the boys,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “We...
Gateway girls soccer aims to peak early in season
The Gateway girls soccer team came within penalty kicks of ousting No. 2 Plum in the first round of last year’s WPIAL Class AAA playoffs. But the Mustangs prevailed 2-1, dealing the Gators a heartbreaking end to their season. Coach Kelly Bender had a more optimistic tone when talking about...
Gateway boys soccer to rely on deep senior class in quest for playoff berth
The Gateway boys soccer team is focused on a return to the WPIAL playoffs for the first time four seasons. With a sizable group of returning starters and other contributors, the Gators are optimistic they can get the job done. “There has been a lot of talk about a lot...
Riverview runners chasing WPIAL, PIAA gold
When Mason Ochs broke the tape at the finish line at last year’s WPIAL Class A cross country championships at Cal (Pa.), he realized his dream of becoming a WPIAL champion. The Riverview senior also had a smile on his face knowing he, along with fourth-place individual finisher and fellow...
A-K Valley don’t-miss high school football matchups for Week 1
Here’s a look at some don’t-miss matchups in the A-K Valley for Week 1: Class 5A northeast Fox Chapel at No. 1 Pine-Richland 7 p.m. Friday, Pine-Richland Stadium, Gibsonia The Foxes and Rams meet for the first time since 2015 when both were members of the Northern Eight Conference in...
A-K Valley high school football players to watch for Week 1
Dylan Cook Leechburg, sr., QB The veteran quarterback hopes for many opportunities in the Blue Devils’ new “air raid” offense. Cook returns after throwing for 949 yards and eight touchdowns last season as Leechburg went 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the Eastern Conference. Sophomore wideout Braylon Lovelace and senior tight...
Alle-Kiski Valley girls soccer preview: Burrell back for more
The Burrell girls soccer team made program history last year with an undefeated regular season and its first section title since 2005. The Bucs, who bowed out of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs in the quarterfinals, saw a large group of seniors move on, including Valley News Dispatch Player of...
Young Freeport hopes to make impression in revamped conference
Youth will be served on the Freeport football team as underclassmen will be featured at several key positions. “There is a lot of good competition, including some younger players, freshmen and sophomores who got some good playing time last year,” said veteran coach John Gaillot, who welcomes back just five...
WPISL opens season with varsity games, JV tournament
The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Softball League kicked off its season over the weekend, and in varsity league play Sunday and Monday, Baldwin, Ellwood City, Seneca Valley and Montour picked up doubleheader sweeps. Baldwin stopped Mt. Pleasant twice, while Ellwood City took its twinbill against Hempfield. The Highlanders and Wolverines averaged...
Coach optimistic Fox Chapel can make strides in Class 5A
Tom Loughran has a keen appreciation for the competition in WPIAL Class 5A. “Let me say first that 5A has the best collection of teams where anyone can beat you on any given night. You have to come ready to play,” the veteran Fox Chapel coach said. “Everybody in our...
Noel Roach, Penn Hills eye return to championship game
Noel Roach remembers fondly the run to WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championship in 2018. He and his Penn Hills teammates hope to renew those feelings this fall. “Every day we just want to go in and work hard to get better,” the senior wide receiver and defensive back said....
WPIAL Class 4A football breakdown: Road to title goes through Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson began its 2019 season with a dominant victory over Canon-McMillan and ended it in Hershey with a 46-7 rout of Dallas for the PIAA Class 4A title. In between, the Jaguars rolled in and out of conference play and added their eighth WPIAL title since 2004. They outscored...
New Riverview coach hopes to turn around program’s fortunes
A new era has begun for Riverview football. Trevor George, a Carlynton grad and most recently an assistant at Blackhawk, takes over the Raiders program. He hopes to bring a wide-open philosophy to the offense and a new explosiveness to the defense. So far, the new start seems to be...
Springdale hopes to start strong against rival
The last shall be first as Springdale prepares for what it expects to be a season unlike any other. When the WPIAL revamped schedules because of the coronavirus pandemic, Riverview, the Dynamos’ chief Class A Eastern Conference rival, was moved from the regular-season finale to Sept. 11, the new season-opening...
Cross country coaches make tweaks to run meets, generate ‘enthusiasm, optimism’
With the hope of having a fall high school season and understanding meets most likely would take a form unlike any before, cross country coaches throughout the WPIAL collaborated with each other and others from across the country to develop ideas as well as generate enthusiasm and optimism. Pennsylvania teams...
Depth, experience to fuel Apollo-Ridge in quest for postseason
No matter where Apollo-Ridge coach John Skiba turns on the practice field, he sees a returning starter. Experience abounds for the Vikings, who hope to build on last year’s 7-4 overall record and WPIAL Class 2A playoff appearance. The team also hosted its first postseason game since 2014. “I and...
