High School category, Page 167
Westmoreland high school notebook: Latrobe soccer player Reilly receives another honor
Add another postseason honor to Robin Reilly’s resume. Reilly, the talented soccer player from Latrobe who is set to enroll early and continue her playing career at West Virginia, was one of three WPIAL players to earn the latest accolade. She was a United Soccer Coaches Fall East All-Region selection....
Westmoreland high school athletes of the week: Week ending Dec. 8, 2024
The Westmoreland County Athletes of the Week is presented by Smail Kia. Look for the tags and look for the savings at Smail Kia in Greensburg. Maggie Maiers School: Latrobe Class: Sophomore Sport: Basketball Claim to fame: Maiers had 37 points and 17 rebounds in the Wildcats’ first two games...
Upper St. Clair’s Stohl wins Fralic Award as WPIAL’s best 2-way lineman
When the late Bill Fralic played football at Penn Hills, Pitt and in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions, he was a dominating blocker. Many times, he overpowered his opponent and would “pancake” him to the ground. For the past six years, the top interior two-way lineman...
Gut-wrenching overtime loss dashes Avonworth’s state title hopes in PIAA 3A final
MECHANICSBURG — Avonworth trailed by two touchdowns in the second half of a state championship game and rallied to force overtime. It was a gutsy comeback, but one met with tears when Northwestern Lehigh scored a touchdown in overtime to defeat Avonworth, 36-33, in the PIAA Class 3A final Saturday...
A-K Valley athletes of the week: St. Joseph’s Kasey Cienik, Deer Lakes’ Ryan Grunden
Kasey Cienik School: St. Joseph Class: Junior Sport: Basketball Claim to fame: Cienik scored 22 points in her team’s 47-29 win over Apollo-Ridge on Monday and followed that performance with a 24-point effort in a 71-47 win over Highlands on Wednesday. She scored 14 points Friday night in a 51-21...
North Allegheny swimmers in position to extend WPIAL championship streak
The North Allegheny swimming team ordered T-shirts for this season that paraphrase a famous Vince Lombardi quote. “If you chase perfection, you can land among the stars of excellence,” said Tori Tieppo, part of a loaded junior class at NA. “You strive for the most you can, and you will...
Franklin Regional grad writes name in Washington & Jefferson record book
As Washington & Jefferson football players filed into the locker room at halftime, Justin Johns knew he had broken the other team’s spirit, but was unaware he’d broken a team record. Johns, a frightening fifth-year linebacker out of Franklin Regional, had heard he was close to breaking the Presidents’ all-time...
Franklin Regional boys rally for 2 victories at host tournament
Franklin Regional boys basketball coach Jesse Reed’s heart may not take many more games like the two in the Rettger Memorial basketball tournament. His Panthers rallied in the fourth quarter to claim the tournament title with wins against Seneca Valley, 43-37, and Quaker Valley, 49-48 overtime, last week. The lone...
Hampton girls basketball enters season of unknowns
The Hampton girls basketball team graduated its all-time leading scorer, but that’s only part of the change. From the roster to the schedule, just about everything is different. The Talbots must replace five starters, including all-state guard and all-time scoring leader Meghan Murray, and have moved from Class 5A into...
Hampton enters post-Lafko era with lineup overhaul from 25-5 WPIAL finalist
Someone forgot the memo for Hampton boys basketball that this is supposed to be a down season. Despite losing a legendary coach, an all-state guard and a 1,000-point scorer from last year’s 25-5 WPIAL finalist and now facing a tougher Class 5A schedule with five new starters, the Talbots are...
With 4 seniors leading way, Fox Chapel gymnasts show camaraderie, drive to improve
The Fox Chapel gymnasts walk into practice, yearning to beat their personal records. The Foxes flip through the air, showcasing their strength, flexibility and grace. Nonetheless, their performance is just one aspect of what makes gymnastics special. Gymnastics provides camaraderie and bonds that can’t be broken. For Foxes coach Nadine...
Bethel Park notebook: Coach enjoying middle school experience
Did you know that Bethel Park girls middle school volleyball coach Adam Foote is a social studies teacher at Baldwin High School? “I’ve been coaching girls middle school volleyball at Bethel Park the past three seasons and last year coached the boys JV team,” said Foote, who formerly coached volleyball...
With 11 returning starters, Bethel Park wrestling has high expectations
Bethel Park’s wrestling team advanced to the WPIAL semifinals last year and finished with an impressive 19-3 record. The Black Hawks placed fourth in Class 3A in the Trib HSSN final rankings after defeating North Hills, 39-15, and North Allegheny, 26-19, in the first two rounds of the WPIAL tournament....
Sadie Orie, Ella Sabatos return to lead Bethel Park girls basketball
The players on the Bethel Park girls basketball team are legitimate gym rats. That’s a positive thing. Bethel Park second-year coach Steve Norman has enjoyed watching the dedication displayed by the girls on the 2024-25 team. “We’re going to be much younger than last year,” Norman said, “but we’ve had...
QB Tanner Pfeuffer wraps up Bethel Park career with super senior season
Tanner Pfeuffer eclipsed 6,000 yards passing in a distinguished three-year career as Bethel Park’s starting quarterback. The 6-foot-6, 195-pound senior completed 156 of 260 tosses for 2,656 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2024, giving him 6,044 yards and 66 TDs in his career. “I am super happy what our team...
Under new coach, Bethel Park boys hope to build on playoff momentum
Dante Calabria coached the Bethel Park boys basketball team for two years. In July, Calabria informed his players and the Bethel Park School District that he was resigning to take a position as head coach of Pistoia Basket 2000 of the Lega Basket Serie A in Europe. Calabria is a...
Shady Side Academy’s Karis Thomas reflects on scoring milestone
Shady Side Academy junior Karis Thomas prepared for what she thought was just another game. Little did she know she was on the brink of scoring 1,000 points. Thomas was leading the Bulldogs girls basketball team against Berlin Brothersvalley in a close, hotly contested game. She then made program history,...
Herald notebook: Zoe Skirboll chasing NCAA cut times at Virginia
Zoe Skirboll competed in the U.S. time trials to try to earn a spot on the Olympic team last summer. The Fox Chapel graduate would like to utilize that experience to help her junior year at Virginia be a big success. While the season is still young, Skirboll already has...
Led by Division I trio, Fox Chapel swimmers poised for memorable season
Coach Matt Mauclair is excited about what the Fox Chapel swimming program is bringing back up and down the lineup. At the top, the Foxes have four captains with plenty of experience swimming at a high level. Three of those athletes — Sarah Pasquella, Owen Howe and Christian Dantey —...
Penn Hills freshman heavyweight showing vast potential
Denairo Price hardly had to break a sweat during his first varsity wrestling match. Thankfully, the Penn Hills freshman heavyweight doubled up on his matches during a triangular with Woodland Hills and Riverview on Dec. 4. Price, who transferred to Penn Hills from Kiski Area, claimed two pins to open...
Penn Hills notebook: Junior high girls wrestler makes history; Strader named All-American
There was plenty to celebrate for the Penn Hills wrestling program as the season opened with a triangular against Riverview and Woodland Hills on Dec. 4. While the Indians varsity boys program picked up wins against the Raiders and the Wolverines, the girls program also got an opportunity to get...
Plum wrestling ready for next wave of WPIAL qualifiers to emerge
Last year, the Plum wrestling program had a handful of wrestlers qualify for the WPIAL tournament. Even though most of those were seniors, the Mustangs are hopeful to have another handful reach the tournament this season. Plum will look to replace Antonino Walker (152) and Rylen Campbell (127) who each...
New coach expects Plum swimmers to maintain level of success
The Plum swimming program is aiming for more consistency as Shane Ging takes over as head coach. Ging, who replaces Shawn Haupt, is familiar with the Plum swim program since he has been an assistant coach with the team the past four years. “I’ve been here a while with these...
New coach takes reins after breakthrough season for North Hills girls
Jason Pirring decided to stop coaching basketball in order to spend more time with his growing family. He never imagined that, years later, it would be his family that brought him back to the bench. Pirring was hired earlier this year as the new head coach of the North Hills...
Despite key departure, North Hills boys ready for move to Class 6A
For the second straight year, the North Hills boys basketball team is forced to move on following an early departure of the team’s top scorer. A year ago, the Indians were able to reach the WPIAL Class 5A basketball playoffs following the offseason loss of center Royce Parham, who transferred...
