High School category, Page 190
Thomas Jefferson finds ‘true identity’ ahead of WPIAL playoff test vs. West Allegheny
It’s tough to win in November as a WPIAL football team with an identity crisis. “That’s when they’re trying to do everything and they’re average at everything,” said Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Cherpak, whose Jaguars don’t have that problem. They’ve got a talented passer, but they’ve also long established themselves...
4 girls soccer finalists named for Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player of the Year award
For the sixth consecutive year, the Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player of Year award will go to the top girls soccer player in the WPIAL. For the first time, there are four finalists. The players were announced Thursday. They are: • Morgan Gesinski, Jr., F, Mt. Pleasant • Molly Kubistek,...
2024 WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer championship breakdown: Peters Township vs. Seneca Valley
WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer championship 1-Peters Township (18-0-1) vs. 2-Seneca Valley (14-2-2) 6 p.m. Friday, Highmark Stadium Tickets: $10 general admission Coaches: Pat Vereb, Peters Township; Mark Perry, Seneca Valley Players to watch: Taylor McCullough, Peters Township; Madeline Marcotte, Seneca Valley WPIAL titles: Peters Township 2 (2010, ‘12); Seneca...
Through the Years: Apollo-Ridge earned 2nd playoff win in ’14
Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look at the players, coaches and events that shaped our scholastic history. Jonah Casella ran for four touchdowns, and Tre Tipton and Duane Brown added two more each as Apollo-Ridge won its second WPIAL playoff...
With painful losses in rearview mirror, Plum, Fox Chapel ready to duke it out in WPIAL finals
Plum and Fox Chapel have a similar story entering the WPIAL boys soccer championship game. Both have seen their share of heartache in the postseason, but that came to an end Tuesday with wins in the semifinals. Now, the Alle-Kiski Valley schools separated by 10 miles will meet in the...
Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Short-handed Southmoreland could be without 8 starters
Southmoreland could be down eight starters for Friday’s WPIAL playoff opener. The eighth-seeded Scotties (7-3) have been gutted by injuries, illness and transfer ineligibility on the eve of their Class 3A first-round home game against No. 9 Highlands (5-4). “We’re trying to get 11 healthy bodies out there who are...
Franklin Regional boys soccer notebook: Red card keeps key player out of WPIAL final
Franklin Regional will be without one of its top players in Saturday’s WPIAL 3A championship game. Senior all-WPIAL midfielder Jovan Sankoorikal will miss his second consecutive playoff game as he sits through a two-game suspension, the result of a red card violation in a quarterfinal upset of Thomas Jefferson. “We...
Veteran goalkeeper gives Franklin Regional a puncher’s chance in WPIAL finals vs. Moon
Having already appeared in eight playoff games in his career, including a few as a defender, Franklin Regional goalkeeper Noah Walker brings experience to his first WPIAL soccer championship game. His coach believes Walker gives the Panthers a shot at their third WPIAL title in six years. “He is the...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Oct. 30, 2024
High schools Field hockey WPIAL playoffs At Washington & Jefferson Saturday’s schedule Championship Class 3A Pine-Richland (19-0) vs. Mt. Lebanon (12-4), 4 p.m. Class 2A Fox Chapel (10-6-1) vs. Peters Township (15-3), noon Class A Shady Side Academy (14-4) vs. Aquinas Academy (8-3-3), 2 p.m. Football WPIAL playoffs Class 6A...
High school roundup for Oct. 30, 2024: Beaver sweeps into WPIAL girls volleyball finals
Kailyn Connelly had 12 kills and a block and Jaedyn Brown collected nine kills, 10 digs and three aces to lead top-seeded Beaver to a 3-0 victory over No. 4 Hampton (13-6) in the WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball semifinals Wednesday night. Set scores were 25-20, 25-17 and 25-20. Aubrey...
Mars earns spot in 2nd WPIAL volleyball final with 5-set win over Freeport
Before the beginning of the fifth set, the Mars girls volleyball players looked into a packed grandstands and started waving their arms up and down to pump up the crowd. Then they gave their fans plenty to cheer about. Lily Javor had five kills, and Cecilia Christy had two in...
A-K Valley high school football players to watch for 2024 Week 10
Player of the week Jake Fleischer Deer Lakes, sr., QB After making his varsity starting debut in Week Zero and helping lead the Lancers to a tie for the most wins — eight — in a single season in program history, Fleischer will get his first chance to perform in...
Freeport faces familiar challenge against Mt. Pleasant in opening round of playoffs
The Mt. Pleasant and Freeport football teams are no strangers to one other. The Vikings and Yellowjackets met as nonconference foes the past two seasons and as members of the same conference as recently as 2019. The teams again will be back together on the same field Friday evening in...
A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2024 Week 10
Class 3A first round 9-Highlands (5-4) at 8-Southmoreland (7-3) 7 p.m. Friday, Russ Grimm Field, Alverton Last week’s results: Highlands 56, Valley 0; Greensburg Salem 28, Southmoreland 21 Winner plays: 1-Imani Christian (10-0) 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at UPMC Graham Field in quarterfinals High-scoring Highlands ended up fourth in the...
Get a little stitious with The Birdie’s playoff picks in A-K Valley football
Last week: 10-1 Season: 81-22 (78.6%) The Pittsburgh Steelers, with their six Lombardi trophies and 676 all-time victories, haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. The Pittsburgh Penguins, with their five Stanley Cup championships and 2,030 all-time victories, haven’t won a playoff series since the 2018 season. There...
2024 Western Pa. high school football schedule for Week 10
WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Semifinals Nov. 8 Seneca Valley (3-6) vs. Central Catholic (8-2) at West Mifflin, 7 p.m. Mt. Lebanon (3-7) at North Allegheny (9-1) Class 5A First round Friday’s schedule Franklin Regional (7-3) at North Hills (8-2), 7 p.m. Latrobe (5-5) at Bethel Park (8-2), 7 p.m. Moon...
Westmoreland County high school football players to watch for 2024 Week 10
Player of the week Jarett Garn Mt. Pleasant, sr., WR/RB/K/DB The 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior had a big game and helped the Vikings stay with Elizabeth Forward. The multipurpose athlete rushed for a touchdown, caught an 87-yard touchdown and returned a kickoff 94 yards for a score. He had a 64-yard...
Expect offensive fireworks when Greensburg Central Catholic, Monessen collide in Class A 1st round
Friday’s WPIAL Class A playoff game between Monessen and Greensburg Central Catholic could turn out to be the most electrifying in the first round. It could feature two of the top players in Westmoreland County and the WPIAL. It also could be a high-scoring affair. Fans will be on the...
Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2024 Week 10
Class 5A first round 9-Franklin Regional (7-3) at 8-North Hills (8-2) 7 p.m. Friday, Martorelli Stadium, Ross Township Last week’s results: Franklin Regional 29, Armstrong 26; North Hills 10, Central Valley 7 Winner plays: At 1-Pine-Richland (8-1) 7 p.m. next Friday in quarterfinals Franklin Regional finished third in the Big...
As he makes his playoff picks, The Birdie wonders which Westmoreland County team will keep streak alive
Last week: 7-5 (58.3%) Season: 91-32 (73.9%) While his pedestrian 7-5 final week of the regular season probably would not have earned him wild-card consideration by the WPIAL committee, the Birdie is fired up for the playoffs. “I make it no matter what my record is,” he said, shrugging his...
Trib 10: 1 team took tumble in power rankings in final week of regular season
On the final Friday of the regular season, the combined record of the Trib 10 teams was 9-1. The one loss came when West Allegheny stunned Montour in overtime to forge a tri-championship in the Class 4A Parkway Conference. That loss did not cost the Spartans a spot in this...
Springdale brings potent, balanced attack to Class A girls soccer final
Coming into this year’s playoffs, there were only four girls soccer teams across the WPIAL who had more than 90 goals for and fewer than 20 against: South Fayette in Class 3A, South Park and Mt. Pleasant in Class 2A and Springdale in Class A. Out of those four, only...
2024 WPIAL Class A boys soccer championship breakdown: Bentworth vs. OLSH
WPIAL Class A boys soccer championship 1-Bentworth (18-0) vs. 3-OLSH (15-2) 8 p.m. Thursday, Highmark Stadium Tickets: $10 general admission Coaches: Nick Malarbi, Bentworth; Nick Romano, OLSH Players to watch: Ryan Moessner, Bentworth; Owen Minzer, OLSH WPIAL titles: Bentworth 1 (2023); OLSH 0 Playoff path: Bentworth defeated No. 16 California,...
A-K Valley high school soccer playoff capsule for Oct. 31, 2024
WPIAL soccer playoffs Girls Class 3A Third-place consolation 4-Plum (17-2) vs. 6-Mars (17-3) 8 p.m. Thursday, North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium, McCandless Winner plays: District 10 champion Tuesday in PIAA first round Corner kicks: Plum lost 3-0 to Fox Chapel in the semifinals Tuesday. The Mustangs reached the WPIAL finals three...
A-K Valley schools to be well-represented at WPIAL soccer championships
There might be a bit more traffic than usual heading down Route 28 the next few days, as local soccer fans make their way to Highmark Stadium on the South Side. Of the 16 boys and girls soccer teams playing for WPIAL championships Thursday through Saturday, five are from the...
