High School category, Page 246
Knoch transfer Colt Sprankle earns postseason eligibility after PIAA board overturns WPIAL
The PIAA board overturned a WPIAL decision and granted postseason eligibility to Knoch junior Colt Sprankle, a football-playing transfer from Armstrong. Sprankle, his parents Ryan and Brandi, and Knoch administrators attended an appeal hearing Wednesday in State College where they testified that the family’s move into the district was a...
PIAA board favors 6 classes for girls volleyball, rejects plan to expand track to 3
STATE COLLEGE — The PIAA wants to increase girls volleyball to six classifications, but a request to expand track and field to three was rejected by the board. Girls volleyball has four classifications currently, but the board voted Wednesday to tentatively add two more. The proposal must pass two more...
Apollo-Ridge girls basketball making strides as it transitions to new coach Raevaan Mottley
Even before Raevaan Mottley arrived at Apollo-Ridge as the new varsity girls basketball head coach in late May, his players were taking part in open gyms. A pair of games in the St. Joseph spring/summer league also were scheduled. “Apollo-Ridge, they were doing things right,” said Mottley, a Greensburg Salem...
PIAA endorses potential changes to competitive-balance rule, could allow appeals on health and safety grounds
STATE COLLEGE — The PIAA board wants to remove some much-maligned words from its competitive-balance rule: those that have prohibited health and safety as grounds for an appeal. The Competition Formula currently says: “… a change in classification would not be cause for a health and safety concern. A claim...
2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Imani Christian’s Dayshaun Burnett
A four-star linebacker committed to Penn State, Dayshaun Burnett is one of the premier recruits in the WPIAL entering the 2024 season. The Imani Christian Academy star’s first priority, though, is helping his team advance farther than it did last season. The Saints routed Waynesburg in the first round of...
PIAA asks appellate court to lift injunction that keeps Aliquippa in 4A football
A Commonwealth Court judge must decide whether there was a proper basis for a lower court’s ruling that kept the Aliquippa football team in Class 4A. Appellate Judge Patricia McCullough heard opposing arguments Tuesday from attorneys representing Aliquippa School District and the PIAA, which wants the preliminary injunction put on...
2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Central Valley’s Jance Henry Jr.
A breakout season might be in the making for Jance Henry Jr. in 2024. It has been a nearly nonstop grind this offseason for the sophomore Central Valley running back. Going from workout to workout, he has been a workhorse. “Summer training (has) been going well,” Henry said. “Just been...
Former Steelers assistant Dick LeBeau shares wisdom with group of legendary high school football coaches
Former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was the guest speaker at the annual gathering of current and former WPIAL football coaches Monday at Grandview Golf Course in North Braddock. LeBeau, who recently released his book “Legendary,” where he talks about his six decades in the NFL, addressed the 15 coaches...
Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Thomas Jefferson’s Shep Turk
The start of high school football practices throughout the state begin in less than a month, and Thomas Jefferson two-way lineman Shep Turk has a singular focus when it comes to being ready to start his senior season. Conditioning and agility training, weight room work, and play study are what...
Hempfield grad, Pitt pitcher Phil Fox drafted by White Sox in 7th round
Hempfield graduate Phil Fox can’t remember a time when he didn’t want to pitch in professional baseball. “From the day I was, like, born, I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life,” he said. The Chicago White Sox made no promises that he will have...
Aliquippa’s Mike Warfield taking ‘leave of absence’ as Quips’ football coach
Mike Warfield says football fans will see him at Aliquippa’s stadium this fall, but adds with a laugh that his new job on Friday nights might be selling 50/50 tickets. Surprisingly, the three-time state champion coach won’t be coaching the Quips. Warfield went 74-6 in six years as head coach...
PIAA proposal to force 2-time state champions into higher class lacks support from WPIAL board
The WPIAL doesn’t favor a potential PIAA rule that forces two-time defending state champions into a higher classification. The proposed change to the competitive-balance rule was discussed and disliked by the WPIAL board Monday because it could unjustly punish successful programs that didn’t use transfers to reload, said WPIAL president...
Mt. Lebanon’s David Shields picked by Royals in 2nd round of MLB Draft
Kansas City Royals scouts came to Mt. Lebanon in April to watch David Shields pitch and stayed around to talk after he struck out 13 batters in a complete-game win. Their visit that day convinced Blue Devils coach Patt McCloskey that the Royals were thinking seriously about drafting Shields. “It...
Golf, football success leads Peters Township to Class 5A Trib Cup title
North Allegheny (6A) has won 21 straight Sports Cups while Neshannock in 2A has a run of three Trib Cups in a row. Hampton (4A), Quaker Valley (3A) and Greensburg Central Catholic (A) all won cups this year after a one-year hiatus. However, the long wait for Cup No. 2...
2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Peters Township’s Mickey Vaccarello
If there is one thing Mickey Vaccarello wants to improve on during his senior season, it would be his contributions on offense. The Peters Township senior’s offensive numbers weren’t that impressive in 2023 because of all the playmakers the Indians had. He did catch a touchdown pass in the WPIAL...
Sewickley Academy restarts girls golf program
The girls golf program at Sewickley Academy has been revamped. It is one of eight new girls golf programs in the WPIAL, including five in Class 2A — Belle Vernon, Beaver, Ellwood City, North Catholic and SA. The three new teams in Class 3A are Latrobe, Plum and Trinity. “Sewickley...
Sampson YMCA swimmers heading to elite showcase meet
Plum’s Sampson YMCA swim team is set to send its largest contingent of competitors to the International Swim Coaches Association Summer Senior Blast and Elite Showcase at the North Shore Aquatic Complex from July 23 to Aug. 3 in St. Petersburg, Fla. The group of qualifiers continues a trend of...
Franklin Regional designated hitter emerges as all-state performer
Surprised wasn’t the right word, but Darren DeRiggi did not fully expect to have all-state honors arrive on his doorstep at the conclusion of high school baseball season. He had just completed a crackling junior campaign where he accomplished his initial goal of starting for the Panthers. That was the...
Hampton teen quickly climbing gymnastics ladder
Hampton teen Ella Lattimore enjoyed gymnastics long before she became any good at it. “It definitely took some time,” she said. “I really liked to do it, but I wasn’t very good. I just kind of showed up at the competitions, I did OK, and I left.” Now she leaves...
Fox Chapel girls basketball coach pleased to host summer league
Marty Matvey has the tools at his disposal to be ambitious when it comes to the Fox Chapel girls basketball team’s summer league. The Foxes coach is appreciative of how the district supports his desire to grow what has become a burgeoning fall and summer league for basketball players looking...
Neshannock captures 3rd straight Class 2A Trib Cup title
Neshannock has discovered the key to capturing the Trib Cup — perfection. The Lancers claimed their third straight Class 2A Trib Cup on the coattails of a second perfect season in the last three years by the Neshannock softball team. “We are very proud of all of our athletes and...
2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Steel Valley’s Donald Barksdale
Get this. A six-touchdown game last season against Burrell could have been a nine-touchdown game for Donald Barksdale. Nine touchdowns. A heaping 54 points — from one guy. “Three were called back,” Barksdale said with a sigh. “Penalties.” There is a reason Steel Valley football coach Ray Braszo calls his...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Hempfield football assembles eclectic coaching staff
Hempfield second-year football coach Nick Keefer has assembled a unique mix of assistants for a new season. One will be of interest to local basketball fans. Longtime hardwood coach Jim Nesser has joined the Spartans and will work with defensive backs. Nesser, who previously helped out at Greensburg Central Catholic...
Experienced assistant ready to move into head coaching role with Ligonier Valley boys
Ligonier Valley’s new boys basketball coach could feel a magnetic pull, almost a calling to be the loudest voice from the bench. The game is in his bloodline. The glimmer in Dante Porter’s eye began to show in his third season as an assistant with the Geibel boys basketball team...
Alle-Kiski Valley sends crew to national 16U wrestling tourney
Garett Huff is no stranger to high-level wrestling competition. The rising sophomore from Plum hopes to make his mark with a new venture next weekend, one that is steeped in tradition for the quality matches it produces every summer. USA Wrestling’s U.S. Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals in Fargo,...
