High School category, Page 249
Top stories of the 2023-24 school year in WPIAL sports
Here’s a look back at the biggest high school sports stories of the 2023-24 school year. Oct. 11, 2023 Moon’s Bill Pfeiffer, in his 28th season, became the first girls soccer coach in the WPIAL to win 500 career games. Pfeiffer and the Tigers later celebrated winning a third straight...
Championship softball coach Chris Brunson leaving Mt. Pleasant for Waynesburg University
Championship softball coach Chris Brunson is making the jump to the college level as he leaves the Mt. Pleasant high school team to head to Waynesburg University. Brunson resigned after leading Mt. Pleasant for the last six seasons and accepted the Yellow Jackets’ head coach position. He replaces Brett Shimek,...
Highlands goes with the Flow, finds new boys basketball coach teaching English class
Highlands likes to play fast, up-tempo basketball. It always has, even when a new coach took over. From the late Rich Falter and Shawn Bennis to Tyler Stoczynski and Corey Dotchin, the team just liked to get it and go. For their next coach, the Golden Rams will go with...
Fierce QB competition brewing at Southmoreland between Caden Matthews, Anthony Smith
There is a good old-fashioned quarterback competition brewing in Alverton, and the top preseason storyline for Southmoreland football already has people chewing the fat at gas stations and mini-marts. “It’s the talk of the town,” Scotties coach Tim Bukowski said. “People are asking me, ’Coach, who’s it going to be?’...
2024 TribLive HSSN Terrific 10 Baseball All-Stars
Here’s a look at the TribLive HSSN baseball all-stars for the 2024 season. Terrific 10 David Posey North Allegheny, sr., P/1B Posey knew his Tigers needed a big outing from him on the mound in the WPIAL 6A final, and he responded with a no-hitter and 11 strikeouts. The Navy...
2024 TribLive HSSN Terrific 10 Softball All-Stars
Here’s a look at the TribLive HSSN softball all-stars for the 2024 season. Terrific 10 Lexie Hames Seneca Valley, jr., P Hames continued to dominate in the circle and contributed to another championship run. The Clemson recruit went 16-1 with 265 strikeouts in 114 2/3 innings. At the plate, she...
Latrobe QB/DB John Wetzel verbally commits to Marshall for football
Rising senior John Wetzel has seen first hand the resurgence of the Latrobe football program. He has noticed the change in attitude. The shift in perception. The wins. “We have a lot more we want to do: A state title is the main goal,” said Wetzel, a quarterback and defensive...
With 1st-year coach, Mt. Pleasant American Legion baseball looks to build on solid foundation
After the Mt. Pleasant high school baseball team took first place in Section 4-3A with an 11-1 record this past season, the Mt. Pleasant American Legion baseball team, sponsored by Legion Post 446, is looking to build off of that success in District 31 play. Several players from the section...
Seniors help ‘make a name’ for Chartiers Valley softball
Every year, teams often live by a saying or quote that resonates. Coaches put it inside their dugouts and gyms when they work out or even on the back of a shirt. For Chartiers Valley’s softball team, this year’s designated saying on the back of its shirts read, “A dream...
After trip to WPIAL final, Chartiers Valley girls lacrosse vows to maintain winning performance
Long postseason runs produce defining moments that teams look back on for years, and for this season’s Chartiers Valley girls lacrosse team, it came down to one goal that was not even meant for the back of the net. After squandering a multi-goal lead to South Fayette in a WPIAL...
Thomas Jefferson’s state softball title capped special season in memory of former coach
The 2024 season is one players and coaches on the Thomas Jefferson softball team will never forget. For the first time in the 65-year history of the high school, there is a state champion at TJ in a girls team sport. Thomas Jefferson ended an improbable postseason run June 13...
Thomas Jefferson baseball team reflects on 2024 season
Thomas Jefferson’s baseball team started out 12-0 this year and ended the regular season with a 17-2 overall record. The Jaguars were ranked No. 2 in Class 4A and received the No. 2 seed for the WPIAL playoffs. After defeating No. 15 Ringgold, 11-3, and No. 7 Chartiers Valley, 4-3,...
Zach Wuenschell, Mia March earn Brentwood’s top senior athletes awards
Zach Wuenschell and Mia March have at least two things in common. The recent high school graduates received top billing at Brentwood after being recognized as the leading senior athletes for the Spartans in 2023-24. Oh yes, both also are 18 years old. Wuenschell was named as the Mark Reider...
Wrapping up the Thomas Jefferson, Baldwin boys volleyball seasons
The Thomas Jefferson boys volleyball team had high expectations and an elevated enthusiasm around the program for the 2024 season. Then, one of the Jaguars’ key starters, 6-foot-7 senior outside hitter William “Will” Stewart, suffered a wrist injury that sent the team scurrying to a lineup change on the eve...
Penn-Trafford soccer goalie Rease Solomon commits to Robert Morris
Rease Solomon will be stopping shots in the Horizon League. The rising senior soccer goalkeeper at Penn-Trafford announced a verbal commitment to Robert Morris. Solomon, a Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy player, was an all-section performer last season. She allowed 16 goals, made 113 saves and posted six shutouts for the Warriors...
2024 Trib HSSN Head of the Class: Softball Player and Coach of the Year for each classification
This spring, those sitting at head of the softball class had a clear view of so many individual and team standout performances. The season included an unexpected run to the district finals and state gold in 5A, five new district champions and two state winners, along with perfection from a...
2024 Trib HSSN Head of the Class: Baseball Player and Coach of the Year for each classification
This spring, those sitting at head of the baseball class had a chance to see two repeat district champions, an unexpected title run in a marathon WPIAL 3A championship game and another no-hitter in the Class 6A finals. Bishop Canevin won a second straight WPIAL golden crown, while for rival...
Westmoreland H.S. notebook: Latrobe’s Andy Tatsch receives offer from West Virginia
College football recruiting has become a perpetual motion machine in the Tatsch household. First, Latrobe rising senior Alex Tatsch (6-foot-3, 220) became inundated with FBS scholarship offers, welcoming 20 of them before the standout linebacker committed to Penn State. Now Andy Tatsch, his younger brother, is beginning to draw Division...
Tre Cunningham Memorial Tournament brings communities together to honor former Jeannette 3-sport star
In Jeannette, the Tre Cunningham Memorial Basketball Tournament honors the memory of one of the many Jeannette High School standout athletes, and on the fourth anniversary of the annual event, the Cunningham family again was showered with unbridled compassion. How good does that feel? Just ask Steve Cunningham, the father...
Penn-Trafford’s Ian Temple tabbed Tribune-Review Westmoreland Baseball Player of the Year
Player of the Year Ian Temple Senior, Catcher, Penn-Trafford Being strong behind the plate is nothing new at Penn-Trafford. The list of outstanding Warriors catchers goes back to the 1970s, Penn-Trafford coach Lou Cortazzo said. Add Ian Temple to the list. Before Temple was Jakob Haynes, who is playing at...
Springdale’s John Hughes again named Valley News Dispatch Baseball Player of Year
John Hughes had a season to remember at Springdale in 2023, winning the WPIAL batting title to go with 78 strikeouts on the mound. His encore was almost identical. Hughes backed up his junior season by hitting .558 this spring for the Dynamos with three homers, three doubles, two triples...
Ligonier Valley’s Cheyenne Piper selected Tribune-Review Westmoreland Softball Player of the Year
“Fight, fight, fight!” Cheyenne Piper started that chant, and it caught on in the Ligonier Valley dugout. The senior softball pitcher who took the WPIAL by storm this postseason with a rash of no-hitters wants people to remember her for that chorus, for that fight. When Piper was fired up,...
Freeport’s Sydney Selker selected Valley News Dispatch Softball Player of Year
Player of the Year Sydney Selker Freeport, Senior, Pitcher When Sydney Selker was forced to miss the last half of her junior softball season because of injury, thoughts turned forward to this past spring and how she would rebound and be a driving force in getting Freeport back to the...
Eden Christian baseball team primed for bright future
Eden Christian Academy’s baseball team finished as the Class A runner-up in the WPIAL and PIAA this spring. The Warriors, who reached the state finals for the second time in four years, finished 20-6 overall, 5-2 in the postseason and 12-0 in Section 3A. Great things appear to be on...
Fisher’s Files: Reflections on Jerry West and basketball Mt. Rushmore
The death of former NBA great Jerry West prompted some reflection on my part. West, a 12-time All-NBA selection at the guard position, was one of my all-time favorite basketball players. He enjoyed a legendary career both on the court and in the front office, and was well-respected around the...
