High School category, Page 250
Eden Christian baseball team reflects on silver season
The Eden Christian Academy baseball program was wrapped in silver this season. Eden finished as the runner-up in both the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs, losing to undefeated Faith Christian, 4-1, in the Class A state championship game June 14 at Penn State. The Warriors, who reached the PIAA finals for...
Pine-Richland soccer coach Wiegand doubles up with girls gig
There’s little doubt Jordan Wiegand loves soccer. So much so that he’s willing to tackle a rare coaching double. Already established as a WPIAL champion boys soccer coach at Pine-Richland, Wiegand now will lead the Rams’ girls program as well. He was hired as girls soccer coach at Pine-Richland’s school...
After 28 years, Hampton boys basketball will have a new coach
For the first time in 28 years, Hampton boys basketball will have a new coach after longtime leader Joe Lafko retired with nearly three decades at Hampton under his belt. Hampton will turn the program over to a former player under Lafko. Joe Cangilla, 35, was a standout basketball and...
Shady Side Academy’s Chelsea Hartman, Fox Chapel’s Rowan Gwin test mettle at New Balance nationals
The strategy for the transition from high school to college track wasn’t going to be one that Shady Side Academy track coach Jeff Perlis wanted Chelsea Hartman to take lightly. Competing at the New Balances Outdoor Nationals was a good first step toward adjusting to Brown University. Hartman competed in...
Bethel Park notebook: Makenzie Wade, Belinda Bova play in softball all-star game
The inaugural Western PA Softball All-Star Game between Team Gold and Team Black took place June 18 at Plum High School. Team Black won the game, 7-4. Many of the WPIAL’s top senior players participated in what was termed “a celebration of the 2024 spring season.” Two girls from Bethel...
Bethel Park baseball continues program’s tradition of deep postseason runs
Bethel Park advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A baseball championship round riding a five-game winning streak and with a 9-2 record in the second half of the regular season. Penn-Trafford, the Black Hawks’ opponent, strung together a 13-game winning streak this season and had won 17 of its last 19...
Riverview’s Lola Abraham selected Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Soccer Player of the Year
Lola Abraham enjoyed one of the most prolific high school careers in WPIAL girls soccer history, and that included a 2023 senior season when she scored 77 goals and added 20 assists to help lead the Riverview girls soccer team to the WPIAL and PIAA title games. A bevy of...
Josh Shields hopes to stay close to Burrell wrestling program despite departure as coach
When Josh Shields stepped down as Burrell head wrestling coach a couple of weeks ago, he wanted to convey to the returning underclassmen that while he won’t have the same title, he wants to be present to help them reach their goals. “Hopefully, I will be able to volunteer at...
Trib 10: State finalists, champs top final baseball, softball power rankings
Only two district teams won state diamond gold this spring, and both were on the softball field at Penn State. The WPIAL had four teams reach the PIAA softball championship game, and two came home with the gold — Thomas Jefferson in Class 5A and undefeated Neshannock in 2A. Elizabeth...
WPIAL will tweak girls basketball sections to move Greensburg Central Catholic to 3A
The WPIAL must amend its girls basketball section alignment for next season to move Greensburg Central Catholic from Class 2A to 3A. The reigning WPIAL champs were promoted to the higher classification by the PIAA competitive-balance rule. However, that move wasn’t known by the WPIAL administration and basketball committee while...
WPIAL girls lacrosse players earn postseason honors from USA Lacrosse
Sixteen WPIAL girls lacrosse players were honored by USA Lacrosse earlier this week with postseason honors. Players were named All-American and All-Academic by the USA Lacrosse organization. Mars senior midfielder McKenna Merritt was named the Jackie Pitts award winner, which recognizes players who go above and beyond in service to...
Newly hired boys basketball coach Brandon Sensor sees Shaler as ‘right opportunity’
When Brandon Sensor resigned at Chartiers Valley four months ago, the boys basketball coach insisted that wouldn’t be the end of his coaching journey. His tenure there ended undesirably, but that didn’t mean he’d take just any job. “I wanted the right opportunity,” said Sensor, who believes he has found...
Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school softball rankings for June 19, 2024
The 2024 high school softball season is in the books, leading to the final weekly Trib HSSN state softball rankings of the year. Two schools repeated as PIAA champions this spring — North Penn in 6A and Blue Mountain in 4A. Neshannock won its second 2A state championship in three...
Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school baseball rankings for June 19, 2024
It’s the final edition of the Trib HSSN state baseball rankings for the 2024 season. There was one team that successfully defended its 2023 state title as District 6 power Bald Eagle repeated as PIAA Class 2A champion with a victory over District 11 champion Tri-Valley. Landisville Hempfield in 6A,...
Derry’s Mazzoni wins javelin championship at New Balance Nationals
What does it take to become a national champion? For javelin thrower Sophia Mazzoni, it was hours upon hours of training that propelled her to one of the highest mountaintops in all of track and field: placing first in the New Balance Nationals on June 16 in Philadelphia. The Derry...
Trib HSSN baseball player of the week for June 18, 2024Video
Trib HSSN baseball player of the week: Ben Ryan School: Indiana Class: Senior Position: Pitcher, third base #Earned: Even though Indiana came up just short of winning a state baseball championship, senior Ben Ryan did what he could last week with his arm and bat. In the PIAA semifinals, Ryan,...
Senior softball players enjoy relaxed atmosphere of inaugural all-star game
Temperatures hovered in the mid 80s under a setting sun as Team Gold and Team Black gathered Tuesday evening for a celebration of the 2024 WPIAL softball season. Many of the region’s best senior players tested their skill in the inaugural Western PA Softball All-Star Game, a relaxed and fun...
Trib HSSN softball player of the week for June 18, 2024Video
Trib HSSN softball player of the week: Zoe Krizan School: Thomas Jefferson Class: Senior Position: Center field #Earned: One of the more amazing postseason runs by a district softball team in history continued in likely fashion this past week. WPIAL runner-up Thomas Jefferson fell behind District 6 champion Central Mountain,...
Shaler poised to hire boys basketball coach Brandon Sensor
Former Chartiers Valley boys basketball coach Brandon Sensor is close to returning to the WPIAL. Sensor is the recommended candidate to be hired at Shaler, according to the agenda for Wednesday’s school board meeting. He would replace Rob Niederberger, who resigned in April after nine seasons. Shaler is coming off...
WPIAL reveals updated section alignments for winter sports including basketball, wrestling
The big-school classification in WPIAL boys basketball is getting a little bigger this winter, but not big enough for more than two sections. The addition of Fox Chapel, North Hills, Connellsville, Woodland Hills and Imani Christian gave the WPIAL 16 boys teams in Class 6A, which the basketball committee chose...
Trib HSSN softball team of the week for June 17, 2024Video
Trib HSSN softball team of the week: Neshannock Lancers Coach: Jackie Lash (fifth year) Record: The Neshannock softball team celebrated three championships this spring. They finished 12-0 to win Section 1-2A by two games over Laurel. The Lancers then claimed a third straight WPIAL title with a 3-0 victory over...
Former Norwin star Jenna Lusby hired as Jeannette girls basketball coach
When her playing career ended, Jenna Lusby often played pickup to satisfy her basketball needs. That is what hoop junkies and gym rats do. (Lusby is fine with those labels because they suit her.) One of her stops was LA Fitness in Greensburg. Not only did she meet her future...
Notable changes to the 2024-25 WPIAL boys golf alignment
The WPIAL released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports, and changes will be implemented starting this fall. This summer, the Tribune-Review will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports. Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL boys golf season: 2023 WPIAL championships WPIAL...
PIAA to appeal Beaver County judge’s decision that kept Aliquippa in 4A football
The PIAA is taking its legal battle with Aliquippa to Commonwealth Court, hoping to undo a Beaver County judge’s ruling that says the Quips can play football in Class 4A next season. Common Pleas Judge James Ross on Monday denied a request from the PIAA to put his May 23...
Plum set to host inaugural senior all-star softball game
Many of the top senior softball players in the WPIAL will gather Tuesday evening for an all-star game at Plum High School. The inaugural Western PA Softball All-Star Game between Team Gold and Team Black is set for 8 p.m., a change from the original 6 p.m. start time. Players...
