High School category, Page 381
Leechburg boys prepare for season of change with new coach, new-look roster
There is a lot of newness around the Leechburg boys basketball team. Andrew McDermott takes over for longtime Blue Devils coach Damian Davies, who stepped down after last season. McDermott and his staff of young coaches, including his brother Ryan, Dylan Romaniw and Caleb Orendi, are Leechburg grads. They take...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 21, 2023
High schools Football WPIAL championships Friday’s schedule At Acrisure Stadium Class 4A Aliquippa (11-0) vs. McKeesport (11-1), 8 p.m. Class 3A Belle Vernon (10-1) vs. Avonworth (12-0), 5 p.m. Class 2A Steel Valley (10-1) vs. Beaver Falls (8-5), 2 p.m. Class A South Side (13-0) vs. Fort Cherry (14-0), 11...
High school roundup for Nov. 21, 2023: Armstrong hockey picks up win
Jake Graf scored twice to lead Armstrong to a 5-3 victory over Bishop McCort in PIHL Class 2A hockey Tuesday night. Jonas Miller and Jason Rullo each had a goal and an assist for Armstrong (1-6). Sammy Treager had a hat trick for Bishop McCort (3-4-1). Cathedral Prep 8, Baldwin...
In WPIAL championship rematch, Avonworth poses threat to Belle Vernon repeat bid
Avonworth and Belle Vernon were having spells of déjà vu, even a little total recall, as they prepared to meet for the second year in a row for the WPIAL Class 3A football championship. Many of the same players suited up for the title at Acrisure Stadium a year ago...
WCCA all-star volleyball event has successful 2nd year at Ligonier Valley
The traditions at Thanksgiving are endless. The turkey trots, the parades and don’t forget about Charlie Brown. In Westmoreland County, volleyball enthusiasts were hoping the Westmoreland County Coaches Association All-Star Game continued a tradition that started last season and evolved into a second year Tuesday night at Ligonier Valley High...
WPIAL Class 2A football championship preview: Steel Valley vs. Beaver Falls
A rematch is set in the second of four title games Friday at Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore of Pittsburgh in the Class 2A championship game. Defending district champion and top seed Steel Valley will go up against the Cinderella team of the WPIAL football postseason, No. 10 Beaver...
WPIAL Class A football championship preview: Fort Cherry vs. South Side
It will be a battle of unbeaten teams in the first of four title games at Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore of Pittsburgh in the Class A championship game. Undefeated and No. 2-seeded Fort Cherry will battle unbeaten and top-seeded South Side in what should be the perfect lid-lifter...
Latrobe soccer player Ava Yurko chooses Youngstown State
Add another Division I college soccer commit to the list at Latrobe. On the same day she was named to the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All-State list, junior defender Ava Yurko announced Tuesday a verbal commitment to Youngstown State, bringing the Latrobe girls’ total of D-I commits in the last...
Hired at last minute, new coach begins rebuilding process for Ligonier Valley girls
She first excelled on the basketball court as a talented player in a remote, northeast corner of Westmoreland County before continuing on as a successful coach at the now defunct St. Clair school, where she is the all-time leading scorer. Later on, Laurel Valley icon Christy Hajjar enjoyed more prosperity...
Former players remember football coach Al Mauro, who led Plum and Burrell teams to WPIAL titles
Coaches are teachers without the classroom. Al Mauro, a career middle school and high school teacher, certainly fit the bill. “Abby” as he was known by family, friends and players, died Nov. 11 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 80. In his career as high school football...
Led by high-scoring offense, stingy defense, South Side, Fort Cherry followed similar path to WPIAL Class A final
South Side football coach Luke Travelpiece can see the Rams’ battle for the WPIAL Class A championship against Fort Cherry going many ways. Both teams have explosive offenses. Those offenses are complimented by tremendous defenses. “Both teams average more than 40 points a game,” Travelpiece said. “I think you’re going...
Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school football rankings for Nov. 21, 2023
As the playoff field dwindles following the first round of the 2023 PIAA football playoffs, changes are in the air in the latest Trib HSSN PIAA football rankings. Several head-to-head clashes and other results led to two changes each in Class 6A, 5A and 2A and one change in the...
Dozen from WPIAL named to girls’ soccer all-state list
The Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association announced its girls all-state list Tuesday. Twelve from the WPIAL were selected, including three of the four goalkeepers, in seniors Aris Lamanna of Franklin Regional, Serayah Leech of Moon and Kate McEnroe of Mars. The list also included this year’s Moe Rosensteel Award winner, midfielder...
Talented roster should help ease transition for new Knoch girls coach
At first glance, Shane McGraw looks to be stepping into a tough situation as the new Knoch girls basketball coach. After Knights coach Chris Andreassi resigned in September, Knoch hired McGraw as his replacement in October, only about a month before practice kicked off for the season. However, McGraw served...
7-foot center, super sophomores make Knoch a team to watch
In basketball, there are big men, and then there are really big men. At 7-foot, 260 pounds, Knoch sophomore Zane Pacek certainly falls into the latter category, especially at the high school level. Knights coach Alan Bauman said Pacek reminds him, in appearance, of former Oklahoma State All-American center “Big...
Ligonier Valley boys look to pick up tempo, build on win total in tough section
It’s just Ligonier Valley’s misfortune. Since rejoining the WPIAL in 2020, the Rams have played in a section that has produced a District 7 champion in each season. In 2020-21, South Allegheny won the Class 3A title, followed by Shady Side Academy in 2021-22. Deer Lakes took the prize in...
No guarantee WPIAL welcomes back Farrell, if District 10 approves school’s transfer
Farrell wants to come back to the WPIAL after almost two decades in District 10, but a potential homecoming for the Steelers is no guarantee. First, Farrell needs approval from the District 10 committee, which denied a similar request to leave eight years ago. Even if District 10 agrees this...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 20, 2023
High schools Football WPIAL playoffs Class 4A Championship Friday’s schedule Aliquippa (11-0) vs. McKeesport (11-1) at Acrisure Stadium, 8 p.m. Class 3A Championship Friday’s schedule Belle Vernon (10-1) vs. Avonworth (12-0) at Acrisure Stadium, 5 p.m. Class 2A Championship Friday’s schedule Steel Valley (10-1) vs. Beaver Falls (8-5) at Acrisure...
High school roundup for Nov. 20, 2023: Chartiers Valley beats Avonworth in battle of hockey unbeatens
Matthew Colberg made 24 saves to earn the shutout as Chartiers Valley defeated Avonworth, 3-0, in a battle of unbeaten teams in PIHL Class A hockey Monday night. Noah Callender, Tyler Held and Darien Strosnider scored for CV (8-0). Danny Mack made 28 saves for Avonworth (6-1). Burrell 3, Connellsville...
Kiski Area girls raring to go after snapping playoff drought
Abbie Johns has her plans set for next season as the Kiski Area senior recently signed a National Letter of Intent to join the women’s basketball team at Shippensburg. A Section 1-5A first-team all-star and Valley News Dispatch first-team selection, Johns is one of four starters back from a team...
Kiski Area boys look to build off near-upset in WPIAL playoffs
As the No. 14 seed for last year’s WPIAL Class 5A boys basketball tournament, Kiski Area was a decided underdog against a North Hills team searching for its first WPIAL title. On paper, that is. The Cavaliers didn’t back down from the formidable challenge. They led North Hills into the...
Trib HSSN high school football team of the week for 2023 Week 12
Avonworth coach Duke Johncour has been part of the program for the last 22 years. While this season the Antelopes are a perfect 12-0 heading into the WPIAL Class 3A championship game Friday at Acrisure Stadium, there were some years early on in his days wearing red and white when...
WPIAL continues investigation of racial slurs in Mohawk-Burrell football game
The WPIAL investigation is ongoing into allegations that racial slurs were used in a Burrell-Mohawk football game. Members of the WPIAL Equity Council for Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Competency continued to review information after meeting last week with representatives from the two schools, WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said Monday....
Latrobe boys basketball wants to restore playoff tradition
Latrobe didn’t make the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs for the second consecutive season in 2022-23. That’s unusual for a program that has been a consistent postseason participant. The Wildcats’ goal is to right the ship and get back into the playoffs. “It’s difficult to swallow,” Latrobe boys coach Brad Wetzel...
Riverview’s Lola Abraham wins Moe Rosensteel Award as top WPIAL girls soccer player
One of the most prolific goal scorers in the state, Lola Abraham of Riverview, was named the recipient of the fifth Moe Rosensteel Award, given to the WPIAL’s best girls soccer player. Abraham, a Pitt commit, led the Raiders to their first WPIAL championship appearance and a runner-up finish in...
