Michael Love stories, Page 108
With support of teammates, Freeport QB Garrett King ready to overcome cancer diagnosis
Garrett King was at the top of his game and eager to take over the quarterback reins for the Freeport football team. The 6-foot-1 junior was gearing up for the start of the season, but a trip to his doctor Aug. 31 for a routine yearly physical yielded some distressing...
Freeport beats Deer Lakes for 10th consecutive time
Freeport’s recent dominance over Deer Lakes continues. The Yellowjackets defeated the Lancers, 29-7, on Friday in the season opener at Freeport. It was their 10th straight victory in the series between the Class 3A Allegheny Conference rivals. “I am really proud of the boys,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “We...
Gateway girls soccer aims to peak early in season
The Gateway girls soccer team came within penalty kicks of ousting No. 2 Plum in the first round of last year’s WPIAL Class AAA playoffs. But the Mustangs prevailed 2-1, dealing the Gators a heartbreaking end to their season. Coach Kelly Bender had a more optimistic tone when talking about...
Gateway boys soccer to rely on deep senior class in quest for playoff berth
The Gateway boys soccer team is focused on a return to the WPIAL playoffs for the first time four seasons. With a sizable group of returning starters and other contributors, the Gators are optimistic they can get the job done. “There has been a lot of talk about a lot...
Riverview runners chasing WPIAL, PIAA gold
When Mason Ochs broke the tape at the finish line at last year’s WPIAL Class A cross country championships at Cal (Pa.), he realized his dream of becoming a WPIAL champion. The Riverview senior also had a smile on his face knowing he, along with fourth-place individual finisher and fellow...
A-K Valley don’t-miss high school football matchups for Week 1
Here’s a look at some don’t-miss matchups in the A-K Valley for Week 1: Class 5A northeast Fox Chapel at No. 1 Pine-Richland 7 p.m. Friday, Pine-Richland Stadium, Gibsonia The Foxes and Rams meet for the first time since 2015 when both were members of the Northern Eight Conference in...
A-K Valley high school football players to watch for Week 1
Dylan Cook Leechburg, sr., QB The veteran quarterback hopes for many opportunities in the Blue Devils’ new “air raid” offense. Cook returns after throwing for 949 yards and eight touchdowns last season as Leechburg went 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the Eastern Conference. Sophomore wideout Braylon Lovelace and senior tight...
Alle-Kiski Valley girls soccer preview: Burrell back for more
The Burrell girls soccer team made program history last year with an undefeated regular season and its first section title since 2005. The Bucs, who bowed out of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs in the quarterfinals, saw a large group of seniors move on, including Valley News Dispatch Player of...
Young Freeport hopes to make impression in revamped conference
Youth will be served on the Freeport football team as underclassmen will be featured at several key positions. “There is a lot of good competition, including some younger players, freshmen and sophomores who got some good playing time last year,” said veteran coach John Gaillot, who welcomes back just five...
WPISL opens season with varsity games, JV tournament
The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Softball League kicked off its season over the weekend, and in varsity league play Sunday and Monday, Baldwin, Ellwood City, Seneca Valley and Montour picked up doubleheader sweeps. Baldwin stopped Mt. Pleasant twice, while Ellwood City took its twinbill against Hempfield. The Highlanders and Wolverines averaged...
Coach optimistic Fox Chapel can make strides in Class 5A
Tom Loughran has a keen appreciation for the competition in WPIAL Class 5A. “Let me say first that 5A has the best collection of teams where anyone can beat you on any given night. You have to come ready to play,” the veteran Fox Chapel coach said. “Everybody in our...
Noel Roach, Penn Hills eye return to championship game
Noel Roach remembers fondly the run to WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championship in 2018. He and his Penn Hills teammates hope to renew those feelings this fall. “Every day we just want to go in and work hard to get better,” the senior wide receiver and defensive back said....
WPIAL Class 4A football breakdown: Road to title goes through Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson began its 2019 season with a dominant victory over Canon-McMillan and ended it in Hershey with a 46-7 rout of Dallas for the PIAA Class 4A title. In between, the Jaguars rolled in and out of conference play and added their eighth WPIAL title since 2004. They outscored...
New Riverview coach hopes to turn around program’s fortunes
A new era has begun for Riverview football. Trevor George, a Carlynton grad and most recently an assistant at Blackhawk, takes over the Raiders program. He hopes to bring a wide-open philosophy to the offense and a new explosiveness to the defense. So far, the new start seems to be...
Springdale hopes to start strong against rival
The last shall be first as Springdale prepares for what it expects to be a season unlike any other. When the WPIAL revamped schedules because of the coronavirus pandemic, Riverview, the Dynamos’ chief Class A Eastern Conference rival, was moved from the regular-season finale to Sept. 11, the new season-opening...
Cross country coaches make tweaks to run meets, generate ‘enthusiasm, optimism’
With the hope of having a fall high school season and understanding meets most likely would take a form unlike any before, cross country coaches throughout the WPIAL collaborated with each other and others from across the country to develop ideas as well as generate enthusiasm and optimism. Pennsylvania teams...
Depth, experience to fuel Apollo-Ridge in quest for postseason
No matter where Apollo-Ridge coach John Skiba turns on the practice field, he sees a returning starter. Experience abounds for the Vikings, who hope to build on last year’s 7-4 overall record and WPIAL Class 2A playoff appearance. The team also hosted its first postseason game since 2014. “I and...
Increased numbers, returning talent fuel Serra Catholic in quest for success
Serra Catholic battled No. 4 Neshannock in last year’s WPIAL Class 2A first round before falling, 31-17. Eagles fourth-year coach Jose Regus said despite the playoff loss, much was gained by his players throughout the 2019 campaign, which finished with a 6-4 overall record. With increased numbers — from 23...
With numbers up, Shady Side Academy grateful for chance to play this season
Shady Side Academy’s football team made headlines last year when low roster numbers and injuries conspired to cause the forfeit of a Week 5 conference game at Apollo-Ridge. But the players regrouped, and the next week, they defeated conference foe Summit Academy to solidify their position in the WPIAL Class...
Pitt women’s volleyball releases fall schedule
In accordance with a design developed by the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Pitt women’s volleyball team will play eight matches this fall against four regional conference opponents. The three-time defending ACC champion Panthers released their schedule Friday morning. They will face Syracuse, Boston College, Notre Dame and Louisville. Play begins...
Gateway keeps focus on championship opportunities
Gateway captured a WPIAL championship last year, its second district football title in three years and seventh in the storied history of the program. The Gators return this season with similar intentions, and they also hope to make another run to Hershey after falling in the state semifinals a season...
Armstrong hopes to improve depth throughout lineup
Armstrong went to battle with a rather young and inexperienced team last year, and coach Frank Fabian said that, compounded with a rash of injuries to key players, led to a record he and his returning players hope to improve on this fall. “We found out that our depth was...
Move to Class 4A feels like perfect fit for Hampton
Dawson Dietz says it’s a perfect fit. After several seasons competing as one of the smallest teams in Class 5A, Hampton dropped down to Class 4A, and it landed among similar programs in terms of both size and geography. “Mars Week 1, that’s going to be the most exciting game...
Realignment lets Knoch reunite with familiar foes
The Knoch football team has a clear goal in mind this season. The Knights are focused on returning to the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2014, and with a core group of starters back along with others ready to make an impact, coach Brandon Mowry is optimistic his...
Plum hopes to make a splash in move to new classification
After several years of play in WPIAL Class 5A, Plum turns its attention to a new venture this season. The Mustangs are one of the several teams to make the move to Class 4A, and coach Matt Morgan said the change, along with a large group of starters back, presents...
