High School category, Page 1030
Shaler volleyball hopes to ride experience into postseason
Sierra Ricci knows this isn’t the type of year she can ease back into the lineup. The defensive specialist for the Shaler Area girls volleyball team is returning to the lineup after missing last season with an ACL tear. But because of covid-19, the Titans will only play Section 1-4A...
Wilkins steps into No. 1 singles role for Shaler tennis
Olivia Wilkins didn’t want to come into her senior tennis season unprepared. She took private lessons a few days a week over the summer to prepare for the daunting task of taking over the No. 1 singles spot on the Shaler Area girls tennis team. Wilkins knew taking the top...
Signal Item girls soccer preview: Chartiers Valley chasing playoff berth in competitive section
Girls high school soccer teams that succeeded last fall begin this season trying to build on that momentum while those who stumbled look to a new year as a building block. Such it is for the Chartiers Valley girls soccer team. Last season, the Colts missed the playoff for a...
Signal Item boys soccer preview: Carlynton has championship potential
The 2020 high school sports season is underway. A season once thought to be in jeopardy of being canceled or possibly moved to the spring has kicked off for athletes playing football, field hockey, volleyball, golf, tennis, cross-country and soccer. Four area boys soccer teams reached the WPIAL playoffs a...
Thomas Jefferson boys soccer to rely on depth, defense in move to Section 3-3A
The overriding factor in all facets surrounding the Thomas Jefferson boys soccer program — as at all area schools — is the coronavirus pandemic. “Up to this point, everyone is healthy and ready to play,” coach Michael “Doc” Kulish said. “We follow all state and district policies from the beginning...
Chapla, Johnston return to lead Baldwin girls volleyball
Two mainstays in the Baldwin girls volleyball team are Alexa Chapla and Heidi Johnston. Both are juniors and third-year varsity players. Chapla and Johnston are the only returning starters from the 2019 playoff team; seven seniors graduated from that squad. “I am excited about the team this year,” coach Chris...
Penn-Trafford boys golf looks to contend for section title
At the midpoint of WPIAL golf season, the Penn-Trafford boys team was in the thick of the Section 1-AAA race after defeating Latrobe and Indiana. After losing to Norwin in a first-place showdown Sept. 10 to fall to 4-2, the Warriors were just behind the Knights (5-1) and Indiana (4-1)....
Return of rivalries energizes Penn Hills girls soccer program
The Penn Hills girls soccer program is optimistic heading into the season as the Indians look to see how their mix of seasoned veterans with an influx of young talent will fare against new competition. The Indians, who finished with 5-11-2 overall and 1-10-1 in Section 3-AAAA last season, will...
Interest in Penn Hills boys soccer on the rise
The Penn Hills boys soccer team might not have experienced success in recent years in the win column. However, the Indians believe they’ve turned the corner as interest in the program is at its highest in recent times. The Indians, who finished 2-7 overall and 1-13 in Section 3-AAA action...
Pine-Richland girls soccer coming together under new coach
With Villanova commit Megan Donnelly leading the offense, four-year starting goaltender Katherine Kelly in net and nearly a full cast of returning starters, Pine-Richland feels good about its chances to build on last season’s playoff appearance. Their new coach, Rachelle Dixon, also has them thinking positively. “Coming into a new...
Late-season success breeds optimism in Pine-Richland boys soccer program
For all of the growing pains Pine-Richland endured a year ago, the team showed just as much promise during coach Jordan Wiegand’s first season. The Rams believe they can be contenders, but know they can’t have a slow start like last season’s 1-4 section record, a hole too big to...
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...
North Allegheny boys soccer focused on finishing chances
In soccer coach Bobby Vosmaer’s view, his North Allegheny boys need to finish their scoring chances to keep their season from ending early again. That’s an added emphasis. “Just capitalize on our chances,” he said. “We always can create chances. But we’re not always putting them away. That’s the one...
New coach set to lead Hampton girls volleyball
The 2020 season will be most memorable for Hampton coach Annie Bozzo. In fact, it already is. Bozzo, a Shaler graduate, took over as bench boss of the Hampton girls volleyball team this summer, replacing former coach Mike Hansen. “Being new to the program and being in a new section,...
Newcomers step into key roles for Hampton girls tennis
The coronavirus pandemic has had a dramatic effect on the Hampton girls tennis program. The Talbots are starting almost from scratch this season. “For a variety of different reasons, we had a number of returning players not try out this year. It certainly could have been covid-related,” coach Grant McKinney...
Fox Chapel basketball star Eli Yofan trades his soccer cleats for golf clubs
Throughout the winter months, Fox Chapel junior Eli Yofan made a name for himself on the basketball court as he led the Foxes to an almost perfect regular season and a WPIAL Section 3-6A championship. It came just a few months after Yofan played a big role in the Fox...
The Birdie happy to be back watching football in the A-K Valley
“It’s here! It’s here! It’s finally here!” The Birdie came into the Valley News Dispatch office Tuesday screaming at the top of his lungs and threw a Labor Day weekend’s worth of notes into the air in celebration. At least that was what he said he did. He forgot no...
Burrell, Valley looking forward to another ‘Battle of the Bypass’
Before last year, Valley had dominated the “Battle of the Bypass” rivalry with Burrell, winning six straight. But when the airways opened up last season, quarterback Alex Arledge and the Bucs took home their first victory in the rivalry since 2012 with a 20-0 shutout, and they are looking forward...
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...
Trib HSSN football players to watch in Week 1
Here are four WPIAL football players to watch during Week 1: Khalil Dinkins North Allegheny, sr., WR/OLB Dinkins caught 16 passes for nearly 400 yards and six touchdowns last season for the Tigers, who are ranked No. 2 in Class 6A. A Division I prospect, Dinkins is the son of...
High school football schedule for Week 1
Friday WPIAL Class 6A Canon-McMillan at Central Catholic, 7 p.m. Hempfield at Norwin, 7 p.m. Nonconference Baldwin at Hollidaysburg, 7 p.m. Penn Hills at North Allegheny, 7 p.m. (HSSN) Class 5A Allegheny Six Bethel Park at Upper St. Clair, 7 p.m. (1020 AM, HSSN) West Allegheny at Moon, 7 p.m....
WPIAL football preseason rankings
Class 6A 1. Central Catholic (12-2) 2. North Allegheny (10-2) 3. Seneca Valley (4-7) 4. Mt. Lebanon (7-5) 5. Baldwin (5-6) Class 5A 1. Pine-Richland (10-2) 2. Gateway (12-3) 3. Peters Township (12-2) 4. Upper St. Clair (7-5) 5. South Fayette (10-2) Class 4A 1. Thomas Jefferson (16-0) 2. McKeesport...
Westmoreland County high school football players to watch for Week 1
Zach Cernuto Southmoreland, sr., QB Cernuto is a four-year starter who has thrown for 3,731 yards by completing 257 of 493 passes with 34 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. He lost his top receivers from a year ago and will break in a few new ones, including returning tight end Anthony...
Nevermind the calendar, conference title on the line when Jeannette, Clairton clash
When Jeannette dropped to Class A in 2014 and was placed in the Eastern Conference, the final game of the regular season against Clairton was for the conference title. Thanks to the coronavirus, that won’t happen again this season. Because of adjustments to the WPIAL schedule brought on by the...
Trib HSSN don’t-miss high school football matchups for Week 1
Class 6A Canon-McMillan (3-8) at No. #1 Central Catholic (12-2) 7 p.m. Friday, Graham Field in Wilkinsburg Coaches: Mike Evans, Canon-McMillan; Terry Totten, Central Catholic Players to watch: Ryan Angott, Canon-McMillan (Jr., 5-10, 185, RB); Edward Tillman, Central Catholic (Sr., 5-8, 165, RB) Four downs: 1. Junior Ryan Angott will...
