High School category, Page 1033
WPIAL Class 6A football breakdown: NA, Central Catholic cream of shrinking crop
The expansion to six classifications four years ago has been a bonanza for many of the WPIAL classes. Close regular season battles for playoff berths have led to some nail-biting moments in the postseason. That has not been the case for the WPIAL’s largest classification. While the number of teams...
Gateway junior Patrick Body Jr. becomes 2nd Gators safety with Pitt offerVideo
There’s already a four-star safety in Gateway’s senior class, but now there’s a Power 5 defensive back in the junior class as well. Gateway junior Patrick Body Jr. announced his first Power 5 offer from Pitt on Wednesday, joining senior Derrick Davis as sought-after teammates for the defending WPIAL Class...
Westmoreland boys soccer preview: Franklin Regional chasing 3rd straight WPIAL title
Forty-two wins, 33 shutouts, 15 goals allowed. The numbers speak for themselves at Franklin Regional, where the boys soccer program has put together quite a two-year run. The Panthers have all but monopolized the space on stingy defense with a deliberate style of play that, paired with some exceptional homegrown...
Bishop Canevin ready to rebuild brick by brick
Building takes time … brick by brick. There are steps to every project, and levels that need to be achieved. New Bishop Canevin football coach Richard Johnson hopes to establish a solid foundation this season and begin to rebuild the proud program at Bishop Canevin. Brick by brick. “It’s a...
Defending WPIAL champion Clairton motivated, loaded with talent
Wayne Wade doesn’t need any motivation to prepare his football team for the 2020 season. That’s because the Clairton Bears have a chip on their shoulder. “Our season ended a little early last year,” Wade said. “We lost to Farrell in the PIAA Class A semifinals in a game we...
Greensburg Central Catholic brings size, skill in Eastern Conference race
Averaging 6-foot-21⁄2 and 255 pounds, Greensburg Central Catholic’s linemen will cast shadows at the line of scrimmage and give the Centurions room to operate on each side of the football. “I’d imagine that has to be one of largest lines in Single-A,” coach Bret Colbert said. “They are all at...
New coach, young Imani Christian roster ready for ‘interesting season’
One thing is for sure about the Imani Christian Academy football program: They’re in good hands with veteran coach Cliff Simon taking over. The school’s athletic director took over March 13 after previous coach Ron Heard became an assistant principal at Woodland Hills. Simon’s job won’t be easy. He’s inheriting...
Talented skill players set to lead Jeannette in Eastern Conference
Jeannette was flying high nine games into the 2019 season. But consecutive losses to the WPIAL Class A finalists ended what Roy Hall hoped would be another title run. Jeannette fell to eventual WPIAL champion Clairton in the Eastern Conference finale and then lost to Sto-Rox in the opening round...
Leechburg incorporates Air Raid offense under 1st-year coach
A new era is coming to Leechburg football, and new coach Randy Walters is ready to take the Blue Devils to new heights. Since accepting the job in March, Walters has focused on the finer points of putting his stamp on the program. He and his coaching staff have revamped...
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...
Westmoreland County coaches give The Birdie the old ‘social distancing’ treatment
The Birdie has been asked to social distance before so the concept is not altogether new to the local prep football expert. “More than 6 feet, usually,” he said. “More like six football fields. Sometimes I wonder if people don’t really like me.” Even before covid-19 wrapped its claws around...
Ligonier Valley had plenty of success on long and winding road back to the WPIAL
Ligonier Valley, the WPIAL’s newest member, didn’t depart the district five decades ago and make its way back this season in a straight line. There were many twists and turns along the way. When the school left the WPIAL for the Mountain Conference on Dec. 12, 1968, it wasn’t an...
The Birdie whistling a happy tune now that football is back in the A-K Valley
The TribLive HSSN high school sports staff logged on to a video conference call for the annual high school football preseason meeting. The editors and writers started discussing the plan for the upcoming season, how they would handle the restrictions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, and how this season might work...
Run vs. Pass: Fast-paced, high-scoring offenses finding a home in Alle-Kiski Valley
When Shawn Liotta took over the Burrell football program two years ago, he brought a fast-paced and exciting passing offense with him. The Bucs quickly adopted the motto “Play Fast” as they operated with a no-huddle, run-and-shoot offense that lights up the scoreboard and set a PIAA record for most...
Waldier brothers hope to provide winning combination for Yough football
It’s been a little more than a year since Tristan Waldier’s sophomore season at Yough came to a drastic, premature end. The Cougars’ starting quarterback suffered a season-ending injury after a hit to the knee during a Week Zero matchup against Serra Catholic Aug. 23. The injury occurred after Waldier...
Jeannette superintendent sends letter to Gov. Wolf concerning fan limitation
Jeannette’s fan base is about as loyal as they come in the WPIAL. Devoted fans follow the Jayhawks wherever they go, especially in football. Remember, this is a town that sold chunks of grass from McKee Stadium when the longtime home field went to artificial turf last year. Some people...
Philadelphia high school football player collapses, dies after practice
La Salle College High School football player Isaiah Turner collapsed and died following his team’s Friday practice, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. He was 17. Turner was rushed to Chestnut Hill Hospital where he was pronounced dead, La Salle’s director or marketing and public relations, Chris Carabello, told The Inquirer. The...
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...
Young, inexperienced Ligonier Valley to be tested in Class 2A Allegheny
A new chapter in Ligonier Valley history starts Sept. 11. Ligonier Valley returns to the WPIAL after spending the past 50 years playing football in District 6, including the past five seasons as one of the most dominant teams in Class 2A. The Rams went 60-7 over the span, including...
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...
Avoiding slow start key as Steel Valley aims for return to playoffs
Looking back with 20-20 hindsight, the Steel Valley football team needed some time to get its bearings at the start of last season. The core players who led the Ironmen to three consecutive WPIAL Class 2A title games — including championship seasons in 2016 and ‘18 — had moved on....
High school roundup for Sept. 4, 2020: Moon girls golf stays unbeaten
Rhianna Firmstone took medalist honors with a 40 and Moon stayed undefeated after four matches with a 171-202 Section 1-AAA girls golf victory over North Allegheny on Friday at Pittsburgh North GC. Alizabeth Cross shot 41 and Marley Leach 43 for Moon. Katie Rankin led North Allegheny with a 41....
