High School category, Page 1034
One WPIAL football team expects hundreds of fans at its opener: South Fayette
South Fayette’s football team will travel two hours for its season opener, but there is an obvious silver lining. By playing a game out of state, the Lions can have a couple of hundred of their fans in the stands. “It worked out perfect,” coach Joe Rossi said. South Fayette...
Coronavirus cases create tangled web of WPIAL football schedule changes
Times are changing these days because of the coronavirus. That means changing minute by minute. Because of covid-19 issues, several schools have made adjustments to their football schedules. Kiski Area paused football activities until Sept. 10 due to a coronavirus exposure issue. Elizabeth Forward pushed back the start of in-person...
Kiski Area football reschedules postponed games
Earlier this week, the Kiski Area football team was forced to postpone its first two games of the season because of a covid-19 exposure. The Cavaliers suspended all football activities until Sept. 10 and had to postpone matchups against Penn Hills and Connellsville. But, the Cavaliers now have it all...
Franklin Regional looks to stay healthy, put rare losing season in rearview mirror
Injuries have proven costly to the success of the Franklin Regional football program the past few seasons. The Panthers usually have the players to compete with anyone in Class 5A as long as they stay healthy. That hasn’t occurred recently. Franklin Regional went 4-5 in 2019, suffering its first losing...
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...
Latrobe looks to get back to postseason, take next step
After reaching the WPIAL playoffs two years in a row on the heels of an eight-year drought, Latrobe feels a sense of accomplishment. But don’t expect the Wildcats to be satisfied. Resting on their laurels won’t sit well with the coaching staff. “You can’t just be satisfied with getting there,”...
Penn-Trafford ready to ride Carr toward postseason
Skill, speed, depth and potential. All typical traits of a Penn-Trafford football team heading into a new season. Seemingly, every season. Coach John Ruane rarely has a void to fill as he and his staff groom players each year to replace current standouts — a focus on today with an...
After rare playoff miss, Woodland Hills aims for normalcy
It just doesn’t happen. It’s not supposed to happen, Woodland Hills missing the WPIAL playoffs. But last year, the unthinkable became reality. For the third time in three decades and first time since 1995, the Wolverines were on the outside looking in at the postseason. It was a drag around...
High school roundup for Sept. 3, 2020: Shady Side Academy golfers win tri-match
Charles Troutman and Wes Warden shot 35 to lead Shady Side Academy to victory over Fox Chapel and Kiski Area in a Section 8-AAA boys golf tri-match Thursday at Pittsburgh Field Club. Shady Side shot 193, Fox Chapel 197 and Kiski Area 232. Aidan Oehrle led Fox Chapel with a...
Norwin’s Sydney Gray verbals to VMI for soccer
Norwin is used to churning out NCAA Division I girls soccer talent. It is practically a yearly occurrence for the perennial power. College coaches know where to find high-caliber players who will fit into their system. Sydney Gray became the latest player from the school to choose a D1 program...
Legislation that gives schools say on spectators moves closer to Gov. Wolf’s desk
Before WPIAL football teams kick off next week, state lawmakers may send a bill to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk that would let more spectators attend interscholastic events. “I absolutely think that’s a real possibility,” said state Rep. Mike Reese, R-Westmoreland, the primary sponsor of House Bill 2787. “I think that’s...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Another D1 offer for Penn-Trafford football
A fourth player on the Penn-Trafford football team has an opportunity to play Division I football. Junior Cade Yacamelli, a wide receiver and defensive back, was offered a spot at Penn of the Ivy League. An athletic 6-foot, 190-pounder, Yacamelli could see time as a ball carrier this season for...
3 from WPIAL make volleyball All-American watch list
Pitt recruit Makayla Jackson of Plum leads a talented trio from the WPIAL selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Under Armor All-American Watch list. Jackson, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter, is joined on the lengthy list by Burgettstown libero Avery Havelka and Geibel senior setter Shannon Watkins. Havelka and Watkins...
Standout Izzy Laurita returns to Belle Vernon soccer team
Senior Izzy Laurita has rejoined the girls soccer team at Belle Vernon. Laurita left the Leopards last season after three games, citing injury concerns and the risk of losing her college scholarship. With covid-19 shutting down the spring season she would have had with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy, Laurita grew...
Connellsville readies for ‘year we’ve been waiting for’
Connellsville’s Marko Thomas does not just sound like a coach giving lip service following a down season. His inflection is proof he means what he says. “This is the year we’ve been waiting for,” Thomas said. “I really think you’re going to see a much-improved team. We were extremely young...
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...
Greensburg Salem seeks right chemistry in pursuit of 700th win
Don’t get too used to the starting lineup Greensburg Salem football coach Dave Keefer rolls out in the opening game. Or, the following week. Or, maybe even the one after that. “We are going to try a lot of things and move guys around until we find something that works,”...
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...
Highlands looks to pick up where it left off
Toward the end of last football season, Highlands started to hit a stride. In their final three games, the Golden Rams went 1-2, but losses to South Fayette and Latrobe came by a combined five points. They also produced three of their five highest-scoring outputs of the season. Despite losing...
With rising numbers, Indiana sees bright future
As Brandon Overdorff begins his third season as coach at Indiana High School, he’s starting to see an improving future. “When I took over, our numbers were in the 30s,” Overdorff said. “Now we’re close to 60, and I’m excited about the future. The offseason was really good until the...
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...
With Teddy Ruffner in backfield, Mars targets postseason success
In 2005, Mars finished with a 5-5 record after a Class AA first-round playoff loss to Burrell. That was the last time the Fightin’ Planets had a non-winning season. Lately, however, Mars has mastered regular season success, but the Planets aren’t aligning come playoff time. From 2006-15, Mars was able...
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...
High school roundup for Sept. 2, 2020: Fox Chapel golfers sweep
Fox Chapel’s top five players all broke 40 in a tri-match victory over Hampton and Knoch at Pittsburgh Field Club on Wednesday. The Foxes shot 191, Hampton 205 and Knoch 234. Eli Yofan and Owen Delaney shared medalist honors at 1-over 37. Aiden Oehrle, David Fuhrer and Zach Paper shot...
Belle Vernon linebacker’s name starting to carry weight with college recruiters
Cole Weightman sees himself playing on a big college stage some day, maybe digging in behind the defensive line, his speed gauge set to downhill, with an eye toward ruining Saturdays for opposing quarterbacks. But the emerging linebacker at Belle Vernon also might have a career as a salesman. Watch...
