High School category, Page 1145
WPIAL playoffs the goal for Shady Side Academy boys basketball
The Shady Side Academy boys basketball team finished last season with a 9-12 record and lost to Lincoln Park in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. Despite losing four players to graduation, coach David Vadnais believes the Indians have a good shot at returning to the postseason....
Senior class put stamp on Penn-Trafford girls soccer program
Sarah Nguyen, Megan Giesey and Emma Rain are familiar faces in the Penn-Trafford girls soccer program. The seniors were four-year starters for the Warriors, who took second place in Section 3-AAAA, advanced to the WPIAL playoffs and finished with a 12-7 record. “Having three girls that have started since they...
Successful season falls short of ultimate goal for Penn-Trafford
The Penn-Trafford football team has high standards, and with that comes championship aspirations. So, when the clock hit zeros Nov. 15 and a 28-10 loss to Peters Township in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals marked the end of the road for the Warriors, it provided a tough ending to an...
Thomas Jefferson finally clears Cathedral Prep hurdle
The referee held his hands only a few inches apart. Facing fourth and inches at its own 40, that was the distance Thomas Jefferson needed for a first down late in Friday night’s fourth quarter. It also represented just how close the Jaguars were to finally defeating three-time defending state...
Central Catholic’s Johnathan Opalko makes another game-winning kick to down State College
Whether it’s on a soccer pitch or a football field, when the game is on the line, Central Catholic’s Johnathan Opalko wants the ball on his foot. For the second straight week, Opalko drilled a game-winning field goal. Last week, it was a 40-yard kick at Heinz Field to capture...
High school scores, summaries and schedule for Nov. 22, 2019
Football WPIAL Championships Saturday’s schedule Class 5A Peters Township (12-1) vs. Gateway (11-2) at Norwin, 6 p.m. Class 2A Washington (13-0) vs. Avonworth (13-0) at Norwin, noon PIAA playoffs Class 6A Quarterfinals Friday’s results Central Catholic 24, State College 21 Downingtown West 48, Coatesville 36 St. Joseph’s Prep 45, Nazareth...
Young Greensburg Salem girls basketball looks for playoff return
To reach the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs for the second consecutive season, third-year coach Rick Klimchock must find a scoring punch. The Golden Lions finished 12-11 last season and ended the campaign with a 51-37 postseason loss to McKeesport. Gone from that team through graduation is Megan Kallock, who averaged...
Fox Chapel boys basketball team rallies around defense
At the end of practice, most teams come together in a circle, put their hands in and say one, two, three and then their team name. The Fox Chapel boys basketball team puts its own twist on it. They say, “One, two, three, defense!” To those who follow the Foxes,...
Greensburg Salem boys out to surprise opponentsVideo
A late-season losing streak of seven games derailed plans of a second consecutive WPIAL playoff appearance for the Greensburg Salem boys basketball team. The Golden Lions were 3-4 in Section 1-5A and were in line for a playoff run until a couple injuries occurred. “We were down to six or...
Memorable moments from a championship night for Thomas Jefferson
The Thomas Jefferson football team won its fourth WPIAL title in five years with a 41-7 victory over Belle Vernon in the Class 4A championship game Nov. 16 at Heinz Field. Here’s a chronological look from the sidelines at the game’s most memorable moments. FIRST QUARTER • The game’s opening...
Thomas Jefferson makes itself at home at Heinz Field
Heinz Field has become a second home for the Thomas Jefferson football program. The Jaguars have advanced to the WPIAL finals five years in a row and 11 times in Bill Cherpak’s legendary 25-year coaching career. The top-seeded TJ gridders, who own a remarkable 85-1 record with 34 shutouts since...
New coach works to instill confidence in talented Fox Chapel girls roster
When Marty Matvey arrived to take over the Fox Chapel girls basketball program this summer, he quickly realized there was talent from top to bottom in the lineup. His goal from that point forward has been to put that talent in the best possible position to be successful on the...
WPIAL Class 5A football final primer: Gateway vs. Peters Township
WPIAL Class 5A championship No. 2 Gateway (11-2) vs. No. 5 Peters Township (12-1) 6 p.m. Saturday, Norwin Knights Stadium On the air: TribHSSN.triblive.com; 95.3 FM Coaches: Don Holl, Gateway; T.J. Plack, Peters Township Winner plays: The winner of District 12 champion Archbishop Wood (9-3) in the PIAA semifinals Nov....
WPIAL survey asks: Should every football team make the playoffs?
Would you be interested in every WPIAL football team making the playoffs? That’s one of nine questions the WPIAL asked member schools in a survey that will shape schedules, conferences and playoff formats for the 2020 and 2021 football seasons. Today was the deadline to respond. The WPIAL would need...
Roster out for ESSMC WPIAL Girls Soccer Classic
Players have been named for the first East Suburban Sports Medicine Center WPIAL Girls Soccer Classic on Saturday at Franklin Regional’s Panther Stadium in Murrysville. The showcase event begins at 1 p.m. There could be one or two all-star games, depending on the turnout. The event is for All-WPIAL and...
WPIAL Class 2A football finals primer: Washington vs. Avonworth
WPIAL Class 2A championship No. 1 Washington (13-0) vs. No. 2 Avonworth (13-0) Noon Saturday at Norwin Knights Stadium On the air: TribHSSN.triblive.com; 95.3 FM Coaches: Mike Bosnic, Washington; Duke Johncour, Avonworth Winner plays: Winner of District 10 champion Wilmington (11-0)/District 9 champion Ridgway-Johnsonburg (11-1) in the PIAA semifinals Nov....
Chartiers Valley senior Maclain Zajicek makes quick rise as rower
That Maclain Zajicek chose to pursue athletics came as no surprise. As the youngest of six siblings, she watched her brothers and sister excel at Chartiers Valley: • Madison played soccer; • Mitchell played football and wrestled; • Noah played soccer and lacrosse; • Caleb played soccer, basketball and lacrosse;...
Penn Hills defense piles up postseason awards
Even though their season ended earlier than they expected, Penn Hills football players were well represented when it came to postseason honors. The Indians (10-2, 7-0) saw their season end with a 35-20 loss to McKeesport in a WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal Nov. 8. However, 20 Penn Hills players and...
North Allegheny swimmers make NCAA Division I commitments
North Allegheny senior Rick Mihm has signed a letter of intent to compete for the nationally ranked Stanford men’s swimming team next season. Mihm, 18, of Marshall, is a three-time PIAA and four-time WPIAL Class AAA champion in the boys 200-yard individual medley and 500 freestyle. He holds the WPIAL...
Hampton’s Resch sees opportunity with Seton Hill soccer
Not long ago Hampton senior soccer standout Ali Resch was thinking about hanging up the cleats after high school. But two camp experiences at Seton Hill over the summer revitalized her love for the game. So it only was natural when the Division II school offered her a scholarship, she...
New Shaler wrestling coach ready to take on challenge
Ethan Swope knows his first head coaching opportunity will be more about development than team success. Swope, Shaler Area’s first-year wrestling coach, will take over a Titans roster with 10 wrestlers. Having low numbers will make it difficult to compete in dual meets, which feature matches in 14 weight classes....
Talented veteran Shaler indoor track team sets sights high
Shawn Ryan wants everything to be on the right course for the Shaler Area indoor track team. The Titans have a number of returning state qualifiers pursuing school records and state medals. Shaler will have about 30 athletes competing during the winter season, including a travel roster of about 20....
High school roundup for Nov. 21, 2019: Franklin Regional stages third-period rally
Trent Lunden and Kevin Cakanac each had three goals and an assist to lead Franklin Regional to a 7-4 victory over Armstrong in PIHL hockey Thursday night. Franklin Regional (5-1-0) rallied from a one-goal deficit with four goals in the last nine minutes of the game. Ethan Prugh scored twice...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 21, 2019
Football WPIAL championships Saturday’s schedule Class 5A Peters Township (12-1) vs. Gateway (11-2) at Norwin, 6 p.m. Class 2A Washington (13-0) vs. Avonworth (13-0) at Norwin, noon PIAA playoffs Quarterfinals Class 6A Friday’s schedule Coatesville (10-2) at Downingtown West (12-1), 7 p.m.; Nazareth (12-1) vs. St. Jospeh’s Prep (9-2) at...
Latrobe wrestler Gabe Willochell signs with Edinboro
Latrobe senior Gabe Willochell was one of six wrestlers to sign letters of intent to attend Edinboro. Willochell is a two-time PIAA Class AAA placewinner, finishing fourth at 132 pounds in 2019 and sixth at 126 in 2018. He is ranked No. 3 in the PIAA Class AAA preseason rankings...
