High School category, Page 258
With young roster, Indiana expects growing pains
Indiana coach Brad Wright is preaching patience heading into the 2024 season. “We’re really going to have a young football team,” said Wright, who’s entering his third season with the Indians. “It will be a growth year for us. … We just ask for patience and understanding that we’re building...
‘Phenomenal’ growth spurt lifts Hampton’s hopes
The Hampton Talbots return their starting quarterback from last season, but you might not recognize him. Second-team all-conference QB Porter Kelly hit an offseason growth spurt that transformed the senior, lifting the Talbots’ hopes along with it. “He was a little guy,” Hampton coach Steve Sciullo said. “He looks like...
Tough nonconference schedule to sharpen Mars for playoff push
Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Aug. 23. Due to production scheduling conflicts, the McKeesport preview will appear later this month. Mars coach Eric Kasperowicz prefers a tough nonconference schedule to prepare the Fightin’...
Position switch has Apollo-Ridge’s Mackintosh eager for new season
Corey Mackintosh was a stalwart at inside linebacker last year for Apollo-Ridge. The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder also worked in at defensive end. But a switch in position to outside linebacker in the offseason has the Vikings senior excited to see how he can contribute to what he and his teammates hope...
Norwin grad Cam Auld set to be named boys basketball coach at alma mater
It looks like Cam Auld is coming home. Norwin will vote Monday to hire Auld as boys basketball coach, according to school board agenda. A Norwin alum and former basketball player for the Knights, the 26-year-old Auld has been the boys coach at Greensburg Salem for the last two seasons,...
Volleyball star, WPIAL championship team headline Pine-Richland hall of fame class
Jamel (Nicholas) Debri hasn’t been back to Pine-Richland since she graduated nearly two decades ago, but before going to Notre Dame, she left her imprint on the Rams’ volleyball program. Debri was a standout on Pine-Richland’s only state championship volleyball team in 2005 and is one of the members of...
7-on-7 competition goes well for Franklin Regional
Franklin Regional coach Lance Getsy isn’t making any preseason predictions based on his team’s performance in 7-on-7 passing competitions, but he sees progress in the repetitions and value in the effort. Franklin Regional had a shot at winning Pool A of the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Larry Sellitto Memorial 7-on-7...
Hampton boys golf team welcomes new look
Hampton first-year golf coach Terry Hales has much in common with his golfers this season. Almost all of them are new to the Talbots. Hales, who replaced longtime coach Bruce Steckel, inherits a roster that returns only one golfer from a 5-11 team. “I’m just really excited and looking forward...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: With pads on, ‘it’s the start of a new year’
After a week of “heat” practices and noncontact drills, WPIAL football teams can begin hitting in full pads Monday with the official start of practice. That means the start of the regular season is less than two weeks away, with Week Zero games set to kick off Aug. 23. Teams...
TE Mac Bresnahan wants to be top target in Franklin Regional passing game
When Franklin Regional needed to make a big play in the passing game the past two seasons, Ayden Hudock delivered. Hudock caught 42 passes for 957 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022 and had 48 catches for 803 yards and 11 scores in 2023. But Hudock has graduated, and senior...
Hempfield QB Dom Detruf hoping to be cleared after checkup by cardiologist
Hempfield senior quarterback Dom Detruf will see a cardiologist Tuesday for further evaluation of his acute myocarditis, an inflamed heart condition that could limit his participation in training camp and beyond. The cardiologist is Dr. Aryan Aiyer, who also treats Pittsburgh Steelers players. Detruf participated in heat acclimation week, which...
Norwin coach leads title-winning U.S. effort at Fargo nationals
Kyle Martin doesn’t make the annual trek to Fargo, N.D. for the scenery, the Badlands or props from a movie with the town’s namesake. The Norwin wrestling coach travels across the country to win championships while allowing his athletes to experience the thrill of high-level competition. Martin led the Pennsylvania...
After eventful offseason, new coach out to continue Aliquippa’s tradition of excellence
Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Aug. 23. Mike Warfield surprised many this summer when he stepped away as Aliquippa’s football coach, but his successor was preparing for that day for a while. Warfield,...
Led by versatile Brock Cornell, West Allegheny determined to finish stronger
Over the last couple of years, West Allegheny has shown signs of a potential return to the program’s championship ways. Unfortunately, those signs have been fleeting. The Indians went 6-5 last season, falling in their last three games, including the first round of the Class 4A playoffs to Latrobe, 39-7....
New Castle wants to turn the tide under new coach
Fred Mozzocio played for New Castle in the 1980s, so the team’s new head coach understands the tradition of Red Hurricanes football. Growing up, he and his friends would be in the classroom gazing out onto the field, wishing that someday they could play for the Red Hurricanes. “There’s an...
Montour has experience to contend in Class 4A Parkway Conference
With many players back in the black and gold last fall, there were expectations for success for Montour. While the Spartans came up short of their ultimate championship goal, finishing 10-2 with a trip to the WPIAL semifinals is not too shabby. “We had an excellent season,” Montour coach Lou...
New Blackhawk coach focusing on staying in the moment
Jake Wickline isn’t worried about Blackhawk’s struggles of the past or its challenges of the future. He’s all about the here and now. Wickline was hired as the Cougars’ new head coach in February, becoming the third person to lead the program in a six-month stretch. “This job opening came...
Ambridge hopes patience pays off for experienced senior class
Sherm McBride admits that he has discovered the meaning of one, very important word over the last three years as the head football coach at Ambridge. “Patience,” said McBride, the former Aliquippa standout tasked with turning around a Bridgers program that has struggled over the last decade. “It’s all about...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 9, 2024
High schools Golf Friday’s results Boys Tri-CADA Championship At Nemacolin CC Individual scores 1. Colton Lusk, Peters Township 71. 2. Griffin Hansberry, Peters Township 73. 3. Shane Williams, Peters Township 74* 4. Sam Bishop, South Fayette 74. 5. Camden Reyes, Peters Township 75. 6. Finn Sobehart, Peters Township 76*. 7....
Derry tackle Collin Barkley is the Trojans’ ironman
Every once in a while, Derry senior Collin Barkley will raise his hand to tell coach Mike Arone he needs a break. It doesn’t happen often. “It’s very rare he comes off the field,” Arone said. “Typically that’s one play and he’s back in the game. He’s a true ironman...
After run to WPIAL semifinals, Moon sets expectations high
After having a bounce back season last year, the Moon football program is looking to make another deep run in the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. The Tigers improved on their 2022 performance (1-9 overall, 1-4 in the Allegheny Six Conference) by finishing 6-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play last...
Loaded with experience, Bethel Park sets championship goals
Bethel Park was in the fight for first place all season in the Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference in 2023. Same as the previous year, the Black Hawks ended up tied for second with Upper St. Clair and Moon with a 3-2 record in conference play. Despite going 4-7 overall,...
Baldwin aims to change fortunes with turnaround season
Baldwin has not reached the football postseason since 2019. Since then, the Fighting Highlanders have generated records of 2-3, 2-8, 1-9 and 1-9. They are hoping they are able to change their fortunes on the gridiron this year, although it may prove to be an uphill climb. Dana Brown had...
Fit to be tied after missing playoffs, Upper St. Clair poised for big season
Forget about tiebreakers or wild cards, Upper St. Clair’s mission this fall is to win enough conference games to clinch a playoff spot without any help. They got no help last year. The Panthers were excluded from the playoffs despite an eight-win record that was among the best in WPIAL...
South Fayette hopes success in other sports bolsters football program
This fall, the South Fayette football program will be led by new faces on the field, but they aren’t new to having successful seasons representing the Lions in other sports. Junior Drew Wehorsky will step under center for the Lions, who were 4-6 overall and 1-4 in the Class 5A...
