High School category, Page 775
GCC’s Corinn Brewer brings home gold in final WPIAL cross country race
In her final WPIAL cross country race, Corinn Brewer wouldn’t let anyone take away her goal of capturing championship gold. The Greensburg Central Catholic senior, second in the Class A girls race last year, brought home the title at Cal (Pa.) on Thursday with a time of 21 minutes, 17.8...
Riverview boys finally grab WPIAL cross country team championship
The Riverview boys cross country team was stuck in a scene from the movie “Groundhog Day” for the past several years. The Raiders, from 2016 through last year, had finished runner-up to Class A team champion Winchester Thurston. That changed Thursday at Cal (Pa.). Riverview, led by an experienced group...
Ringgold sophomore overcomes fall to win WPIAL cross country title
Ringgold sophomore Ryan Pajak overcame a fall to claim his first WPIAL Class 2A cross country title Thursday at Cal (Pa.). Pajak, who won the race by 35 seconds, stumbled going down the hill near the one-mile mark. “I went face first,” Pajak said. “I just got up and continued...
Moon’s Mia Cochran runs to 3rd straight WPIAL cross country crown
Mia Cochran trains with the Moon boys cross country team. That was the reason the first thought on her mind after crossing the finish line Thursday was concern for one of her training partners who had a medical issue following the boys race. “I believe he’ll be OK,” Cochran said...
Westmoreland football notebook: GCC will take on different look in WPIAL playoffs
Greensburg Central Catholic has clinched a spot in the WPIAL Class A football playoffs, but the team the Centurions roll out in the opener might be unrecognizable compared to the one fans have seen all season. That is because the Centurions have to sit five transfers, all two-way starters, for...
Trib HSSN don’t-miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 9
Welcome to Week 9 and the final two days of the WPIAL regular season. Fifty-seven district football teams have punched their ticket to the 2021 WPIAL playoffs with 16 more clinching this weekend. Don’t miss the 2021 WPIAL Football Playoff Pairings Show, set for Saturday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m....
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 9
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 9: Harper Conroy South Park, Jr., QB/CB Conroy (6-6, 205) completed 12 of 20 passes for 142 yards in last week’s 28-6 loss at Mt. Pleasant. The Eagles (2-6, 2-3) can clinch a playoff berth with a Class...
Chick’s Picks certainly not a green thumb when it comes H.S. football Gardner Points
Welcome to Week 9. As we enter the final week of regular season play, all eyes are on the postseason. Amid the playoff hype, we hear a lot about clinchings, final rankings, and perhaps the most enigmatic factor of all — Gardner Points. What are Gardner Points anyway? This is...
2-time defending champion Westinghouse, Allderdice again to play for City League championship
Nobody is ready yet to compare the current Westinghouse High School football program to the one that won 12 of 13 City League titles from 1954-66, and that suits Bulldogs coach Donta Green just fine. “I try to tell our guys to live in the moment,” Green said. “The past...
Through the years: In 1961, Oakmont handled fledgling Fox Chapel
Each Friday throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the games, players and events that are part of local scholastic history. In 1961, Oakmont defeated first-year Fox Chapel, 19-6, behind two touchdowns from John Miceli and an 85-yard punt return by...
A-K Valley boys athlete of the week: Nash Wedner, Fox Chapel
Nash Wedner Class: Senior School: Fox Chapel Sport: Hockey Report card: Wedner posted a 23-save shutout in a 1-0 victory over Freeport last Monday. He has a 4-0 record with a 1.25 goals against average and a .952 save percentage this season. The Foxes were off to a 4-0 start...
High school roundup for Oct. 27, 2021: West Allegheny dethrones Mars
Mason Day had two goals and three assists to lead first-seeded West Allegheny to a 6-0 victory over No. 8 Mars (13-5-2), the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion, in a Class 3A boys soccer quarterfinal Wednesday night. Will Douglas and Johnny Dragisich scored two goals apiece for West Allegheny (20-0),...
Plum shakes off nerves, shuts out Thomas Jefferson in WPIAL quarterfinals
Before a WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal matchup against Thomas Jefferson started Wednesday night, Plum coach Rafal Kolankowski noticed his team was a bit stiff. Nerves were getting to the Mustangs, an expected reaction for a relatively young team playing in big game. Once the game started, though, the nerves weren’t...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Oct. 27, 2021
High schools Field hockey WPIAL playoffs Class 3A Finals Saturday’s schedule Pine-Richland vs. North Allegheny at Washington & Jefferson, 7 p.m. Class 2A Finals Saturday’s schedule Penn-Trafford vs. Fox Chapel at Washington & Jefferson, 5 p.m. Class A Finals Saturday’s schedule Aquinas Academy vs. Shady Side Academy at Washington &...
Franklin Regional rallies from 2-goal deficit, beats Kiski Area in WPIAL 3A quarterfinals
An early two-goal deficit can stun some teams in the WPIAL soccer playoffs. It seemed to inspire Franklin Regional. Let’s just say the Panthers took offense to it. The third-seeded Panthers responded in waves after an early charge from No. 6 Kiski Area, scoring five consecutive goals on the way...
Knoch girls cross country team ‘ready to run’ at WPIAL championship meet
The WPIAL cross country championships return to Cal (Pa.) on Thursday after a one-year covid hiatus, and the Knoch girls team hopes to be a major factor in the team and individual standings. Five of six runners from last year’s Class AA fifth-place team are back, and coach Wess Brahler...
Westmoreland WPIAL soccer playoff capsules for Oct. 28, 2021
Thursday’s games Girls Class 4A Quarterfinals 5-Norwin (13-4) at 4-Seneca Valley (14-3-2) 6:30 p.m., NexTier Stadium, Jackson Township Winner plays: Winner of 9-Fox Chapel (9-7-1)/1-North Allegheny (16-0-1) on Monday (time, site TBD) Notes: Norwin has overcome a number of injuries tto stay in the thick of the 4A title chase....
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 28, 2021: Cross country championships back at Cal (Pa.)
In the last two decades, the WPIAL has moved the district cross-country championships to various venues across the area. The century started with the event being held at Slippery Rock University, then it was switched to the nearby Coopers Lake course in Butler County for over a decade. In 2018...
A-K Valley WPIAL soccer playoff capsules for Oct. 28, 2021
Today’s games Girls Quarterfinals Class 4A 9-Fox Chapel (9-7-1) at 1-North Allegheny (16-0-1) 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Newman Stadium, McCandless Winner plays: Winner of 4-Seneca Valley (14-3-2)/5-Norwin (13-4) on Monday in semifinals (site and time TBD) Notes: Fox Chapel, the third-place team from Section 3 behind Latrobe and Norwin, secured a...
Trib 10: Tough year for defending WPIAL champs in power rankings
My, how the top cats from a year ago have fallen in 2021. Defending WPIAL champions Pine-Richland in 5A, Beaver Falls in 2A and Jeannette in A struggled out of the gate, and while the Rams and Tigers have rebounded, they remain absent from the Trib 10. Now 4A defending...
Westmoreland soccer notebook: GCC’s Winnor out for playoffs
If Greensburg Central Catholic makes another WPIAL title run in girls soccer, the Centurions will have to do so without senior Bethany Winnor. The senior midfielder and New Hampshire recruit is out after having surgery on her right ankle on Friday. She is expected to miss four months. “I had...
There’s no disguising Birdie’s ability to pick Westmoreland County winners
Last week: 8-4 (66.7%) Season: 79-31 (71.8%) With a fingernail flick, a piece of candy corn soars across the office and hits a copy editor on the back of the head. “It’s good!” the Birdie shouts, raising his fists into the air and disturbing a lifestyles writer and a news...
Westmoreland County don’t miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 9
Class 6A Norwin (3-6, 1-5) at Hempfield (2-7, 0-6) 7 p.m. Friday, Spartan Stadium, Hempfield Norwin appeared to keep flickering playoff hopes alive with a 16-7-win last week over Canon-McMillan. Dom Barca ran for 124 yards and scored two touchdowns, including a school-record 95-yard run. Joey Castle kicked a 32-yard...
With TJ out of picture, Belle Vernon, McKeesport battle for conference crown
When people talk about which team will win the Big Eight Conference, the conversation usually is centered on Thomas Jefferson, which has won the past two WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A titles. But that’s not the case this year. The conference title will be decided by the winner of Friday’s...
Westmoreland County football players to watch for 2021 Week 9
Kory Ansell Southmoreland, sr., OL/DL Ansell has 54 tackles, 10 tackles for losses, five quarterback sacks and three fumble recoveries this season. The senior also has received interest from numerous colleges. He will try and help the Scotties lock up a playoff berth at South Park on Friday night. Dan...
