High School category, Page 823
‘The Dude’ abides on Ligonier Valley offensive line
Before the 2020 season, Ligonier Valley football coach Roger Beitel talked to a few college coaches about their opinions about offensive linemen. The Rams were returning a two-year starter at center in Jude Grzywinski and Beitel was considering moving him to another position. The coaches advised Beitel to be strong...
2021 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the tight ends
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top tight ends for the 2021 season. 1. Charlie Kreinbucher Butler Senior, 6-5, 230 Kreinbucher is a strong pass catcher and blocker committed to Akron, but few WPIAL football...
Senior linebacker making name for himself at Kiski Area
Anyone who plays football at Kiski Area is bound to receive a nickname from head coach Sam Albert and his coaching staff. For Brayden Dunmire, his ability to deliver the goods early in his varsity career earned him the moniker “Stick.” “When he was a freshman, I put him in...
Plum plans encore after historic season
Plum football enters this fall in a position it hasn’t been in since 1983: defending conference champion. The Mustangs had a banner year in 2020, going undefeated in the Greater Allegheny Conference, and they were within three points of knocking off eventual state champion Thomas Jefferson in the WPIAL semifinals....
Big, experienced line leads charge for Mars
Mars senior left tackle Matt Detisch spent this offseason doing bear crawls on a big hill at his home. “I would take a 100-pound sandbag and I’d walk it up and down a bunch of times until I’m tired,” he said, “almost puking.” The 6-foot-7, 290-pound Detisch and the Mars...
Knoch determined to get back to winning ways
There is optimism in Saxonburg. Knoch football coach Brandon Mowry said his players — including nine starters back on both offensive and defense — carry the experiences of a challenging 2020 season with them and are using it to propel themselves this fall. “We played a lot of underclassmen last...
Indiana pushing for winning season
Like so many coaches, Brandon Overdorff has so many questions. Are we big enough? Are we strong enough? Are we fast enough? Can we compete? Indiana, currently the easternmost WPIAL member school, is preparing to chase another winning season, something that has escaped the Indians in Overdorff’s first three years...
Highlands looks to leave playoff drought in past
Chandler Thimons enters his third year as the Highlands starting quarterback hoping to help snap the Golden Rams’ five-year playoff drought. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound signal caller said he developed a high degree of optimism through the team’s work in the offseason. “This team has a really special bond this year,”...
Hampton determined to build on playoff season
Hampton all-conference wide receiver Benny Haselrig played last season with the letters “IWNBD CH” written on his wrist tape. The cryptic message stood for “I Will Not Be Denied — Carlton Haselrig,” a tribute to Benny’s cousin, the former NCAA wrestling champion and Pittsburgh Steeler who died in July 2020...
With experienced roster, Greensburg Salem ready to add to win total
The highlight of the 2020 Greensburg Salem football season was reaching the 700-win milestone. Other than that, the season didn’t play out as coach Dave Keefer and his Golden Lions had hoped. Greensburg Salem finished 1-6 in the WPIAL Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference in a covid-19 shortened season. But...
WPIAL’s leading passer makes Armstrong dangerous
Cadin Olsen burst onto the WPIAL football scene last year by throwing for more than 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns in his debut season as the Armstrong quarterback. Olsen led the WPIAL in passing yards and earned All-State honors. Now a junior, he’ll look to put together an encore performance,...
High school sports scores for Aug. 19, 2021
High schools Golf Boys Thursday’s results Nonsection Greensburg Salem 231, Gateway 282 Medalist: Mike Kingerski (GS) Ligonier Valley 217, Central Cambria 238 Medalists: Logan Smith (LV), 39; Ian Mulligan (CC), 43 Pine-Richland 199, North Catholic 220 Girls Thursday’s results Nonsection Fox Chapel 186, Shaler 247 Medalists: Nina Busch (FC), 40;...
Former Pine-Richland football coach Eric Kasperowicz suing district, officials for defamation in federal court
Former Pine-Richland head football coach Eric Kasperowicz has filed a federal defamation lawsuit against the school district and several top officials claiming they damaged his reputation by publicly accusing him of knowing about hazing and bullying in the football program and failing to report it to authorities. Kasperowicz was informed...
Highlands’ new-look offensive line showing potential
Last year, a Highlands offensive line that included four seniors opened holes for the run game and protected the passer who averaged 300 yards a game as the Golden Rams finished 4-3 in the Greater Allegheny Conference and challenged for a WPIAL playoff spot through the final week of the...
Latrobe QB Bobby Fetter displays leadership, perspective for Wildcats
When Bobby Fetter learned he might not be able to play football again after he separated his left shoulder for a third time and needed surgery, the Latrobe senior gained a measure of perspective. He didn’t ask for pity, and he didn’t pout. Instead, he used his consternation to help...
2021 WPIAL golf season primer
High school golf season at a glance Boys Class 3A • Defending champion: Franklin Regional won its first WPIAL title and sent two players to the PIAA tournament, also a program first. The Panthers are not exactly facing a rebuild: They return seniors Zach Abdallah and Jeff Anderchak, both high-30s...
2021 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the wide receivers
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top wide receivers for the 2021 season. 1. Robert Dickerson North Hills Senior, 6-0, 185 Nobody can accuse Dickerson of being one dimensional. The two-sport star did a little...
Shaler out to end losing streak with new offense
Luke Cignetti and the Shaler football team are ready to show everyone their offense may have a little more zip this season. The junior running back is excited for the Titans to demonstrate their new wrinkles. “We seem to be clicking and firing on all cylinders,” Cignetti said. “As long...
After offseason upheaval, Pine-Richland has something to prove
Pine-Richland is a defending WPIAL and PIAA champion, but the Rams aren’t focused on last year. At this point, that undefeated season seems long ago. “Even though we won a state championship, I feel we have a chip on our shoulder,” senior Jeremiah Hasley said. “There’s a lot of doubt...
Penn Hills ready to tackle front-loaded schedule
Luke Pugliese doesn’t anticipate having to wait until the Penn Hills football team opens Class 5A Northeast Conference play in early October to find out what kind of team the Indians have. The Penn Hills senior offensive lineman sees the challenges lurking from day one. Penn Hills will have scrimmages...
New dual-threat QB brings excitement to North Hills
North Hills is talented and experienced on defense this season, and a little bit Green at quarterback. But that’s just fine. Speedy junior John Green will take over under center, giving the Indians a dynamic dual-threat quarterback as they try to return to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs following a...
With more preparation, Kiski Area expects strong start to season
Matt Hilty is hoping this season at Kiski Area can start and remain normal after a 2020 fall that was anything but. The senior two-way starter and second-team Class 5A Northeast Conference all-star at linebacker was part of a Cavaliers team that had to make do without much preseason preparation...
Fox Chapel looks to ride deeper roster into postseason
After a brief interlude as a playoff contender last season following a two-game winning streak, Fox Chapel fell back and missed a WPIAL playoff spot. But with a number of returning players and the expansion of the playoff field back to the pre-pandemic four teams from each conference, the Foxes...
Greensburg Central Catholic girls golf team looks to continue its dominance
There hasn’t been a more consistent Class AA girls golf team in the WPIAL or state than Greensburg Central Catholic. The Centurions have won six consecutive WPIAL titles and have finished first or second in the PIAA for six consecutive seasons, winning in 2018 and ’19. North East, from District...
10 WPIAL players make All-American games watch list
The 2021 High School All-American soccer games will be played Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla. The WPIAL might have quite a showing on a national stage. Ten senior players from the district are on the All-American games watch list, which came out Wednesday, including eight girls. Selections will be announced...
