High School category, Page 979
Jeannette football turns season of distractions into memorable run
The Jeannette football team experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat during the 2020 season. It was a season of uncertainty — a shortened season with the specter of covid-19 looming constantly. It also was thrilling, with their 10th WPIAL championship. But Friday, the season ended with...
Highlands’ Slepak gives baseball verbal commitment to Division I Mount St. Mary’s
The day after Thanksgiving, Highlands junior Jett Slepak gave thanks for the opportunity to make a verbal commitment to the baseball program at Division I Mount St. Mary’s. “This is a great opportunity for me,” Slepak said of the Maryland school, which is a member of the Northeast Conference and...
Boys basketball preview: Quaker Valley looking to run with experienced roster
By this point in the year, the Quaker Valley boys basketball team is used to having close to 60 offseason games under its belt, and although they may not matter in the grand scheme of things, those games are crucial. From spring shootouts to summer team camps and leagues, along...
Gateway hockey program focused on development
Gateway hockey coach Shawn Jesih sees a lot of potential in the freshmen and sophomores who make up the majority of the roster. So much so that before the season, he bumped the Gators up from the PIHL’s Tier 3 JV league to Tier 2 knowing it would be a...
Penn Hills boys maintain high expectations under new head coach
Even with a new voice leading the Penn Hills boys basketball program, the mission is still the same — win a WPIAL championship. Chris Giles takes over for Dan DeRose as Penn Hills’ new boys basketball coach. Penn Hills hired Giles on June 29 after DeRose accepted the head coaching...
Pine-Richland seniors cherish trip to PIAA field hockey semifinals
Every sports dynasty has a core molded long before its recognized, a foundation rooted in its relationships and, in Pine-Richland’s case, a “secret sauce.” For the Rams field hockey team, the foundation stems back to the days that seniors Ella Rottinghaus, Elaina Camino, Natalie Loftus and Jordan Landreneau first took...
Girls basketball preview: Shaler to lean on tenacious defense, team speed
Sophomore center Mackenzie Barr expects the Shaler girls basketball team to dig in and defend on every possession. The Titans can count on tough defense entering this season but will be searching for ways to score. Shaler graduated two players, Emily Cavacini and Megan Lacy, who were a big part...
Boys basketball preview: Revamped Shaler roster works to get up to speed
Logan Bernesser’s role on the back of the press for the Shaler boys basketball team is to survey the court. The 6-foot-6 junior forward is in the best spot to protect the rim and help direct his teammates on defense. When he peers out at the Titans this season, he...
Girls basketball preview: Penn Hills has experienced roster, playoff aspirations
With an experienced roster returning, the Penn Hills girls basketball team will look to make a deep run into the playoffs this season. The Indians, who finished 12-13 overall with an 8-5 section record last season, return four starters, including senior guards Amoni Blackwell, Jasmyn Golden and Jayla Golden. Blackwell...
Plum swim teams ready to navigate season
Anticipation for the Plum boys and girls swim teams always is at a high level this time of the year. The swimmers, coach Shawn Haupt said, ramp up training efforts to meet team and individual goals and expectation. Covid safety concerns delayed the start of Plum’s winter athletic seasons —...
Sewickley Academy boys ready to rebound from 1st losing season since 2012-13
The Sewickley Academy boys basketball team is coming off its first losing season since 2012-13 but with a lack of size, and experience, it could’ve been worse. “These are really good kids and we actually overachieved to have the record that we did,” Sewickley Academy coach Win Palmer said. “We...
High school sports scores, summaries for Nov. 28, 2020
High schools Football Saturday’s results PIAA championships At Hersheypark Stadium Class 6A St. Joseph Prep 62, Central York 13 Class 4A Thomas Jefferson 21, Jersey Shore 14 Class 2A Southern Columbia 42, Wilmington 14 Saturday’s summary Class 4A Thomas Jefferson 21, Jersey Shore 14 Thomas Jefferson 7 7 0 7...
Boys basketball preview: Freeport looking to play fast and aggressive
Wayne Greiser and the Freeport boys basketball team are looking to change their ways this season. Even though the Yellowjackets lost eight seniors to graduation, they still could go 10 deep and have a starting five that could interchange at any position. With depth and athleticism on their side, the...
Springdale AD Davis retiring after 21 years leading Dynamos athletics
The Springdale football team took on California to open the 1999 football season. It was the first game for any Dynamos team or individual that fall, and it also marked the first game in the tenure of athletic director Ray Davis. It was a special time for the 1977 Springdale...
Deer Lakes’ Michael Sullivan chosen Valley News Dispatch Boys Soccer Player of the Year
Valley News Dispatch Boys Soccer Player of the Year Michael Sullivan Sr., F, Deer Lakes When Deer Lakes senior Mike Sullivan stepped onto a soccer field, he typically drew the attention of two or three defenders. Anytime an opposing coach revealed a gameplan, either going into a game or afterward,...
Girls basketball preview: Hempfield expects fluid lineup
Over the last two seasons, Tom Brush had a firm rotation for the Hempfield girls basketball team. Unless there was foul trouble or an injury, the lineup didn’t change much. But this season, the Spartans could look different from game to game. “We’ve had a pretty set rotation here,” Brush...
Thomas Jefferson defends title, captures 5th PIAA football championship
HERSHEY — Style points aren’t important to Thomas Jefferson’s football team, or else the Jaguars coaching staff wouldn’t be wearing shorts in 40-degree weather. Saturday’s game wasn’t always pretty, but Thomas Jefferson defended its PIAA title with a 21-14 victory over Jersey Shore in the Class 4A championship in Hershey....
Boys basketball preview: Hempfield ready to pick up pace
Hempfield is in somewhat of a unique situation. While its boys basketball team lost six seniors, it returns two of its top three scorers. Seniors Christian Zilli (12 points per game) and Michael Hosni (10.8 ppg) are back to lead the Spartans (12-11), who finished second in Section 3-6A and...
Plum’s Proviano named Valley News Dispatch Girls Soccer Player of the Year
Valley News Dispatch Girls Soccer Player of the Year Gina Proviano Sr., MF, Plum Gina Proviano remained hopeful there would be a fall high school sports season amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but the Plum senior girls soccer standout knew nothing was for sure as many athletic teams throughout the...
Girls basketball preview: Freeport looks to replace a talented senior class with ‘young’ and ‘athletic’ roster
The Freeport girls basketball team is set to face a tough challenge. After posting an overall record of 17-8 and making a run to the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals and PIAA first round last season, the Yellowjackets will have to replace five seniors, including leading scorer Sidney Shemanksi (12.5 ppg.)...
Franklin Regional’s DiFalco named Tribune-Review Westmoreland Boys Soccer Player of the YearVideo
Player of the Year Anthony DiFalco Jr., F, Franklin Regional Rand Hudson has seen a number of dynamic players over the course of his 28-year coaching career at the college, club and high school levels. He has an eye for talent. But one such player seems to stand out among...
Southmoreland’s Cernuto chosen Tribune-Review Westmoreland Girls Soccer Player of the YearVideo
Player of the Year Olivia Cernuto So., MF, Southmoreland Olivia Cernuto moved to forward this season for the Southmoreland girls soccer team, and the Scotties went forward with her. The Scotties were one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 season as they won their first section title since 2011...
Girls basketball preview: Fox Chapel ready to take next step in coach’s second season
In Marty Matvey’s first year at the helm of the Fox Chapel girls basketball program, the Foxes saw a glimpse of success they are hoping to build on in Year 2. They finished with an overall record of 13-10 and went .500 in a section that included eventual WPIAL champion...
With college choice made, Norwin lefty Jayden Walker itching to pitch
Jayden Walker was finally ready to pitch again last spring, nearly a year after shoulder surgery to fix a damaged labrum. The hard-throwing lefthander was chomping at the bit and pounding his glove in anticipation of taking the mound again. But that was when the covid-19 pandemic had just begun...
Franklin Regional athletes have unprecedented run of success in fall season
Franklin Regional decided the best way to navigate a pandemic during a sports season was to keep playing — and keep winning. The fall sports season, which lived in the shadow of covid-19, turned out to be one for the mantle at Franklin Regional. A number of teams celebrated lengthy...
