Westmoreland high school athletes of the week: Southmoreland’s Amarah McCutcheon, Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 28, 2023 | 6:52 PM

Previous Next

Amarah McCutcheon

School: Southmoreland

Class: Senior

Sport: Volleyball

Claim to fame: McCutcheon, an outsider hitter, delivered a team-high 12 kills to power the unbeaten Scotties (19-0) past Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 3-2, in the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals. Southmoreland, which had an undefeated regular season for the first time, was trying to make the program’s first trip to the semifinals.

McCutcheon is a Division I prospect in softball.

What has this season been like, winning every match?

It’s been a journey, that’s for sure. Our team being able to succeed as much as it has this year is a feeling like no other.

Did you think this team could be this good? Why?

Yes. I think our team chemistry has a lot to do with it. Our whole team, minus a few girls, all play softball. So we do have the experience of playing together. As of now, I think we need to see it through, and we can go far. We have the talent for it.

Were there any nervous moments against OLSH?

I think we were a bit nervous coming into the game. We’ve never hosted a home playoff match for volleyball, so there came some nerves with that. Going into the first set, we started off a bit slow, but as we went through the matches we knew it would come down to how bad we wanted to win that game.

What would a WPIAL title mean to the school?

It would be huge for us. Being that we’ve never really made it far in our playoff runs, I think we have a chance to do that, and we have the support system to get us through it.

What is your role in the rotation?

I am a middle hitter, and I play full rotation.

What do opponents have to prepare for when they play Southmoreland?

We like to hit, we have a very well-ran offense and defense and we are always ready for whatever is thrown our way.

How is your college softball recruiting going?

It is going well. I’m currently talking to a few schools.

Are you nearing a decision?

Hopefully, soon.

What is more exciting: a home run in softball or a set-clinching spike in volleyball?

I love both sports and both are very exciting, but softball just has different atmosphere in my opinion. So I would definitely say a home run.

How have you managed playing travel softball and volleyball at the same time of year?

During the fall, we don’t really travel that much. Our travel team has a lot of multi-sport athletes, so we are a bit all over the place but we do manage to get practices in along with a few tournaments.

If you played football, what position would you play?

Definitely a lineman to take after my dad.

What sport are you secretly good at?

I would probably say basketball. I ended up not playing basketball any more after freshman year due to wanting to focus on softball.

Have you baked anything good in the kitchen lately?

The most recent thing I did were sugar cookies, and they seem to always be a hit.

Did you dress up for Halloween?

Honestly I’m not sure yet. I usually go the day of Halloween to find something because all I do is hand out the candy.

What makes you happy?

Pretty much everything. I’m a very happy person, and I love to spend time with my family and friends.

What makes you sad?

Realizing that it’s senior year and there is going to be a lot of lasts.

Any unique talents or hobbies?

I used to do gymnastics and stopped when I was around 13, so I can still do back-flips and all kinds of moves.

Tyler Pipon

School: Franklin Regional

Class: Junior

Sport: Soccer

Claim to fame: The 5-foot-10, 135-pound midfielder scored both goals, including the winner in overtime, to help No. 11 seed Franklin Regional to a 2-1 upset of Moon in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. The Panthers face No. 2 Hampton on Monday in the semifinals at North Allegheny.

Can you describe the winning goal?

It came off a counter. Moon was putting a lot of pressure on us, and we were able to take the ball away. We got it deep, and I received a perfect pass from Danny Christafano and I kicked it in, bottom left corner, from 20 yards out.

Describe your feeling when it went in.

To be honest with you, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it. It was only my third goal of the season. I’m not a scorer. I’m a distributor.

What’s clicking in the playoffs?

We’re playing with a lot of confidence. The win against Mars sparked us. We believe we can defeat anyone. We’re a better team now, and we’re showing it.

What do you know about Hampton?

They are a good team. We understand the situation.”

Why are things starting to click now?

We started off well and then had a couple setbacks. Then we came together, and I think those losses have motivated us. We don’t want that feeling against after a loss.

When did you start playing soccer?

I’ve been playing soccer since I was 4 years old. My parents signed me up, but I loved it from the start.

Do you or did you play club soccer?

I used to play for Hot Spurs of Pittsburgh.

Was scoring the winning goal against Plum your most memorable moment in high school?

Oh yes. I’ve never had a feeling like that in my life. It was unbelievable.

Do you have a favorite soccer player?

Not really. I guess Lucas Torreira is someone I look up to.

Do you follow the Riverhounds?

They had a great season. Even though they lost in the playoffs, the future looks bright.

Have you ever met someone famous?

Yes. The actor who plays Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) in the Netflix series “Stranger Things.”

Where do you and your teammates head for a snack after a game or practice?

We go to Chipotle. I get a steak burrito with white rice, veggies and all the fixings.

What is your favorite meal your mom makes?

I love steak, mashed potatoes and peas.

Do you have a favorite vacation spot?

I love the beach. I like to relax.

What is the last movie you watched?

I saw “Oppenheimer.”

What type of music do you listen to?

My favorite artist is rapper Kendrick Lamar.

What is last concert you went to?

I went to “A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie” in Pittsburgh.

If you could have dinner with someone famous, who would it be and what would you talk about?

I’d say Jay-Z. We’d talk about his music and life.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Southmoreland