Scholastic Notebook – 09/12/2014

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, September 12, 2014 | 2:14 PM

They haven’t exactly beaten world-class competition, but Norwin is still 2-0. After tonight, the Knights could be in a spot where they haven’t been in 15 years.

Norwin plays at Seneca Valley in a non-conference game. While Seneca Valley (0-2) is trying to find itself, Norwin is trying to go 3-0 for the first time in 15 years.

The last time Norwin was 3-0 was 1999, one of the greatest seasons in Norwin history. The Knights finished 8-4 and made it to the WPIAL semifinals before losing to Cecil Howard and McKeesport.

This year, after winning only four games the past three seasons, not much was expected from Norwin again. And don’t misunderstand things. No one is saying the Knights are now one of the top five teams in Class AAAA. Beating Latrobe and Hempfield doesn’t totally win over the masses. But still, it’s two victories and how Norwin won is somewhat impressive. Both games were shutouts.

The only three teams that have not allowed a point the first two games are Central Catholic, Clairton and Norwin. Who could’ve ever thought Norwin would be in the same sentence as Central Catholic and Clairton after two games.

Norwin is under first-year coach Dave Brozeski, a longtime Norwin assistant. It will be interesting to see how Norwin fares tonight against Seneca Valley, a team that is reeling after starting the season 0-2. The Raiders were expected to be one of the top Class AAAA teams this season, but there was a tough loss to North Allegheny in Week 1 and Seneca Valley also lost quarterback T.J.  Holl for at least half the season with a knee injury.

Then came a shocking loss to Fox Chapel last week in which Seneca Valley gave up 41 points.

Tre the QB?

Tre Tipton’s first name is not Tre. It’s a nickname because he is Charles Fitzgerald Tipton III.

But the Tre name is appropriate this season for more reasons than lineage because Tipton now has three positions to play.

Tre Tipton was a standout receiver-defensive back a year ago, catching 44 passes at receiver. But Tipton is such a good athlete that Apollo-Ridge coach John Skiba wants to get the ball in his hands more. So Tipton sometimes plays quarterback this season – and plays it well. He still goes out on pass patterns also – and plays defensive back.

So far this season, Tipton has completed 8 of 9 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He has caught six passes for 113 yards and also rushed for 56 yards on four carries. Duane Brown also plays quarterback for Apollo-Ridge and has completed 10 of 19 for 150 yards.

Tipton has already made a verbal commitment to Pitt and he will go head to head with another Pitt recruit tonight when Kittanning plays at Apollo-Ridge. Kittanning has receiver-linebacker Nick Bowers, who also has committed to Pitt.

Pitt Gets Wise

Call it a Wise choice.

Vincentian senior Brenna Wise, the MSA Sports girls basketball player of the year for last season, has decided on a college. She made a verbal commitment to Pitt Thursday.

Wise had other scholarship offers and her final two choices were Pitt and Villanova. She visited both schools the past two weekends. She said one of the main reasons she chose Pitt was because of coach Suzie McConnell-Serio.

Wise is a 6-foot guard-forward who is the ultimate in versatility. Last season, she averaged 19.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.7 steals, 2.6 blocks and 2.4 assists. She shot 47 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range. She has a good chance to go over 2,000 points for her career as she enters her senior season with 1,685 career points.

Wise is one of two Pitt recruits in the WPIAL class of 2015. The other is Seton-LaSalle guard Cassidy Walsh.

Jones to WVU

Woodland Hills quarterback Jeremiah Jones is thin on experience, but that didn’t stop West Virginia University from offering Jones a scholarship.

West Virginia offered Jones a scholarship while he visited the school last weekend and Jones accepted Monday. Jones is only a junior who started a few games last year in place of Harry Randall. Jones also has started two games this season. West Virginia was the first Division I school to offer Jones a scholarship.

There is a possibility Jones could play another position at WVU. He does not play defense this season, but played it some last season.

Another Waller with the Boys

It has been well-documented how Canon-McMillan’s Lauren Waller plays on the school’s boys golf team and is the Big Macs’ No. 1 player. Canon-McMillan doesn’t have a girls golf team so Waller plays on the boys team. However, she plays in WPIAL girls golf for individual tournaments and was the WPIAL girls champ last season.

But there is another Waller girl also on the Canon-McMillan boys team. Taylor Waller is Lauren’s younger sister who had one of her best outings of the season Thursday in a match against West Allegheny. Taylor tied for third place in the match with a score of 39 at Lindenwood Golf Club in Peters Township. Lauren took first with a 34.

Sister vs. Sister

Greensburg Central Catholic’s Alyvia Kluska won the WPIAL Class AA Section 1 singles championship Thursday, but had to beat her sister to do it.

Alyvia, a junior, beat Michaela Kluska, a sophomore, 7-5, 7-5. A year ago, Michaela won the section title by beating Alyvia, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6.

There is a chance that the sisters could meet again in the WPIAL championship tournament. A year ago, both lost in the WPIAL semifinals, forcing a consolation match between the two that would decide a PIAA tournament berth. Alyvia forfeited to Michaela.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Canon-McMillan, Greensburg C.C., Vincentian Academy, Woodland Hills