Author: Anthony DiFilippo
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Ligonier Valley’s Neve Dowden
April 22, 2024
Ligonier Valley’s softball team made the WPIAL playoffs in each of senior Neve Dowden’s three previous seasons, reaching the quarterfinals last year and the semifinals three years ago.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Linzi Shaffer
April 15, 2024
At Franklin Regional, there’s a young gymnast who’s had a ton of success this year.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Ethan Brody
April 8, 2024
Last year, the Greensburg Central Catholic baseball team went 9-6 overall, 8-4 in the section and earned a WPIAL playoff berth.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Yough’s Makayla Spoonhoward
April 1, 2024
After going 10-5-7 overall and 7-3 in section play last season, Yough lost a wild 14-13 game to Southmoreland in the second round of the WPIAL playoffs.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Salem’s Grant Smith
March 25, 2024
Last year, Greensburg Salem’s baseball team went 13-6, 7-3 in the section, and qualified for the WPIAL playoffs.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Bryce Kropczynski
March 18, 2024
For Penn-Trafford’s hockey team, this is truly the season of streaks.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Ava Kobus
March 11, 2024
There are few better feelings in sports than winning a championship, but being able to win one as a senior is a pretty sweet send-off.
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Deer Lakes’ Zachary Nacey
March 4, 2024
Last year, Deer Lakes’ hockey team made it all the way to the semifinals in the PIHL’s Division 2, but Ringgold, the eventual champion, got the best of it.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Ben Holm
February 26, 2024
Franklin Regional’s boys swimming and diving team captured its 28th section title this season, a year after capturing No. 27.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Angela Furin
February 19, 2024
It’s been a perfect last couple of seasons for Norwin’s girls bowling team, literally.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Ian Temple
February 12, 2024
Playing in a section with five teams vying for four playoff spots, Penn-Trafford has been in a battle for most of the boys basketball season.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Robbie Phillips
February 5, 2024
With a 219, Latrobe senior bowler Robbie Phillips has the second-best average in the WPIBL East-Southeast Division.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Mt. Pleasant’s Logan Snively
January 29, 2024
Mt. Pleasant’s boys swimming program has enjoyed plenty of success the last few seasons.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Cara Dupilka
January 22, 2024
It has been a strong season for Greensburg Central Catholic’s girls basketball team.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Hempfield’s Ashley Hosni
January 15, 2024
Last year, Hempfield’s girls basketball team went 9-13. This year, under new coach Bob Madison, the Spartans won seven of their first 11 games.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Derry’s Brady Angus
January 8, 2024
Derry’s boys basketball team ended last year with a loss to Mohawk in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Salem’s Carter Cherok
January 1, 2024
Last year, Greensburg Salem’s hockey team went 17-3 and rode that momentum all the way to the PIHL Class A semifinals, where a 3-1 loss to eventual champion Kiski Area ended the season.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Juliano Marion
December 24, 2023
While wrestling might seem like a very individual sport, there are many team aspects to competition.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Southmoreland’s Bea Pawlikowsky
December 18, 2023
It takes a lot of time and energy to keep up with playing a sport in high school for four years.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Avery Davis
December 11, 2023
Last year, the girls basketball team from Greensburg Central Catholic made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA semifinals.
Westmoreland County senior spotlight: Jeannette’s Isaiah Mallich
December 4, 2023
Last year, Jeannette’s boys basketball team lost in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs to Northgate.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Belle Blossey
November 27, 2023
As the fall season wound down, many athletes were preparing to play their final games representing their high school in their respective sports.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Ligonier Valley’s Clara Wallace
November 20, 2023
In some sports — auto racing in the movies, for example — the old saying is, “If you’re not first, you’re last.”
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Owen Burmeister
November 13, 2023
Norwin’s hockey team got off to a good start to the season in Class 2A, going 3-1-0-1 in its first five games.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Hempfield’s Emerson Murdock
November 6, 2023
At a high school football game, most of the focus is usually on the play on the field, the big hits and long passes.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Ella Dindak
October 30, 2023
Coming into the year, expectations were high for a Penn-Trafford girls volleyball team that lost in the Class 4A semifinals last year.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Hempfield’s Caden Biondi
October 23, 2023
The high school golf season is over for Hempfield’s boys team, but its campaign didn’t come without some bright spots.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Dom Kaforey
October 16, 2023
Franklin Regional’s boys soccer team ended last season with a 2-1 loss to Montour in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Derry’s Danielle Dominick
October 9, 2023
Tennis looks like an individual sport to the untrained eye, but in high school, the team aspect is as strong as any other sport.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Mt. Pleasant’s Maggie Piper
October 2, 2023
A trip to the PIAA semifinals obviously would be considered part of a successful season, but to make it that close and fall short can be crushing.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Salem’s Ashlan Price
September 25, 2023
In Westmoreland County, there is no cross country program like Greensburg Salem’s.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Rick Zappone
September 18, 2023
While a loss isn’t exactly the way any team wants to end the year, losing to the eventual champion always helps shake that bad feeling off a little.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Eilish Connolly
September 11, 2023
It’s always tough to get knocked out of the playoffs and have to endure a long offseason.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s PJ Germano
September 4, 2023
The high school sports season is still young, but that doesn’t mean teams can’t begin to separate themselves from the pack.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Liz Dlugos
June 12, 2023
A section title, a fifth-place finish at WPIALs and a 15th-place finish at states.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Salem’s Aubrie Loughner
June 5, 2023
Every year, dozens of high school athletes in Western Pennsylvania continue their careers in sports like football, basketball, soccer or baseball at the college level.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Isabella Marquez
May 29, 2023
Typically, teams that only have two seniors aren’t predicted to get very far because they’re seen as too young.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Logan Bradish
May 22, 2023
After an 8-2 record and a section title last year, Latrobe’s baseball team was more than happy with the result.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Bri Pusateri
May 15, 2023
Last year, Penn-Trafford’s softball team went 20-4 and was the runner-up to Armstrong in the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Trey Huha
May 8, 2023
Norwin’s track and field team enjoyed another year of success, finishing undefeated in section competition.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Madison Setzenfand
May 1, 2023
In some competitions, a third-place finish could be seen as disappointing.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Ligonier Valley’s Noah Lawson
April 24, 2023
After going 9-11 last year in Class 3A, Ligonier Valley’s baseball team dropped to Class 2A following the season.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Josh Havrilla
April 17, 2023
Often, when a high school athlete plays two sports, they are in different seasons.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Southmoreland’s Brynn Charnesky
April 10, 2023
During senior second baseman Brynn Charnesky’s time at the school, Southmoreland’s softball team has been very successful.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Yough’s Laney Gerdich
March 27, 2023
Yough’s girls basketball team made the playoffs for the first time in 13 years this season.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Aiden Bunker
March 20, 2023
Franklin Regional secured its 27th boys swimming section title last month, continuing a dominant stretch for the team.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Mikayla McClain
March 13, 2023
It’s not every day new sports are being added to the NCAA varsity list.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Ligonier Valley’s Neve Dowden
April 22, 2024
Ligonier Valley’s softball team made the WPIAL playoffs in each of senior Neve Dowden’s three previous seasons, reaching the quarterfinals last year and the semifinals three years ago.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Linzi Shaffer
April 15, 2024
At Franklin Regional, there’s a young gymnast who’s had a ton of success this year.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Ethan Brody
April 8, 2024
Last year, the Greensburg Central Catholic baseball team went 9-6 overall, 8-4 in the section and earned a WPIAL playoff berth.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Yough’s Makayla Spoonhoward
April 1, 2024
After going 10-5-7 overall and 7-3 in section play last season, Yough lost a wild 14-13 game to Southmoreland in the second round of the WPIAL playoffs.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Salem’s Grant Smith
March 25, 2024
Last year, Greensburg Salem’s baseball team went 13-6, 7-3 in the section, and qualified for the WPIAL playoffs.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Bryce Kropczynski
March 18, 2024
For Penn-Trafford’s hockey team, this is truly the season of streaks.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Ava Kobus
March 11, 2024
There are few better feelings in sports than winning a championship, but being able to win one as a senior is a pretty sweet send-off.
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Deer Lakes’ Zachary Nacey
March 4, 2024
Last year, Deer Lakes’ hockey team made it all the way to the semifinals in the PIHL’s Division 2, but Ringgold, the eventual champion, got the best of it.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Ben Holm
February 26, 2024
Franklin Regional’s boys swimming and diving team captured its 28th section title this season, a year after capturing No. 27.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Angela Furin
February 19, 2024
It’s been a perfect last couple of seasons for Norwin’s girls bowling team, literally.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Ian Temple
February 12, 2024
Playing in a section with five teams vying for four playoff spots, Penn-Trafford has been in a battle for most of the boys basketball season.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Robbie Phillips
February 5, 2024
With a 219, Latrobe senior bowler Robbie Phillips has the second-best average in the WPIBL East-Southeast Division.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Mt. Pleasant’s Logan Snively
January 29, 2024
Mt. Pleasant’s boys swimming program has enjoyed plenty of success the last few seasons.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Cara Dupilka
January 22, 2024
It has been a strong season for Greensburg Central Catholic’s girls basketball team.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Hempfield’s Ashley Hosni
January 15, 2024
Last year, Hempfield’s girls basketball team went 9-13. This year, under new coach Bob Madison, the Spartans won seven of their first 11 games.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Derry’s Brady Angus
January 8, 2024
Derry’s boys basketball team ended last year with a loss to Mohawk in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Salem’s Carter Cherok
January 1, 2024
Last year, Greensburg Salem’s hockey team went 17-3 and rode that momentum all the way to the PIHL Class A semifinals, where a 3-1 loss to eventual champion Kiski Area ended the season.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Juliano Marion
December 24, 2023
While wrestling might seem like a very individual sport, there are many team aspects to competition.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Southmoreland’s Bea Pawlikowsky
December 18, 2023
It takes a lot of time and energy to keep up with playing a sport in high school for four years.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Avery Davis
December 11, 2023
Last year, the girls basketball team from Greensburg Central Catholic made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA semifinals.
Westmoreland County senior spotlight: Jeannette’s Isaiah Mallich
December 4, 2023
Last year, Jeannette’s boys basketball team lost in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs to Northgate.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Belle Blossey
November 27, 2023
As the fall season wound down, many athletes were preparing to play their final games representing their high school in their respective sports.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Ligonier Valley’s Clara Wallace
November 20, 2023
In some sports — auto racing in the movies, for example — the old saying is, “If you’re not first, you’re last.”
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Owen Burmeister
November 13, 2023
Norwin’s hockey team got off to a good start to the season in Class 2A, going 3-1-0-1 in its first five games.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Hempfield’s Emerson Murdock
November 6, 2023
At a high school football game, most of the focus is usually on the play on the field, the big hits and long passes.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Ella Dindak
October 30, 2023
Coming into the year, expectations were high for a Penn-Trafford girls volleyball team that lost in the Class 4A semifinals last year.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Hempfield’s Caden Biondi
October 23, 2023
The high school golf season is over for Hempfield’s boys team, but its campaign didn’t come without some bright spots.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Dom Kaforey
October 16, 2023
Franklin Regional’s boys soccer team ended last season with a 2-1 loss to Montour in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Derry’s Danielle Dominick
October 9, 2023
Tennis looks like an individual sport to the untrained eye, but in high school, the team aspect is as strong as any other sport.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Mt. Pleasant’s Maggie Piper
October 2, 2023
A trip to the PIAA semifinals obviously would be considered part of a successful season, but to make it that close and fall short can be crushing.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Salem’s Ashlan Price
September 25, 2023
In Westmoreland County, there is no cross country program like Greensburg Salem’s.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Rick Zappone
September 18, 2023
While a loss isn’t exactly the way any team wants to end the year, losing to the eventual champion always helps shake that bad feeling off a little.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Eilish Connolly
September 11, 2023
It’s always tough to get knocked out of the playoffs and have to endure a long offseason.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s PJ Germano
September 4, 2023
The high school sports season is still young, but that doesn’t mean teams can’t begin to separate themselves from the pack.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Liz Dlugos
June 12, 2023
A section title, a fifth-place finish at WPIALs and a 15th-place finish at states.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Salem’s Aubrie Loughner
June 5, 2023
Every year, dozens of high school athletes in Western Pennsylvania continue their careers in sports like football, basketball, soccer or baseball at the college level.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Isabella Marquez
May 29, 2023
Typically, teams that only have two seniors aren’t predicted to get very far because they’re seen as too young.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Logan Bradish
May 22, 2023
After an 8-2 record and a section title last year, Latrobe’s baseball team was more than happy with the result.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Bri Pusateri
May 15, 2023
Last year, Penn-Trafford’s softball team went 20-4 and was the runner-up to Armstrong in the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Trey Huha
May 8, 2023
Norwin’s track and field team enjoyed another year of success, finishing undefeated in section competition.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Penn-Trafford’s Madison Setzenfand
May 1, 2023
In some competitions, a third-place finish could be seen as disappointing.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Ligonier Valley’s Noah Lawson
April 24, 2023
After going 9-11 last year in Class 3A, Ligonier Valley’s baseball team dropped to Class 2A following the season.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Josh Havrilla
April 17, 2023
Often, when a high school athlete plays two sports, they are in different seasons.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Southmoreland’s Brynn Charnesky
April 10, 2023
During senior second baseman Brynn Charnesky’s time at the school, Southmoreland’s softball team has been very successful.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Yough’s Laney Gerdich
March 27, 2023
Yough’s girls basketball team made the playoffs for the first time in 13 years this season.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Aiden Bunker
March 20, 2023
Franklin Regional secured its 27th boys swimming section title last month, continuing a dominant stretch for the team.
Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Mikayla McClain
March 13, 2023
It’s not every day new sports are being added to the NCAA varsity list.
