Author: Tribune-Review
Recchia hits another winner as East boys best West at Cager Classic
March 23, 2019
Mars senior Andrew Recchia is getting accustomed to winning shots.
East Deer standout Hawkins honored by A-K Valley hall selection
At 95, Daniel Hawkins can sum up his life succinctly.
High school scores, schedules for March 23, 2019
High Schools
Mark Madden: Bush-league journalists descend on Steelers
The Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took a PR hit when Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell checked out. Roethlisberger was eviscerated. GM Kevin Colbert was villainized. The piling on continues.
Latrobe woman never missed family’s baseball games
Nancy Gangemi never missed a chance to see one of her sons or grandchildren play baseball.
Shaler Area softball makes move to Class 5A
March 21, 2019
Tom Sorce didn’t want any hopeful Shaler softball players doomed by the pressure of a 72-hour performance.Shaler Area notes: Unified bocce team competes at state competition
The Shaler unified bocce team wrapped up its season last Wednesday at the state championships in Hershey.
High school scores, schedules for March 21, 2019
High Schools
Peters Township’s trip to Hershey was 6 years in the making
When Peters Township girls basketball coach Bert Kendall took over the program in the 2013-14 season, the Indians were coming off a winless campaign in Section 2-4A and only managed to win six games.
George Guido: Deer Lakes boys highlights memorable basketball season in A-K Valley
March 19, 2019
It’s time to close the book on another scholastic basketball season in the Alle-Kiski Valley.
High school scores, schedules for March 19, 2019
High Schools
OLSH boys fall short to Bishop Guilfoyle in PIAA Class 2A semifinals
Losing a tooth wasn’t going to stop the path to Hershey for Bishop Guilfoyle’s Luke Ruggery.
Peters Township girls rally past Upper Dublin in overtime to reach PIAA title game
WINGATE — Peters Township’s Jordan Bisignani didn’t have much time to process the moment when she heaved a desperation half-court shot at the buzzer of a PIAA Class 6A semifinal.
Riverview baseball raises expectations, targets playoffs
Riverview baseball coach Bill Gras asked his players during practice to write down one personal goal and one team goal on a note card and give it back to him.
Talented Riverview softball moves up in class
The Riverview softball team is rife with talented and experienced underclassmen. Despite only having two seniors, coach Jim Ashbaugh knows his team won’t be lacking confidence.
Plum softball hoping to turn last season’s close losses into wins
March 17, 2019
For the Plum softball team, 2018 was a season filled with several close games in which it had an opportunity to win but came up short.
Burrell ready for 3rd clash with pesky Ringgold, this time in finals
From the beginning of the season, the Burrell hockey team made no secret that its goal is to win the school’s first PIHL title. Standing in the way is one final hurdle.
Despite losses of key players, Plum baseball aims to contend again
During his tenure as Plum’s baseball coach, Carl Vollmer has aimed to perpetuate his team’s culture.
PIAA notebook: Deer Lakes done, but accomplishments will ring out
March 16, 2019
Although the Deer Lakes ride came to an end Saturday afternoon at Slippery Rock University, the memories generated by the Lancers in the past few months will be savored for many years.
Leechburg softball chases 33rd straight playoff spot
The Leechburg softball program has been soaring for more than 30 seasons.
High school scores, schedules for March 16, 2019
High Schools
Norwin boys take 3rd at state team bowling tournament
A day after Cedar Crest bowlers won the boys and girls singles titles, the school also captured the boys team state tournament title at 222 Lanes in Ephrata.
Leechburg baseball wants more from WPIAL playoffs
For the first time in seven years, Leechburg got a taste of WPIAL postseason baseball last season when the Blue Devils qualified for Class A playoffs, losing to Jeannette, 2-0, in first-round play.
Monessen boys upset WPIAL champion Nazareth Prep in PIAA quarterfinals
Devin Whitlock leaped into the arms of his teammates at midcourt, his face beaming as the rest of the Monessen players rallied around him, jumping and screaming with elation.
Hickory holds off New Castle in PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals
Hickory and many in the capacity crowd at Slippery Rock University’s Morrow Field House were waiting for a typical New Castle late comeback.
Knoch softball eager to build on last season’s long-awaited playoff victory
Coming off a season in which it won a playoff game for the first time in 11 years, the Knoch softball team exudes optimism.
Knoch baseball team wants to carry on recent winning ways
Knoch baseball coach Sean O’Donnell likened success to a two-way street.
Sophomore Szazynski bolsters Shaler Area tennis lineup
Participating in tennis in some form was always a likely choice for Shaler sophomore Cam Szazynski.
Shaler boys basketball hopes standard set continues in future
Rob Niederberger does everything possible to get the Shaler boys basketball team exposure to different styles during the summer.
North Allegheny seniors bow out in 2nd round of states
Shots didn’t fall for North Allegheny girls basketball in the second round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs.
Cedar Crest bowlers sweep state singles titles
Western Region champion Shannon Small of Plum reached the stepladder playoffs at the state singles bowling tournament Friday at 222 Dutch Lanes in Ephrata.
High school scores, schedules for March 14, 2019
High Schools
Latrobe baseball looking for complete commitment in move to Class 6A
March 14, 2019
The Latrobe baseball team is just two years removed from claiming WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championships in a season that will go down as one of the greatest in school history.
Latrobe softball team to rely on several underclassmen in quest for elusive title
For the past two seasons, the Latrobe softball team has been on the brink of winning a WPIAL championship.
High school roundup for March 13, 2019: OLSH boys advance to PIAA quarterfinals
March 13, 2019
Daren DiMichele had 22 points to help WPIAL champion OLSH claim a 77-36 victory over Fairview in the PIAA Class 2A second round at New Castle.
High school scores, schedules for March 13, 2019
High Schools
Holmes, Lincoln Park rally past rival Aliquippa in PIAA Class 3A 2nd round
As the final buzzer sounded, Lincoln Park coach Mike Bariski turned to the Leopards faithful and at the top of his lungs screamed “how about that.”
Deer Lakes boys make program history with PIAA Class 3A 2nd round win
Another nail-biter and another win for the Deer Lakes boys basketball team, which continued its historic run Wednesday night.
Highlands softball optimistic thanks to hitting depth, freshman pitcher
The Highlands softball team is in search of some keys — the figurative type.
Highlands baseball coach: ‘Good things are coming’
To say that it has been a long time since the Highlands baseball team showed up in a WPIAL playoff bracket would be an understatement.
Unbeaten Chartiers Valley girls roll past Slippery Rock in PIAA 2nd round
When the final buzzer sounded Wednesday evening at Moon Area High School, the Chartiers Valley girls basketball team left the same way they came in, undefeated.
George Guido: Deer Lakes opponent making name for itself
March 12, 2019
For the first time, the Deer Lakes boys basketball team will have a second-round PIAA playoff game.
High school scores, schedules for March 12, 2019
High schools
High school roundup for March 12, 2019: Johnson leads Moon past Archbishop Ryan
Donovan Johnson scored 24 points as WPIAL runner-up Moon earned a 44-36 victory over Archbishop Ryan in a PIAA Class 5A boys basketball second-round game Tuesday night in Chambersburg.
Strong defense, rebounding lift Norwin girls past Northampton in PIAA 2nd round
SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP — Norwin girls basketball continually has run teams into the ground with speed and depth. The Knights added rebounding to the plan and bested Northampton, 68-58, in the PIAA Class 6A second round Tuesday evening.
A-K Valley high school athletes of the week: Zac Herbinko and Alexis Schrecongost
Zac Herbinko
Freeport baseball faces challenging slate in Class 3A
Freeport baseball might be dropping from Class 4A to 3A, but the path to a WPIAL playoff spot won’t be any easier.
DeJidas ready to cap career on high note with Freeport softball
In her years at Freeport, Ally DeJidas has experienced plenty of success as a state volleyball champion, a key member of a Yellowjackets’ softball team that made three straight playoff appearances and was part of the recent girls basketball run to the playoffs.
Ringgold advances to PIHL Division II championship
Ringgold hockey is going to the ‘ship. The Rams are on the hunt for the program’s first PIHL Division II championship since 2010, punching their ticket to the final with a 5-0 shutout of Neshannock on Monday night at the RMU Island Sports Complex.
Burrell beats Connellsville, headed to PIHL final
March 11, 2019
Tyler Stewart and Gio Palombo’s chemistry on the ice started on the pavement when they played street hockey together in their youth.
High school scores, schedules for March 11, 2019
High Schools
Depth, experience keys to success for Fox Chapel baseball
Dressed in parkas and tassel caps, the Fox Chapel baseball team braved the cold last Thursday, getting in a few minutes of infield work on the turf before heading inside to the batting cages.
Youthful Fox Chapel softball sets sights toward future
Fox Chapel softball coach Lisa Hess is in a situation she hasn’t seen in her five seasons with the program after nine seniors graduated from a team that made the postseason last year.
Burrell hockey eyes payback against Connellsville in PIHL Division II semifinals
A month ago, the Burrell hockey team skated into Connellsville looking to wrap up an undefeated regular season. Instead, the Bucs got a reminder of what could happen if they don’t play what coach Max Rickard calls “the Burrell way.”
New Castle rink wins $100,000 ‘Renovate the Rink’ contest
Hess Ice Rink in New Castle won the inaugural “Renovate the Rink” contest and will receive $100,000 for improvements from the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and Pittsburgh Commercial Construction.
Apollo-Ridge baseball team to start fresh
March 9, 2019
It’s been 12 short days since new Apollo-Ridge coach Jason Mamros was hired.
High school scores, schedules for March 9, 2019
High schools
Perennial power Kennedy Catholic too much for Fox Chapel
The Fox Chapel boys basketball team took a trip to the “Magic City” on Saturday evening became part of the magic show.
High school roundup for March 9, 2019: Pine-Richland boys open PIAA playoffs with victory
The Pine-Richland boys basketball team had a three-hour bus ride home from Hershey on Saturday night. It was a happy one.
Deer Lakes beats Brookville for 1st PIAA win in team history
CLEARFIELD — In a season of milestones, Deer Lakes attained another Saturday night.
No shortage of energy for Apollo-Ridge softball
Apollo-Ridge senior pitcher Mollie Charlton felt it. Heck, she could almost taste it.
Norwin, Penn-Trafford bowling teams claim regional titles
There will be quite a contingent of Westmoreland County bowlers heading east to Lancaster next week for the state bowling championships after a stellar performance from several area teams Saturday at the Western Pennsylvania regionals at North Versailles Bowl.
High school roundup: Moon boys bounce back for PIAA playoff win
The Moon boys basketball team bounced back in a big way Friday night in the opening round of the PIAA Class 5A playoffs.
Poor third-quarter costs Leechburg boys in PIAA loss to Elk County Catholic
After trailing by four at halftime, the Leechburg boys basketball team felt good about its performance against the state’s No. 2 Class A team.
Plum’s Small, Armstrong’s Halutick claim regional bowling titles
Shannon Small didn’t have the highest score after five qualifying-round games at the Western Pennsylvania regional bowling tournament Friday at North Versailles Bowl.
Shaler Area notebook: Lynch returns to Wheeling Nailers
March 7, 2019
Former Shaler hockey standout Zac Lynch is headed back to the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers. Lynch was recently released following a six-game stint in the AHL on a professional tryout contract with the New York Ranger affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.
Shaler Area unified bocce team advances to state championships
James Bernick, a freshman at Slippery Rock, joined the Shaler unified bocce team during its first season last year with an eye on the future.
High school scores, schedules for March 7, 2019
High Schools
Scoring struggles hamper Fox Chapel girls in PIAA 1st-round loss to Cumberland Valley
LEWISBERRY — Fox Chapel did everything it could have done defensively against one of the top teams in the state during Friday’s PIAA Class 6A girls basketball tournament opener.
After long rest, Monessen boys set to face Jamestown in PIAA playoffs
At this point in past seasons, the buzz about District 10’s Class A champion has been all about Kennedy Catholic.
PIHL roundup for March 5, 2019: Peters Township blanks Canon-McMillan
March 5, 2019
First period goals from Torrey Schwartz and Nico Watsula, as well as a 17-save performance by Alex Wilbert led Peters Township to a 3-0 victory over Canon-McMillan (6-13-1) in a PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup first round game Tuesday at Southpointe’s Printscape Arena.
High school scores, schedules for March 5, 2019
High schools
George Guido: A-K Valley basketball teams open PIAA playoffs this weekend
The PIAA basketball playoffs are set to start this weekend, and there are five Alle-Kiski Valley teams entered.
PIHL roundup: Mt. Lebanon defeats Cathedral Prep in Penguins Cup playoffs
Luke Husak and Wyatt George each had two goals to lift No. 4 seed Mt. Lebanon to a 7-3 victory over Cathedral Prep in the first round of the PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup playoffs Monday at Mt. Lebanon Ice Center.
A-K Valley Athletes of the Week: Fox Chapel swimmer Zoe Skirboll, Deer Lakes swimmer Adam Morrison
Zoe Skirboll
Top-seeded Burrell hockey returns from layoff with eye on 1st PIHL title
March 3, 2019
When Burrell takes the ice Monday for its PIHL Division II first-round playoff game against Trinity it will be 27 days since the Bucs saw their bid for an undefeated season come to an end with a 6-2 loss to Connellsville in the regular-season finale.
PIAA releases opening round schedule for boys, girls basketball playoffs
High schools
New Castle tops Quaker Valley in WPIAL 4A final for 3rd consecutive year
New Castle just wouldn’t be denied its 13th WPIAL boys basketball title.
Finnerty brothers bolster Thomas Jefferson wrestling team’s success
Between them, the Finnerty brothers have almost 50 wins this season as members of the Thomas Jefferson wrestling team.
North Catholic girls roll past Central Valley to win 19th WPIAL championship
Everything played out according to “the script,” according to North Catholic girls basketball coach Molly Rottmann.
Rochester girls edge West Greene, capture 1st WPIAL Class A basketball title
After falling behind by 12 points early, Rochester coach C.J. Ianinni told his team to try to make it a one-possession game by halftime.
Shaler’s Sullivan perseveres for final victory
Ryan Sullivan’s final performance as a Shaler wrestler was heart-wrenching and dramatic.
Shaler’s Mbalo breaks school record in season finale
Cam Mbalo made sure the Shaler track and field team received one more accolade before the season ended.
Hampton basketball looking for more next season
The Hampton boys basketball team started the season with a lot of uncertainty, but a string of successful close early-season wins led to another playoff berth that left its current crop of underclassmen wanting more.
WPIAL basketball Top 10: Most championships
The Top 10
Meadville tops Norwin in PIHL Peguins Cup 1st round
The Norwin hockey team had its season come to a close Thursday night after a 10-2 loss to Meadville in the first round of the PIHL Class A Penguins Cup playoffs at Meadville Area Recreaction Complex.
OLSH girls edge Brentwood for 1st WPIAL basketball championship
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart girls basketball coach Don Eberle picked a great time for his 300th career coaching victory.
New Castle boys hoping to tie Farrell’s longstanding WPIAL record
February 27, 2019
It was a record many considered unassailable for years.
Quaker Valley takes down section rival Ambridge in WPIAL Class 4A semifinals
Ryan Stowers regained his cool as quickly as he lost it.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 27, 2019
High schools
Chartiers Valley girls oust Penn Hills, advance to WPIAL Class 5A championship game
It’s a wonderful thing when imagination catches up to reality. That’s what happened for Chartiers Valley girls basketball coach Tim McConnell and his Colts.
Thomas Jefferson girls take down No. 2 Oakland Catholic, reach 1st title game since ’80
Jenna Clark and her Thomas Jefferson teammates we’re well aware that a Jaguars girls basketball team hadn’t made a WPIAL final since 1980, and they made it their mission to change that this season.
Burrelli, Neshannock girls top Avonworth in Class 3A semifinals
Neshannock came into the WPIAL tournament as the perennial favorite to win the Class 3A crown.
WPIAL basketball Top 10: Most playoff appearances
The Top 10WPIAL boys, girls basketball teams clinch berths in PIAA playoffs
While the Path to the Pete continues into the semifinals this week, the Road to Hershey will tip off next week.
Mars bests Chartiers Valley in physical WPIAL Class 5A semifinal
February 26, 2019
With momentum swinging on every second-half possession and fans from both teams screaming and shouting, Chartiers Valley’s 5-foot-9 guard Louis Kearney ran straight into Mars’ 6-foot-6 forward Michael Carmody as the third-quarter buzzer sounded.
Top-seeded West Greene downs Vincentian Academy in Class A semifinals
The West Greene girls basketball team has been on a mission all season to return to the Petersen Events Center to avenge a loss in the WPIAL Class A championship last season.
OLSH boys headed back to WPIAL title game, take down South Side in Class 2A semifinals
After losing to Sewickley Academy in the WPIAL finals the last two seasons, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is hoping to bring home the gold against a different opponent this time.
Ligonier Valley boys advance to District 6 Class 3A final
EBENSBURG — It’ll be Ligonier Valley and Richland in a rematch of the District 6 Class 3A boys basketball championship this season after both posted victories Tuesday night in the semifinals.
Strong 3rd period guides Hempfield past Quaker Valley in PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs
Hempfield controlled zone time, puck possession and outshot Quaker Valley by 26 shots through the first two periods, but due to giving up some odd-man breaks, the Spartans found themselves with only a one-goal lead heading into the intermission.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 26, 2019
High schools
Peters Township girls top rival Bethel Park, earn return trip to WPIAL Class 6A final
The top-ranked Peters Township girls basketball team leads WPIAL Class 6A squads in scoring at nearly 70 points per game.
Rochester girls advance to 1st WPIAL title game after defeating Quigley Catholic
After battling neck-and-neck through the first three quarters of their WPIAL semifinal matchup, the Rochester girls basketball team exploded for 26 points in the fourth quarter to topple rival Quigley Catholic, 66-55, on Tuesday night at North Hills.
A-K Valley Athletes of the Week: Highlands’ Korry Myers, Deer Lakes’ Julia Hollibaugh
Korry Myers
Westmoreland athletes of the week: Derry’s Dom DeLuca, Penn-Trafford’s Paige Kalik
Dom DeLuca
Fox Chapel indoor track program finishes strong
The Fox Chapel indoor track team finished its season on a high note. On Feb. 17, the team ran in the Tri-State Coaches Association championships at Edinboro.
Shady Side Academy girls top South Park, earn long-awaited trip to WPIAL finals
Shady Side Academy’s girls basketball team punched its first ticket to a WPIAL championship game.
Knoch hockey team denied postseason berth
Knoch’s bounce-back hockey season ended without a trip to the Penguins Cup playoffs.
Leechburg, Deer Lakes qualify for PIAA boys basketball playoffs
February 25, 2019
Deer Lakes’ and Leechburg’s boys basketball teams are following the leader right into the PIAA tournament.
No. 3 North Catholic boys knock off Aliquippa in Class 3A semifinals
North Catholic was aware of the intense defensive pressure it would face Monday in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals against Aliquippa.
Nazareth Prep beats No. 2 Cornell to reach 1st WPIAL championship game
The character of a team is often revealed by how it responds to adversity. Nazareth Prep had the content of its character challenged on several occasions against Cornell Monday night in the WPIAL Class A semifinals at Ambridge High School, and each time it responded.
Lincoln Park returning to WPIAL title game after defeating Seton LaSalle in Class 3A semifinals
After Seton LaSalle had a good second quarter to cut its deficit to seven points going into halftime, Lincoln Park coach Mike Bariski said he gave his team a brief history lesson on what can happen if you let an opponent keep the game close.
Cochran, Crise connection bolsters Highlands in trip to WPIAL semifinals
The lobs don’t stop when Luke Cochran and Johnny Crise spend time together away from basketball.
Brentwood girls defeat Laurel, earn long-awaited trip to WPIAL finals
Laurel went into the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals Monday night riding a school-record 14-game winning streak.
No. 1 Vincentian finishes strong to take down No. 4 Monessen in Class A semifinals
Vincentian is going from Peters to the Pete.
WPIAL boys, girls basketball teams qualify for PIAA playoffs
While the Path to the Pete continues into the semifinals this week, and the Road to Hershey will tip off next week.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 25, 2019
High schools
No. 4 OLSH upsets 3-time defending champion Bishop Canevin in Class 2A semifinals
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart weathered the Bishop Canevin storm out of the gates, then came back off the canvas and delivered a knockout, bracket-busting punch to oust the top seed from the WPIAL Class 2A girls basketball playoffs.
Central Valley rallies past Blackhawk, advances to 1st WPIAL title game
Christiane Frye hoped to reach 1,000 points in her high school basketball career.
Top-seeded North Catholic girls defeat Elizabeth Forward in Class 4A semifinals
With her team leading by five after one quarter against the defending WPIAL Class 4A champions Monday night, Elizabeth Forward coach Krystal Gibbs was feeling good.
Westmoreland campus clippings: Shippensburg wrestler Berberick heads to nationals
Derek Berberick is headed to nationals for the first time in his collegiate wrestling career.
Former champions on collision course at WPIAL Class AAA wrestling championships
One returning champion definitely won’t be adding another WPIAL Class AAA wrestling title to his resume this weekend.
Westmoreland area playoff hockey capsules for games of Feb. 26, 2019
PIHL Penguins Cup Class AA play-in round
North Carolina recruit Mayo leads Westmoreland swimmers into WPIAL championship meet
Hempfield senior Gavin Mayo looks forward to showing off the form that made him a Division I recruit Thursday and Friday at the WPIAL Class AAA swimming championships at Pitt’s Trees Pool.
Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Player of the Week: Chartiers Valley’s Joe Pipilo
Joe Pipilo
Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Team of the Week: Canon-McMillan
The Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Team of the Week is headed where no team in program history has ventured before — the Canon-McMillan Big Macs.
Trib HSSN boys basketball state rankings for week of Feb. 25, 2019
A busy week of district semifinals and championship games began with a lengthy and strong wind storm across the state.
Five things to watch in the WPIAL girls basketball semifinals
Some believe losing in a championship game is tough. However, playing in a title game offers memories of a lifetime, whether players receive a gold or silver medal.
Quaker Valley plays waiting game for state playoffs
The WPIAL 4A girls basketball playoffs resume Monday, and a win by Elizabeth Forward against top-seeded North Catholic would put Quaker Valley in the PIAA playoffs under the WPIAL’s follow-the-leader format.
Kiski Area thrower commits to Penn State
Jean Starr attended a track and field camp at Penn State last summer and knew she wanted to go there. And when the program’s coaches offered her an opportunity to join the team, that made it an even easier decision.
WPIAL boys, girls basketball teams lock up PIAA tournament berths
While the Path to the Pete continues into the semifinals this week, the Road to Hershey will tip off next week.
Trib HSSN PIHL team of the week: Cathedral Prep
After an 0-7 start to the PIHL season, the Cathedral Prep Ramblers were being written off.
A-K Valley high school lookahead: Week of Feb. 25, 2019
Monday
Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Player of the Week: Jenna Clark, Thomas Jefferson
Jenna Clark
Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Team of the Week: Avonworth Antelopes
Our girls basketball team of the week picked up two postseason wins last week and is preparing for a third meeting with top-seed Neshannock in the 3A semifinals: the Avonworth Antelopes.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Meadville’s Nick Frantz
“Normally, we would’ve sent him to the showers after the second period,” longtime Meadville hockey coach Jamie Plunkett said. “I think he was just trying his best to catch (Montour’s Ritchy) Froehlich, but, ultimately, he came up short in the points race, but he’s had a great year. Part of it was keeping continuity with the lineup. It was easier to keep him playing.”
Peters Township’s Casilli adds Ivy League football offer from Penn
Penn calls the other side of the state home, but the Quakers football coaches know their way around Western Pennsylvania.
A-K Valley H.S. notebook: Familiar territory for Highlands
Highlands goes into the WPIAL boys basketball semifinals Wednesday as an underdog against top-seeded New Castle, one of Western Pennsylvania’s perennial powers.
Norwin girls basketball playoff capsule for Feb. 26, 2019
Girls
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Kurpiel could catch on at St. Francis
Greensburg Central Catholic senior Bryce Kurpiel is a unique case in the recruiting game.
Ligonier Valley boys basketball playoff capsule for Feb. 26, 2019
Boys
Central Catholic’s Beatty adds 8 offers including Pitt in busy recruiting week
Recruiting-wise, this was a busy week for Central Catholic junior A.J. Beatty.
Hempfield’s Orie wins state indoor shot put title
Hempfield senior MacKenna Orie knew if she wanted to win a state indoor title, she needed a quick start.
Westmoreland H.S. lookahead: Week of Feb. 25-March 2
MONDAY
Westmoreland area hockey playoff capsules for games of Feb. 25,2019
Class A
Westmoreland County teams set to open PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs
Latrobe has waited almost a year to get back to the PIHL Penguins Cup Class 2A playoffs.
North Allegheny’s Kinne, Hempfield’s Orie celebrate state indoor track titles
North Allegheny’s Zach Kinne and Hempfield’s Mackenna Orie celebrated state track titles Sunday at the PTFCA indoor championship at Penn State.
Multi-sport McKeesport standout Diggs draws 1st football offer
Deamontae Diggs averaged a double-double for McKeesport’s basketball team this winter, but now college football coaches are starting to take an interest in him.
High school sports broadcasts scheduled this week on Trib HSSN
The Path to the Pete winds down with a golden week in the pool, on the mats and on the hardwood during Championship Week on the TribLive High School Sports Network.
Trib HSSN girls basketball state rankings for week of Feb. 24, 2019
There was little change again in the Trib HSSN weekly girls basketball state rankings through district first round and quarterfinals action last week.
GCC wide receiver Kurpiel lands unique walk-on offer with St. Francis (Pa.)
Greensburg Central Catholic senior Bryce Kurpiel is a unique case in the recruiting game.
Pine-Richland leads Trib HSSN PIHL power rankings
Every Monday during the 2018-19 PIHL hockey season, the TribLive High School Sports Network releases Power Rankings.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 24, 2019
High Schools
Mt. Lebanon boys start fast in win over Fox Chapel
February 23, 2019
For the final three-and-a-half quarters, Fox Chapel and Mt. Lebanon were even on the scoreboard.
Mt. Pleasant’s Pitzer, Derry’s DeLuca claim regional wrestling titles
Wrestlers who give up a five-point move early in a championship match usually don’t recover.
Paola leads Ligonier Valley boys past Central Cambria
Luckily for Ligonier Valley, free-throw shooting didn’t figure in the outcome of the top-seeded Rams’ 75-55 boys basketball victory Saturday over visiting Central Cambria in a District 6 Class 3A quarterfinal.
Defense leads Penn Hills girls past Franklin Regional
Penn Hills has been one of the top defensive girls basketball teams in the WPIAL all season.
Fox Chapel’s Cagley, Penn-Trafford’s Kalik repeat at WPIAL diving
Defending champs reigned at North Allegheny during Saturday’s WPIAL Class AAA diving championships: When all was said and done, both student-athletes who entered as defending champs left with gold.
Kiski Area’s Miller wins showdown for 3rd section title
When Kiski Area’s Darren Miller and Franklin Regional’s Colton Camacho met in the 126-pound final at Saturday’s Section 1-AAA tournament at Kiski Area, a three-time section champion was guaranteed to be crowned.
High school roundup for Feb. 23, 2019: Butler takes down Upper St. Clair in quarterfinals
After a sub-par performance in the opening round of the WPIAL Class 6A boys basketball playoffs, Butler’s Ethan Morton more than made up for it in the quarterfinals.
Canon-McMillan cruises to upset victory over No. 2 Latrobe
Veteran Canon-McMillan coach Rick Bell had a few defensive strategies lined up for Latrobe, but it took him some time to decide which one to open with in Saturday afternoon’s playoff game.
Last second putback helps top-seeded Pine-Richland survive Peters Township’s upset bid
After Pine-Richland coach Jeff Ackermann finished his instructions for an inbounds play during a time out with the score tied and five seconds remaining, Colin Luellen reminded everyone to go hard for the rebound if there was a missed shot.
Westmoreland high school notebook: Norwin’s Salopek draws more offers
Jack Salopek knows the recruiting process soon might be coming at him hot and heavy, like a rush linebacker in a Friday night conference game.
Allderdice girls top Obama Academy, defend City League title
Watching a 21-point first-half lead evaporate over the course of 12 minutes of basketball, Allderdice girls basketball coach Ellen Guillard looked calm, cool and collected on the outside, but she was a nervous wreck on the inside.
No. 2 South Park girls rally back to defeat Deer Lakes in Class 3A quarterfinals
For much of Saturday afternoon, Deer Lakes appeared headed toward its first WPIAL girls semifinal appearance since 1991.
Monessen boys set to take on No. 1 Vincentian in Class A semifinals
WPIAL boys basketball playoff preview
Hopewell’s Ealy among 11 WPIAL wrestlers to reach Class AA Southwest Regional finals
Hopewell senior Jacob Ealy has placed at the PIAA wrestling championships before.
Team effort guides No. 5 Highlands past No. 4 Uniontown in Class 4A quarterfinals
As dynamic as Luke Cochran and Johnny Crise are, Highlands operates at a higher level when it gets a group effort.
No. 3 Quaker Valley boys hold off Knoch in Class 4A quarterfinal victory
With his team down 15 points with five and a half minutes remaining, Knoch coach Ron McNabb didn’t see any panic in his players’ eyes.
PIHL standings through Feb. 23, 2019
Here are the final PIHL high school hockey standings through Feb. 23. Check out playoff coverage over the next four weeks, along with the weekly PIHL Power Play Show at 8 p.m. Wednesday at TribHSSN.TribLive.com.
Gateway’s Maciejewski, Wilkerson qualify for regional bowling tournament
Marissa Maciejewski rolled 30 games for Gateway during the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League regular season.
Thomas Jefferson, Galioto celebrate WPIAL gymnastics titles
All they do is win.
Thomas Jefferson’s Serapiglia looks forward to career at Tulsa
Dom Serapiglia will continue his football career 1,000 miles away from home.
Brentwood girls basketball enters WPIAL playoffs on hot streak
The Brentwood girls basketball team ended the regular season on an 11-game winning streak.
Quaker Valley’s Kimmy rises to occasion at world indoor rowing championships
Quaker Valley junior Ben Kimmy was a bit overwhelmed but rose to the occasion in his first C.R.A.S.H.-B. Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championship on Feb. 17 at Boston University.
Quaker Valley wrestling program continues meteoric rise
Quaker Valley’s wrestling program has made its mark three years into its existence.
Quaker Valley girls remain alive for PIAA berth
The Quaker Valley girls basketball pulled off one playoff upset last week but fell short of a second Thursday night.
Pine-Richland gymnastics team finishes 3rd at WPIALs
The Pine-Richland gymnastics team’s strong season ended Feb. 15, when the Rams secured third place at the WPIAL team championships at Moon.
Herald spotlight athlete: Fox Chapel’s Ellie Schwartzman
Ellie Schwartzman, a sophomore on the Fox Chapel girls basketball team, helped the team’s turnaround this season as she averaged 9 points and 8 rebounds. She’s been playing basketball since first grade and is also on the volleyball team.
Plum girls basketball team looks ahead to promising future
Plum girls basketball coach Steve Elsier saw growth in his young team from his inaugural season with the program last year to this recently concluded campaign.
Norwin bowler Dutka rolls 300, sets WPIBL series record
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No, it was so quiet you could hear 10 pins drop.
Franklin Regional hockey hopes to challenge for Penguins Cup
The Franklin Regional hockey team’s first goal was to reach the postseason.
Allderdice boys claim 6th straight City League basketball title
Allderdice boys basketball coach Buddy Valinsky felt pretty confident about his team winning the City League boys basketball title. He walked out of the Dragons locker room wearing a brand new Nike hat with “City League Champions” embroidered on it.
Thomas Jefferson gymnasts claim PA Classic Gold Division title
The Thomas Jefferson gymnastics team continued its winning run Friday night by claiming the state title at the PA Classic competition held at Moon.
Kropp lifts No. 2 Penn Hills to Class 5A quarterfinal win over Montour
February 22, 2019
With the game up for grabs early in the second half, Penn Hills needed a lift.
Michael Carmody’s double-double carries No. 1 Mars past Shaler in Class 5A quarterfinals
Michael Carmody’s future in college athletics is likely as an offensive lineman in football, but Friday night he showed he can do plenty of damage on a basketball court with his 6-foot-7, 270-pound frame.
A-K Valley basketball preview capsules: Games of Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019
Boys basketball
Moon, Lawson lead No. 2 Serra Catholic past Sto-Rox in Class 2A quarterfinals
Second-seeded Serra Catholic used its size to its advantage Friday night as it earned its first trip to the WPIAL semifinals in nine years with a 71-61 victory over No. 7 Sto-Rox in a Class 2A quarterfinal game at Peters Township.
High school roundup for Feb. 22, 2019: No. 1 OLSH cruises past Shenango in quarterfinals
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart looked every bit like the No. 1 seed in the WPIAL Class 2A boys basketball playoffs Friday night.
Burrell’s Mele among 4 A-K Valley wrestlers to advance to Class AA regional semifinals
Austin Mele briefly lost track of the score of his match Friday evening as he clung to a one-point lead late in the third period of his quarterfinal bout with Portage’s Cole Sossong. As the wrestlers tumbled on the mat, Mele looked seconds away from allowing a tying escape.
Sewickley Academy maintains mastery of Jeannette, reaches semifinals
Sewickley Academy led from start-to-finish in dispatching Jeannette from the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs Friday night at Canon-McMillan, but the Panthers weren’t skating to victory.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 22, 2019
High Schools
Defense leads Norwin girls past Mt. Lebanon, rematch with North Allegheny awaits
Norwin girls basketball coach Brian Brozeski walked down the hallway outside of the Knights locker room Friday night when out of nowhere a loud roar emerged from the locker room as the door closed. Brozeski smiled.
Chartiers Valley slows WPIAL’s top scorer in quarterfinal win over Woodland Hills
Chartiers Valley threw an ever-changing zone defense at Woodland Hills star Keandre Bowles, hoping to hold the WPIAL’s leading scorer well below his 29-point average.
Beaver’s Cestra, Ringgold’s Vogt capture WPIAL Class AA diving titles
The processes of crowning the WPIAL Class AA diving champions Friday at South Park proved to be polar opposites.
Derry’s DeLuca reaches 150 wins, has eye on bigger prize at Southwest Regional
Derry senior Dom DeLuca chuckled when he was tossed a bag of muffins from his mother after his quarterfinal-round match at the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional Friday at IUP’s Kovalchick Athletic Complex.
Top-seeded Peters Township girls roll past Fox Chapel in Class 6A quarterfinals
The Peters Township girls basketball team averaged 70 points a game in the regular-season, built an undefeated record and ascended to No. 1 rankings in both the WPIAL and state.
Balanced scoring leads Quigley Catholic girls past GCC in Class A quarterfinals
Greensburg Central Catholic kicked off its WPIAL Class A girls basketball quarterfinal contest piping out, knocking down its first four shots.
Five things to watch during Saturday’s Class AAA section wrestling tournaments
Individual tournaments begin Saturday for WPIAL Class AAA wrestlers.
No. 2 North Allegheny gets defensive to upend Upper St. Clair in Class 6A quarterfinals
The offense was cold for North Allegheny’s girls basketball team Friday night.
20 WPIAL wrestlers advance to PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional semifinals
Freedom’s Bryson Miller and Bentworth’s John Vargo are halfway to defending their titles at the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional.
Burrell’s Oswalt achieves goal at PIAA Class AA Southwest wrestling regional
Burrell sophomore Ian Oswalt had one goal in mind at the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional: He wanted to dominate.
High school roundup for Feb. 21, 2019: Nazareth Prep rallies past Union
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Westmoreland basketball playoff capsules: Games of Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019
Saturday’s games
NFL, NBA and MLB represented in 2019 WPIAL Hall of Fame class
As an NFL quarterback, when Charlie Batch studied scouting reports, he would take note whether there were any Western Pennsylvania natives on the other sideline.
No. 3 Moon boys push past Franklin Regional in Class 5A quarterfinals
Franklin Regional and Moon had to wait a few extra minutes to take the court Friday night while the crowd from the first game of the playoff doubleheader cleared out at West Allegheny.
High school roundup for Feb. 20, 2019: Deshields leads Uniontown past Beaver
February 20, 2019
Billy Deshields had the hot hand Wednesday night and carried Uniontown to a 72-53 victory over Beaver in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball playoffs at Peters Township.
Derry denied elusive playoff win thanks to Blackhawk’s late surge
Neither Derry nor Blackhawk had school Wednesday because of the early morning snow storm.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 20, 2019
High Schools
Hempfield’s Orischak commits to St. Francis (Pa.)
Another Hempfield softball player has committed early to a Division I college.
A-K Valley basketball playoff capsules: Games of Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019
Boys
Westmoreland basketball playoff capsules: Games of Friday, Feb. 22, 2019
Boys
Multisport athlete McMahon eager for WPIAL swim meet, grateful for SSA teammates
As a forward on the Shady Side Academy girls soccer team, senior Sophia McMahon has experienced much success. The team finished second at the PIAA championships in 2016, won it all in ‘17 and made it to the semifinals last season.
DiVito nets 32 points as No. 2 Cornell takes down Greensburg Central Catholic
Greensburg Central Catholic had no illusions about Cornell and its standout junior guard, Kaden DiVito.
Peters Township boys use strong 2nd half to take down Penn-Trafford in 1st round
As 8 vs. 9 games go in basketball tournaments, teams are often evenly matched and produce tight games. Outcomes sometimes are as good as coin flips.
Kiski Area goalkeeper Nick Smith commits to Duquesne soccer
Nick Smith spent two years as Kiski Area’s starting goalkeeper, allowed to pick up the ball when teammates couldn’t, and he took his recruitment into his own hands as well.
Westmoreland high school basketball playoff capsules: Games of Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019
Boys basketball
High school roundup for Feb. 18, 2019: Montour, Chartiers Valley earn playoff wins
February 18, 2019
The Montour boys basketball team buckled down on the defensive end Monday night to earn a spot in the WPIAL quarterfinals.
A-K Valley campus clippings: Marzolfs have strong showing at PAC swimming
Mallory Marzolf won on every day of the three-day Presidents’ Athletic Conference swimming and diving championships.
Westmoreland campus clippings: Saint Vincent women secure top seed for PAC tourney
The Presidents’ Athletic Conference women’s basketball championship will go through Latrobe.
High school roundup for Feb. 19, 2019: Canon-McMillan rallies past North Allegheny
The Canon-McMillan boys basketball team trailed by 10 points after three quarters of a WPIAL Class 6A first-round playoff game against North Allegheny.
PSNK women complete trying resurrection season
February 17, 2019
The quarters slipped by, and the minutes and seconds ticked off the clock during Thursday’s Penn State New Kensington women’s basketball game with Penn State Beaver.
Saint Vincent women secure top seed for PAC tournament
February 16, 2019
The Presidents Athletic Conference women’s basketball championship will go through Latrobe.Alle-Kiski Valley basketball previews for Feb. 16 games
WPIAL playoff previews
Mt. Pleasant’s Pitzer denies Miller shot at 3rd title in WPIAL semifinals
Freedom senior Bryson Miller was hoping to become a three-time champion at the WPIAL Class AA wrestling championships Saturday at Canon-McMillan.
Led by Decheck, Taylor, Plum swimmers ready to compete at WPIAL meet
February 15, 2019
Justin Decheck secured his place at the next level before this season by signing a letter of intent in November to swim at Gannon.
5 players to watch in the opening round of the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs
The five-day forecast calls for cold weather across Western Pennsylvania, but here are five WPIAL boys basketball players worth braving the wind chill to watch.
Rough stretch of losses keeps Penn-Trafford hockey out of postseason
February 14, 2019
After going through a difficult five-game losing streak that put postseason aspirations on thin ice, a 4-3 win over Latrobe on Monday provided the Penn-Trafford hockey team a brief moment of hope.
Penn-Trafford swimmers, divers set to contend at WPIAL meets
After sweeping titles at the county meet, Penn-Trafford seniors Paige Kalik and Logan Sherwin look forward to doing the same at the WPIAL Class AAA diving championship on Saturday at North Allegheny.
North Allegheny runner competes at national meet
December 13, 2018
Under the weather, North Allegheny boys cross country senior Zachary Kinne had a disappointing showing in the Nike Cross Nationals Dec. 1 in Portland, Ore. Kinne, a Duke recruit, came in 122nd of 203 (16 minutes, 24.1 seconds). andquot;I had a similar feeling during my Tri-State (Track Coaches Association) and
Score updates: WPIAL 5A finals, PIAA 4A quarterfinals
November 23, 2018
Friday night football around the WPIAL features the 5A championship between West Allegheny and Penn Hills. The teams will battle it out at Norwin. Also in tonight's lineup, South Fayette will square-off against Cathedral Prep in the 4A PIAA quarterfinals at Erie Veterans Stadium. The 2A Championship game featuring South
2 ex-high school players convicted in alleged on-ice attack
November 18, 2018
NORRISTOWN -- Two former Philadelphia-area high school hockey players have been placed on probation for a year and ordered to do 100 hours of community service after being convicted of assaulting members of a rival team during a playoff game last year. The (Pottstown) Mercury reports that Montgomery County jurors
WPIAL Girls X-Country – Oakland, S.Fayette & Vincentian Win Gold
October 27, 2017
Vincentian Academy girls’ cross-country team captured its third-straight WPIAL title on Thursday, while Oakland Catholic won for the second-consecutive year, and South Fayette secured gold for the first time in program history. Meanwhile, three new individual champions were crowned. The action unfolded on a slightly-chilly but overall pleasant afternoon at Coopers Lake Campground in Slippery […]
WPIAL Boys X-Country – Seneca Valley, Indiana & Winchester Champs
Winchester-Thurston and Seneca Valley both repeated as boys’ cross-country team champions on Thursday, while Indiana also claimed gold. Meanwhile, the three individual winners were first-time champions, all of whom finished in the top five in their respective classifications last year. In the annual event held at Coopers Lake Campground in Slippery Rock, Winchester-Thurston displayed complete […]
This Week on the TribLive High School Sports Network – 10/23/2017
October 23, 2017
While the high school football ‘Stretch Run’ concludes, the high school soccer playoffs continue while both the girls volleyball and girls field hockey postseason begins this week here on the new TribLive High School Sports Network. We wrap up the Stretch Run of the 2017 WPIAL football season with Week Nine and The Network has […]
MSA Sports Top 25 WPIAL Stories of 2016 – #25 through #21
December 28, 2016
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holiday season here at the MSA Sports Network. As we close out 2016 and another great high school sports year, we look back at some of the top stories from around the WPIAL in calendar year 2016. We begin our countdown with #25 through #21. #25 - CROSS-COUNTRY RUN ENDS
Waynesburg’s Baumgarner and Winchester Boys Win PIAA X-Country Gold
November 5, 2016
One individual and one team ran to cross-country state gold Saturday afternoon in Hershey. Winchester Thurston won the PIAA Class 1-A boys championship while Ben Baumgarner of Waynesburg won the PIAA Class 2-A individual boys championship race. Here are the results of the district runners that finished in the Top 25 of each boys and girls race along with the top five overall team finish form the 2016 PIAA Cross-Country Championships. PIAA BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS CLASS 3A Team — 1. Council Rock North, 76; 2. Carlisle, 118; 3. Downingtown West, 158; 4. Seneca Valley, 202; 5. LaSalle College, 204.Scholastic Notebook – 11/04/2016
November 4, 2016
When Ron Sciarro became Riverside’s coach this year, he changed the playing style of the Panthers. They went from a pass-happy team to one that throws only 13 times a game. But there has been one other drastic change for Riverside. It deals with the number in the wins column. After going 3-6 last year, Riverside is 7-2 this season and headed to the WPIAL Class AA playoffs. They don’t throw nearly as often, but the Panthers win much more often.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – Sewickley Kings of Single-A Again
July 12, 2016
Sewickley Academy is once again on top of the Class A standings in the chase for the MSA Sports Cup after leapfrogging defending champ Greensburg Central Catholic. In fact, the Panthers and Centurions have been tagging in for titles the last five years with GCC winning in 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 and SA claiming the Cup in 201--2011, 2013-2014 and now in 2015-2016. The championship for Sewickley Academy is the schools 9th in 13 years of the competition and was aided greatly by district and state championships in boys golf and boys tennis along with WPIAL crowns in boys cross-country and boys soccer.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – A New Champ Wins Double-A
July 9, 2016
For only the fifth time in the thirteen years of the MSA Sports Cup Class AA chase, the torch has been passed to a new champion. Greensburg Central Catholic won the first three years, followed by a five year run by Shady Side Academy and three of the last four years the AA Cup has gone to Quaker Valley with a one year run at the top by Seton-LaSalle two years ago. Now the AA crown is coming to Beaver County thanks to Beaver High School. After a couple of close calls in recent years, the Bobcats were lifted to the top spot in part because of district championships won in each season...girls tennis in the fall, ice hockey in the winter and a second straight WPIAL title in girls track & field in the spring.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – SF Three-peats in Triple-A
July 7, 2016
In the first ten years of the MSA Sports Cup, while there were a couple of dominating schools in the other three classifications, the chase for the Class AAA Cup had been up for grabs with eight different schools earning The Cup. However in the last three years of the season long competition, Triple-A has become the pride of the Lions. After finishing as the runner-up in 2012-2013, South Fayette has staked its claim on top in Class AAA as the Lions are the first school in this classification to win a third consecutive MSA Sports Cup.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – NA Remains Perfect in Quad-A
July 6, 2016
Another school year is in the books and another MSA Sports Cup in Class AAAA is headed to North Allegheny High School. NA captured the schools 13th Cup in 13 years since the MSA Sports Network started this school year long competition to determine the top sports programs in each classification. There are 20 sports in which schools can earn points in the competition and the Tigers earned points in 18 of them. While it was not the highest point total or largest margin of victory, North Allegheny still cruised to their final Quad-A Sports Cup as they will move up to 6-A starting this fall. The second place school finished 430 points behind NA.WPIAL Girls Sports Realignment
February 16, 2016
We all knew it was coming. A major change to the WPIAL high school sports landscape based on the PIAA's decision to increase from four to six classifications in basketball and softball, plus the increase in other sports such as soccer, volleyball and lacrosse. The WPIAL Board of Control approved the various steering committee's re-alignment suggestions starting with the 2016-2017 school year. This alignment also will be for the 2017-2018 school year. For interactive listing, CLICK HERE. GIRLS BASKETBALL Class 6AMSA Sports Top 25 WPIAL Stories From 2015 Countdown: #25 – #11
December 31, 2015
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holiday season here at MSA Sports. Here is a look back at another great high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2015. We begin our countdown with #25 through #11. #25 - ODD STREAK CONTINUESScholastic Notebook – 12/11/2015
December 11, 2015
There is a Wildcat strike in WPIAL boys basketball this season. Big things are expected of the Latrobe Wildcats and coach Brad Wetzel’s crew has been impressive in the first week of the season. Latrobe is 3-0, including Tuesday’s victory against Pine-Richland, which was the No. 2-ranked Class AAAA team in the MSA Sports preseason Class AAAA rankings. This could be one of Latrobe’s best teams in a while, at least the best since the 2009 team that went 19-4. Latrobe is the odds-on favorite to win Section 1. If Latrobe wins the section, it would be only their fourth crown in the past 30 years. The others were in 1987, 1990 and 2009.2015 PIAA Cross-Country Results: Two WPIAL Runners Win Gold
November 7, 2015
On a day when no WPIAL teams won state titles, a pair of district runners were golden at the 2015 PIAA Cross-Country championships in Hershey on Saturday. Griffin Mackey of Sewickley Academy won the Boys Class A race with a time of 16:05 while Marianne Abdulah of Vincentian Academy added to her golden trophy collection by winning the Girls Class A race with a time of 18:50. Two WPIAL boys teams are bringing home silver as North Allegheny finished second in the AAA race and Sewickley Academy was second in the A race. Seneca Valley finished third in AAA for the highest spot on the girls side of the team competition. Here are the team winners along with the highest WPIAL team to finish in that race. BOYS AAA:
BF’s Dom Peretta & QV’s Zach Skoinekovich Repeats as Boys Cross-Country Champs
October 30, 2015
Two of the three boys’ individual cross country winners were repeat champions, as Beaver Falls’ Domenic Peretta and Quaker Valley’s Zach Skolnekovich defended their championships, while Nick Wolk of Peters Township earned his first title. Meanwhile, all three reigning team champions successfully defended their titles in the event, which was held at Coopers Lake Campground near Slippery Rock. In Class A, Peretta, who is also a standout in track and field for Beaver Falls, notched a winning time of 16:15, 13 seconds better than Sewickley Academy’s Griffin Mackey. A senior, Peretta will be competing for the Penn State track and field team next year.
Marianne Abdalah of Vincentian Wins Third Title in Girls X-Country Finals
At the WPIAL Girls Cross Country Championships at Coopers Lake Campground, there was a brand new champ in AAA. Oakland Catholic's Lauren Finikiotis is a first ever champ for the Eagles. In AA, Knoch's Mandi Moxie won gold Vincentian Academy's Marianne Abdalah won for a third straight year. All of this came on a course that was surprisingly dry after rains from the day before. It was the wind that had more of an effect on the runners all day. In the team portion of the event, Seneca Valley in AAA, Quaker Valley in AA, and Vincentian Academy in A were crowned champions. The top three teams in each classification will move on to the state finals. The following is a list of all the teams, and individuals that will move on to the PIAA State FinalsScholastic Notebook – 10/25/2015
October 25, 2015
The irony of it. Deer Lakes came into Friday night’s game with the leading rusher in the entire WPIAL this season Hunter Burns. When it ended, Apollo-Ridge had the top rusher ever in a WPIAL game. Duane Brown, a junior at Apollo-Ridge, put himself in the history books when he rushed for a WPIAL record 460 yards in a 56-35 victory over Deer Lakes. Brown was certainly a workhorse in the game, carrying the ball 47 times. Brown broke a 15-year-old WPIAL record. Connellsville’s Marcus Furman ran for 455 yards in a 2000 game. What’s funny is that Apollo-Ridge coach John Skiba and his team had no idea how many yards Brown had or that he had broken the WPIAL record until an announcer from your very own MSA Sports staff came on the field and told him after the game.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 10/25/2015
We conclude the Stretch Run of the 2015 high school football season while starting exclusive coverage of the 2015 WPIAL Soccer and Girls Volleyball Playoffs this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We wrap up the regular season with Week Nine of the high school football season with 29 WPIAL weekend contests starting Friday night with the MSA Sports Pregame Show and concluding later that night with the WPIAL Football Scoreboard Show.Scholastic Notebook – 09/11/2015
September 11, 2015
Duane Brown’s sidekick is gone, but Brown’s game apparently still has a lot of kick. Brown is a junior football player at Apollo-Ridge. A year ago, he and Tre Tipton were a one-of-a-kind one-two punch, as both played quarterback and some at receiver/running back. They were believed to be the first quarterback pair in WPIAL history to both rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. Tipton is now at Pitt, but life is anything but the pits for Brown. At least after the first week of the season. Look at the statistical leaders for the WPIAL after Week 1 and Brown is the only one you will see in the receiving, rushing and scoring leaders.
2015 Positive Athlete Awards
May 19, 2015
2015 Positive Athlete Awards On Wednesday, May 13th, 27 Western PA High School students were recognized at the John Heinz History Center by Hines Ward as “Positive Athletes” . These athletes were nominated by coaches, teachers, administrators, parents, and friends for their ability to meet the following criteria in their day-to day lives as athletes, students and members of their communities.
WPIAL Hall of Fame Class of 2015
April 9, 2015
Four athletes who would later go on to professional careers, several multi-sport athletes, four coaches who won nearly 40 WPIAL championships between them, an old-school baseball player whose son continued his Major League Baseball legacy and a team that won nine WPIAL and PIAA playoff games en route to a state basketball title by an average margin of victory of 25.8. Those are some of the headliners of the WPIAL Hall of Fame class of 2015. The WPIAL held a news conference Thursday morning to announce its ninth annual class. You can watch the video stream archived here on MSA Sports. All inductees will be honored at a banquet June 12 at the Doubletree Hotel in Greentree.Scholastic Notebook – 01/09/2015
January 9, 2015
New Castle High School’s Malik Hooker apparently isn’t the only one who wears the athletic “genes” in the family. Hooker was one of the best two-sport athletes in the state the past two years, standing out in football and basketball. He now is a freshman football player at Ohio State, but is being redshirted this year. Two of Hooker’s younger brothers are now playing on the New Castle basketball. One of them is the team’s leading scorer in his first year as a starter. Marquel Hooker, a 5-foot-10 junior, is averaging 16.4 points a game. He never saw regular varsity time before this season.MSA Sports Countdown – Top 25 WPIAL Stories From 2014 – 01/07/2015
January 7, 2015
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holidays here at MSA Sports. Here is a look back at another great high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2014. We conclude our countdown with all 25 stories from #25 through #1. #25 - Game, Set, Match and Gold The unique streak continued in 2014 for Sewickley Academy. 2009 was the last time a Panthers duo did not win gold the WPIAL boys doubles tennis tournament. back in April, the Sewickley Academy tandem of Ryan Gex and Luke Vith won gold in Class AA.
MSA Sports Countdown – Top 25 WPIAL Stories From 2014 – 01/01/2015
January 1, 2015
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holidays here at MSA Sports. It's time to look back at another high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2014. We conclude our countdown with the five stories that ended up #5 through #1. {Left: Brianna Schwartz of Shaler crosses the finish line to win the WPIAL Girls Class AAA cross-county championship, her third straight title} #5 - Sister Power In 2013, the Kluska sisters made news when older sister Alyvia forfeited her WPIAL Class AA Consolation match to Michaela, thus earning the then freshman a spot in the PIAA girls individual singles tennis playoffs.Scholastic Notebook – 11/14/2014
November 14, 2014
It has been well-documented how Pine-Richland quarterback Ben DiNucci has turned out to be one of the most prolific passers in the history of the WPIAL. But DiNucci also has benefitted from a terrific one-two receiving punch. It looks like you could call seniors D’ondre Gastion and Mike Merhaut are a receiving duo for the ages. There are no records available for best receiving one-two punches, but you can bet you will be hard-pressed to find many duos from the same team who have been as productive as Gastion and Merhaut. How many teams have had two receivers with 100 or more career catches? But that’s what Pine-Richland has in Gastion and Merhaut, a pair of seniors.Scholastic Notebook – 10/24/2014
October 24, 2014
Has there ever been a WPIAL football regular season that was so perfect as this one? Probably not. Fourteen teams go into the final night of the regular season with undefeated records. Two of them play (West Allegheny at Central Valley). That means there could be 13 teams that finish the regular season with perfect records. That would be the most in the WPIAL in a long time. Possibly ever. Checking records going back 37 years, there has never been a WPIAL season with 13 undefeated and untied teams (there used to no overtime in WPIAL football).
Seneca Valley, Quaker Valley & Laurel Win WPIAL Girls Team X-Country
October 23, 2014
Brianna Schwartz of Shaler captured a three-peat at the WPIAL Cross-Country Championships on Thursday, as she once again proved unbeatable at Cooper’s Lake Campground in Butler.Scholastic Notebook – 10/18/2014
October 18, 2014
Neshannock High School has never gotten much attention for football, and not just because the small Lawrence County school is on the outer edges of the WPIAL. Neshannock hasn’t gotten much attention because the football team had been one of the least successful in WPIAL history – until lately. What is going on the past few seasons at Neshannock is really one of the biggest turnaround stories in the WPIAL in a long time. And this year, the story might have a perfect ending.
MSA SPORTS CUP: Sewickley Academy Back on Top After Winning Class A Cup
July 3, 2014
Eight time champion Sewickley Academy and defending champ Greensburg Central Catholic were deadlocked with 360 points each with one more sport to calculate in the chase for the 2013-2014 MSA Sports Class A Cup. That one sports was boy tennis, which was great news for Panthers fans and bad news for everybody else in Class A. A district title and state runner-up in boys tennis helped Sewickley Academy win the MSA Sports Cup for the ninth time in eleven years.
MSA SPORTS CUP: South Fayette Roars to First Class AAA Cup Title
July 1, 2014
The first ten years of the MSA Sports Cup has shown us that while there are a couple of dominating schools in the other three classifications, the chase for the Class AAA Cup has been up for grabs with eight different schools earning The Cup in ten years. Now in the eleventh year of this competition, we have another first time winner in Triple-A making it nine different champs in eleven years. After finishing as the runner-up in 2012-2013 and being a steady member on the Top 5 in recent years, South Fayette is finally enjoying its day in the Championship Sun with a convincing victory.
MSA SPORTS CUP: Another Year, Another Quad-A Title for North Allegheny
June 30, 2014
Another school year and another MSA Sports Cup in Class AAAA for North Allegheny High School. NA captured their 11th Cup in eleven years since the MSA Sports Network started this school year long competition to determine the top sports programs in each classification. There are 20 sports in which schools can earn points in the competition and for the second straight year and only the second time in this history of the coveted competition, the Tigers earned points in ALL of them. In the 2012-2013 school year, North Allegheny scored a mind-numbing and record 1,115 points. In 2013-2014, they had to settle for a mere 965 points. The second place school finished 530 points behind NA.
2013-2014 MSA Sports Female Athlete of the Year
June 25, 2014
Brianna Schwartz ran her final event of the school year two weeks ago in New York. It was a prestigious invite-only event sponsored by adidas and Schwart ran a race in which 10 high school runners from around the country competed in the mile. The entire meet was part of the adidas “Grand Prix” and the event that Schwartz participated was called the “Dream Mile.” For Schwartz, it was a rather appropriate title because she had a “dream year.” Schwartz, a junior at Shaler Area High School, did some marvelous things in the 2013-14 school year. She put herself in the WPIAL spotlight, but also gained national prominence. She is the MSA Sports Female Athlete of the Year.WPIAL Fall Sports Realignment for 2014
January 21, 2014
The WPIAL Board of Control officially passed the new alignments for the WPIAL fall sports on Tuesday afternoon, including girls volleyball, boys and girls golf, boys and girls cross-country, girls tennis and girls field hockey. A couple of big changes occur in Girls Tennis where there are more teams in fewer sections and in Boys and Girls Cross-Country where there are only two duel-class divisions, but there will be three classifications for the championships. Here is the new make-up of the sections in all of those sports for the 2014 high school fall sports seasons. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: WPIAL CLASS AAA SECTION 1:2013 WPIAL Team Champions on Parade
January 1, 2014
What better way to celebrate championships and the start of a new year then with a parade. It has been another great year in high school sports. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during 2013. As we get ready for another great scholastic year in 2014, we look back at all the WPIAL team champions on parade from this past year. Football: Class AAAA - Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings Class AAA - West Allegheny Indians Class AA - South Fayette Lions Class A - Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans PIAA Class AA - South Fayette Lions PIAA Class A - Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans
2013 WPIAL Boys and Girls Cross-Country Results
October 25, 2013
A cold and windy afternoon at Cooper’s Lake, PA provided both excitement and challenge for competitors of the WPIAL Cross Country Championship Race. Six races were held each totaling a distance of 3.1 miles to decide the top three winning high schools and top individual competitors from the A, AA, and AAA classes for both boys and girls. The top three teams in each class advance to the PIAA meet in Hershey, PA. as well as the top 15 finishers in each race from non-qualifying teams.(Above: Nate Edenfield of Uniontown wins Boys AA race)Results:Girls Class ATop Three Teams: Laurel (83 points), Bishop Canevin (122 points), Our Lady of Sacred Heart (130 points)This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 10/20/2013
October 20, 2013
The 'Stretch Run' of the 2013 high school football regular season concludes this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have a busy final week of the high school football regular season with FORTY ONE WPIAL, District 6, District 9 and District 10 football games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Friday night kicking off with the expanded MSA Sports Pregame Show and concluding with the one and only WPIAL High School Football Scoreboard Show.Scholastic Notebook – 09/13/2013
September 13, 2013
There is undoubtedly more passing in high school football these days. But after two weeks, could this be the year of runners in WPIAL football?While WPIAL football again has some impressive passers, the running statistics have been big through the first two weeks. Take a look:*It’s considered a nice night when a team has two 100-yard rushers in a game. It is extremely unusual when a team has two 200-yard rushers. But there have been two teams (Penn Hills and Steel Valley) that have had two 200-yard rushers in a game – and they did it on the same night (last Friday).*Penn Hills’ Billy Kisner has rushed for 200 yards in two consecutive games – and he’s a QUARTERBACK.Scholastic Notebook – 09/06/2013
September 6, 2013
Seneca Valley lost almost every offensive starter from a team that went 10-2 and averaged 37 points a game last season. But coach Don Holl didn’t have to look far and wide for something to jumpstart this year’s offense.He simply had to look across the family dinner table.Seneca Valley’s new quarterback is T.J. Holl, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior and the son of the coach. The son has definitely shined so far.Fall Sports Underway
August 19, 2013
This week marks the start of section play in WPIAL boys golf, girls golf and girls tennis. Next week marks the beginning of section play in football while it's a post-Labor Day start up for section play in boys and girls soccer, girls volleyball, girls field hockey and boys and girls cross-country.You can check out ALL of the 2013 WPIAL section schedules in football, boys/girls soccer, girls volleyball, boys/girls golf, girls tennis, girls field hockey and boys/girls cross-country by clicking the high school link at the top of the page...then click on the logo of your favorite school and then the sport you wish to see.2012-2013 WPIAL Champions on Parade
July 16, 2013
We celebrated America's Birthday earlier this month with various parades and fireworks. You'll forgive us if we celebrate the 2012-2013 school year with just a parade and no pyrotechnics. It was been another great high school sports year in District 7 of the PIAA. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during the school year. As we get ready for another great scholastic campaign in 2013-2014, we look back at all the WPIAL team champions on parade from this past school year.Football:Class AAAA - North Allegheny TigersClass AAA - West Allegheny IndianaClass AA - Aliquippa QuipsClass A - Clairton BearsPIAA Cross-Country – WPIAL Runners Come Up Empty on Gold
November 3, 2012
While there was plenty of gold in WPIAL soccer and volleyball being won, there was no gold to be had in the 2012 PIAA Cross-Country championships Saturday at Hershey Park.One of two medalists from District 7 was Shaler sophomore Brianna Schwartz, the 2012 WPIAL champion who finished second to Marissa Sheva of Pennridge with a time of 18:39 in the Girls Class AAA state championship. Mary Malone of North Hills finished in 4th place in the same race.The Mount Lebanon Blue Devils ended up finishing in fifth place in the Girls Class AAA team standings.Uniontown senior Julie Friend, the 2012 WPIAL Class AA champ, finished in fourth place in the Girls Class AA race with a time of 19:32. She helped the Red Raiders to an eighth place team finish.Brent Kennedy of Kiski, Tyler Rigby of South Park & Ryan Archer of Vincentian Win WPIAL Boys X-Country Titles
October 25, 2012
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="Brianna Schwartz of Shaler, Julie Friend of Uniontown & Emily Maxwell of Laurel Win WPIAL Girls X-Country Gold
Scholastic Notebook – 10/19/2012
October 19, 2012
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTablScholastic Notebook – 09/07/2012
September 7, 2012
Sophomores had big games. Players who were their team’s No. 1 running back for the first time did some good things. A receiver turned running back also had a big game. The first weekend of the high school football season was a virtual coming-out party for some. Players introduced themselves to WPIAL football – and they were loud introductions. The leading rusher on the first weekend of the season was North Catholic’s P.J. Fulmore, a 10th-grader who had 265 yards. The second-leading rusher was Fort Cherry’s Koltan Kobrys, who played receiver last year. He ran for 250 yards.2011-2012 WPIAL and PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE CHAMPIONS on PARADE
July 6, 2012
What better way to celebrate America's Birthday and the end of another school year than with a parade. It has been another great high school sports year. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during the 2011-2012 school year. As we get ready for another great scholastic campaign in 2012-2013, we look back at all the WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League team champions on parade from this past school year.Football:Class AAAA - North Allegheny TigersClass AAA - Montour SpartansClass AA - Aliquippa QuipsClass A - Clairton BearsCity League - University Prep PanthersPIAA Class A - Clairton BearsScholastic Notebook – 03/30/2012
March 30, 2012
The high school baseball season is young and maybe it still isn’t clear as to who are all the best teams are in each classification. But it is quite clear a team worth watching is in Class AAAA. Mount Lebanon. Through the first week of the season, Mount Lebanon just might be the biggest surprise. After all, the Blue Devils weren’t in the MSA Sports preseason top 10. They weren’t in the Post-Gazette top five, either. But heading into Friday, Mount Lebanon had a 3-1 record and had knocked off some of the big boys, namely three teams in the MSA top 10. Mount Lebanon started the season last Friday with a 7-4 victory against No. 5 Pine-Richland. The Blue Devils beat No. 8 North Allegheny, 9-6, on Tuesday. Yesterday, they knocked off No. 1-ranked and defending WPIAL champion Seneca Valley, 10-9.WPIAL Fall Sports Realignments for 2012 and 2013
January 17, 2012
The WPIAL Board of Control officially passed the new alignments for the WPIAL fall sports on Tuesday afternoon, including girls volleyball, boys and girls golf, boys and girls cross-country, girls tennis and girls field hockey. Here is the new make-up of the sections in all of those sports for both the 2012 and 2013 high school fall sports seasons.2011 WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League Team Champions on Parade
January 1, 2012
What better way to celebrate championships and the start of a new year then with a parade. It has been another great year in high school sports. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during 2011.2011 WPIAL Year in Review – Top 25 Stories: #15 – #11
December 29, 2011
2011 has been a tremendous year in high school sports in the WPIAL. It was a year where some familiar champions wore the golden crown again while some new faces surfaced in the championship picture. It was a year when there was plenty of streaking (not like the 70’s) in both the good direction and the not so good direction.2011-2012 MSA SPORTS CUP STANDINGS
December 22, 2011
The latest chase for the MSA Sports Cup is underway as the 2011-2012 high school sports fall season is in the books. The MSA Sports Cup is a challenge to determine the best sports program for the entire school year from WPIAL schools in each classification.Quaker Valley Boys Run to PIAA Class AA Boys Cross-Country Team Title
November 5, 2011
There were no medals won by individual runners from the WPIAL in the 2011 PIAA Cross-Country Championships on Saturday in Hershey, but Quaker Valley was able to bring home team gold. The Quakers won the Boys Class AA Team Title in easy fashion over runner-up North East.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 10/25/2011
October 25, 2011
The fall sports postseason advances on for soccer and volleyball while the high school football regular season comes to an end this week on the MSA Sports Network. The ninth weekend of the high school football season has plenty of WPIAL and District 6 football action starting with the expanded MSA Sports Pregame Show and concluding with WPIAL and D-6 Scoreboard Shows.Scholastic Notebook – 10/21/2011
October 21, 2011
At the start of the season, Montour seemed to be the No. 1 WPIAL Class AAA team in just about every media poll.But with two weeks left in the regular season, will the real Montour please stand up?Ryan Gil and NA Teammates Golden in PIAA Cross-Country Championships
November 7, 2010
It was a golden Saturday for both Ryan Gil, who won the 2010 Boys Class AAA Individual cross-country race while his North Allegheny teammates finished first in the boys team standings at the Parkview Course in Hershey. Here are the results from both Class AAA and Class AA races for both the boys and girls. PIAA BOYS CLASS AAA TEAM RESULTS:Scholastic Notebook – 10/29/2010
October 29, 2010
When it comes to records, maybe its time to stop thinking about Rushel Shell in a WPIAL sense. Maybe its time to look at the entire state. Shell, Hopewells wonderful junior running back, ran for 193 yards against West Allegheny in a 34-31 overtime win last night. That gave him 6,358 yards for his career.2010 WPIAL Schedules: Boys Cross-Country
August 29, 2010
Can you say Five-Peat? That is what the Tigers of North Allegheny accomplished last fall in winning their fifth straight WPIAL AAA Boys Cross Country Championship. The Tigers finished with 92 points followed by Baldwin with 109 then North Hills with 158 then Plum with 196. In the Class AAA individual competition, North Allegheny's Ryan Gil placed first with a 15:30.
Recchia hits another winner as East boys best West at Cager Classic
March 23, 2019
Mars senior Andrew Recchia is getting accustomed to winning shots.
East Deer standout Hawkins honored by A-K Valley hall selection
At 95, Daniel Hawkins can sum up his life succinctly.
High school scores, schedules for March 23, 2019
High Schools
Mark Madden: Bush-league journalists descend on Steelers
The Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took a PR hit when Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell checked out. Roethlisberger was eviscerated. GM Kevin Colbert was villainized. The piling on continues.
Latrobe woman never missed family’s baseball games
Nancy Gangemi never missed a chance to see one of her sons or grandchildren play baseball.
Shaler Area softball makes move to Class 5A
March 21, 2019
Tom Sorce didn’t want any hopeful Shaler softball players doomed by the pressure of a 72-hour performance.Shaler Area notes: Unified bocce team competes at state competition
The Shaler unified bocce team wrapped up its season last Wednesday at the state championships in Hershey.
High school scores, schedules for March 21, 2019
High Schools
Peters Township’s trip to Hershey was 6 years in the making
When Peters Township girls basketball coach Bert Kendall took over the program in the 2013-14 season, the Indians were coming off a winless campaign in Section 2-4A and only managed to win six games.
George Guido: Deer Lakes boys highlights memorable basketball season in A-K Valley
March 19, 2019
It’s time to close the book on another scholastic basketball season in the Alle-Kiski Valley.
High school scores, schedules for March 19, 2019
High Schools
OLSH boys fall short to Bishop Guilfoyle in PIAA Class 2A semifinals
Losing a tooth wasn’t going to stop the path to Hershey for Bishop Guilfoyle’s Luke Ruggery.
Peters Township girls rally past Upper Dublin in overtime to reach PIAA title game
WINGATE — Peters Township’s Jordan Bisignani didn’t have much time to process the moment when she heaved a desperation half-court shot at the buzzer of a PIAA Class 6A semifinal.
Riverview baseball raises expectations, targets playoffs
Riverview baseball coach Bill Gras asked his players during practice to write down one personal goal and one team goal on a note card and give it back to him.
Talented Riverview softball moves up in class
The Riverview softball team is rife with talented and experienced underclassmen. Despite only having two seniors, coach Jim Ashbaugh knows his team won’t be lacking confidence.
Plum softball hoping to turn last season’s close losses into wins
March 17, 2019
For the Plum softball team, 2018 was a season filled with several close games in which it had an opportunity to win but came up short.
Burrell ready for 3rd clash with pesky Ringgold, this time in finals
From the beginning of the season, the Burrell hockey team made no secret that its goal is to win the school’s first PIHL title. Standing in the way is one final hurdle.
Despite losses of key players, Plum baseball aims to contend again
During his tenure as Plum’s baseball coach, Carl Vollmer has aimed to perpetuate his team’s culture.
PIAA notebook: Deer Lakes done, but accomplishments will ring out
March 16, 2019
Although the Deer Lakes ride came to an end Saturday afternoon at Slippery Rock University, the memories generated by the Lancers in the past few months will be savored for many years.
Leechburg softball chases 33rd straight playoff spot
The Leechburg softball program has been soaring for more than 30 seasons.
High school scores, schedules for March 16, 2019
High Schools
Norwin boys take 3rd at state team bowling tournament
A day after Cedar Crest bowlers won the boys and girls singles titles, the school also captured the boys team state tournament title at 222 Lanes in Ephrata.
Leechburg baseball wants more from WPIAL playoffs
For the first time in seven years, Leechburg got a taste of WPIAL postseason baseball last season when the Blue Devils qualified for Class A playoffs, losing to Jeannette, 2-0, in first-round play.
Monessen boys upset WPIAL champion Nazareth Prep in PIAA quarterfinals
Devin Whitlock leaped into the arms of his teammates at midcourt, his face beaming as the rest of the Monessen players rallied around him, jumping and screaming with elation.
Hickory holds off New Castle in PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals
Hickory and many in the capacity crowd at Slippery Rock University’s Morrow Field House were waiting for a typical New Castle late comeback.
Knoch softball eager to build on last season’s long-awaited playoff victory
Coming off a season in which it won a playoff game for the first time in 11 years, the Knoch softball team exudes optimism.
Knoch baseball team wants to carry on recent winning ways
Knoch baseball coach Sean O’Donnell likened success to a two-way street.
Sophomore Szazynski bolsters Shaler Area tennis lineup
Participating in tennis in some form was always a likely choice for Shaler sophomore Cam Szazynski.
Shaler boys basketball hopes standard set continues in future
Rob Niederberger does everything possible to get the Shaler boys basketball team exposure to different styles during the summer.
North Allegheny seniors bow out in 2nd round of states
Shots didn’t fall for North Allegheny girls basketball in the second round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs.
Cedar Crest bowlers sweep state singles titles
Western Region champion Shannon Small of Plum reached the stepladder playoffs at the state singles bowling tournament Friday at 222 Dutch Lanes in Ephrata.
High school scores, schedules for March 14, 2019
High Schools
Latrobe baseball looking for complete commitment in move to Class 6A
March 14, 2019
The Latrobe baseball team is just two years removed from claiming WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championships in a season that will go down as one of the greatest in school history.
Latrobe softball team to rely on several underclassmen in quest for elusive title
For the past two seasons, the Latrobe softball team has been on the brink of winning a WPIAL championship.
High school roundup for March 13, 2019: OLSH boys advance to PIAA quarterfinals
March 13, 2019
Daren DiMichele had 22 points to help WPIAL champion OLSH claim a 77-36 victory over Fairview in the PIAA Class 2A second round at New Castle.
High school scores, schedules for March 13, 2019
High Schools
Holmes, Lincoln Park rally past rival Aliquippa in PIAA Class 3A 2nd round
As the final buzzer sounded, Lincoln Park coach Mike Bariski turned to the Leopards faithful and at the top of his lungs screamed “how about that.”
Deer Lakes boys make program history with PIAA Class 3A 2nd round win
Another nail-biter and another win for the Deer Lakes boys basketball team, which continued its historic run Wednesday night.
Highlands softball optimistic thanks to hitting depth, freshman pitcher
The Highlands softball team is in search of some keys — the figurative type.
Highlands baseball coach: ‘Good things are coming’
To say that it has been a long time since the Highlands baseball team showed up in a WPIAL playoff bracket would be an understatement.
Unbeaten Chartiers Valley girls roll past Slippery Rock in PIAA 2nd round
When the final buzzer sounded Wednesday evening at Moon Area High School, the Chartiers Valley girls basketball team left the same way they came in, undefeated.
George Guido: Deer Lakes opponent making name for itself
March 12, 2019
For the first time, the Deer Lakes boys basketball team will have a second-round PIAA playoff game.
High school scores, schedules for March 12, 2019
High schools
High school roundup for March 12, 2019: Johnson leads Moon past Archbishop Ryan
Donovan Johnson scored 24 points as WPIAL runner-up Moon earned a 44-36 victory over Archbishop Ryan in a PIAA Class 5A boys basketball second-round game Tuesday night in Chambersburg.
Strong defense, rebounding lift Norwin girls past Northampton in PIAA 2nd round
SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP — Norwin girls basketball continually has run teams into the ground with speed and depth. The Knights added rebounding to the plan and bested Northampton, 68-58, in the PIAA Class 6A second round Tuesday evening.
A-K Valley high school athletes of the week: Zac Herbinko and Alexis Schrecongost
Zac Herbinko
Freeport baseball faces challenging slate in Class 3A
Freeport baseball might be dropping from Class 4A to 3A, but the path to a WPIAL playoff spot won’t be any easier.
DeJidas ready to cap career on high note with Freeport softball
In her years at Freeport, Ally DeJidas has experienced plenty of success as a state volleyball champion, a key member of a Yellowjackets’ softball team that made three straight playoff appearances and was part of the recent girls basketball run to the playoffs.
Ringgold advances to PIHL Division II championship
Ringgold hockey is going to the ‘ship. The Rams are on the hunt for the program’s first PIHL Division II championship since 2010, punching their ticket to the final with a 5-0 shutout of Neshannock on Monday night at the RMU Island Sports Complex.
Burrell beats Connellsville, headed to PIHL final
March 11, 2019
Tyler Stewart and Gio Palombo’s chemistry on the ice started on the pavement when they played street hockey together in their youth.
High school scores, schedules for March 11, 2019
High Schools
Depth, experience keys to success for Fox Chapel baseball
Dressed in parkas and tassel caps, the Fox Chapel baseball team braved the cold last Thursday, getting in a few minutes of infield work on the turf before heading inside to the batting cages.
Youthful Fox Chapel softball sets sights toward future
Fox Chapel softball coach Lisa Hess is in a situation she hasn’t seen in her five seasons with the program after nine seniors graduated from a team that made the postseason last year.
Burrell hockey eyes payback against Connellsville in PIHL Division II semifinals
A month ago, the Burrell hockey team skated into Connellsville looking to wrap up an undefeated regular season. Instead, the Bucs got a reminder of what could happen if they don’t play what coach Max Rickard calls “the Burrell way.”
New Castle rink wins $100,000 ‘Renovate the Rink’ contest
Hess Ice Rink in New Castle won the inaugural “Renovate the Rink” contest and will receive $100,000 for improvements from the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and Pittsburgh Commercial Construction.
Apollo-Ridge baseball team to start fresh
March 9, 2019
It’s been 12 short days since new Apollo-Ridge coach Jason Mamros was hired.
High school scores, schedules for March 9, 2019
High schools
Perennial power Kennedy Catholic too much for Fox Chapel
The Fox Chapel boys basketball team took a trip to the “Magic City” on Saturday evening became part of the magic show.
High school roundup for March 9, 2019: Pine-Richland boys open PIAA playoffs with victory
The Pine-Richland boys basketball team had a three-hour bus ride home from Hershey on Saturday night. It was a happy one.
Deer Lakes beats Brookville for 1st PIAA win in team history
CLEARFIELD — In a season of milestones, Deer Lakes attained another Saturday night.
No shortage of energy for Apollo-Ridge softball
Apollo-Ridge senior pitcher Mollie Charlton felt it. Heck, she could almost taste it.
Norwin, Penn-Trafford bowling teams claim regional titles
There will be quite a contingent of Westmoreland County bowlers heading east to Lancaster next week for the state bowling championships after a stellar performance from several area teams Saturday at the Western Pennsylvania regionals at North Versailles Bowl.
High school roundup: Moon boys bounce back for PIAA playoff win
The Moon boys basketball team bounced back in a big way Friday night in the opening round of the PIAA Class 5A playoffs.
Poor third-quarter costs Leechburg boys in PIAA loss to Elk County Catholic
After trailing by four at halftime, the Leechburg boys basketball team felt good about its performance against the state’s No. 2 Class A team.
Plum’s Small, Armstrong’s Halutick claim regional bowling titles
Shannon Small didn’t have the highest score after five qualifying-round games at the Western Pennsylvania regional bowling tournament Friday at North Versailles Bowl.
Shaler Area notebook: Lynch returns to Wheeling Nailers
March 7, 2019
Former Shaler hockey standout Zac Lynch is headed back to the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers. Lynch was recently released following a six-game stint in the AHL on a professional tryout contract with the New York Ranger affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.
Shaler Area unified bocce team advances to state championships
James Bernick, a freshman at Slippery Rock, joined the Shaler unified bocce team during its first season last year with an eye on the future.
High school scores, schedules for March 7, 2019
High Schools
Scoring struggles hamper Fox Chapel girls in PIAA 1st-round loss to Cumberland Valley
LEWISBERRY — Fox Chapel did everything it could have done defensively against one of the top teams in the state during Friday’s PIAA Class 6A girls basketball tournament opener.
After long rest, Monessen boys set to face Jamestown in PIAA playoffs
At this point in past seasons, the buzz about District 10’s Class A champion has been all about Kennedy Catholic.
PIHL roundup for March 5, 2019: Peters Township blanks Canon-McMillan
March 5, 2019
First period goals from Torrey Schwartz and Nico Watsula, as well as a 17-save performance by Alex Wilbert led Peters Township to a 3-0 victory over Canon-McMillan (6-13-1) in a PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup first round game Tuesday at Southpointe’s Printscape Arena.
High school scores, schedules for March 5, 2019
High schools
George Guido: A-K Valley basketball teams open PIAA playoffs this weekend
The PIAA basketball playoffs are set to start this weekend, and there are five Alle-Kiski Valley teams entered.
PIHL roundup: Mt. Lebanon defeats Cathedral Prep in Penguins Cup playoffs
Luke Husak and Wyatt George each had two goals to lift No. 4 seed Mt. Lebanon to a 7-3 victory over Cathedral Prep in the first round of the PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup playoffs Monday at Mt. Lebanon Ice Center.
A-K Valley Athletes of the Week: Fox Chapel swimmer Zoe Skirboll, Deer Lakes swimmer Adam Morrison
Zoe Skirboll
Top-seeded Burrell hockey returns from layoff with eye on 1st PIHL title
March 3, 2019
When Burrell takes the ice Monday for its PIHL Division II first-round playoff game against Trinity it will be 27 days since the Bucs saw their bid for an undefeated season come to an end with a 6-2 loss to Connellsville in the regular-season finale.
PIAA releases opening round schedule for boys, girls basketball playoffs
High schools
New Castle tops Quaker Valley in WPIAL 4A final for 3rd consecutive year
New Castle just wouldn’t be denied its 13th WPIAL boys basketball title.
Finnerty brothers bolster Thomas Jefferson wrestling team’s success
Between them, the Finnerty brothers have almost 50 wins this season as members of the Thomas Jefferson wrestling team.
North Catholic girls roll past Central Valley to win 19th WPIAL championship
Everything played out according to “the script,” according to North Catholic girls basketball coach Molly Rottmann.
Rochester girls edge West Greene, capture 1st WPIAL Class A basketball title
After falling behind by 12 points early, Rochester coach C.J. Ianinni told his team to try to make it a one-possession game by halftime.
Shaler’s Sullivan perseveres for final victory
Ryan Sullivan’s final performance as a Shaler wrestler was heart-wrenching and dramatic.
Shaler’s Mbalo breaks school record in season finale
Cam Mbalo made sure the Shaler track and field team received one more accolade before the season ended.
Hampton basketball looking for more next season
The Hampton boys basketball team started the season with a lot of uncertainty, but a string of successful close early-season wins led to another playoff berth that left its current crop of underclassmen wanting more.
WPIAL basketball Top 10: Most championships
The Top 10
Meadville tops Norwin in PIHL Peguins Cup 1st round
The Norwin hockey team had its season come to a close Thursday night after a 10-2 loss to Meadville in the first round of the PIHL Class A Penguins Cup playoffs at Meadville Area Recreaction Complex.
OLSH girls edge Brentwood for 1st WPIAL basketball championship
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart girls basketball coach Don Eberle picked a great time for his 300th career coaching victory.
New Castle boys hoping to tie Farrell’s longstanding WPIAL record
February 27, 2019
It was a record many considered unassailable for years.
Quaker Valley takes down section rival Ambridge in WPIAL Class 4A semifinals
Ryan Stowers regained his cool as quickly as he lost it.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 27, 2019
High schools
Chartiers Valley girls oust Penn Hills, advance to WPIAL Class 5A championship game
It’s a wonderful thing when imagination catches up to reality. That’s what happened for Chartiers Valley girls basketball coach Tim McConnell and his Colts.
Thomas Jefferson girls take down No. 2 Oakland Catholic, reach 1st title game since ’80
Jenna Clark and her Thomas Jefferson teammates we’re well aware that a Jaguars girls basketball team hadn’t made a WPIAL final since 1980, and they made it their mission to change that this season.
Burrelli, Neshannock girls top Avonworth in Class 3A semifinals
Neshannock came into the WPIAL tournament as the perennial favorite to win the Class 3A crown.
WPIAL basketball Top 10: Most playoff appearances
The Top 10WPIAL boys, girls basketball teams clinch berths in PIAA playoffs
While the Path to the Pete continues into the semifinals this week, the Road to Hershey will tip off next week.
Mars bests Chartiers Valley in physical WPIAL Class 5A semifinal
February 26, 2019
With momentum swinging on every second-half possession and fans from both teams screaming and shouting, Chartiers Valley’s 5-foot-9 guard Louis Kearney ran straight into Mars’ 6-foot-6 forward Michael Carmody as the third-quarter buzzer sounded.
Top-seeded West Greene downs Vincentian Academy in Class A semifinals
The West Greene girls basketball team has been on a mission all season to return to the Petersen Events Center to avenge a loss in the WPIAL Class A championship last season.
OLSH boys headed back to WPIAL title game, take down South Side in Class 2A semifinals
After losing to Sewickley Academy in the WPIAL finals the last two seasons, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is hoping to bring home the gold against a different opponent this time.
Ligonier Valley boys advance to District 6 Class 3A final
EBENSBURG — It’ll be Ligonier Valley and Richland in a rematch of the District 6 Class 3A boys basketball championship this season after both posted victories Tuesday night in the semifinals.
Strong 3rd period guides Hempfield past Quaker Valley in PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs
Hempfield controlled zone time, puck possession and outshot Quaker Valley by 26 shots through the first two periods, but due to giving up some odd-man breaks, the Spartans found themselves with only a one-goal lead heading into the intermission.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 26, 2019
High schools
Peters Township girls top rival Bethel Park, earn return trip to WPIAL Class 6A final
The top-ranked Peters Township girls basketball team leads WPIAL Class 6A squads in scoring at nearly 70 points per game.
Rochester girls advance to 1st WPIAL title game after defeating Quigley Catholic
After battling neck-and-neck through the first three quarters of their WPIAL semifinal matchup, the Rochester girls basketball team exploded for 26 points in the fourth quarter to topple rival Quigley Catholic, 66-55, on Tuesday night at North Hills.
A-K Valley Athletes of the Week: Highlands’ Korry Myers, Deer Lakes’ Julia Hollibaugh
Korry Myers
Westmoreland athletes of the week: Derry’s Dom DeLuca, Penn-Trafford’s Paige Kalik
Dom DeLuca
Fox Chapel indoor track program finishes strong
The Fox Chapel indoor track team finished its season on a high note. On Feb. 17, the team ran in the Tri-State Coaches Association championships at Edinboro.
Shady Side Academy girls top South Park, earn long-awaited trip to WPIAL finals
Shady Side Academy’s girls basketball team punched its first ticket to a WPIAL championship game.
Knoch hockey team denied postseason berth
Knoch’s bounce-back hockey season ended without a trip to the Penguins Cup playoffs.
Leechburg, Deer Lakes qualify for PIAA boys basketball playoffs
February 25, 2019
Deer Lakes’ and Leechburg’s boys basketball teams are following the leader right into the PIAA tournament.
No. 3 North Catholic boys knock off Aliquippa in Class 3A semifinals
North Catholic was aware of the intense defensive pressure it would face Monday in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals against Aliquippa.
Nazareth Prep beats No. 2 Cornell to reach 1st WPIAL championship game
The character of a team is often revealed by how it responds to adversity. Nazareth Prep had the content of its character challenged on several occasions against Cornell Monday night in the WPIAL Class A semifinals at Ambridge High School, and each time it responded.
Lincoln Park returning to WPIAL title game after defeating Seton LaSalle in Class 3A semifinals
After Seton LaSalle had a good second quarter to cut its deficit to seven points going into halftime, Lincoln Park coach Mike Bariski said he gave his team a brief history lesson on what can happen if you let an opponent keep the game close.
Cochran, Crise connection bolsters Highlands in trip to WPIAL semifinals
The lobs don’t stop when Luke Cochran and Johnny Crise spend time together away from basketball.
Brentwood girls defeat Laurel, earn long-awaited trip to WPIAL finals
Laurel went into the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals Monday night riding a school-record 14-game winning streak.
No. 1 Vincentian finishes strong to take down No. 4 Monessen in Class A semifinals
Vincentian is going from Peters to the Pete.
WPIAL boys, girls basketball teams qualify for PIAA playoffs
While the Path to the Pete continues into the semifinals this week, and the Road to Hershey will tip off next week.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 25, 2019
High schools
No. 4 OLSH upsets 3-time defending champion Bishop Canevin in Class 2A semifinals
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart weathered the Bishop Canevin storm out of the gates, then came back off the canvas and delivered a knockout, bracket-busting punch to oust the top seed from the WPIAL Class 2A girls basketball playoffs.
Central Valley rallies past Blackhawk, advances to 1st WPIAL title game
Christiane Frye hoped to reach 1,000 points in her high school basketball career.
Top-seeded North Catholic girls defeat Elizabeth Forward in Class 4A semifinals
With her team leading by five after one quarter against the defending WPIAL Class 4A champions Monday night, Elizabeth Forward coach Krystal Gibbs was feeling good.
Westmoreland campus clippings: Shippensburg wrestler Berberick heads to nationals
Derek Berberick is headed to nationals for the first time in his collegiate wrestling career.
Former champions on collision course at WPIAL Class AAA wrestling championships
One returning champion definitely won’t be adding another WPIAL Class AAA wrestling title to his resume this weekend.
Westmoreland area playoff hockey capsules for games of Feb. 26, 2019
PIHL Penguins Cup Class AA play-in round
North Carolina recruit Mayo leads Westmoreland swimmers into WPIAL championship meet
Hempfield senior Gavin Mayo looks forward to showing off the form that made him a Division I recruit Thursday and Friday at the WPIAL Class AAA swimming championships at Pitt’s Trees Pool.
Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Player of the Week: Chartiers Valley’s Joe Pipilo
Joe Pipilo
Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Team of the Week: Canon-McMillan
The Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Team of the Week is headed where no team in program history has ventured before — the Canon-McMillan Big Macs.
Trib HSSN boys basketball state rankings for week of Feb. 25, 2019
A busy week of district semifinals and championship games began with a lengthy and strong wind storm across the state.
Five things to watch in the WPIAL girls basketball semifinals
Some believe losing in a championship game is tough. However, playing in a title game offers memories of a lifetime, whether players receive a gold or silver medal.
Quaker Valley plays waiting game for state playoffs
The WPIAL 4A girls basketball playoffs resume Monday, and a win by Elizabeth Forward against top-seeded North Catholic would put Quaker Valley in the PIAA playoffs under the WPIAL’s follow-the-leader format.
Kiski Area thrower commits to Penn State
Jean Starr attended a track and field camp at Penn State last summer and knew she wanted to go there. And when the program’s coaches offered her an opportunity to join the team, that made it an even easier decision.
WPIAL boys, girls basketball teams lock up PIAA tournament berths
While the Path to the Pete continues into the semifinals this week, the Road to Hershey will tip off next week.
Trib HSSN PIHL team of the week: Cathedral Prep
After an 0-7 start to the PIHL season, the Cathedral Prep Ramblers were being written off.
A-K Valley high school lookahead: Week of Feb. 25, 2019
Monday
Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Player of the Week: Jenna Clark, Thomas Jefferson
Jenna Clark
Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Team of the Week: Avonworth Antelopes
Our girls basketball team of the week picked up two postseason wins last week and is preparing for a third meeting with top-seed Neshannock in the 3A semifinals: the Avonworth Antelopes.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Meadville’s Nick Frantz
“Normally, we would’ve sent him to the showers after the second period,” longtime Meadville hockey coach Jamie Plunkett said. “I think he was just trying his best to catch (Montour’s Ritchy) Froehlich, but, ultimately, he came up short in the points race, but he’s had a great year. Part of it was keeping continuity with the lineup. It was easier to keep him playing.”
Peters Township’s Casilli adds Ivy League football offer from Penn
Penn calls the other side of the state home, but the Quakers football coaches know their way around Western Pennsylvania.
A-K Valley H.S. notebook: Familiar territory for Highlands
Highlands goes into the WPIAL boys basketball semifinals Wednesday as an underdog against top-seeded New Castle, one of Western Pennsylvania’s perennial powers.
Norwin girls basketball playoff capsule for Feb. 26, 2019
Girls
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Kurpiel could catch on at St. Francis
Greensburg Central Catholic senior Bryce Kurpiel is a unique case in the recruiting game.
Ligonier Valley boys basketball playoff capsule for Feb. 26, 2019
Boys
Central Catholic’s Beatty adds 8 offers including Pitt in busy recruiting week
Recruiting-wise, this was a busy week for Central Catholic junior A.J. Beatty.
Hempfield’s Orie wins state indoor shot put title
Hempfield senior MacKenna Orie knew if she wanted to win a state indoor title, she needed a quick start.
Westmoreland H.S. lookahead: Week of Feb. 25-March 2
MONDAY
Westmoreland area hockey playoff capsules for games of Feb. 25,2019
Class A
Westmoreland County teams set to open PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs
Latrobe has waited almost a year to get back to the PIHL Penguins Cup Class 2A playoffs.
North Allegheny’s Kinne, Hempfield’s Orie celebrate state indoor track titles
North Allegheny’s Zach Kinne and Hempfield’s Mackenna Orie celebrated state track titles Sunday at the PTFCA indoor championship at Penn State.
Multi-sport McKeesport standout Diggs draws 1st football offer
Deamontae Diggs averaged a double-double for McKeesport’s basketball team this winter, but now college football coaches are starting to take an interest in him.
High school sports broadcasts scheduled this week on Trib HSSN
The Path to the Pete winds down with a golden week in the pool, on the mats and on the hardwood during Championship Week on the TribLive High School Sports Network.
Trib HSSN girls basketball state rankings for week of Feb. 24, 2019
There was little change again in the Trib HSSN weekly girls basketball state rankings through district first round and quarterfinals action last week.
GCC wide receiver Kurpiel lands unique walk-on offer with St. Francis (Pa.)
Greensburg Central Catholic senior Bryce Kurpiel is a unique case in the recruiting game.
Pine-Richland leads Trib HSSN PIHL power rankings
Every Monday during the 2018-19 PIHL hockey season, the TribLive High School Sports Network releases Power Rankings.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 24, 2019
High Schools
Mt. Lebanon boys start fast in win over Fox Chapel
February 23, 2019
For the final three-and-a-half quarters, Fox Chapel and Mt. Lebanon were even on the scoreboard.
Mt. Pleasant’s Pitzer, Derry’s DeLuca claim regional wrestling titles
Wrestlers who give up a five-point move early in a championship match usually don’t recover.
Paola leads Ligonier Valley boys past Central Cambria
Luckily for Ligonier Valley, free-throw shooting didn’t figure in the outcome of the top-seeded Rams’ 75-55 boys basketball victory Saturday over visiting Central Cambria in a District 6 Class 3A quarterfinal.
Defense leads Penn Hills girls past Franklin Regional
Penn Hills has been one of the top defensive girls basketball teams in the WPIAL all season.
Fox Chapel’s Cagley, Penn-Trafford’s Kalik repeat at WPIAL diving
Defending champs reigned at North Allegheny during Saturday’s WPIAL Class AAA diving championships: When all was said and done, both student-athletes who entered as defending champs left with gold.
Kiski Area’s Miller wins showdown for 3rd section title
When Kiski Area’s Darren Miller and Franklin Regional’s Colton Camacho met in the 126-pound final at Saturday’s Section 1-AAA tournament at Kiski Area, a three-time section champion was guaranteed to be crowned.
High school roundup for Feb. 23, 2019: Butler takes down Upper St. Clair in quarterfinals
After a sub-par performance in the opening round of the WPIAL Class 6A boys basketball playoffs, Butler’s Ethan Morton more than made up for it in the quarterfinals.
Canon-McMillan cruises to upset victory over No. 2 Latrobe
Veteran Canon-McMillan coach Rick Bell had a few defensive strategies lined up for Latrobe, but it took him some time to decide which one to open with in Saturday afternoon’s playoff game.
Last second putback helps top-seeded Pine-Richland survive Peters Township’s upset bid
After Pine-Richland coach Jeff Ackermann finished his instructions for an inbounds play during a time out with the score tied and five seconds remaining, Colin Luellen reminded everyone to go hard for the rebound if there was a missed shot.
Westmoreland high school notebook: Norwin’s Salopek draws more offers
Jack Salopek knows the recruiting process soon might be coming at him hot and heavy, like a rush linebacker in a Friday night conference game.
Allderdice girls top Obama Academy, defend City League title
Watching a 21-point first-half lead evaporate over the course of 12 minutes of basketball, Allderdice girls basketball coach Ellen Guillard looked calm, cool and collected on the outside, but she was a nervous wreck on the inside.
No. 2 South Park girls rally back to defeat Deer Lakes in Class 3A quarterfinals
For much of Saturday afternoon, Deer Lakes appeared headed toward its first WPIAL girls semifinal appearance since 1991.
Monessen boys set to take on No. 1 Vincentian in Class A semifinals
WPIAL boys basketball playoff preview
Hopewell’s Ealy among 11 WPIAL wrestlers to reach Class AA Southwest Regional finals
Hopewell senior Jacob Ealy has placed at the PIAA wrestling championships before.
Team effort guides No. 5 Highlands past No. 4 Uniontown in Class 4A quarterfinals
As dynamic as Luke Cochran and Johnny Crise are, Highlands operates at a higher level when it gets a group effort.
No. 3 Quaker Valley boys hold off Knoch in Class 4A quarterfinal victory
With his team down 15 points with five and a half minutes remaining, Knoch coach Ron McNabb didn’t see any panic in his players’ eyes.
PIHL standings through Feb. 23, 2019
Here are the final PIHL high school hockey standings through Feb. 23. Check out playoff coverage over the next four weeks, along with the weekly PIHL Power Play Show at 8 p.m. Wednesday at TribHSSN.TribLive.com.
Gateway’s Maciejewski, Wilkerson qualify for regional bowling tournament
Marissa Maciejewski rolled 30 games for Gateway during the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League regular season.
Thomas Jefferson, Galioto celebrate WPIAL gymnastics titles
All they do is win.
Thomas Jefferson’s Serapiglia looks forward to career at Tulsa
Dom Serapiglia will continue his football career 1,000 miles away from home.
Brentwood girls basketball enters WPIAL playoffs on hot streak
The Brentwood girls basketball team ended the regular season on an 11-game winning streak.
Quaker Valley’s Kimmy rises to occasion at world indoor rowing championships
Quaker Valley junior Ben Kimmy was a bit overwhelmed but rose to the occasion in his first C.R.A.S.H.-B. Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championship on Feb. 17 at Boston University.
Quaker Valley wrestling program continues meteoric rise
Quaker Valley’s wrestling program has made its mark three years into its existence.
Quaker Valley girls remain alive for PIAA berth
The Quaker Valley girls basketball pulled off one playoff upset last week but fell short of a second Thursday night.
Pine-Richland gymnastics team finishes 3rd at WPIALs
The Pine-Richland gymnastics team’s strong season ended Feb. 15, when the Rams secured third place at the WPIAL team championships at Moon.
Herald spotlight athlete: Fox Chapel’s Ellie Schwartzman
Ellie Schwartzman, a sophomore on the Fox Chapel girls basketball team, helped the team’s turnaround this season as she averaged 9 points and 8 rebounds. She’s been playing basketball since first grade and is also on the volleyball team.
Plum girls basketball team looks ahead to promising future
Plum girls basketball coach Steve Elsier saw growth in his young team from his inaugural season with the program last year to this recently concluded campaign.
Norwin bowler Dutka rolls 300, sets WPIBL series record
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No, it was so quiet you could hear 10 pins drop.
Franklin Regional hockey hopes to challenge for Penguins Cup
The Franklin Regional hockey team’s first goal was to reach the postseason.
Allderdice boys claim 6th straight City League basketball title
Allderdice boys basketball coach Buddy Valinsky felt pretty confident about his team winning the City League boys basketball title. He walked out of the Dragons locker room wearing a brand new Nike hat with “City League Champions” embroidered on it.
Thomas Jefferson gymnasts claim PA Classic Gold Division title
The Thomas Jefferson gymnastics team continued its winning run Friday night by claiming the state title at the PA Classic competition held at Moon.
Kropp lifts No. 2 Penn Hills to Class 5A quarterfinal win over Montour
February 22, 2019
With the game up for grabs early in the second half, Penn Hills needed a lift.
Michael Carmody’s double-double carries No. 1 Mars past Shaler in Class 5A quarterfinals
Michael Carmody’s future in college athletics is likely as an offensive lineman in football, but Friday night he showed he can do plenty of damage on a basketball court with his 6-foot-7, 270-pound frame.
A-K Valley basketball preview capsules: Games of Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019
Boys basketball
Moon, Lawson lead No. 2 Serra Catholic past Sto-Rox in Class 2A quarterfinals
Second-seeded Serra Catholic used its size to its advantage Friday night as it earned its first trip to the WPIAL semifinals in nine years with a 71-61 victory over No. 7 Sto-Rox in a Class 2A quarterfinal game at Peters Township.
High school roundup for Feb. 22, 2019: No. 1 OLSH cruises past Shenango in quarterfinals
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart looked every bit like the No. 1 seed in the WPIAL Class 2A boys basketball playoffs Friday night.
Burrell’s Mele among 4 A-K Valley wrestlers to advance to Class AA regional semifinals
Austin Mele briefly lost track of the score of his match Friday evening as he clung to a one-point lead late in the third period of his quarterfinal bout with Portage’s Cole Sossong. As the wrestlers tumbled on the mat, Mele looked seconds away from allowing a tying escape.
Sewickley Academy maintains mastery of Jeannette, reaches semifinals
Sewickley Academy led from start-to-finish in dispatching Jeannette from the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs Friday night at Canon-McMillan, but the Panthers weren’t skating to victory.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 22, 2019
High Schools
Defense leads Norwin girls past Mt. Lebanon, rematch with North Allegheny awaits
Norwin girls basketball coach Brian Brozeski walked down the hallway outside of the Knights locker room Friday night when out of nowhere a loud roar emerged from the locker room as the door closed. Brozeski smiled.
Chartiers Valley slows WPIAL’s top scorer in quarterfinal win over Woodland Hills
Chartiers Valley threw an ever-changing zone defense at Woodland Hills star Keandre Bowles, hoping to hold the WPIAL’s leading scorer well below his 29-point average.
Beaver’s Cestra, Ringgold’s Vogt capture WPIAL Class AA diving titles
The processes of crowning the WPIAL Class AA diving champions Friday at South Park proved to be polar opposites.
Derry’s DeLuca reaches 150 wins, has eye on bigger prize at Southwest Regional
Derry senior Dom DeLuca chuckled when he was tossed a bag of muffins from his mother after his quarterfinal-round match at the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional Friday at IUP’s Kovalchick Athletic Complex.
Top-seeded Peters Township girls roll past Fox Chapel in Class 6A quarterfinals
The Peters Township girls basketball team averaged 70 points a game in the regular-season, built an undefeated record and ascended to No. 1 rankings in both the WPIAL and state.
Balanced scoring leads Quigley Catholic girls past GCC in Class A quarterfinals
Greensburg Central Catholic kicked off its WPIAL Class A girls basketball quarterfinal contest piping out, knocking down its first four shots.
Five things to watch during Saturday’s Class AAA section wrestling tournaments
Individual tournaments begin Saturday for WPIAL Class AAA wrestlers.
No. 2 North Allegheny gets defensive to upend Upper St. Clair in Class 6A quarterfinals
The offense was cold for North Allegheny’s girls basketball team Friday night.
20 WPIAL wrestlers advance to PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional semifinals
Freedom’s Bryson Miller and Bentworth’s John Vargo are halfway to defending their titles at the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional.
Burrell’s Oswalt achieves goal at PIAA Class AA Southwest wrestling regional
Burrell sophomore Ian Oswalt had one goal in mind at the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional: He wanted to dominate.
High school roundup for Feb. 21, 2019: Nazareth Prep rallies past Union
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Westmoreland basketball playoff capsules: Games of Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019
Saturday’s games
NFL, NBA and MLB represented in 2019 WPIAL Hall of Fame class
As an NFL quarterback, when Charlie Batch studied scouting reports, he would take note whether there were any Western Pennsylvania natives on the other sideline.
No. 3 Moon boys push past Franklin Regional in Class 5A quarterfinals
Franklin Regional and Moon had to wait a few extra minutes to take the court Friday night while the crowd from the first game of the playoff doubleheader cleared out at West Allegheny.
High school roundup for Feb. 20, 2019: Deshields leads Uniontown past Beaver
February 20, 2019
Billy Deshields had the hot hand Wednesday night and carried Uniontown to a 72-53 victory over Beaver in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball playoffs at Peters Township.
Derry denied elusive playoff win thanks to Blackhawk’s late surge
Neither Derry nor Blackhawk had school Wednesday because of the early morning snow storm.
High school scores, schedules for Feb. 20, 2019
High Schools
Hempfield’s Orischak commits to St. Francis (Pa.)
Another Hempfield softball player has committed early to a Division I college.
A-K Valley basketball playoff capsules: Games of Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019
Boys
Westmoreland basketball playoff capsules: Games of Friday, Feb. 22, 2019
Boys
Multisport athlete McMahon eager for WPIAL swim meet, grateful for SSA teammates
As a forward on the Shady Side Academy girls soccer team, senior Sophia McMahon has experienced much success. The team finished second at the PIAA championships in 2016, won it all in ‘17 and made it to the semifinals last season.
DiVito nets 32 points as No. 2 Cornell takes down Greensburg Central Catholic
Greensburg Central Catholic had no illusions about Cornell and its standout junior guard, Kaden DiVito.
Peters Township boys use strong 2nd half to take down Penn-Trafford in 1st round
As 8 vs. 9 games go in basketball tournaments, teams are often evenly matched and produce tight games. Outcomes sometimes are as good as coin flips.
Kiski Area goalkeeper Nick Smith commits to Duquesne soccer
Nick Smith spent two years as Kiski Area’s starting goalkeeper, allowed to pick up the ball when teammates couldn’t, and he took his recruitment into his own hands as well.
Westmoreland high school basketball playoff capsules: Games of Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019
Boys basketball
High school roundup for Feb. 18, 2019: Montour, Chartiers Valley earn playoff wins
February 18, 2019
The Montour boys basketball team buckled down on the defensive end Monday night to earn a spot in the WPIAL quarterfinals.
A-K Valley campus clippings: Marzolfs have strong showing at PAC swimming
Mallory Marzolf won on every day of the three-day Presidents’ Athletic Conference swimming and diving championships.
Westmoreland campus clippings: Saint Vincent women secure top seed for PAC tourney
The Presidents’ Athletic Conference women’s basketball championship will go through Latrobe.
High school roundup for Feb. 19, 2019: Canon-McMillan rallies past North Allegheny
The Canon-McMillan boys basketball team trailed by 10 points after three quarters of a WPIAL Class 6A first-round playoff game against North Allegheny.
PSNK women complete trying resurrection season
February 17, 2019
The quarters slipped by, and the minutes and seconds ticked off the clock during Thursday’s Penn State New Kensington women’s basketball game with Penn State Beaver.
Saint Vincent women secure top seed for PAC tournament
February 16, 2019
The Presidents Athletic Conference women’s basketball championship will go through Latrobe.Alle-Kiski Valley basketball previews for Feb. 16 games
WPIAL playoff previews
Mt. Pleasant’s Pitzer denies Miller shot at 3rd title in WPIAL semifinals
Freedom senior Bryson Miller was hoping to become a three-time champion at the WPIAL Class AA wrestling championships Saturday at Canon-McMillan.
Led by Decheck, Taylor, Plum swimmers ready to compete at WPIAL meet
February 15, 2019
Justin Decheck secured his place at the next level before this season by signing a letter of intent in November to swim at Gannon.
5 players to watch in the opening round of the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs
The five-day forecast calls for cold weather across Western Pennsylvania, but here are five WPIAL boys basketball players worth braving the wind chill to watch.
Rough stretch of losses keeps Penn-Trafford hockey out of postseason
February 14, 2019
After going through a difficult five-game losing streak that put postseason aspirations on thin ice, a 4-3 win over Latrobe on Monday provided the Penn-Trafford hockey team a brief moment of hope.
Penn-Trafford swimmers, divers set to contend at WPIAL meets
After sweeping titles at the county meet, Penn-Trafford seniors Paige Kalik and Logan Sherwin look forward to doing the same at the WPIAL Class AAA diving championship on Saturday at North Allegheny.
North Allegheny runner competes at national meet
December 13, 2018
Under the weather, North Allegheny boys cross country senior Zachary Kinne had a disappointing showing in the Nike Cross Nationals Dec. 1 in Portland, Ore. Kinne, a Duke recruit, came in 122nd of 203 (16 minutes, 24.1 seconds). andquot;I had a similar feeling during my Tri-State (Track Coaches Association) and
Score updates: WPIAL 5A finals, PIAA 4A quarterfinals
November 23, 2018
Friday night football around the WPIAL features the 5A championship between West Allegheny and Penn Hills. The teams will battle it out at Norwin. Also in tonight's lineup, South Fayette will square-off against Cathedral Prep in the 4A PIAA quarterfinals at Erie Veterans Stadium. The 2A Championship game featuring South
2 ex-high school players convicted in alleged on-ice attack
November 18, 2018
NORRISTOWN -- Two former Philadelphia-area high school hockey players have been placed on probation for a year and ordered to do 100 hours of community service after being convicted of assaulting members of a rival team during a playoff game last year. The (Pottstown) Mercury reports that Montgomery County jurors
WPIAL Girls X-Country – Oakland, S.Fayette & Vincentian Win Gold
October 27, 2017
Vincentian Academy girls’ cross-country team captured its third-straight WPIAL title on Thursday, while Oakland Catholic won for the second-consecutive year, and South Fayette secured gold for the first time in program history. Meanwhile, three new individual champions were crowned. The action unfolded on a slightly-chilly but overall pleasant afternoon at Coopers Lake Campground in Slippery […]
WPIAL Boys X-Country – Seneca Valley, Indiana & Winchester Champs
Winchester-Thurston and Seneca Valley both repeated as boys’ cross-country team champions on Thursday, while Indiana also claimed gold. Meanwhile, the three individual winners were first-time champions, all of whom finished in the top five in their respective classifications last year. In the annual event held at Coopers Lake Campground in Slippery Rock, Winchester-Thurston displayed complete […]
This Week on the TribLive High School Sports Network – 10/23/2017
October 23, 2017
While the high school football ‘Stretch Run’ concludes, the high school soccer playoffs continue while both the girls volleyball and girls field hockey postseason begins this week here on the new TribLive High School Sports Network. We wrap up the Stretch Run of the 2017 WPIAL football season with Week Nine and The Network has […]
MSA Sports Top 25 WPIAL Stories of 2016 – #25 through #21
December 28, 2016
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holiday season here at the MSA Sports Network. As we close out 2016 and another great high school sports year, we look back at some of the top stories from around the WPIAL in calendar year 2016. We begin our countdown with #25 through #21. #25 - CROSS-COUNTRY RUN ENDS
Waynesburg’s Baumgarner and Winchester Boys Win PIAA X-Country Gold
November 5, 2016
One individual and one team ran to cross-country state gold Saturday afternoon in Hershey. Winchester Thurston won the PIAA Class 1-A boys championship while Ben Baumgarner of Waynesburg won the PIAA Class 2-A individual boys championship race. Here are the results of the district runners that finished in the Top 25 of each boys and girls race along with the top five overall team finish form the 2016 PIAA Cross-Country Championships. PIAA BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS CLASS 3A Team — 1. Council Rock North, 76; 2. Carlisle, 118; 3. Downingtown West, 158; 4. Seneca Valley, 202; 5. LaSalle College, 204.Scholastic Notebook – 11/04/2016
November 4, 2016
When Ron Sciarro became Riverside’s coach this year, he changed the playing style of the Panthers. They went from a pass-happy team to one that throws only 13 times a game. But there has been one other drastic change for Riverside. It deals with the number in the wins column. After going 3-6 last year, Riverside is 7-2 this season and headed to the WPIAL Class AA playoffs. They don’t throw nearly as often, but the Panthers win much more often.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – Sewickley Kings of Single-A Again
July 12, 2016
Sewickley Academy is once again on top of the Class A standings in the chase for the MSA Sports Cup after leapfrogging defending champ Greensburg Central Catholic. In fact, the Panthers and Centurions have been tagging in for titles the last five years with GCC winning in 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 and SA claiming the Cup in 201--2011, 2013-2014 and now in 2015-2016. The championship for Sewickley Academy is the schools 9th in 13 years of the competition and was aided greatly by district and state championships in boys golf and boys tennis along with WPIAL crowns in boys cross-country and boys soccer.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – A New Champ Wins Double-A
July 9, 2016
For only the fifth time in the thirteen years of the MSA Sports Cup Class AA chase, the torch has been passed to a new champion. Greensburg Central Catholic won the first three years, followed by a five year run by Shady Side Academy and three of the last four years the AA Cup has gone to Quaker Valley with a one year run at the top by Seton-LaSalle two years ago. Now the AA crown is coming to Beaver County thanks to Beaver High School. After a couple of close calls in recent years, the Bobcats were lifted to the top spot in part because of district championships won in each season...girls tennis in the fall, ice hockey in the winter and a second straight WPIAL title in girls track & field in the spring.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – SF Three-peats in Triple-A
July 7, 2016
In the first ten years of the MSA Sports Cup, while there were a couple of dominating schools in the other three classifications, the chase for the Class AAA Cup had been up for grabs with eight different schools earning The Cup. However in the last three years of the season long competition, Triple-A has become the pride of the Lions. After finishing as the runner-up in 2012-2013, South Fayette has staked its claim on top in Class AAA as the Lions are the first school in this classification to win a third consecutive MSA Sports Cup.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – NA Remains Perfect in Quad-A
July 6, 2016
Another school year is in the books and another MSA Sports Cup in Class AAAA is headed to North Allegheny High School. NA captured the schools 13th Cup in 13 years since the MSA Sports Network started this school year long competition to determine the top sports programs in each classification. There are 20 sports in which schools can earn points in the competition and the Tigers earned points in 18 of them. While it was not the highest point total or largest margin of victory, North Allegheny still cruised to their final Quad-A Sports Cup as they will move up to 6-A starting this fall. The second place school finished 430 points behind NA.WPIAL Girls Sports Realignment
February 16, 2016
We all knew it was coming. A major change to the WPIAL high school sports landscape based on the PIAA's decision to increase from four to six classifications in basketball and softball, plus the increase in other sports such as soccer, volleyball and lacrosse. The WPIAL Board of Control approved the various steering committee's re-alignment suggestions starting with the 2016-2017 school year. This alignment also will be for the 2017-2018 school year. For interactive listing, CLICK HERE. GIRLS BASKETBALL Class 6AMSA Sports Top 25 WPIAL Stories From 2015 Countdown: #25 – #11
December 31, 2015
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holiday season here at MSA Sports. Here is a look back at another great high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2015. We begin our countdown with #25 through #11. #25 - ODD STREAK CONTINUESScholastic Notebook – 12/11/2015
December 11, 2015
There is a Wildcat strike in WPIAL boys basketball this season. Big things are expected of the Latrobe Wildcats and coach Brad Wetzel’s crew has been impressive in the first week of the season. Latrobe is 3-0, including Tuesday’s victory against Pine-Richland, which was the No. 2-ranked Class AAAA team in the MSA Sports preseason Class AAAA rankings. This could be one of Latrobe’s best teams in a while, at least the best since the 2009 team that went 19-4. Latrobe is the odds-on favorite to win Section 1. If Latrobe wins the section, it would be only their fourth crown in the past 30 years. The others were in 1987, 1990 and 2009.2015 PIAA Cross-Country Results: Two WPIAL Runners Win Gold
November 7, 2015
On a day when no WPIAL teams won state titles, a pair of district runners were golden at the 2015 PIAA Cross-Country championships in Hershey on Saturday. Griffin Mackey of Sewickley Academy won the Boys Class A race with a time of 16:05 while Marianne Abdulah of Vincentian Academy added to her golden trophy collection by winning the Girls Class A race with a time of 18:50. Two WPIAL boys teams are bringing home silver as North Allegheny finished second in the AAA race and Sewickley Academy was second in the A race. Seneca Valley finished third in AAA for the highest spot on the girls side of the team competition. Here are the team winners along with the highest WPIAL team to finish in that race. BOYS AAA:
BF’s Dom Peretta & QV’s Zach Skoinekovich Repeats as Boys Cross-Country Champs
October 30, 2015
Two of the three boys’ individual cross country winners were repeat champions, as Beaver Falls’ Domenic Peretta and Quaker Valley’s Zach Skolnekovich defended their championships, while Nick Wolk of Peters Township earned his first title. Meanwhile, all three reigning team champions successfully defended their titles in the event, which was held at Coopers Lake Campground near Slippery Rock. In Class A, Peretta, who is also a standout in track and field for Beaver Falls, notched a winning time of 16:15, 13 seconds better than Sewickley Academy’s Griffin Mackey. A senior, Peretta will be competing for the Penn State track and field team next year.
Marianne Abdalah of Vincentian Wins Third Title in Girls X-Country Finals
At the WPIAL Girls Cross Country Championships at Coopers Lake Campground, there was a brand new champ in AAA. Oakland Catholic's Lauren Finikiotis is a first ever champ for the Eagles. In AA, Knoch's Mandi Moxie won gold Vincentian Academy's Marianne Abdalah won for a third straight year. All of this came on a course that was surprisingly dry after rains from the day before. It was the wind that had more of an effect on the runners all day. In the team portion of the event, Seneca Valley in AAA, Quaker Valley in AA, and Vincentian Academy in A were crowned champions. The top three teams in each classification will move on to the state finals. The following is a list of all the teams, and individuals that will move on to the PIAA State FinalsScholastic Notebook – 10/25/2015
October 25, 2015
The irony of it. Deer Lakes came into Friday night’s game with the leading rusher in the entire WPIAL this season Hunter Burns. When it ended, Apollo-Ridge had the top rusher ever in a WPIAL game. Duane Brown, a junior at Apollo-Ridge, put himself in the history books when he rushed for a WPIAL record 460 yards in a 56-35 victory over Deer Lakes. Brown was certainly a workhorse in the game, carrying the ball 47 times. Brown broke a 15-year-old WPIAL record. Connellsville’s Marcus Furman ran for 455 yards in a 2000 game. What’s funny is that Apollo-Ridge coach John Skiba and his team had no idea how many yards Brown had or that he had broken the WPIAL record until an announcer from your very own MSA Sports staff came on the field and told him after the game.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 10/25/2015
We conclude the Stretch Run of the 2015 high school football season while starting exclusive coverage of the 2015 WPIAL Soccer and Girls Volleyball Playoffs this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We wrap up the regular season with Week Nine of the high school football season with 29 WPIAL weekend contests starting Friday night with the MSA Sports Pregame Show and concluding later that night with the WPIAL Football Scoreboard Show.Scholastic Notebook – 09/11/2015
September 11, 2015
Duane Brown’s sidekick is gone, but Brown’s game apparently still has a lot of kick. Brown is a junior football player at Apollo-Ridge. A year ago, he and Tre Tipton were a one-of-a-kind one-two punch, as both played quarterback and some at receiver/running back. They were believed to be the first quarterback pair in WPIAL history to both rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. Tipton is now at Pitt, but life is anything but the pits for Brown. At least after the first week of the season. Look at the statistical leaders for the WPIAL after Week 1 and Brown is the only one you will see in the receiving, rushing and scoring leaders.
2015 Positive Athlete Awards
May 19, 2015
2015 Positive Athlete Awards On Wednesday, May 13th, 27 Western PA High School students were recognized at the John Heinz History Center by Hines Ward as “Positive Athletes” . These athletes were nominated by coaches, teachers, administrators, parents, and friends for their ability to meet the following criteria in their day-to day lives as athletes, students and members of their communities.
WPIAL Hall of Fame Class of 2015
April 9, 2015
Four athletes who would later go on to professional careers, several multi-sport athletes, four coaches who won nearly 40 WPIAL championships between them, an old-school baseball player whose son continued his Major League Baseball legacy and a team that won nine WPIAL and PIAA playoff games en route to a state basketball title by an average margin of victory of 25.8. Those are some of the headliners of the WPIAL Hall of Fame class of 2015. The WPIAL held a news conference Thursday morning to announce its ninth annual class. You can watch the video stream archived here on MSA Sports. All inductees will be honored at a banquet June 12 at the Doubletree Hotel in Greentree.Scholastic Notebook – 01/09/2015
January 9, 2015
New Castle High School’s Malik Hooker apparently isn’t the only one who wears the athletic “genes” in the family. Hooker was one of the best two-sport athletes in the state the past two years, standing out in football and basketball. He now is a freshman football player at Ohio State, but is being redshirted this year. Two of Hooker’s younger brothers are now playing on the New Castle basketball. One of them is the team’s leading scorer in his first year as a starter. Marquel Hooker, a 5-foot-10 junior, is averaging 16.4 points a game. He never saw regular varsity time before this season.MSA Sports Countdown – Top 25 WPIAL Stories From 2014 – 01/07/2015
January 7, 2015
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holidays here at MSA Sports. Here is a look back at another great high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2014. We conclude our countdown with all 25 stories from #25 through #1. #25 - Game, Set, Match and Gold The unique streak continued in 2014 for Sewickley Academy. 2009 was the last time a Panthers duo did not win gold the WPIAL boys doubles tennis tournament. back in April, the Sewickley Academy tandem of Ryan Gex and Luke Vith won gold in Class AA.
MSA Sports Countdown – Top 25 WPIAL Stories From 2014 – 01/01/2015
January 1, 2015
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holidays here at MSA Sports. It's time to look back at another high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2014. We conclude our countdown with the five stories that ended up #5 through #1. {Left: Brianna Schwartz of Shaler crosses the finish line to win the WPIAL Girls Class AAA cross-county championship, her third straight title} #5 - Sister Power In 2013, the Kluska sisters made news when older sister Alyvia forfeited her WPIAL Class AA Consolation match to Michaela, thus earning the then freshman a spot in the PIAA girls individual singles tennis playoffs.Scholastic Notebook – 11/14/2014
November 14, 2014
It has been well-documented how Pine-Richland quarterback Ben DiNucci has turned out to be one of the most prolific passers in the history of the WPIAL. But DiNucci also has benefitted from a terrific one-two receiving punch. It looks like you could call seniors D’ondre Gastion and Mike Merhaut are a receiving duo for the ages. There are no records available for best receiving one-two punches, but you can bet you will be hard-pressed to find many duos from the same team who have been as productive as Gastion and Merhaut. How many teams have had two receivers with 100 or more career catches? But that’s what Pine-Richland has in Gastion and Merhaut, a pair of seniors.Scholastic Notebook – 10/24/2014
October 24, 2014
Has there ever been a WPIAL football regular season that was so perfect as this one? Probably not. Fourteen teams go into the final night of the regular season with undefeated records. Two of them play (West Allegheny at Central Valley). That means there could be 13 teams that finish the regular season with perfect records. That would be the most in the WPIAL in a long time. Possibly ever. Checking records going back 37 years, there has never been a WPIAL season with 13 undefeated and untied teams (there used to no overtime in WPIAL football).
Seneca Valley, Quaker Valley & Laurel Win WPIAL Girls Team X-Country
October 23, 2014
Brianna Schwartz of Shaler captured a three-peat at the WPIAL Cross-Country Championships on Thursday, as she once again proved unbeatable at Cooper’s Lake Campground in Butler.Scholastic Notebook – 10/18/2014
October 18, 2014
Neshannock High School has never gotten much attention for football, and not just because the small Lawrence County school is on the outer edges of the WPIAL. Neshannock hasn’t gotten much attention because the football team had been one of the least successful in WPIAL history – until lately. What is going on the past few seasons at Neshannock is really one of the biggest turnaround stories in the WPIAL in a long time. And this year, the story might have a perfect ending.
MSA SPORTS CUP: Sewickley Academy Back on Top After Winning Class A Cup
July 3, 2014
Eight time champion Sewickley Academy and defending champ Greensburg Central Catholic were deadlocked with 360 points each with one more sport to calculate in the chase for the 2013-2014 MSA Sports Class A Cup. That one sports was boy tennis, which was great news for Panthers fans and bad news for everybody else in Class A. A district title and state runner-up in boys tennis helped Sewickley Academy win the MSA Sports Cup for the ninth time in eleven years.
MSA SPORTS CUP: South Fayette Roars to First Class AAA Cup Title
July 1, 2014
The first ten years of the MSA Sports Cup has shown us that while there are a couple of dominating schools in the other three classifications, the chase for the Class AAA Cup has been up for grabs with eight different schools earning The Cup in ten years. Now in the eleventh year of this competition, we have another first time winner in Triple-A making it nine different champs in eleven years. After finishing as the runner-up in 2012-2013 and being a steady member on the Top 5 in recent years, South Fayette is finally enjoying its day in the Championship Sun with a convincing victory.
MSA SPORTS CUP: Another Year, Another Quad-A Title for North Allegheny
June 30, 2014
Another school year and another MSA Sports Cup in Class AAAA for North Allegheny High School. NA captured their 11th Cup in eleven years since the MSA Sports Network started this school year long competition to determine the top sports programs in each classification. There are 20 sports in which schools can earn points in the competition and for the second straight year and only the second time in this history of the coveted competition, the Tigers earned points in ALL of them. In the 2012-2013 school year, North Allegheny scored a mind-numbing and record 1,115 points. In 2013-2014, they had to settle for a mere 965 points. The second place school finished 530 points behind NA.
2013-2014 MSA Sports Female Athlete of the Year
June 25, 2014
Brianna Schwartz ran her final event of the school year two weeks ago in New York. It was a prestigious invite-only event sponsored by adidas and Schwart ran a race in which 10 high school runners from around the country competed in the mile. The entire meet was part of the adidas “Grand Prix” and the event that Schwartz participated was called the “Dream Mile.” For Schwartz, it was a rather appropriate title because she had a “dream year.” Schwartz, a junior at Shaler Area High School, did some marvelous things in the 2013-14 school year. She put herself in the WPIAL spotlight, but also gained national prominence. She is the MSA Sports Female Athlete of the Year.WPIAL Fall Sports Realignment for 2014
January 21, 2014
The WPIAL Board of Control officially passed the new alignments for the WPIAL fall sports on Tuesday afternoon, including girls volleyball, boys and girls golf, boys and girls cross-country, girls tennis and girls field hockey. A couple of big changes occur in Girls Tennis where there are more teams in fewer sections and in Boys and Girls Cross-Country where there are only two duel-class divisions, but there will be three classifications for the championships. Here is the new make-up of the sections in all of those sports for the 2014 high school fall sports seasons. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: WPIAL CLASS AAA SECTION 1:2013 WPIAL Team Champions on Parade
January 1, 2014
What better way to celebrate championships and the start of a new year then with a parade. It has been another great year in high school sports. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during 2013. As we get ready for another great scholastic year in 2014, we look back at all the WPIAL team champions on parade from this past year. Football: Class AAAA - Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings Class AAA - West Allegheny Indians Class AA - South Fayette Lions Class A - Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans PIAA Class AA - South Fayette Lions PIAA Class A - Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans
2013 WPIAL Boys and Girls Cross-Country Results
October 25, 2013
A cold and windy afternoon at Cooper’s Lake, PA provided both excitement and challenge for competitors of the WPIAL Cross Country Championship Race. Six races were held each totaling a distance of 3.1 miles to decide the top three winning high schools and top individual competitors from the A, AA, and AAA classes for both boys and girls. The top three teams in each class advance to the PIAA meet in Hershey, PA. as well as the top 15 finishers in each race from non-qualifying teams.(Above: Nate Edenfield of Uniontown wins Boys AA race)Results:Girls Class ATop Three Teams: Laurel (83 points), Bishop Canevin (122 points), Our Lady of Sacred Heart (130 points)This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 10/20/2013
October 20, 2013
The 'Stretch Run' of the 2013 high school football regular season concludes this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have a busy final week of the high school football regular season with FORTY ONE WPIAL, District 6, District 9 and District 10 football games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Friday night kicking off with the expanded MSA Sports Pregame Show and concluding with the one and only WPIAL High School Football Scoreboard Show.Scholastic Notebook – 09/13/2013
September 13, 2013
There is undoubtedly more passing in high school football these days. But after two weeks, could this be the year of runners in WPIAL football?While WPIAL football again has some impressive passers, the running statistics have been big through the first two weeks. Take a look:*It’s considered a nice night when a team has two 100-yard rushers in a game. It is extremely unusual when a team has two 200-yard rushers. But there have been two teams (Penn Hills and Steel Valley) that have had two 200-yard rushers in a game – and they did it on the same night (last Friday).*Penn Hills’ Billy Kisner has rushed for 200 yards in two consecutive games – and he’s a QUARTERBACK.Scholastic Notebook – 09/06/2013
September 6, 2013
Seneca Valley lost almost every offensive starter from a team that went 10-2 and averaged 37 points a game last season. But coach Don Holl didn’t have to look far and wide for something to jumpstart this year’s offense.He simply had to look across the family dinner table.Seneca Valley’s new quarterback is T.J. Holl, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior and the son of the coach. The son has definitely shined so far.Fall Sports Underway
August 19, 2013
This week marks the start of section play in WPIAL boys golf, girls golf and girls tennis. Next week marks the beginning of section play in football while it's a post-Labor Day start up for section play in boys and girls soccer, girls volleyball, girls field hockey and boys and girls cross-country.You can check out ALL of the 2013 WPIAL section schedules in football, boys/girls soccer, girls volleyball, boys/girls golf, girls tennis, girls field hockey and boys/girls cross-country by clicking the high school link at the top of the page...then click on the logo of your favorite school and then the sport you wish to see.2012-2013 WPIAL Champions on Parade
July 16, 2013
We celebrated America's Birthday earlier this month with various parades and fireworks. You'll forgive us if we celebrate the 2012-2013 school year with just a parade and no pyrotechnics. It was been another great high school sports year in District 7 of the PIAA. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during the school year. As we get ready for another great scholastic campaign in 2013-2014, we look back at all the WPIAL team champions on parade from this past school year.Football:Class AAAA - North Allegheny TigersClass AAA - West Allegheny IndianaClass AA - Aliquippa QuipsClass A - Clairton BearsPIAA Cross-Country – WPIAL Runners Come Up Empty on Gold
November 3, 2012
While there was plenty of gold in WPIAL soccer and volleyball being won, there was no gold to be had in the 2012 PIAA Cross-Country championships Saturday at Hershey Park.One of two medalists from District 7 was Shaler sophomore Brianna Schwartz, the 2012 WPIAL champion who finished second to Marissa Sheva of Pennridge with a time of 18:39 in the Girls Class AAA state championship. Mary Malone of North Hills finished in 4th place in the same race.The Mount Lebanon Blue Devils ended up finishing in fifth place in the Girls Class AAA team standings.Uniontown senior Julie Friend, the 2012 WPIAL Class AA champ, finished in fourth place in the Girls Class AA race with a time of 19:32. She helped the Red Raiders to an eighth place team finish.Brent Kennedy of Kiski, Tyler Rigby of South Park & Ryan Archer of Vincentian Win WPIAL Boys X-Country Titles
October 25, 2012
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="Brianna Schwartz of Shaler, Julie Friend of Uniontown & Emily Maxwell of Laurel Win WPIAL Girls X-Country Gold
Scholastic Notebook – 10/19/2012
October 19, 2012
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTablScholastic Notebook – 09/07/2012
September 7, 2012
Sophomores had big games. Players who were their team’s No. 1 running back for the first time did some good things. A receiver turned running back also had a big game. The first weekend of the high school football season was a virtual coming-out party for some. Players introduced themselves to WPIAL football – and they were loud introductions. The leading rusher on the first weekend of the season was North Catholic’s P.J. Fulmore, a 10th-grader who had 265 yards. The second-leading rusher was Fort Cherry’s Koltan Kobrys, who played receiver last year. He ran for 250 yards.2011-2012 WPIAL and PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE CHAMPIONS on PARADE
July 6, 2012
What better way to celebrate America's Birthday and the end of another school year than with a parade. It has been another great high school sports year. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during the 2011-2012 school year. As we get ready for another great scholastic campaign in 2012-2013, we look back at all the WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League team champions on parade from this past school year.Football:Class AAAA - North Allegheny TigersClass AAA - Montour SpartansClass AA - Aliquippa QuipsClass A - Clairton BearsCity League - University Prep PanthersPIAA Class A - Clairton BearsScholastic Notebook – 03/30/2012
March 30, 2012
The high school baseball season is young and maybe it still isn’t clear as to who are all the best teams are in each classification. But it is quite clear a team worth watching is in Class AAAA. Mount Lebanon. Through the first week of the season, Mount Lebanon just might be the biggest surprise. After all, the Blue Devils weren’t in the MSA Sports preseason top 10. They weren’t in the Post-Gazette top five, either. But heading into Friday, Mount Lebanon had a 3-1 record and had knocked off some of the big boys, namely three teams in the MSA top 10. Mount Lebanon started the season last Friday with a 7-4 victory against No. 5 Pine-Richland. The Blue Devils beat No. 8 North Allegheny, 9-6, on Tuesday. Yesterday, they knocked off No. 1-ranked and defending WPIAL champion Seneca Valley, 10-9.WPIAL Fall Sports Realignments for 2012 and 2013
January 17, 2012
The WPIAL Board of Control officially passed the new alignments for the WPIAL fall sports on Tuesday afternoon, including girls volleyball, boys and girls golf, boys and girls cross-country, girls tennis and girls field hockey. Here is the new make-up of the sections in all of those sports for both the 2012 and 2013 high school fall sports seasons.2011 WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League Team Champions on Parade
January 1, 2012
What better way to celebrate championships and the start of a new year then with a parade. It has been another great year in high school sports. All of us here at the MSA Sports Network and Management Science Associates thank our sponsors and fans for their support during 2011.2011 WPIAL Year in Review – Top 25 Stories: #15 – #11
December 29, 2011
2011 has been a tremendous year in high school sports in the WPIAL. It was a year where some familiar champions wore the golden crown again while some new faces surfaced in the championship picture. It was a year when there was plenty of streaking (not like the 70’s) in both the good direction and the not so good direction.2011-2012 MSA SPORTS CUP STANDINGS
December 22, 2011
The latest chase for the MSA Sports Cup is underway as the 2011-2012 high school sports fall season is in the books. The MSA Sports Cup is a challenge to determine the best sports program for the entire school year from WPIAL schools in each classification.Quaker Valley Boys Run to PIAA Class AA Boys Cross-Country Team Title
November 5, 2011
There were no medals won by individual runners from the WPIAL in the 2011 PIAA Cross-Country Championships on Saturday in Hershey, but Quaker Valley was able to bring home team gold. The Quakers won the Boys Class AA Team Title in easy fashion over runner-up North East.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 10/25/2011
October 25, 2011
The fall sports postseason advances on for soccer and volleyball while the high school football regular season comes to an end this week on the MSA Sports Network. The ninth weekend of the high school football season has plenty of WPIAL and District 6 football action starting with the expanded MSA Sports Pregame Show and concluding with WPIAL and D-6 Scoreboard Shows.Scholastic Notebook – 10/21/2011
October 21, 2011
At the start of the season, Montour seemed to be the No. 1 WPIAL Class AAA team in just about every media poll.But with two weeks left in the regular season, will the real Montour please stand up?Ryan Gil and NA Teammates Golden in PIAA Cross-Country Championships
November 7, 2010
It was a golden Saturday for both Ryan Gil, who won the 2010 Boys Class AAA Individual cross-country race while his North Allegheny teammates finished first in the boys team standings at the Parkview Course in Hershey. Here are the results from both Class AAA and Class AA races for both the boys and girls. PIAA BOYS CLASS AAA TEAM RESULTS:Scholastic Notebook – 10/29/2010
October 29, 2010
When it comes to records, maybe its time to stop thinking about Rushel Shell in a WPIAL sense. Maybe its time to look at the entire state. Shell, Hopewells wonderful junior running back, ran for 193 yards against West Allegheny in a 34-31 overtime win last night. That gave him 6,358 yards for his career.2010 WPIAL Schedules: Boys Cross-Country
August 29, 2010
Can you say Five-Peat? That is what the Tigers of North Allegheny accomplished last fall in winning their fifth straight WPIAL AAA Boys Cross Country Championship. The Tigers finished with 92 points followed by Baldwin with 109 then North Hills with 158 then Plum with 196. In the Class AAA individual competition, North Allegheny's Ryan Gil placed first with a 15:30.Recent Videos
WPIAL Wrestling AAA-1 Team Sectionals – Hemp vs Nor and GSalem vs Kiski followed by Finals and Conso
WPIAL Wrestling AAA-1 Team Sectionals – Hemp vs Nor and GSalem vs Kiski followed by Finals and Conso
