Despite personnel changes, Latrobe holds bar high

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, August 7, 2025 | 2:24 AM

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Latrobe football fans know the narrative by now.

Three consecutive WPIAL playoff appearances have turned around a once downtrodden program and created a fresh wave of interest.

The Wildcats are no longer at the back of the line.

Now new coach Tom McIntyre wants to make it four in a row while keeping the bar raised high and the community captivated.

“It’s so hard to climb that mountain but it’s so easy to fall back,” McIntyre said. “You can get better or worse. It is a lot harder to get better. Our guys still have that edge and they want to play the better teams. In the past, we backed down from them.”

There were around 80 players signed up this summer and participation was consistent. Equipment manager Jim “Fez” Feather’s inventory had 99 uniforms.

There was a time not long ago when less than 50 players broke camp at Latrobe.

McIntyre, who was hired in January, replaces Ron Prady, for whom he worked as an offensive coordinator for three seasons. Prady went 20-15 and doubled roster numbers while leading the team to two playoff wins — the Wildcats previously had one win in the postseason and it came in 1968.

Prady has returned to being an assistant at Penn-Trafford.

The Wildcats finished 6-5 and dinged up last year after starting 4-1. They lost 42-7 to Bethel Park in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.

Gone are program game changers Alex Tatsch (RB/LB) and John Wetzel (QB/SS), now at Penn State and Pitt, respectively. Tatsch was a strong-arming ball carrier and tenacious defender, Wetzel a play-extending passer and runner and hard-hitting defender. He is the program’s all-time leading rusher.

Replacing their production will be a challenge, but senior receiver/defensive back Andy Tatsch (6-3, 200) returns as a Lehigh commit. He will spearhead the offense and provide a steadying presence on defense.

“We want to be able to get the ball in his hands,” McIntyre said.

Wetzel was the leading passer and rusher, but Andy Tatsch had 26 receptions for 438 yards and four touchdowns as a go-to target. He also had 67 tackles.

A two-man quarterback competition heading into camp was down to juniors Dom Scarton (6-2, 200) and Tyler Wisniewski (5-8, 150).

“They bring two very different skill sets,” McIntyre said. “Dom has a huge arm. Ty shines when he runs.”

The running back room has three key names in bulked-up senior Chris Cochran, sophomore A.J. Yeboah and senior Cash Achhammer, who mainly played defense last season.

Sophomore Aaron Gaskey (6-2, 190) could be in store for a big season at H-back/tight end.

At wideout, Tatsch and 6-3 senior Danny Noonan present matchups issues on each side of the field, while junior Eli Meeder and seniors Sawyer Butina and Luke Tomko are other pass catchers.

Senior tackle Lucas Kolenc is the lone returning starter on the offensive line. He will be joined by junior Brady Kronenwetter (guard), sophomore Gamin Owens (tackle), senior Wade Enick (center/guard) and sophomore Vinnie Calabrace (center).

Also competing for time were junior Joe Poche and junior Dylan Miller.

“These guys have been competing since January,” McIntyre said of the linemen.

Owens, Kolenc, Gaskey and Kronenwetter are defensive line candidates, along with junior Austin Slezak, Miller and senior Austin Hazen. Gaskey will move from linebacker to end.

“These guys will help us set the edge with their long bodies,” McIntyre said.

Cochran, Tomko and sophomore Dom Angelicchio are outside linebackers, with Achhammer and seniors Izzy McMahon, Russ Fry and Joe Favata playing inside.

Tatsch will play Wetzel’s former role at strong safety so he can secure the box. Noonan and Butina were set to be the corners, with junior Clayton Burket at free safety. Wisniewski also could play in the secondary.

Burket forced 15 turnovers last year with the junior varsity.

Junior Mitch Horner will handle the kicking and punting duties.

McIntyre is adjusting to his new role, guiding the team through a hectic time of year. With Rossi Field getting new turf, the team had to hold summer workouts at a makeshift grass field near Memorial Stadium, which was off limits due to the Steelers’ annual Friday night practice.

Rossi was scheduled to be ready for the start of Latrobe’s training camp.

“It’s been a bust summer,” McIntyre said. “Time has flown by. We’ve made it work with minimum distractions. I am looking forward to seeing us get pads on and play real football.”

Latrobe

Coach: Tom McIntyre

2024 record: 5-6, 2-4 in Class 5A Big East Conference

All-time record: 480-562-38

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 Connellsville, 7

8.29 at Plum, 7

9.5 Norwin, 7

9.12 Franklin Regional*, 7

9.19 at Armstrong*, 7

9.26 at Woodland Hills*, 7

10.3 at Kiski Area*, 7

10.10 Pine-Richland, 7

10.17 Gateway*, 7

10.24 at Penn-Trafford*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: John Wetzel*

68-125, 914 yards, 6 TDs

Rushing: Wetzel*

159-1,076 yards, 8 TDs

Receiving: Andy Tatsch

26-438 yards, 4 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• New coach Tom McIntyre was the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator for the last three years. He previously coached running backs and defensive backs at Latrobe and was a defensive coordinator at Mt. Pleasant. He has worked under four head coaches: Ray Reitz, Bo Ruffner, Jason Fazekas and Prady.

• John Hammack will serve as offensive coordinator, taking McIntyre’s spot. Nick Altier and Hunter Petrosky are new to the staff.

• Latrobe has 24 wins in the last three years after winning just 10 games prior.

• Receiver/defensive back Andy Tatsch chose Lehigh over 10 other Division I offers. His brother, Alex, was a standout at Latrobe before committing to Penn State.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.

1, Clayton Burket, WR/S, 5-10/170, jr.

2, Cash Achhammer, RB/LB, 5-10/190, sr.

3, Ty Wisniewski, QB/S, 5-8/170, jr.

4, Sawyer Butina, WR/CB, 5-11/175, sr.

5, Chris Cochran, RB/LB, 5-11/220, sr.

6, Joseph Favata, TE/LB, 5-10/180, sr.

7, Izzy McMahon, HB/LB, 5-9/185, sr.

8, Alex Smith, WR/CB, 5-8/160, jr.

9, Luke Tomko, WR/LB, 5-9/170, sr.

10, Drew Blossey, QB/LB, 5-8/165, fr.

11, Eli Meeder, WR/CB, 5-9/170, jr.

13, Dom Scarton, QB, 6-3/220, jr.

14, Josiah Finch WR, 6-1/160, sr.

15, Andy Tatsch WR/S, 6-3/205, sr.

16, Nick Dominick, QB/LB, 6-0/175, jr.

17, Austin Slezak, TE/DE, 6-1/185, so.

18, Alex Amond, WR/CB, 5-10/165, jr.

19, Carson Cramer, QB/CB, 5-9/160, fr.

20, Danny Noonan, WR/CB, 6-3/190, sr.

21, Miles Smith, WR/LB, 5-9/155, fr.

22, Drew Wnek, WR/CB, 5-8/175, fr.

23, AJ Yeboah, RB/S, 5-8/185, so.

24, Aaron Gaskey, TE/DE, 6-2/190, so.

25, Connor Roble, WR/CB, 5-5/120, fr.

26, Russell Fry, TE/LB, 5-10/185, sr.

27, Dante Durigon, RB/S, 5-7/160, fr.

28, Dalton Byrnes, WR/S, 5-11/145, fr.

30, Marco Angelicchio, WB/CB, 5-4/120, fr.

32, Zachary Krall, TE/LB, 5-8/185, fr.

33, Mason Mastowski, RB/LB, 5-7/190, so.

34, Dom Angelicchio, RB/LB, 5-8/170, so.

35, Tristan Lettie, WR/CB, 6-0/175, jr.

36, Vincent Razza, WR/LB, 5-11/170, so.

37, Matthew Tlumack, WR/LB, 5-8/150, fr.

38, Allen Dudley, WR/CB, 5-7/135, fr.

39, Isaiah Lehman, RB/LB, 5-7/185, so.

40, Gabe Lillie, TE/LB, 5-8/175, fr.

42, Nolan Miney, WR/DE, 5-11/185, so.

43, Kalvin Clayton, RB/LB, 5-10/185, so.

44, Malik Booker, TE/LB, 5-9/170, jr.

45, Connor Donahue, HB/LB, 5-11/175, fr.

46, Colton Calabrace, RB/LB, 5-10/145, so.

47, Michael Brosnick, TE/LB, 5-8/180, sr.

48, Shawn Myers, TE/LB, 5-10/170, so.

49, Bryce Shuey, TE/LB, 5-6/165, so.

51, Gio Castillo, G/DL, 5-5/195, jr.

52, Gamin Owens, T/DL, 6-0/250, so.

53, Brady Kronenwetter, G/DL, 5-10/245, jr.

54, Chase Burket, C/DL, 5-11/205, fr.

55, Vincent Calabrace, C/DL, 5-8/240, so.

56, Luke Thompson, OL/DE, 5-10/205, so.

57, Daniel Stevenson, C/DL, 5-10/235, so.

58, Joseph Poche, T/DL, 5-10/225, so.

59, Kohl Errett, T/DE, 5-9/195, sr.

60, Sage Sevacko, G/DE, 5-8/190, jr.

61, James Hixson, G/DL, 5-7/190, fr.

62, Wade Enick, G/DL, 5-11/230, sr.

64, Nolan Dominick, T/DE, 5-8/170, fr.

66, Sean Barry, G/DE, 5-8/180, so.

67, Shea Cochran, T/DE, 6-2/175, fr.

68, Dylan Miller, OL/DL, 5-10/235, jr.

72, William Showalter, T/DL, 5-9/180, fr.

73, Mason Munchinski, OL/DL, 5-9/195, fr.

75, Landon Nipar, OL/DL, 6-2/220, so.

76, Abraham Dinsmore, T/DL, 6-1/215, fr.

79, Lucas Kolenc, T/DE, 6-3/300, sr.

80, Max Dominick, WR/S, 6-3/185, so.

81, Austin Hazen, TE/DE, 6-2/195, sr.

82, Patrick Shaker, WR/S, 5-8/160, so.

83, Trevor Krull, P, 5-10/165, so.

84, Matthew Perleberg, WR/LB, 5-9/170, jr.

85, Robert Young, WR/DE, 6-7/220, sr.

86, Lee Smucker, WR/S, 5-7/155, so.

87, Gavin McClain, TE/LB, 6-0/190, jr.

88, Bryce Hammack, WR/CB, 5-8/140, fr.

89, Owen Cholock, HB/LB, 5-7/180, fr.

96, Levi Porvaznik, K/P, 5-11/175, so.

99, Mitch Horner, K/P, 5-10/175, sr.

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

Tags: Latrobe