High school notebook: Franklin Regional boys soccer player Bridges earns all-state honor

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Monday, November 3, 2025 | 6:29 PM

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Franklin Regional junior Thomas Bridges continues to carry the flag for soccer defenders everywhere.

First, the center back was named the Section 3-3A Player of the Year. Now, the 6-foot-2 bruiser earned Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All-State honors.

Bridges’ size, skill and versatility make him the envy of many teams.

He had an assist in Saturday’s WPIAL Class 3A championship, which the Panthers lost to West Allegheny, 2-1, at Highmark Stadium. Later in the game, Bridges was moved to center midfielder as part of a pressing attack.

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All the singles ladies

Penn-Trafford senior Mia Williams joined an elite list of PIAA tennis singles champions with her win over the weekend.

Williams is the first singles champion from Westmoreland County since Maria Santilli of Norwin won in 2016.

Other local state winners, all from Latrobe, are Joelle Kissell (2009), Michaela Kissell (2004, ’05, ‘03) and Karissa Walker (2000),

Belle Vernon’s Gabi Dusi also has put together quite a run. She has finished second in the state in 2A the last two years.

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Net gains

Several local players were selected to the WPIAL Girls Volleyball Coaches Association All-WPIAL teams.

The Class 4A second team included Lili Greathouse of Fox Chapel, Lauren Howard of Hempfield, and Ella McDonald of Penn-Trafford.

Ashlyn Black of Norwin and Ava Ruane of Penn-Trafford made the 4A third team.

In Class 3A, Belle Dinkel of Greensburg Salem was a second-team pick, and Belle Vernon’s Aubrey Brown and Greensburg Salem’s Grace Hayden made the third team.

Ainsley Martin of Southmoreland was picked for the Class 2A third team.

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Peterson commits

Greensburg Central Catholic senior basketball player Jayla Peterson announced her commitment to Wheeling, an NCAA Division II program that competes in the Mountain East Conference.

The combo guard averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season as GCC won back-to-back WPIAL championships and won 22 games.

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Hutter shines

Former Mt. Pleasant football player Brody Hutter, who transferred to River Valley, ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries last week to lead River Valley to a 38-14 victory over Northern Cambria that clinched the Panthers a share of the Heritage Conference title.

Hutter, a senior running back and linebacker, also had three receptions for 62 yards and a TD.

In 10 games, he has rushed for 677 yards and 10 TDs, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. On defense, he has 50 tackles, six for loss, a sack and two fumble recoveries.

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

Tags: Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C.