Riverview golfers set to compete at PIAA tournament

By: Michael Love
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Rex Roberts and Ian Stempfer are on the cusp of their first PIAA championship golf tournament.

The Riverview juniors will join the best from throughout the state Monday and Tuesday for 36 holes on the Penn State White Course.

Raiders coach Hal Biehl said the duo continues to focus well on their opportunity at states.

“They did take a couple of days off after WPIALs (Sept. 30), but they have gone out on their own and have played, maybe nine holes somewhere or they hit the driving range just to get their swings in.”

Biehl said that now, just a couple of days before the state tournament, preparation centers on refining their games with more focus on their short games.

Stempfer and Roberts, who earned WPIAL medals by finishing fifth and tied for 10th, respectively, in the finals at Valley Brook Country Club, will play a practice round Sunday at Penn State before the two-day tournament begins Monday.

“They are going to get a good look at the course and see how it plays,” Biehl said. “They are pretty pumped up for this opportunity. It was a big goal for both Ian and Rex to get a WPIAL medal. I am not sure if they were totally satisfied with where they finished in the WPIAL standings, but I think they are going to strive to get in the top 10 in the state.

“They are really focused and driven in the game. They also are just juniors, so they want to take this experience and learn from it and come back better next year. If they score well this year at states, that will be a plus.”

Biehl said Stempfer and Roberts are looking forward to the opportunity to face the top WPIAL finishers again at Penn State. That includes Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’s Jonah Schollaert, who won the Class 2A individual title with a 1-over-par 144 for 36 holes. He also led the field after the first round Sept. 22 at Hill Crest in Lower Burrell.

“That is going to be huge for them,” Biehl said. “They do play tournaments in the summer, and they know a lot of these guys well that they faced at WPIALs. Penn State will be a little different with it also being golfers from across the state who they might not know as well.

“It will be nice to see how they rank against some of the others throughout the state. I know they will be up for the challenge.”

The Riverview golfers entered the individual tournaments at the tail end of the section team schedule. The Raiders finished third in the section at 9-3 behind WPIAL team qualifiers Freeport (11-1) and Deer Lakes (10-2).

“They wanted something to prove with their opportunity at the individual tournament,” Biehl said. “We talked on our way back from Valley Brook that it was funny with the way the section team standings played out that Freeport is taking one to states (Ethan Crooks), Deer Lakes is taking one (Christian Cappetta), and we’re taking two. Those things can happen on any given day with the way golf is.”

Biehl said it’s a new experience for a number of the golfers when they get to WPIAL playoff and championship tournaments as they go from playing nine holes in all of the team matches to 18 holes events.

“That can be a little overwhelming, and you can see some of the scores drop after a few holes on the second nine because they are just not used to it,” Biehl said.

“Ian and Rex regrouped and rested a little bit. They were a little tired and worn out. But they knew what they needed to do after the WPIAL finals to recharge and get ready for states.”

Raiders junior Crosby Laughrey qualified for his first WPIAL tournament. He shot a 99 in the first round at Hill Crest and finished tied for 78th out of 91.

“Crosby just had an off day at Hill Crest,” Biehl said.

“It was a challenge, but it was something that really could’ve played to his advantage. One or two holes just kind of put him in a funk a little bit, and it was a difficult time to respond. But I think his WPIAL experience was a nice steppingstone for him, and I think it will help him as he comes back next year.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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