Sports

Quaker Valley’s Isabel Huang competes in the girls 200 individual medley during the 2020 AA WPIAL Swimming and Diving Championship at Trees Pool on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.

Indiana swimmers make impact at WPIAL Class AA meet

February 27, 2020

It may take over an hour to travel from Indiana Area High School to Pitt’s Trees Pool, but the defending boys champions and girls runners-up in WPIAL Class AA each got their miles’ worth.

The North Catholic boys basketball team celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Lincoln Park in the WPIAL Class 3A final Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at Peterrsen Events Center.

North Catholic upends two-time defending champ Lincoln Park in Class 3A title game

Isaac DeGregorio sensed that the run was coming.

Clairton’s Iyauna Chapman is defended by Rochester’s Jasmin Mackin in a WPIAL Class A semifinal Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020.

Rochester, West Greene to square off again in WPIAL Class A girls title tilt

It’s starting to become an annual reunion for two Class A schools in the WPIAL girls basketball playoffs. This year will mark the fourth year in a row Rochester and West Greene will meet in the playoffs and the second year in a row in the championship game.

Ligonier Valley brothers Matthew Marinchak (left) and Michael Marinchak will lead the Rams against Richland in the District 6 Class 3A championship game.

Ligonier Valley, Richland meet in District 6 title-game rubber match

It’s the last go-round for the Rams and the Rams.

Belle Vernon’s Devin Whitlock (4) and Jared Hartman react as they inch closer to victory against Quaker Valley on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 in WPIAL playoffs at Plum Senior High School.

Westmoreland H.S. notebook: Reaching final ‘like no other’ for Belle Vernon’s Hartman

Jared Hartman is as grateful as he is delighted as Belle Vernon prepares to play for a WPIAL boys basketball championship.

The Vincentian boys basketball team celebrates after defeating Cornell in the WPIAL Class A final Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at Peterrsen Events Center.

As school prepares to close, Vincentian Academy wins WPIAL championship

Earlier this week, just a few days before the boys basketball team was set to play for a WPIAL Class A championship, Vincentian Academy announced that it would be closing its doors at the end of the school year for financial reasons.

North Catholic’s Isaac DeGregorio shoots a three-pointer against Seton LaSalle Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at Seton LaSalle High School.

North Catholic seeks better shooting night in championship rematch with Lincoln Park

Nearly a year after the loss, North Catholic coach Dave DeGregorio forced himself to watch the video of his team’s WPIAL championship.

Mt. Pleasant’s Heather Gardner won the WPIAL Class AA 50-yard freestyle championship for a third consecutive season.

Belle Vernon’s Shahan, Mt. Pleasant’s Gardner defend WPIAL swimming gold

The WPIAL Class AA swimming championships at Pitt’s Trees Pool saw several defending champions do just that Thursday — defend their gold medals from vying challengers.

Deer Lakes’ Adam Morrison competes in the boys 200 freestyle during the 2020 AA WPIAL Swimming and Diving Championship at Trees Pool on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.

Deer Lakes swimmers take second, third in hotly contested 200 free at WPIAL meet

There weren’t any floats or marching bands at Thursday’s WPIAL Class AA swimming championship meet at Pitt’s Trees Pool, but there was a sizable parade of Alle-Kiski Valley individuals and relay teams to the medal podium in the session’s six events.

Southmoreland’s Sarah Pisula takes a deep breath before making the winning free throw in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals against Freeport on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at Penn-Trafford High School.

Undefeated Southmoreland decided underdog against North Catholic

Overcoming the stigma of playing a perennial powerhouse can be just as important as matching baskets with one.

Bishop Canevin’s Alyssa Pollice (21) and Diajha Allen celebrate with the championship trophy after defeating Laurel in the WPIAL Class AA final Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at Peterrsen Events Center.

Bishop Canevin girls open WPIAL championship weekend with program’s 5th title

It’s tough enough for a new coach to take over a historically successful program.

Highlands senior Johnny Crise heads toward the basket against Blackhawk on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals at North Allegheny Senior High School.

Highlands seniors ‘living up to hype’ in WPIAL playoffs

In Highlands’ quarterfinal win Saturday against Ringgold, senior guard Korry Myers got hot from deep, making seven 3-pointers and scoring 25 points.

Norwin’s Kurtis Phipps will attempt to win his fourth WPIAL championship this weekend.

5 things to watch at the WPIAL Class AAA wrestling championships

The Class AAA WPIAL individual championships/PIAA Southwest Regional will begin Friday at Canon-McMillan.

Fox Chapel’s Sophie Shao competes in the girls 100 butterfly during the 2020 AAA WPIAL Swimming and Diving Championship at Trees Pool on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.

Fox Chapel freshman brings home WPIAL swimming gold

Sophie Shao was full of energy and smiling from ear to ear when she came off the podium after receiving her gold medal in the WPIAL Class AAA girls 100-yard butterfly Thursday at Pitt’s Trees Pool.

North Allegheny’s Torie Buerger competes in the girls 200 individual medley during the 2020 AAA WPIAL Swimming and Diving Championship at Trees Pool on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.

Buerger’s triumph helps North Allegheny girls to Day 1 lead at WPIAL Class AAA swimming championships

Butler’s Laura Goettler was going after a four-peat in the Class AAA girls 200-yard individual medley on the first day of the WPIAL swimming championships Thursday at Pitt’s Trees Pool.

OLSH’s bench celebrates a 3-pointer against Winchester Thurston during a Class 2A WPIAL semifinal game Feb. 25, 2020 at North Hills.

OLSH, Sto-Rox to rekindle rivalry in boys Class 2A championship game

OLSH must go through a familiar foe to defend its WPIAL Class 2A championship.

Norwin’s Ethan Tulenko celebrates his win in the boys 50 freestyle during the 2020 AAA WPIAL Swimming and Diving Championship at Trees Pool on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.

Norwin’s Tulenko captures pair of gold medals at WPIAL championships

After sitting out all of last year to compete in club swimming, Norwin’s Ethan Tulenko is a two-time WPIAL gold medalist after the first day of the WPIAL Class AAA championships.