Westmoreland County high school notebook: Recruiting heating up for Franklin Regional defensive back

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, June 14, 2025 | 3:45 PM

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Jaymier Austin began showing up on the college football recruiting radar last summer when three Division I programs — Purdue, Youngstown State and Marshall — offered him scholarships.

The rising senior at Franklin Regional continues to garner interest, with eight total offers on the table for the 6-foot-4, 180-pound wide receiver and defensive back. He has grown 2 inches and is running a 4.47 40-yard dash.

His latest offer is from Ohio, while Youngstown State circled back and re-offered him.

“The recruiting process has been just fine,” he said. “You can have 1,000 offers, but you can only pick one school. Overall, I’m just excited to be getting a chance to play ball at the next level, no matter the division.”

All of the schools have recruited him as a defensive back. Franklin Regional coach Lance Getsy said colleges like Austin’s frame and speed.

Austin, who moved to Murrysville from Penn Hills, had 18 tackles and two forced fumbles last regular season. He also was a key kick returner.

His other offers are from Albany, Dartmouth and Cal (Pa.).

“I feel like things are really picking up, not for just me but also my team,” Austin said. “We have a lot of young guys new to the varsity level this year so a lot of chemistry is being built, but I have a lot of confidence in me and my guys this year.”

Gribble ranked

Greensburg Central Catholic rising senior point guard Erica Gribble made ESPN’s HoopGurlz Top 100 national recruiting rankings.

The reigning TribLive Westmoreland Player of the Year, Gribble is ranked No. 80 with a four-star rating for the Class of 2026.

The Richmond recruit led GCC to back-to-back WPIAL championships, averaging 22.4 points and reaching 1,714 career points. She had 14 of her game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter of a 56-51 win over Shady Side Academy in the WPIAL Class 3A championship game.

Lacrosse accolades

Two Westmoreland County players were recognized by USA Lacrosse.

Penn-Trafford senior midfielder Ayla Moffa was named an academic All-American, and Hempfield senior defender Heather Harshman won the Jackie Pitts Award, which recognizes those who excel in service to their team, school and community.

Harshman is headed to Davis & Elkins to continue her playing career.

Lantzy all-stars

Three Ligonier Valley football players were selected to play in the 53rd Ken Lantzy Classic, a senior all-star game featuring players from PIAA Districts 5 and 6.

Ligonier Valley, formerly of District 6, joined the WPIAL in 2020.

The three Rams who played for the South team, which defeated the North, 39-14, at Greater Johnstown were John Jablunovsky, Sam Caldwell and Hunter Carr.

Schwerha offered

Belle Vernon rising senior football player Tim Schwerha has an opportunity to play Division I football as a long snapper.

Schwerha (6-1, 240) received an offer to play at Buffalo.

In April, he had the fastest snap (0.65 second) at Hammer Kicking Academy, which rates him as a top-40 long snapper in the country in his class.

WCCC gets Skaggs

A pitcher who threw a no-hitter in the WPIAL Class A baseball championship game will play at Westmoreland County Community College.

Tyler Skaggs, a senior right-hander at Serra Catholic, gave a verbal commitment to coach Mike Draghi and the Wolfpack.

Skaggs went 7-1 this season with a 0.96 ERA. He struck out 49 and walked 18 in 43²⁄₃ innings.

Offensively, he batted .426 with a team-leading 26 hits and 32 runs. Had had 10 doubles.

Serra Catholic won the WPIAL title and finished 20-4.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Serra Catholic