Westmoreland County Scholar/Athlete nominees announced

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 | 8:26 PM

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If Judge Michael Stewart was impressed with the 2024 Westmoreland County Scholar/Athlete nominees, then he was amazed with the 2025 class.

Stewart is the sponsoring judge of the annual banquet. This is his third year as the sponsor after replacing retired Judge John J. Driscoll in 2023. That is how he described the 2025 group of nominees for the Excellence Award.

This year’s banquet will be May 7 at Ferrante’s Lakeview in Hempfield.

Athletic directors or representatives from 16 of 18 county high schools met for lunch Tuesday at Giannilli’s II and listened to the impressive academic and athletic accolades of the 36 nominees. They then voted on the 12 finalists for the award and then the two winners (one male and one female).

After listening to their fellow athletic directors talk about their two candidates — two each from 18 high schools — the group voted on the candidates.

This year’s group consisted of PIAA and WPIAL individual champions and individuals who were on championship teams. They also are excellent students, many being No. 1 in their class. Numerous candidates own NCAA Division I scholarships.

The candidates had to meet certain athletic and academic requirements to be considered for the award.

It also was announced that former Pirates relief pitcher Jason Grilli will serve as the guest speaker and that former Hempfield and Derry girls basketball coach Gene Brisbane will be honored as the annual Michael and John Ferrante Memorial Award winner, which is given to an individual who helped promote high school athletes.

The sponsors are Excela Health, Drs. Geoff and Greg Bisignani and Ferrante’s Lakeview.

These are the 2025 candidates:

Belle Vernon: Kole Doppelheuer (football, wrestling, baseball and track & field); Grace West (soccer, track & field and flag football

Burrell: Calio Zanella (wrestling, soccer and tennis); Isabella Stewart (softball, wrestling, basketball and volleyball)

Derry: Jacob Hauser (swimming); Jane Huss (cross country, basketball and track & field)

Franklin Regional: Andrew Devola (football and basketball); Toryn Fulton (softball, basketball and volleyball)

Greensburg Central Catholic: Braden Riley (golf, basketball and lacrosse); Eva Denis (track & field and volleyball)

Greensburg Salem: Tyler Martin (baseball and basketball); Olivia Smith (soccer, indoor and outdoor track & field, bocce and flag football)

Hempfield: Drew Gordon (basketball and volleyball); Milana Yannascoli (golf, cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field)

Jeannette: Jor’El Taylor (soccer); Mia Nicole Sarpolis (softball and soccer)

Kiski Area: Carson Blake Heinle (football, basketball); Maddie Joyce (volleyball, track & field and basketball)

Latrobe: Eric Bisignani (volleyball and bocce); Madelyn Petruzzi (soccer and track & field)

Ligonier Valley: Hunter Wright (soccer); Sydnee Foust (volleyball, basketball and softball)

Monessen: Christian James Williamson (baseball); Kendra Rietta Jones (softball)

Mt. Pleasant: Joseph K. Gardner (swimming); Lily King (swimming)

Norwin: Ryan J. Schiller (soccer, indoor and outdoor track & field); Kendall Berger (basketball)

Penn-Trafford: Derek Carr (football and basketball); Kylie Anthony (volleyball and softball)

Southmoreland: Elliot Premus (football, basketball and track & field); Alexis Ohler (cross country and track & field)

Valley: Landon Harclerode (tennis); Janelle Norman (basketball and track & field)

Yough: Raidon Kuroda (football, wrestling and baseball); Adoria Waldier (softball and volleyball).

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Burrell, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Valley, Yough