Westmoreland H.S. notebook: Several contenders prepare for state golf tournament

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, October 19, 2025 | 4:07 PM

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There have only been three PIAA boys golf champions from Westmoreland County in the 87-year history of the state championships.

The PIAA finals are set for Oct. 20 at Penn State, and the county will be well represented as several players eye the title.

Latrobe senior Jack Sacriponte, senior Max Mottura and Brady Jankowski of Kiski Area, and senior Jack Edwards of Belle Vernon have qualified for the PIAA 3A tournament, and the 2A field includes Greensburg Salem sophomore Luke Sikora and senior Tyler Jones of Ligonier Valley.

Past local winners are Arnold Palmer of Latrobe (1946, ’47), Pat Shinners of Hempfield (1972) and Palmer Jackson of Franklin Regional (2018).

Girls state golf

The local field for the PIAA girls golf championship also is set.

Greensburg Central Catholic has a pair of state qualifiers.

Junior Kennedy Kelly and senior Alayna Stawovy will compete for a state title at Penn State.

Past PIAA champions from the area include Staci Aber of Greensburg Central Catholic (1989, ’91), Katie Miller of Hempfield (1999, 2000, ’02) and Olivia Zambruno of GCC (2014, ’15, ’16).

The state tournament for girls began in 1976.

Volleyball playoffs

The WPIAL girls volleyball playoffs begin Monday with an all-Westmoreland matchup in Class 3A.

Franklin Regional (7-6) will take on Derry (5-5) in the preliminary round at 7:30 p.m. at Gateway.

On Tuesday, there will be two local 3A first-round matchups: No. 14 Belle Vernon (14-3) at No. 3 Mars (13-4) at 7:30 p.m., and No. 11 Trinity (8-5) facing No. 6 Greensburg Salem (15-1) at 7:30 p.m. at Norwin.

No. 12 Southmoreland (11-5) plays No. 5 Mohawk (14-3) at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Seton LaSalle in the 2A first round.

In the Class 4A first round Wednesday, No. 9 Penn-Trafford (10-5) visits No. 8 Shaler (12-3) at 7:30 p.m., and No. 12 Latrobe (9-4) plays at No. 5 Pine-Richland at 6 p.m., and No. 10 Canon-McMillan (9-6) faces No. 7 Hempfield (11-3) at 6 p.m. at Gateway.

Blasko commits

Norwin junior Brooks Blasko will continue his wrestling career at Division I Utah Valley of the Big West Conference.

Blasko last season finished 14-11 competing in the 126-, 127- and 133-pound weight classes.

The previous year he went 26-1 while wrestling at Central Catholic.

Recruiting

• Hempfield baseball player Owen Shuglie committed to play at Cal (Pa.) of the PSAC. The senior is an infielder and pitcher for the Spartans. Down the road, he could go against his brother, Carson, who is a freshman at Seton Hill.

• Derry senior Cason Long will continue his baseball career at Shippensburg of the PSAC. Long plays shortstop and also pitches for the Trojans.

• Latrobe softball player Gabby Cunningham committed to Point Park.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Norwin