Jeannette's Anthony Johnson celebrates with teammates and the PIAA Class A state championship trophy after defeating Homer-Center Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, at Hersheypark Stadium.
Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Jeannette celebrate their win against Imani Christian for the WPIAL 1A Championship on Saturday Nov. 25, 2017 at Robert Morris University.
Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Sam Wexell (1) hugs Norwin's Emily Harrigan (23) after their 2-0 win against Conestoga Valley in the PIAA 4A semifinal match on Tuesday Nov. 14, 2017 at Chambersburg.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
The Penn-Trafford girls soccer team hoists the championship trophy after defeating Norwin in overtime to win the WPIAL Class 4A final Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at Highmark Stadium.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Greensburg Central Catholic head coach Ashley Davis hoists the championship trophy with her players after defeating Shady Side Academy in the WPIAL Class A final Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017, at Highmark Stadium.
Barry Reeger | Tribune-Review
Mt. Pleasant coach Lauren Shaheen (right) celebrates with Kayla Queer after they beat West Allegheny, 10-0, during the WPIAL Class AAA softball championship Friday, June 3, 2016, at Cal (Pa.)’s Lilley Field in California.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Morgan Ryan, right, reacts while touching the PIAA 6A softball championship trophy after her team won against Hazleton on Thursday, June 15, 2017 in State College.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Jeannette players receive their medals after winning the WPIAL Class A baseball championship against Greensburg Central Catholic at Wild Things Park, on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, in Washington.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Latrobe teammates mob Ryan Augustine after his game-winning hit against Manheim Central in the bottom of the seventh inning of their PIAA Class 5A first round state playoff game Tuesday, June 6, 2017, in Indiana. Latrobe won, 5-4.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Latrobe's Griffin Clark celebrates his game-tying double next to Manheim Central's Jake Novak during the bottom of the seventh inning of their PIAA Class 5A first round state playoff game Tuesday, June 6, 2017, in Indiana. Latrobe won, 5-4.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Penn-Trafford's John Gay hurdles Gateway's Travis Thompson II into the end zone to score during the fourth quarter of the WPIAL Class 5A championship game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, at Heinz Field.
Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Emily Harrigan (23) steps into a shot on goal against Conestoga Valley in the first half of a PIAA 4A semifinal match on Tuesday Nov. 14, 2017 at Chambersburg.
Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Penn-Trafford's Hannah Nguyen (1) controls the ball against Hempfield in the second half on Wednesday Oct. 04, 2017 at Hempfield.
Jeannette's Anthony Johnson celebrates with teammates and the PIAA Class A state championship trophy after defeating Homer-Center Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, at Hersheypark Stadium.
Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Jeannette celebrate their win against Imani Christian for the WPIAL 1A Championship on Saturday Nov. 25, 2017 at Robert Morris University.
Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Sam Wexell (1) hugs Norwin's Emily Harrigan (23) after their 2-0 win against Conestoga Valley in the PIAA 4A semifinal match on Tuesday Nov. 14, 2017 at Chambersburg.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
The Penn-Trafford girls soccer team hoists the championship trophy after defeating Norwin in overtime to win the WPIAL Class 4A final Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at Highmark Stadium.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Greensburg Central Catholic head coach Ashley Davis hoists the championship trophy with her players after defeating Shady Side Academy in the WPIAL Class A final Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017, at Highmark Stadium.
Barry Reeger | Tribune-Review
Mt. Pleasant coach Lauren Shaheen (right) celebrates with Kayla Queer after they beat West Allegheny, 10-0, during the WPIAL Class AAA softball championship Friday, June 3, 2016, at Cal (Pa.)’s Lilley Field in California.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Morgan Ryan, right, reacts while touching the PIAA 6A softball championship trophy after her team won against Hazleton on Thursday, June 15, 2017 in State College.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Jeannette players receive their medals after winning the WPIAL Class A baseball championship against Greensburg Central Catholic at Wild Things Park, on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, in Washington.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Latrobe teammates mob Ryan Augustine after his game-winning hit against Manheim Central in the bottom of the seventh inning of their PIAA Class 5A first round state playoff game Tuesday, June 6, 2017, in Indiana. Latrobe won, 5-4.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Latrobe's Griffin Clark celebrates his game-tying double next to Manheim Central's Jake Novak during the bottom of the seventh inning of their PIAA Class 5A first round state playoff game Tuesday, June 6, 2017, in Indiana. Latrobe won, 5-4.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Penn-Trafford's John Gay hurdles Gateway's Travis Thompson II into the end zone to score during the fourth quarter of the WPIAL Class 5A championship game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, at Heinz Field.
Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Emily Harrigan (23) steps into a shot on goal against Conestoga Valley in the first half of a PIAA 4A semifinal match on Tuesday Nov. 14, 2017 at Chambersburg.
Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review
Penn-Trafford's Hannah Nguyen (1) controls the ball against Hempfield in the second half on Wednesday Oct. 04, 2017 at Hempfield.
The 2017 calendar year has been a reign of championships for Westmoreland County high school teams.
Jeannette football captured its second PIAA title Thursday in Hershey, a follow-up to its ninth WPIAL title. The Jayhawks are 47-7 since deciding to play in Class A four years ago.
Jeannette also won a WPIAL Class A baseball title in the spring.
Junior Seth Howard played on both teams.
“It means a lot to win both,” Howard said. “I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to play with and make these accomplishments with. I am just thankful for having the best coaching staff and them helping me get better week-in and week-out.
“Every championship game you have to just play with confidence.”
But those weren't the only teams making room in the trophy case.
Norwin's girls won the PIAA Class AAAA soccer championship after Penn-Trafford took home the WPIAL Class AAAA title.
Greensburg Central Catholic's girls won the WPIAL Class A soccer crown.
Latrobe won WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A baseball championships.
Hempfield softball won its third consecutive WPIAL Class 6A title and back-to-back PIAA titles.
Mt. Pleasant softball won the PIAA Class 4A title for its first state championship. Belle Vernon won the WPIAL title in the same class.
In addition, the Greensburg Salem boys won back-to-back WPIAL Class AA cross country titles, and Franklin Regional defended its PIHL Penguin Cup championship.
Greensburg Central Catholic made it three consecutive WPIAL girls golf titles.
Penn-Trafford won its second consecutive WPIAL Class AA field hockey title.
Burrell's girls won the WPIAL Class AA track and field title.
Monessen won the WPIAL Class A boys basketball title.
Ligonier Valley captured a second straight District 6 football title.
And Kiski Area won the WPIAL Class AAA wrestling title, and Burrell made it 11 titles in a row in Class AA.
Soccer honors
A pair of local senior girls soccer stars were named to the United Soccer Coaches Fall All-East Region Team. Norwin's Emily Harrigan and Penn-Trafford's Hannah Nguyen made the list after leading their teams to championships.
Harrigan, a Rutgers recruit, scored 26 goals to up her school-record total to 93. Nguyen, a Duquesne recruit, led the Warriors with 21 goals and 23 assists.
Harrigan, through her affiliation and play in the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy, was named to the United States Soccer Coaches All-America Team.
Norwin senior soccer goalkeeper Sam Wexell was named an Esmark All-American. A property management company in Sewickley, Esmark recognizes student-athletes for excellence in athletics, academics and community service.
Recruiting
Penn-Trafford senior football player John Gay IV grabbed another offer to play for a Division I program, the second from a military academy.
Air Force reached out to Gay, who ran for 1,284 yards and helped the Warriors reach the WPIAL Class 5A championship game.
Gay also has offers from Navy and Howard.
• Hempfield senior tight end/linebacker Braden Brose received a preferred walk-on offer from Pitt.
• Mt. Pleasant wrestler Al Miscovich, who competed at 132 pounds last season, signed to continue his athletic career at Pitt-Johnstown.
• Penn-Trafford lineman Will Mayr plans to visit St. Francis (Pa.).
Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
