Westmoreland high school notebook: 2017 was a year of titles for local teams

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, December 9, 2017 | 7:03 PM

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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.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Hempfield Area, Jeannette, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford