Westmoreland high school notebook: Belle Vernon softball player Sypolt commits to Kent State

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, January 4, 2026 | 8:11 PM

Belle Vernon junior Kaylee Sypolt will play college softball at the Division I level.

The power-hitting shortstop/third baseman announced a verbal commitment to Kent State.

Sypolt also had visits set up with Drexel, Sienna and Rhode Island but did not yet have a scholarship offer from those schools.

Kent State offered a scholarship, and she accepted.

“What honestly drew me to Kent State was the amazing coaching staff and the passion for the sport that they have,” Sypolt said. “The work ethic that is shown through every aspect of their program is phenomenal.”

Sypolt was a TribLive Westmoreland second-team all-star last season as Belle Vernon finished 9-11 and lost in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.

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Buffalo offers Pfeifer

Norwin punter Evan Pfeifer is making inroads toward a Division I college career.

The senior with the big leg added a second FBS offer, the latest from Buffalo.

The deal is structured for a preferred walk-on and mainly academic in financial gain.

Air Force offered in August.

This season, Pfeifer averaged 41.1 yards per punt and put 20 of 30 kicks inside the 20-yard line.

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Banner year

Just before Christmas, Mt. Pleasant added some decorations, updating its championship banners in the natatorium.

Dominant swimming teams, led by some of the program’s all-time great individuals, now have their accomplishments pinned to the wall.

The girls, led by 16-time WPIAL and PIAA champion Lily King, won their third straight PIAA title.

The boys captured their first state championship — the first for a boys sport at the school — with Joe Gardner and David Mutter powering the charge.

Gardner won five individual state titles, and Mutter won three.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Norwin