Westmoreland high school notebook: Heat is on as WPIAL football players prepare for camp

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 6:03 PM

The heat is on for WPIAL football players.

The customary heat acclimatization week begins Monday around the league, with the start of full-contact training camp fast on its tail the following Monday.

Players will wear helmets and shoulder pads this week but can’t have contact with teammates. They must attend five consecutive days of “heat acc” before participating in full-contact drills.

“We’ve worked all offseason, and now we get to put the pads on and put it all together and sweat,” Greensburg Salem senior lineman Isaiah Stillwagon said. “It’s go time; it’s real. I’m back where I love to be: the field.”

Heat acclimatization, which has been around since 2013, is meant to acclimate players to the potential warm temperatures of camp, helping them adapt with drills interrupted by water breaks.

Jeannette senior wide receiver and linebacker Noah Sunder looks at heat week as more than the start of a new season.

“I’m looking forward to everyone getting better and teaching the new guys what Jayhawk football really is,” Sunder said. “It will be a good opportunity for them to understand how our schemes are and understand how we play together.

“Since I’m a senior now, I feel like I have to set a huge example for the young guys and so does everyone else so they can end up successful in the program.”

Five Westmoreland County programs will open camp with new head coaches: Belle Vernon (Scott Bryer), Kiski Area (Colyn Haugh), Latrobe (Tom McIntyre), Burrell (Dom Girardi) and Southmoreland (Dustin Shoaf).

Fore the coach

Greensburg Central Catholic second-year girls golf coach Anthony Santilli brought home some hardware from the Tri-State PGA.

Santilli won The Country Club Pro-Am at the country club of Meadville.

The pro at Cedarbrook Golf Course in Rostraver, Santilli was part of a four-man team.

Irish eyes

The Kiski School football team, led by first-year coach Aaron Smetanka, is taking quite a road trip.

The Cougars are going to Ireland to play the Irish Under-19 Junior National Team on Aug. 22 at Energia Park in Dublin.

The game is part of the Global Ireland Football Tournament.

Smetanka is the former Saint Vincent and Greensburg Central Catholic head coach.

Another game will be played Aug. 22 between the Hun School, from New Jersey, and the U.K.-based NFL Academy.

The GIFT games have been played in Ireland since 2012 in association with the annual Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

The Kiski School team will tour Dublin while in the city. Players will stay in dorms and practice at the University College Dublin campus.

“I think it’s going to be a great experience for them to see another country from a cultural perspective and learn more about Ireland and their sports teams, Smetanka said. “Our guys are excited to play their opening game overseas. Having the opportunity to live in a college dorm setting will be great for them as they’re considering that next step in their life and education.”

Kiski also will attend the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Kansas State and Iowa State at the Aviva Stadium.

Playing the field

Norwin, Seton Hill and Central Michigan alum Carly Kubacka was named field hockey coach at Norwin.

Kubacka was team captain at both college stops, and she prepared to get into coaching.

The former Norwin four-year letterwinner played field hockey and lacrosse at Seton Hill.

Recruiting

• Jeannette football player Noah Sunder has opportunities to play at Division III schools Allegheny College and Saint Vincent. A receiver and linebacker, Sunder (6-2, 188) plays three sports for the Jayhawks.

• Aiden Toth of Penn-Trafford picked up a Division II offer from West Liberty. Toth is a 6-foot-1, 270-pound two-way lineman, and a heavyweight wrestler for the Warriors.

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

Tags: Jeannette, Penn-Trafford