Westmoreland high school notebook: Latrobe football team has ‘big’ surprise for opponents

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 | 6:24 PM

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There’s been a big addition to the Latrobe football team. Emphasis on “big.”

Rob Young is a sight to see. The senior is every bit of 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, a man-among-boys newcomer who could be a gamechanger for the Wildcats.

So how did a former City League kid end up in Latrobe?

Young is in placement at Adelphoi, a treatment center for at-risk youth located in Latrobe, so he will attend classes there. He spent last year at Summit Academy, a residential school for ajudicated male youth in Butler County. He did not play football at Summit.

A Pittsburgh native, Young attended Brashear through his sophomore year and played football there.

While he still is finding his way with his new team, Young could be a dual threat as a receiver and defensive end.

Some coaches joked that he could sneak into Steelers camp in a practice jersey and instantly blend in because he looks the part.

“He showed up here the first day of heat week,” Latrobe coach Tom McIntyre said. “We think the sky is the limit for him. The more he learns, the more comfortable he gets.”

Young, who with his helmet off and dreadlocks out, bears a striking resemblance to Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz, said he is acclimating to life in Latrobe.

“The transition was not easy at first,” Young said. “But I am adjusting. I feel like I can really help us on offense.”

Turning his life around is a goal Young hopes to achieve through life in a group home and on the football field.

“I need to stop hanging around with the wrong crowd,” he said. “It’s very important for me to (turn a corner).”

Young soon might meet basketball coach Brad Wetzel. The towering athlete played basketball last season at Summit Academy and averaged 17.5 points a game.

“I played football (at Brashear) but never scored a touchdown,” Young said. “I want to get some here.”

Twice as nice

Latrobe girls soccer coach Jamie (Morrison) Campbell and her husband, assistant Ross Campbell, celebrated a special moment with their players after Tuesday’s practice: a gender reveal.

Ross Campbell kicked a small plastic soccer ball into the air that exploded into a puff of pink smoke. Spoiler alert: The Campbells are having identical twin girls.

Year No. 10 for the couple is going to be quite different than the previous nine.

“It’s going to be an interesting season,” said Jamie Campbell, who is due in December. “There might be times when (Ross) is going to have to step in and do a little more. I am not allowed to run, so I can’t do what I normally do in practice. We’re excited.”

Saturday scrimmages

The first week of football training camp for WPIAL teams will conclude Saturday with scrimmages.

Here is the schedule for local teams (10 a.m. unless otherwise noted):

Franklin Regional at Norwin; Hempfield at Greensburg Salem (9 a.m.); Penn-Trafford at Shaler; Penn Hills at Latrobe; Connellsville at Kiski Area; Belle Vernon at Gateway; Indiana at Mt. Pleasant; Highlands vs. Southmoreland (at Connellsville); Leechburg at Burrell; Jeannette at Valley; Burgettstown at Yough; Greensburg Central Catholic at Derry; McGuffey at Monessen; Ligonier Valley at Brothersvalley.

Heat week

Hempfield athletes could practice only one hour Tuesday afternoon outdoors because of extreme heat. They could not use the field at Spartan Stadium because of high readings.

The district was following the National Federation of State High School Associations heat index guidelines, which require limited time outdoors, limited equipment usage, athlete monitoring and multiple water breaks when numbers spike.

The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature was 92 degrees and climbing, and the “feels like” heat index was over 112 degrees. Other factors besides temperature include humidity, wind speed, sun angle, direct sunlight and cloud cover, Spartans athletic director Brandon Rapp said.

A “black” index (greater than 92 degrees) means no outdoor training on the heated surface. A “red” index means no protective equipment and no conditioning activities.

The football team had an intrasquad scrimmage in the morning before the heat index climbed at Spartan Stadium and forced the workout to end 30 minutes short.

They had an afternoom workout on the grass field above the baseball and softball fields, near the water tower, with no pads.

“It’s more about putting kids in a position to practice in safe conditions more so than just ‘It’s too hot so you can’t practice,’ ” Rapp said. “It’s about following recommended practices to stay safe.”

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Burrell, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Hempfield, Jeannette, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Valley