Westmoreland high school notebook: More Division I offers for Hempfield’s Heisler
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Saturday, April 19, 2025 | 6:27 PM
The recruiting process is coming in waves for Brock Heisler.
The junior from Hempfield is lining up a Division I college football career and has plenty of options when it comes to his future destination.
But he is handling the endeavor with poise.
“I always knew I wanted to play D-I football,” he said, “but I never thought my recruitment would be this crazy. “It can definitely be a lot sometimes, but I know it’s all a blessing and a part of the process.”
Proactive from the start of his prep career, Heisler reached out to schools and attended camps to make teams familiar with his name.
He now has sufficient game film to send schools, and they like what they see.
The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder, who is only 16 and carries a 4.0 grade-point average, recently pulled in three more Division I offers — from Villanova, Air Force and West Virginia — giving him nearly two dozen offers, including 12 from the FBS level.
West Virginia is his first Power 4 offer.
Pitt and Penn State often follow when WVU offers, so those programs also could extend offers.
Heisler, a two-way tackle who also long snaps, said he plans to take some official visits soon and, potentially, make his commitment over the summer.
“He just keeps showing his maturity by how he is handling this whole process,” Hempfield coach Nick Keefer said. “Some kids fall in love with the attention, but, honestly, that’s not what it’s about for him. He wants to find the best school for him both academically and athletically. Both aspects are super important to him.
“I am proud of how he is handling everything in stride, and it hasn’t changed his work ethic or how he is handling himself. He is still being a leader in the weight room and the classroom. He has a great support system behind him at home, and wherever he lands, they are not only getting a tremendous football player, but a better person.”
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Special day
Jeannette’s WPIAL championship boys basketball team received special recognition last week.
The city honored the team by declaring April 11 “Jeannette High School Boys Basketball Day.”
Mayor Curt Antoniak said in a proclamation the team “displayed extraordinary skill, dedication, and teamwork,” as well as, “the spirit of sportsmanship and the relentless pursuit of excellence.”
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Combine set
Jeannette will host a football combine next month at McKee Stadium.
The event will feature college coaches who will observe drills on the field and in the weight room.
Cost is $250 per team and $25 per individual.
The event is free for Jeannette student-athletes.
To register, email thomaspauloneqb@gmail.com.
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Ayres commits
Franklin Regional soccer player Addison Ayres committed to play at Division III Allegheny.
Ayres is a junior goalkeeper. She was an all-section pick last season when she made 107 saves and posted seven shutouts in 17 games.
She made 22 saves in a 3-2 loss to Montour in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.
She also considered Westminster and Grove City.
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Coaches pitch in
One team in the rookie coach-pitch softball league in West Point has a unique staff.
Jenna Keefer is the head coach, while her husband, Nick, is an assistant, along with Tom McInyre and Jim Nesser.
They all coach their kids.
Nick Keefer and McIntyre are head football coaches — Keefer at Hempfield and McIntyre at Latrobe — while Nesser is a longtime basketball coach in the area, his latest stint as an assistant with the Saint Vincent men.
Dan Terlizzi also helps. He used to be the head softball coach at Westmoreland County Community College.
“It’s a good time,” Nick Keefer said.
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Recruiting
Several Penn-Trafford athletes signed with colleges: football players Dom Smith (John Carroll), Kellan Taylor (Grove City), Jonny Lovre (Washington & Jefferson) and Derek Carr (Westminster); softball player Rilie Moors (Seton Hill) and Kylie Anthony (Westminster); and soccer players Gabriella Michael (St. Leo) and Bryanna Bennett (Westminster).
Anthony also plans to play volleyball in college.
• Latrobe baseball player Brody Rumon will play at Davis & Elkins.
• Greensburg Salem senior Tyler Martin will continue his baseball career at Westmoreland County Community College.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Jeannette
More High School Recruiting
• Norwin lineman finds new Division I home after Saint Francis’ move to D3• Pine-Richland defensive back Jay Timmons commits to Indiana, coach Curt Cignetti
• Stanford lands commitment from Lucas Shanafelt, 2nd football recruit from Peters Township in 2 years
• Westmoreland high school notebook: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Vacanti to play in England
• Aliquippa linebacker Daiveon Taylor commits to Kent State
