Westmoreland high school notes: Latrobe hockey heads to West Chester
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Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | 6:48 PM
Franklin Regional’s Max Rutkowski (left) is stopped by Latrobe goaltender Brock Pflugh during a playoff game earlier this month.
Latrobe wants to hold off uniform turn-in day a little longer.
The hockey team is playing in the USA Hockey National Championship tournament this week in West Chester.
The event is Wednesday through Friday. Latrobe was set to open against the Valor Screaming Eagles on Wednesday and has games against Northwest (Texas) at 10:15 a.m. Thursday and Edwardsville (Mo.) at 8:15 a.m. Friday.
Those four teams will compete in pool play in the high school division.
Latrobe (13-8) reached the Penguins Cup 2A playoffs but lost to Franklin Regional in the first round 4-3.
The Wildcats earned a spot in the tournament based on their third-place position in their tier and as a member in good standing with USA Hockey.
Thrower finalists
Finalists were announced for the Willie Thrower Award, which recognizes the WPIAL’s top quarterback from the past season.
The six finalists are: Nolan DiLucia of Peters Township, Julian Dugger of Penn Hills, Logan Kushner of North Allegheny, Matt Sieg of Fort Cherry, Payton Wehner of Central Catholic and Jake Wolfe of Montour.
Wehner was a finalist last year.
The winner will be announced April 6 at a luncheon at Knead Community Cafe in New Kensington.
The award is named in honor of Thrower, a New Kensington native who won two WPIAL titles and became the NFL’s first Black quarterback in 1953.
Cadin Olsen of Armstrong won the award the last two years.
The winner receives a 29-pound bronze replica of the Willie Thrower statue located at Valley Memorial Stadium.
100 for Wilson
Norwin senior Ava Wilson opened the lacrosse season with a bang — and a milestone.
Wilson scored her 100th career goal in a 15-6 loss to Chartiers Valley in the season opener.
Goal oriented
Franklin Regional boys lacrosse is off to a fast start.
The Panthers looked dominant in their opener, a 20-0 victory over Gateway.
Connor Lynch and Grant Novotny each scored six goals in the win.
Franklin Regional had six goals in the first period.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Central Catholic, Fort Cherry, Franklin Regional, Latrobe, Montour, North Allegheny, Norwin, Penn Hills, Peters Township, Valley
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