Antonio RossettI stories, Page 5
Hopewell counting on mix of youth, experience to get back on track
Hopewell is no stranger to elite football. Tony Dorsett, Paul Posluszny and WPIAL all-time leading rusher Rushel Shell all roamed the halls of the high school. Senior Hank Berner understands the tradition of Hopewell football, and he can’t wait to run out of the tunnel with his teammates one last...
Beaver has pieces in place to add to program’s storied history
The Beaver Bobcats went 9-3 last year, adding to one of the largest win totals in Pennsylvania high school football history. They’re got 675 victories, good for 25th all-time. Beaver racked up that record last season despite playing a lineup filled with first-year starters after a mass exodus of seniors...
New Castle wants to turn the tide under new coach
Fred Mozzocio played for New Castle in the 1980s, so the team’s new head coach understands the tradition of Red Hurricanes football. Growing up, he and his friends would be in the classroom gazing out onto the field, wishing that someday they could play for the Red Hurricanes. “There’s an...
Sanctuary Boxing’s Makya Wade claims gold at national boxing competition
For the third summer in a row, Sanctuary Boxing Club in New Kensington took boxers to USA Boxing’s national competition in Wichita, Kan. This time around, the group returned with gold and bronze medals. Makya Wade, 10, joined Sanctuary Boxing Club one year ago and quickly became a national champion...
Kiski Area’s Mario Hutcherson wins wrestling gold at Pan-Am trials in El Salvador
Kiski Area’s Mario Hutcherson came, saw and conquered in the Pan-Am trials from June 11-16 in El Salvador, winning gold in the 75-kilogram (165-pound) weight class. His victory came a month-and-a-half after taking home the 15-under 75-kilogram U.S. Open title in Las Vegas, which was his second in a row....
North Allegheny returns to top in WPIAL Class 3A team tennis; Sewickley Academy wins 25th title
North Allegheny dethroned defending champion Gateway, 3-2, on Wednesday, winning its first WPIAL Class 3A boys tennis team title since 2009. The doubles teams got things going early as North Allegheny’s Shi Telang and Sri Thirumala landed the first punch, defeating Gateway’s Matthew Bonds and Zane Almoukamal. The brother tandem...
Kiski Area youth wrestler earns spot on Team USA, inspires younger brother
Kiski Area’s Mario Hutcherson, 15, is headed to El Salvador to compete for Team USA at the Pan-American Wrestling Championships on June 11-16. Hutcherson earned his spot on the team by winning the U.S. Open in the 15U 75 kg division April 28 in Las Vegas. Hutcherson put on a...
Toronto edges Montreal before nearly 9,000 fans during PWHL Takeover Weekend at PPG Paints ArenaVideo
Fans from all over Pittsburgh and Canada filled the lower bowl at PPG Paints Arena to watch some of the best women’s hockey players in the world Sunday afternoon as part of Professional Women’s Hockey League Takeover Weekend. There was a big-game atmosphere as the fans roared after every big...
North Catholic gets past Blackhawk in OT to win WPIAL title for 3rd straight seasonVideo
North Catholic took home its third WPIAL title in a row and seventh in the past eight years with a 40-37 win over Blackhawk in overtime in a championship rematch in the Class 4A finals Saturday at Petersen Events Center. The Trojanettes were spearheaded by Alayna Rocco, who tallied 26...
Cheswick Christian boys edge Pittsburgh Christian Academy for SWCAC title
The Cheswick Christian Academy boys basketball team defeated Pittsburgh Christian Academy, 42-39, on Saturday at a packed Steve Warden Gymnasium to take home its first SWCAC title since 2015. Grant Rochkind, the league MVP, finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for Cheswick Christian. The game featured eight...
Blackhawk makes adjustments, rolls past Greensburg Salem in WPIAL quarters
The Blackhawk girls defended their home court and mauled Greensburg Salem, 49-25, in a WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal Friday. The Cougars faced the Golden Lions earlier in the season, and Greensburg Salem took the 20-2 Cougars into overtime. Blackhawk came out on top 40-35, but going into the rematch, Blackhawk...
Deer Lakes bowlers take aim at defending WPIBL championship
The Deer Lakes girls bowling team won a second straight section title and captured the WPIBL crown last season, earning a spot in the state championships. “They were 100% committed, and they put in the time and everything worked out,” Lancers coach George Germanich said. “We got to where we...
Freeport bowlers off to strong start in quest to return to state tournament
The Freeport girls bowling team swarmed out of the gate, looking to make it back to the state tournament. The Yellowjackets finished third in the state last year and aim to finish even higher this year. Freeport won its first four matches behind some noteworthy efforts. Kylie McConahy bowled a...
Freeport hockey ready to take next step with young core
There is a lot to look forward to with Freeport hockey. The young Yellow Jackets started the season with a 1-5 record, but Freeport has racked up five points with two overtime losses and a shootout loss. Freeport remained competitive in November, especially during a shootout loss to Moon, which...
Westinghouse returns to PIAA title game after taking down Beaver Falls
Westinghouse is headed back to the PIAA championship game for the second year in a row. Behind a relentless defense, the Bulldogs defeated WPIAL Class 2A champion Beaver Falls, 28-8, in the state semifinals Friday night at West Allegheny. The Bulldogs forced Beaver Falls (9-6) to turn the ball over...
North Allegheny rolls into PIAA semifinals with rout of McDowell
WPIAL champion North Allegheny defended its home turf Friday, defeating McDowell, 41-7, in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs. Last season, the Tigers had an early exit in the first round of the state playoffs, but with a talented core of seniors, they wouldn’t let that happen...
Steel Valley grabs spot in WPIAL final by beating Mohawk
The Steel Valley Ironmen, propelled by a monstrous performance by Donald Barksdale, defeated Mohawk, 34-21, to return to Acrisure Stadium for the second straight year. Barksdale, the WPIAL Class 2A leader in rushing yards, made a statement, carrying for 254 yards and two scores on 26 carries. Barksdale, who surpassed...
Ligonier’s Sahara Robinson wins dirt bike racing national championship
Sahara Robinson found herself riding her dirt bike with a purpose, looking for her first Grand National Cross Country Series national championship. It was the 11th of 12 rounds of the series in Newburg, W.Va., and the Ligonier youth was determined, no matter the circumstances nor the condition of the...
Montour passing game gashes Thomas Jefferson in Class 4A quarterfinals
Montour threw the first punch, controlled the game throughout and rolled to a 51-21 victory over Thomas Jefferson in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals Friday night. Montour was spearheaded by Jake Wolfe, who threw five touchdown passes and tallied 213 passing yards, completing 13 of 27 attempts. He also ran...
Fast start propels Central Valley to WPIAL 1st-round victory over Highlands
Central Valley’s defense was up to the task in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs Friday night. The No. 4-seeded Warriors held No. 13 Highlands to just 115 yards and didn’t allow a first down for the first 15 minutes en route to a 28-7 victory at...
Kiski hockey team reloads in quest to defend Class A title
Kiski Area’s hockey team put together a nine-game winning streak last season before losing two of its final three regular-season games. The Cavaliers were the underdogs heading into the Penguins Cup playoffs. Matt Behrik said no one expected them to win, but the Cavaliers continued to battle. “Fox Chapel said...
Wolfe leads way as Montour beats rival West Allegheny
The Montour Spartans, led by Jake Wolfe and a talented crew of skill-position players, capped off their season defeating their rival West Allegheny Indians, 49-17, at Thomas J. Birko Memorial Stadium. The Spartans (9-1, 6-1 Parkway Conference) were down 10-7 but tallied 28 unanswered points to go up 35-10. Montour’s...
Brother combination leads Upper St. Clair past Moon in double OT thriller
The Upper St. Clair Panthers keep their playoff hopes alive Friday night, using a brother-to-brother connection to defeat division rival Moon, 43-42, in two overtimes. In the second overtime, the Panthers trailed 42-35. Ethan Hellman connected with Charlie Bywalski to make it 42-41, and USC decided to put it all...
Defense, rushing tandem of Grabowski, Whipple leads Penn-Trafford over Plum
Tasso Whipple and Ben Grabowski spearheaded the Warriors rushing attack as Penn-Trafford ran its way to victory over Plum, 21-6, on Friday night. Grabowski and Whipple combined for 281 rushing yards. The win put the Warriors one step closer to a playoff birth. Grabowski scored all three P-T touchdowns while...
Defense, rushing tandem of Grabowski, Whipple leads Penn-Trafford over Plum
Tasso Whipple and Ben Grabowski spearheaded the Warriors rushing attack as Penn-Trafford ran its way to victory over Plum, 21-6, on Friday night. Grabowski and Whipple combined for 281 rushing yards. The win put the Warriors one step closer to a playoff birth. Grabowski scored all three P-T touchdowns while...
