Breannan Valladares stories, Page 2
South Side focused on process over results with experienced group
From 2021-23, it seemed like South Side football was on track to capture its first WPIAL title in 25 years. During that span, the Rams went from the WPIAL quarterfinals to the championship in three consecutive seasons. However, with no WPIAL title to show for it, the team was eager...
Veteran coach Don Phillips ready to lead Rochester’s resurgence
It had been over 40 years since Don Phillips was calling plays from the sidelines for the Rochester Rams. But after championship head coach Gene Matsook retired in December, Phillips was chosen to lead the Rams once again, and hopefully back to their championship ways. “We want to succeed,” Phillips...
New coach hopes to help Northgate end playoff drought
When Mark Fratangelo first joined the Northgate football staff in 2022, the school struggled to field a team with enough players. Now, with two consecutive seasons of having 30-plus players, Fratangelo, entering his first year as head coach, and his staff have their eyes set on the WPIAL postseason. “When...
Neshannock sets lofty goal for season: Rings rather than T-shirts
Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Friday. Coach Michael Bongivengo may only be in his second year at the helm at Neshannock, but he is well aware of the championship standard that is yet...
Laurel in position for big bounce-back after injury-riddled season
Often, injuries are setbacks for teams with high expectations. For Laurel football, though, the 2024 season became a year of growth that could pay dividends in 2025. “Going into last season, we had a lot of high expectations, and we had a lot of skill kids back that we were...
North Hills athletes buy in, earn postseason success on track
As North Hills assistant outdoor track and field coach, Wade Endress knows the importance of buy-in from top to bottom of the roster. Unlike most coaches, though, he and head coach Mark Timko oversee more than 100 athletes. “I think any coaching staff probably experiences this in some way, but...
Growth mindset helps North Hills softball to solid season, chance to build in future
After bowing out in the second round of the 2024 WPIAL playoffs, the North Hills softball team could have looked at the 2025 season as an opportunity for redemption. The Indians didn’t look at it that way, though, and that served them pretty well. “You know, the narrative for (the...
Despite late-season woes, coach optimistic about future of Gateway baseball
Two weeks into the 2025 season, Gateway baseball seemed to be on pace for a breakout year. Through the Gators’ opening six games, they had already surpassed their four-win total from the previous season with a series sweep of section rival McKeesport. Through 91/2 innings against the Tigers, the Gators...
Bodybuilding is still big, but wide array of power sports join Pittsburgh fitness festival this weekend
Jim Manion has been promoting bodybuilding competitions in the Pittsburgh area for more than 50 years. But in his time as the president of the National Physique Committee and the International Federation of Body Builders Professional League, he’s never put on an event quite as big as the Pittsburgh Power...
Gateway’s Adam Memije gains revenge in WPIAL Class 3A tennis finals; newcomer Max Henson of Belle Vernon wins 2A title
Gateway’s Adam Memije and Belle Vernon’s Max Henson took home gold at the WPIAL tennis finals Friday at Bethel Park. Memije, the No. 2 seed in Class 3A, took down top seed Advaita Sircar of North Allegheny in three sets. The Gateway senior dropped the first set, 7-5, before claiming...
Improving Gateway softball team ready to take a step forward
Gateway softball hasn’t had many wins to celebrate over the three years Donny Holl has been coach. Entering his fourth season with the program, Holl has overseen only four combined wins in the last three seasons. One of those wins came last year when the Gators went 1-16 and 0-10...
Austin Dzadovsky erupts for 5 goals as Avonworth beats Mars for 1st Penguins Cup title
With 2:39 left in the second period, Austin Dzadovsky chased down his miss behind the back of the net. After he recovered the puck, he snuck it in behind Mars’ goalie Adam Goul for his record-tying fifth goal of the game. “I was just going out to play,” Dzadovsky said,...
With women’s wrestling about to earn official NCAA championship status, WPIAL alumni compete on national stage
For the first time, former WPIAL girls wrestlers competed at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships in Iowa. For the last time, they did so outside of the sport being an NCAA-sanctioned championship. The four wrestlers — Ana Malovich (Butler), Leyna Rumpler (North Allegheny), Abbie Miles (Laurel) and Grace O’Korn...
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