Chris Harlan stories, Page 60

Longtime North Allegheny swimming coach Corky Semler didn’t hesitate when athletic director Bob Bozzuto asked if he was interested in coming out of retirement this winter. “I told him absolutely not,” said Semler, with a laugh. “I’m retired.” But the swim program Semler helped build into a WPIAL powerhouse needed...

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Mt. Lebanon, 19-0, 1 2. North Allegheny, 17-1, 2 3. Norwin, 14-4, 4 4. Upper St. Clair, 15-4, 3 5. Peters Township, 10-8, NR Out: Seneca Valley (11-7, 5) Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Chartiers Valley, 17-1, 1 2. Trinity, 15-1,...

Class 6A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. North Hills, 18-0, 1 2. Fox Chapel, 18-1, 2 3. Central Catholic, 15-4, 3 4. Upper St. Clair, 13-5, 4 5. North Allegheny, 12-6, NR Out: Pine-Richland (10-9, 5) Class 5A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. Laurel Highlands, 18-0, 1 2. New Castle,...

One team in Butler’s brutal section may be left home when the playoffs start, which has the Golden Tornado convinced it can’t lose another game. In fact, senior Raine Gratzmiller described the players’ mindset as “desperation mode.” But their situation got a little less dire Friday night when they celebrated...

The WPIAL decided not to release new football schedules this week because of a “unique situation” facing one of its schools. The WPIAL didn’t name the school in an email sent Thursday to athletic directors, but the situation involves Aliquippa, which wants to play in Class 3A rather than 4A....

Some of the nation’s top college football recruiters will visit Western Pennsylvania often in the coming months, because the WPIAL and City League have an uncommitted four-star Rivals recruit in the 2023 class. They’re now on the clock. In all, there is a trio of four-star juniors in the area,...

The South Side and Steel Valley football teams must complete educational training organized by the WPIAL to “further develop cultural competency” after their playoff game in November ended with accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct and racial slurs. If not completed, the WPIAL board can impose a variety of additional disciplinary options,...

Shady Side Academy used quickness and aggression to build a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead Tuesday night, a favorable position where many teams might then slow the tempo. Hold the ball. Run the clock. One problem: That’s not in Shady Side’s nature, but the Bulldogs still showed patience down the stretch, grabbed...

Thanks to former Clairton star Tyler Boyd, the Big 33 Football Classic’s Super Bowl streak lives on. Every Super Bowl has included at least one alumni from the high school football all-star game, a remarkable streak that Boyd will extend for another year as a wide receiver for the AFC...

Class 6A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. North Hills, 15-0, 1 2. Fox Chapel, 16-1, 2 3. Central Catholic, 13-4, 3 4. Upper St. Clair, 11-4, 4 5. Pine-Richland, 10-7, 5 Out: none Class 5A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. Laurel Highlands, 16-0, 1 2. New Castle, 14-1, 2 3....

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Mt. Lebanon, 17-0, 2 2. North Allegheny, 15-1, 1 3. Upper St. Clair, 15-3, 3 4. Norwin, 12-4, 4 5. Seneca Valley, 11-5, 5 Out: none Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Chartiers Valley, 15-1, 1 2. Trinity, 13-1, 3 3. South...

Greensburg Central Catholic and Winchester Thurston were scheduled to meet three weeks ago, but that boys basketball game was postponed, so the teams could only study one another from a distance. “I’m sure both teams have seen each other on film a little bit,” GCC coach Christian Hyland said, “but...

Aliquippa’s aging football stadium will be torn down and rebuilt this year with a little help from the NFL. The school recently received a $250,000 grant from the NFL Foundation, said Aliquippa superintendent Phillip Woods, who hopes to solicit donations from additional organizations as well. The school district also in...

For the first time in 14 years, Hampton soon will have a new football coach. The district will hire a replacement as soon as next month for coach Jacque DeMatteo, who resigned this winter after an 11-1 season and winning the Greater Allegheny Conference title. DeMatteo stepped down as coach...

Add another win to Aliquippa’s record. The PIAA board on Wednesday accepted Aliquippa’s appeal and agreed to leave the Quips in Class 4A football for the next two seasons, a victory that let the reigning state champions avoid a promotion to 5A under the PIAA’s competitive-balance rule. The board voted...

Moon’s Mia Cochran has defended yet another cross country title. The senior repeated as Pennsylvania Gatorade Girls Cross Country Player of the Year on Monday, recognition for winning the PIAA Class 3A title last fall for the third year in a row. The 5-foot-7 Arkansas recruit also won the WPIAL...

Mt. Lebanon’s Alex Tecza has played football with teammate Eli Heidenreich for as long as he can remember. As it turns out, high school graduation won’t break their bond. Tecza committed to play football for Navy on Friday, five months after Heidenreich also committed to the Midshipmen. However, their lifelong...

Class 6A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. North Hills, 13-0, 1 2. Fox Chapel, 13-1, 2 3. Central Catholic, 11-4, 3 4. Upper St. Clair, 10-4, NR 5. Pine-Richland, 8-7, 4 Out: Seneca Valley (6-8, 5) Class 5A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. Laurel Highlands, 13-0, 1 2. New Castle,...

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny, 14-0, 1 2. Mt. Lebanon, 14-0, 2 3. Upper St. Clair, 13-3, 3 4. Norwin, 10-4, 4 5. Seneca Valley, 7-5, 5 Out: none Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Chartiers Valley, 14-1, 1 2. Moon, 14-2, 2 3. Trinity,...

North Allegheny athletic director Bob Bozzuto has a forward-thinking mindset when it comes to football conference realignment. The ink barely has dried on WPIAL plans for the next two seasons, but he’s ready to start thinking about 2024 and ’25. “We need to think outside of the box,” Bozzuto said....

Quaker Valley’s Markus Frank has a knack for scoring around the rim from angles that seem almost impossible, yet he makes them with ease. And he makes them in a hurry. “At least once a practice, he’ll make a shot and we’ll all find ourselves looking at each other and...

Former Pine-Richland football coach Eric Kasperowicz is dropping his defamation lawsuit against the school district and its administrators in hopes of reclaiming his coaching job. Kasperowicz in August filed a federal lawsuit against the district and several top officials claiming they damaged his reputation by publicly accusing him of knowing...

The Laurel girls basketball team is trying to reach the WPIAL playoffs for the fifth year in a row, but the Spartans must do so without their head coach. Coach Matt Stebbins, who was in his sixth season, said Thursday he recently resigned under pressure, but declined to discuss specifics....

Football coach LaRoi Johnson is returning to his roots. The former Homewood resident was hired to coach at Imani Christian Academy, which is less than a mile from his old home. The private school in East Hills is a place Johnson already knows well, having coached there as Imani’s offensive...