Chris Harlan stories, Page 64
Ellwood City hires ‘proven winner’ Dan Bradley to fix struggling football program
Ellwood City hired former OLSH football coach Dan Bradley on Thursday to fix a distressed program that hasn’t won a game in three seasons. The Wolverines have a 25-game losing streak. The school hopes the solution is hiring Bradley, who went 49-19 in six seasons at Our Lady of the...
PIAA denies Aliquippa appeal asking to avoid promotion to Class 5A football
The PIAA on Thursday denied an initial appeal from Aliquippa, which wants to avoid a pending promotion to Class 5A football next season. But the appeal process isn’t over. Aliquippa superintendent Phillip Woods said the school district will appeal again, this time to the entire PIAA board of directors, which...
MLK Day basketball showcase moves to Central Pa., still includes 5 WPIAL teams
The MLK Day basketball showcase that recently called Woodland Hills home has shifted about 150 miles east, but this weekend’s event still has some WPIAL teams taking part. Former Woodland Hills athletic director Ron Coursey, now AD at Chambersburg, organized a three-day event at his new school and will welcome...
2 WPIAL coaches picked as assistants for Big 33 Football Classic
WPIAL football coaches Matt Humbert of Belle Vernon and T.J. Plack of Peters Township will serve as Team Pennsylvania assistants for the Big 33 Football Classic in May. The coaching staffs were announced Wednesday for the Memorial Day all-star game. Tyrone’s John Franco will serve as Pennsylvania’s head coach. Franco,...
Daemar Kelly helps Penn Hills ‘learn how to win’ in section victory over Gateway
As the final seconds ticked away, coach Chris Giles and the players on the Penn Hills bench all were shouting the exact same words. “Dunk it!” With no one between him and the hoop, sophomore Julian Dugger obliged and threw down a dunk as No. 5 Penn Hills celebrated a...
Mars school board set to open job of football coach Scott Heinauer
Mars appears ready to open the job of longtime football coach Scott Heinauer to applicants. The online agenda for Tuesday’s school board meeting includes a motion “to open the varsity head football coaching position” along with those of Heinauer’s varsity assistants and middle school coaches. Heinauer said he intends to...
TribHSSN girls basketball rankings for Jan. 9, 2022
Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny, 8-0, 1 2. Mt. Lebanon, 10-0, 3 3. Upper St. Clair, 9-1, 2 4. Norwin, 6-3, 4 5. Seneca Valley, 7-3, NR Out: Butler (6-4, 5) Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Chartiers Valley, 10-1, 1 2. Moon, 10-0, 2...
TribHSSN boys basketball rankings for Jan. 9, 2022
Class 6A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. North Hills, 9-0, 1 2. Fox Chapel, 9-1, 3 3. Central Catholic, 7-2, 4 4. Upper St. Clair, 8-1, 5 5. Butler, 8-2, NR Out: North Allegheny (8-2, 2) Class 5A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. Laurel Highlands, 9-0, 1 2. New Castle,...
Pitt the ‘best of both worlds’ for North Allegheny’s Timmerson
Jasmine Timmerson noticed her cell phone is a little quieter nowadays without so many calls or texts from college coaches. “I like it that way,” she said with a laugh. Timmerson’s recruiting process had started much earlier than most. The North Allegheny junior was still weeks away from entering high...
North Hills clamps down on defense, stops North Allegheny in clash of 6A contenders
Alex Smith knew that if North Allegheny shooter Matt McDonough didn’t cool down, he and his North Hills teammates were in trouble. “It seemed like every 3 he was shooting, he was making,” Smith said Friday night. “We know how good he is. I said before the game, if he...
Woodland Hills football among WPIAL teams voluntarily playing in higher classification
Football coach Tim Bostard knew folks might be a little surprised to see the PIAA list Woodland Hills as a Class 3A team after years of playing two classifications higher. Those other 3A teams can breathe a sigh of relief. Yes, the PIAA this week released updated enrollment numbers that...
Dan Bradley resigns as OLSH football coach after reaching WPIAL finals
Weeks after leading Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to the WPIAL finals, Dan Bradley resigned as Chargers football coach after six seasons. His teams went 49-19, reached the playoffs every year and won a WPIAL title in 2018. “To be honest, I feel like I was pretty lucky to...
Greg Perry resigns as Keystone Oaks football coach citing pay for assistants
Greg Perry resigned as football coach at his alma mater Keystone Oaks, citing a union contract decision that reduced money available for his assistant coaches. Perry went 45-34 in eight seasons. “I quit because in the spring, the school board and the (Keystone Oaks Education Association) decided on a contract...
PIAA realignment leaves WPIAL Class 6A football, basketball with fewer teams
The WPIAL’s largest classification officially is getting smaller next season in football and basketball. As expected, the WPIAL will have only five football teams in Class 6A for the next two years, according to updated enrollment numbers released Tuesday by the PIAA for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. But...
PIAA competitive-balance rule impacts Aliquippa football unfairly, says Beaver County NAACP
The Beaver County branch of the NAACP added its voice to those opposing a PIAA rule that could force the small-school Aliquippa football team to face even larger opponents in Class 5A next season. In a letter dated Monday and addressed to the WPIAL, the branch argued that the PIAA...
Central Valley’s Sean FitzSimmons named Trib HSSN Football Player of the Year
Central Valley faced a fourth-and-1 at its own 18-yard line with less than 5 minutes left in the state championship. The Warriors held a 7-0 lead, so nobody would’ve criticized coach Mark Lyons if he’d decided to punt and play defense. Sean FitzSimmons offered a riskier idea. “Sean said: ‘Listen....
Trib HSSN WPIAL boys basketball rankings for Week of Jan. 2, 2022
Class 6A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. North Hills, 6-0, 1 2. North Allegheny, 8-0, 2 3. Fox Chapel, 7-1, 3 4. Central Catholic, 5-2, 4 5. Upper St. Clair, 6-1, 5 Out: none Class 5A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. Laurel Highlands, 6-0, 1 2. Penn Hills, 7-0, 2...
TribHSSN WPIAL girls basketball rankings: Week ending Jan. 2, 2022
Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny, 6-0, 1 2. Upper St. Clair, 7-0, 2 3. Mt. Lebanon, 8-0, 3 4. Norwin, 5-1, 4 5. Butler, 6-2, 5 Out: none Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Chartiers Valley, 8-1, 1 2. Moon, 8-0, 3 3. Oakland Catholic,...
2021 Trib 25 Football Team: WPIAL, state champions highlight HSSN all-stars
This was a historic football season for the WPIAL, which had four teams celebrate state titles in Hershey. The WPIAL never before had won more than three in a year, but Mt. Lebanon, Penn-Trafford, Aliquippa and Central Valley all made history this fall. Each team had a unique story. The...
Mt. Lebanon tops Class 6A all-state football team as Bob Palko, Alex Tecza win individual awards
Mt. Lebanon won its first state title behind a veteran coach, a dynamic offensive trio and toughness at the line of scrimmage. Those elements all were recognized Wednesday when the Class 6A all-state football team was announced. Blue Devils coach Bob Palko was named the state’s 6A coach of the...
10 WPIAL players earn all-state in 5A, Penn-Trafford’s John Ruane named top coach
After winning its first WPIAL and PIAA football titles, Penn-Trafford has more reason to celebrate. Warriors coach John Ruane was named the PIAA Class 5A coach of the year on Wednesday, and three Penn-Trafford players earned all-state honors. Quarterback Carter Green, running back Cade Yacamelli and offensive lineman Declan Ochendowski...
WPIAL lands 14 on 4A all-state team; Aliquippa’s Tiqwai Hayes, Mike Warfield earn top honors
If Tiqwai Hayes’ next three seasons are anything like his first, the Aliquippa freshman has an exciting future ahead. Hayes, who rushed for 1,746 yards and scored 23 touchdowns this season, was named Wednesday as the state’s Class 4A Player of the Year after leading the Quips to a PIAA...
PIAA champion Central Valley places 7 players on Class 3A all-state team, plus coach of the year
Central Valley’s 27th straight victory was a 7-0 win over Wyomissing in the PIAA Class 3A football championship game earlier this month. The Warriors’ run of success was certainly recognized by a group of Pennsylvania sportswriters. On Monday, seven Central Valley players were named to the Class 3A all-state football...
Serra Catholic’s Jose Regus honored as Class 2A Coach of the Year in all-state football voting
A rare neurological disorder confined Serra Catholic coach Jose Regus to a wheelchair at times this season, yet Regus remained on the sideline and led the Eagles to a WPIAL football title and a state runner-up finish. His determination was recognized Tuesday when Regus was named the state’s Coach of...
6 WPIAL players recognized on Class A all-state football team
Six WPIAL Class A football players earned all-state honors Tuesday, including Bishop Canevin wide receiver Lesae Lacks, whose team-high 50 catches helped the Crusaders win the district title. Lacks finished his junior year with 930 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns for Canevin, which won its first WPIAL title since 1990....
