Paul Schofield stories, Page 27
Spencer Lee, Jason Nolf advance to Olympic wrestling trial finals
The Summer Olympic dreams of Franklin Regional graduate Spencer Lee and Kittanning grad Jason Nolf are still alive following wins Friday at the United States Olympic Trials at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center. Lee defeated fellow Franklin Regional grad Nico Megaludis, 8-0, in the quarterfinals and then dominated the No....
Armstrong pounds out 14 hits to avenge loss to Penn-Trafford
When the Penn-Trafford softball team defeated Armstrong a month ago in Kittanning, the weather was cold. It was a different story when Armstrong played in Harrison City on Friday. The River Hawks’ bats were smoking. Armstrong (9-1, 5-1) pounded out 14 hits and gained a split in the season series...
Westmoreland track and field notebook: Penn-Trafford’s Sarnowski, Hempfield’s Murray jockey for best
When Penn-Trafford senior Matt Sarnowski won the discus Saturday at the Lady Spartan/Wildcat Invitational with a personal record of 179 feet, 3 inches, he defeated Hempfield senior Peyton Murray, the reigning PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A champion. Sarnowski got to hold the best throw in the state for two days...
Spencer Lee vs. Nico Megaludis headlines Olympic wrestling trials
There is definitely a Penn State vibe at the men’s and women’s freestyle Olympic trials this weekend. Not only is Penn State hosting the event beginning 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bryce Jordan Center, but there are numerous former Penn State legends and current and future Nittany Lions looking to earn...
Beeman helps Hempfield rally to stay perfect, beat Canon-McMillan
Hempfield senior Ethan Minerva said earlier this season that this year’s baseball team was special, and anyone could step up big. That player Monday was senior Gage Beeman, who came off the bench and delivered a winning two-run double to rally unbeaten Hempfield to a 6-3 victory against scrappy Canon-McMillan...
Mt. Lebanon’s Neal Shipley returns from Masters with amazing memories
It’s back to reality Friday for Neal Shipley. A week after playing in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Shipley, a Mt. Lebanon native and Central Catholic graduate, will be leading the Ohio State Buckeyes golf team at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate tournament at Ohio State’s Scarlet course. But...
Mt. Lebanon’s Neal Shipley has lasting memories from Masters
It was a dream-come-true moment for Central Catholic grad Neal Shipley on Sunday at The Masters. He played in his first Masters, finished as the low amateur, met and played with a lot of golf greats and played the final round with Tiger Woods at the famous Augusta National. Moments...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Football hall of fame class announced
The 2024 Penn-Trafford Warrior Football Hall of Fame Class was announced and it features five former players, a coach, team and contributor. Being honored are players Devin Austin (2015), Luke Graham (2010), Jerry Lavelle (1983), Kirk Rogers (2001) and Mike Simpson (2000). The coach being inducted is Dan Tarabrella. The...
After program’s 1st playoff berth last year, Penn-Trafford girls lacrosse keeps growing
The Penn-Trafford girls lacrosse team qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for the first time in 2023. Now the squad, which graduated four seniors, has set a bigger goal. “They want to hang up a banner in the gymnasium,” Penn-Trafford second-year coach Rich Vislocky said. “The girls are excited to get...
Penn-Trafford’s Lett, Hempfield’s Prola get unexpected wins at Lady Spartan/Wildcat Invitational
It was a strange start to the Lady Spartan/Wildcat Invitational on Saturday at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium. The first two winners — Penn-Trafford’s Ekoulus Lett and Hempfield’s Caleb Prola — didn’t even know they won their races. That’s because they were both in the slow heat in the finals. Lett won...
Lacrosse a family affair for coaching staffs at Franklin Regional
Anna Stephens Lauer is in her first season as head coach of the Franklin Regional girls lacrosse team. She doesn’t have to look too far for coaching advice. Her brother, Luke Stephens, is the Franklin Regional boys lacrosse coach, while another brother, Ben, is a boys’ assistant and her dad,...
Derry track and field teams creating excitement
There is excitement around the Derry Area School District and community about the track and field team. The girls are seeking their third consecutive section title, and the boys are vying for a WPIAL playoff berth after just missing in 2023. The Derry girls also reached the finals for the...
WPIAL track notebook: Butler’s Drew Griffith, Ringgold’s Ryan Pajak break state 3,200 record
It was quite a performance turned in by a trio of WPIAL runners Saturday at the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia, Calif. Butler senior Drew Griffith finished third with a Pennsylvania-best 8:37.43 and Ringgold senior Ryan Pajak placed fourth with a time of 8:38.02 in the 3,200 race. North Allegheny junior...
5 sets of twins help bolster Penn-Trafford track and field teams
Opponents of the Penn-Trafford track teams will be seeing double this season. That’s because the Warriors feature five sets of twins. There are the Lett, Cheplick and Martin twins on the boys team, the Weishaar twins on the girls team, and the Jacksons on both. “Our 4-by-400 relay team only...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Matt Sarnowski, Amelia Barilla make college plans
Penn-Trafford seniors Matt Sarnowski and Amelia Barilla have selected their future schools. Sarnowski plans to attend Penn State on a track scholarship, and Barilla is off to Bowling Green on a track scholarship. Sarnowski is an all-conference football player, who finished third in the PIAA in Class 3A discus in...
Central Catholic QB Payton Wehner wins Willie Thrower Award
Central Catholic senior Payton Wehner was the only finalist for the fourth annual Willie Thrower Award who was honored in 2022. Even though Armstrong’s Cadin Olsen won for the second consecutive year, Wehner knew he had a shot at the award if he dedicated himself to the sport. His hard...
Despite roster changes, Franklin Regional track teams set sights on section titles
Franklin Regional track coach Bob Ralston was surprised when he heard sophomore Monroe Law, who was a freshman sensation, transferred to Class 2A Winchester Thurston before the season. But despite her departure — Ralston said he doesn’t know why Law transferred — he said the Panthers girls have enough talent...
Derry, Lower Burrell, Trafford, Yough join District 31 Legion
District 31 American Legion baseball doesn’t start until May 20, but the league has made offseason noise by expanding to 14 teams. Jason Bush, who serves as the District 31 president and Region 7 director, believes the league is the largest in the state. “We were actually in talks with...
Penn State’s Aaron Brooks wins Hodge Award as nation’s top wrestler
Penn State senior Aaron Brooks, a five-time All-American and a four-time NCAA champion, received the top honor in collegiate wrestling Monday. He was named the 2024 Hodge Trophy winner as the nation’s best collegiate wrestler. This is an annual award given to the top wrestler in the country. The award...
Frazier’s Rune Lawrence set for anticipated rematch at Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic
Rune Lawrence’s senior season almost ended in the semifinals of the Ironman Tournament in December. The Frazier star was in a battle against two-time Ohio state champion Max Shulaw and was decisively winning when the PIAA four-time champion hurt his knee on a questionable move by Shulaw, according to Frazier...
Trib HSSN 2024 girls wrestling all-stars: Canon-McMillan’s Valarie Solorio makes history
Girls Wrestler of the Year Valarie Solorio Canon-McMillan, sr., 100 pounds 2023-24 record: 17-0; Career record: 117-5 Canon-McMillan senior Valarie Solorio likes to be first. She collected a lot of firsts this season. Being that this was the PIAA’s inaugural season of girls wrestling and that Solorio competes in the...
Penn-Trafford softball in position to climb back toward top
Penn-Trafford reached the WPIAL finals and PIAA semifinals in 2022. But the 2023 season didn’t go as well. The Warriors finished 6-12 overall, 4-6 in Section 2-5A. They did qualify for the WPIAL playoffs by finishing fourth in the section behind Armstrong, Latrobe and Franklin Regional, but they dropped a...
Penn-Trafford playoff run ends with loss in Penguins Cup finals
It was a great run while it lasted, but the Penn-Trafford hockey team’s quest for the Class 2A Penguin Cup championship ended with a hard-fought loss to Thomas Jefferson. The eighth-seeded Warriors held two leads against the second-seeded Jaguars, but a big second period helped propel TJ to the 8-4...
Trib HSSN 2024 wrestling all-stars: Frazier’s Rune Lawrence joins state’s most exclusive club
Wrestler of the Year Rune Lawrence Frazier, sr., 215 pounds 2023-24 record: 33-1; Career record: 145-8 Winning four PIAA wrestling titles is not common. When Frazier senior Rune Lawrence completed the task March 9, he became only the 14th wrestler to achieve such a goal. He also is the seventh...
Trib Westmoreland 2024 wrestling all-stars: Norwin freshman Landon Sidun as good as advertised
Wrestler of the Year Landon Sidun Norwin, fr., 114 pounds 2023-24 record: 42-2; Overall record: 42-2 Landon Sidun was well known even before he wrestled his first high school match. He was being touted as the next superstar. The freshman didn’t disappoint. Sidun bounced back from a loss in the...
