Paul Schofield stories, Page 29
Penn-Trafford junior aims high in javelin
Talk about making a huge leap. Penn-Trafford junior Logan Kerstetter wasn’t his team’s best javelin thrower coming into the season. That honor was held by senior Matt Sarnowski. But things have changed dramatically, and Kerstetter has taken his game to another level. Heading into May, he has the top throw...
Longtime teacher, athletic director Tom Evans named 2024 Ferrante Award winner
Tom Evans retired as a teacher and athletic director from the Yough School District in 2020. But he really hasn’t stepped away completely from the high school sports scene. Evans has been an event coordinator at Hempfield and remains on the WPIAL board of directors, most recently as the junior...
Norwin’s Melani Schmidt shines at WCCA track & field championship
Norwin junior Melani Schmidt had a great day at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association track and field championship Thursday at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium. It was almost a fantastic day. She was .003 of second from winning four gold medals at the annual event. She won the 200- and 400-meter runs...
Throwers in spotlight for Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association Track and Field Championship
While throwers headline the 2024 Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association Track and Field Championship on Thursday, there are numerous athletes entered who could be at Shippensburg in more than a month vying for PIAA medals. Heading into this week’s meet at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium, the top two Class 3A discus throwers,...
State and WPIAL track and field leaders as of April 23
Following are the top running times, throwing distance jumping distances in Pennsylvania. Also listed are the top three WPIAL and City League athletes with their state rankings in parenthesis.) WPIALs/City League’s best Boys Individuals (Times and distance are what have been recorded to PennTrackXC MileSplit by April 23) 100: Jesse...
Burrell baseball keeps pace in section with victory over Derry
Only three games separate first-place Shady Side Academy and last-place Freeport in Section 3-3A. All seven baseball teams are still in the running for a WPIAL playoff berth and the section title. Burrell first-year coach Jay Miller pushed the right buttons Monday in the Bucs’ 8-2 victory against Derry. Junior...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Football rivalry games put on hold this season
High school football season isn’t scheduled to begin until Aug. 23, but fans might be disappointed to know two long-time neighborhood clashes are being put on hold. The annual battles — Greensburg Salem/Hempfield and Latrobe/Derry — will not be renewed this season, whereas one in the Mon Valley is being...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Warriors boys track looks to build off Wildcat Invitational win
Penn-Trafford’s boys track and field team hopes winning the Wildcat Invitational on April 13 propels the Warriors to a second consecutive trip to the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. The Warriors edged Hempfield, 81-77, at the meet earlier this month at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium. The boys clinched their second-consecutive playoff trip...
Penn-Trafford boys lacrosse coming together
It took the Penn-Trafford boys lacrosse team a month to find its groove. But after a three-game losing streak in late March, the Warriors won five of their last six games. The lone loss was to Class 3A Butler in a nonsection match. Penn-Trafford (4-1, 7-4) finds itself a game...
Franklin Regional’s Spencer Lee makes U.S. Olympic wrestling team
Franklin Regional graduate Spencer Lee clinched a spot on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team Saturday by winning the 57-kilogram weight class at the Olympic Trials at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center. But if the Murrysville native wants to wrestle in his mother’s homeland of France and earn a trip to...
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...
