Paul Schofield stories, Page 32
Latrobe junior Luke Willochell looks to join impressive list
Before Latrobe junior Luke Willochell can think about joining Frazier senior Rune Lawrence as the next four-time WPIAL champion, he has to take care of business Friday and Saturday at the WPIAL Class 3A championships. Willochell is the only wrestler in this weekend’s tournament at Canon-McMillan with a shot at...
Trib HSSN WPIAL wrestling rankings for Feb. 28, 2024
WEEK 11 Individual rankings Class 3A 107: 1. Nolan Rice (33-7), Connellsville; 2. Nick McGarrity (36-1), Peters Township; 3. Nico Kapusta (21-6), Hempfield; 4. Dylan Barrett (30-7), Penn-Trafford. 114: 1. Landon Sidun (35-1), Norwin; 2. Santino Sloboda (32-0), Butler; 3. Leo Joseph (30-7), Latrobe; 4. Caiden Harbert (32-10), West Allegheny....
Franklin Regional boys roll over Shaler in WPIAL semifinals
It took Franklin Regional overtime to defeat Shaler in a nonsection game back on Jan. 19. The Panthers (22-2) didn’t mess around Monday in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals at Mt. Lebanon. Franklin Regional was hotter than the unseasonably warm temperatures across Western Pa. and scorched Shaler, 69-40, to advance...
Penn-Trafford swimmer Patton Graziano searching for more gold
Penn-Trafford senior Patton Graziano is the reigning WPIAL Class 3A champion in the 100 freestyle. The senior has his sights on doing better things in 2024. Graziano is competing in two events and two relays in the 2024 WPIAL swimming and diving championships Feb. 29 and March 1 at Pitt’s...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Lineman Zach Tomosovich named to Big 33 roster
Penn-Trafford offensive lineman Zach Tomosovich was one of eight players from the WPIAL selected to play in the 67th Big 33 Football All-Star game May 26 at Cumberland Valley High School. He will be joined on the squad by Aliquippa’s Cam Lindsay and Brandon Banks, Canon-McMillan’s Kaeden Singleton and Geno...
Frazier wrestler Rune Lawrence becomes 32nd 4-time WPIAL champion
When Frazier senior Rune Lawrence began his high school career, his goal was to become a four-time champion. One down, two to go. Lawrence became the 32nd wrestler in WPIAL history to become a four-time champion when he pinned West Greene sophomore Colin Whyte in the 215-pound final at the...
Trifecta for Derry at WPIAL 2A wrestling championships
It was a day of perfection for the Derry wrestling team at the WPIAL Class 2A championship Saturday at Chartiers Valley. The Trojans went 3 for 3 in the finals, and it was their most champions in the same season. Junior Anthony Mucci and his dad, Blaise, have something in...
Burrell duo claim WPIAL 2A titles, including gold No. 3 for Cooper Hornack
Winning a WPIAL wrestling title is not easy. Just asked Burrell senior Cooper Hornack. He needed an overtime takedown and a couple of great scrambles to defeat Burgettstown senior Gaven Suica, 3-1, to win the 139-pound title, his third, at the WPIAL Class 2A championships Saturday at Chartiers Valley. Twice,...
After sweeping section titles, Franklin Regional swimmers speed into WPIAL meet
It’s been quite a season for the Franklin Regional swimming teams. The boys finished the season 11-0 and were Section 1-3A champions while the girls were 8-3 overall and also were Section 1-3A champions. The girls’ losses were nonsection. Both also were Class 3A Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association team champions....
Mt. Pleasant’s Greg Shaulis breaks out, reaches WPIAL wrestling semifinals
When the Mt. Pleasant wrestling team was mentioned the past few seasons, Dayton Pitzer, Jamison Poklembo and Dylan Pitzer stole the headlines. That didn’t bother senior Greg Shaulis. That’s because he knows it’s his time to shine at the WPIAL Class 2A championships at Chartiers Valley. Shaulis (32-4) advanced to...
No. 3 Neshannock holds off No. 12 Derry in WPIAL quarters
For more than three quarters of Thursday’s WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal, Derry’s defense kept Neshannock sophomore David Kwiat in check. But Kwiat, who averages 16 points and is the Lancers’ leading scorer, found his touch. He drained three consecutive 3-pointers, scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter...
WPIAL wrestling notebook: Frazier’s Rune Lawrence looking to make history
History could be made Saturday at the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships at Chartiers Valley. If Frazier senior Rune Lawrence captures the 215-pound weight class, it will be his fourth WPIAL title, and he would become the 32nd wrestler to achieve that feat. He also would join his brother Thayne...
Trib HSSN WPIAL wrestling rankings for Feb. 21, 2024
WEEK 10 Final team rankings Class 3A 1. Connellsville (17-4) 2. Trinity (13-3) 3. Franklin Regional (22-3) 4. Bethel Park (19-3) 5. Latrobe (13-5) 6. North Allegheny (17-4) 7. Fox Chapel (15-2) 8. Peters Township (16-6) 9. Norwin (12-7) 10. West Allegheny (9-4) Class 2A 1. Burrell (15-4) 2. Burgettstown...
No. 6 Jeannette rallies to beat Sewickley Academy, avoid 1st-round upset
It took No. 6 Jeannette more than two and a half quarters to find its groove, but once it did, the Jayhawks found their first playoff win since 2021. Jeannette used a 10-0 run to end the third quarter and then held on to defeat No. 11 Sewickley Academy, 52-47,...
Kiski Area upsets No. 5 Peters Township in WPIAL Class 5A playoffs
During halftime of Monday’s WPIAL Class 5A playoff game at Peters Township, Kiski Area athletic director John Peterman said watch out for No. 20. “If Noah (Thimons) makes his first shot of the second half, he’ll go on a run,” Peterman said. Thimons nailed that first shot and three more...
Penn-Trafford’s Valenta sisters on target at WPIAL rifle championships
When Penn-Trafford senior Carlee Valenta won the school’s first WPIAL rifle title, she did it while facing difficult obstacles. But thanks to coach Diana Cholock and assistant Dale Emerick she posted her best career score of 200-19x with nine center shots. Her previous best was 200-14x with three centers. “It...
Norwin girls wrestling boasts 2 WPIAL champs in inaugural event
It was quite a day for the Norwin girls wrestling program Saturday at the first WPIAL girls wrestling championship at North Allegheny. The Knights crowned two champions and had three others advance to the PIAA West Regional on March 2 at Canon-McMillan. Sophomore Josephine Dollman became the school’s first WPIAL...
At WPIAL girls wrestling, Plum’s Claassen sisters keep promise to grandmother
Plum’s Claassen sisters kept their promise Saturday. They vowed to their ill grandmother, Marilynn Claassen, they would bring home medals from the first WPIAL girls wrestling championship at North Allegheny. Sophomore Alaina Claassen was going to present her with a gold medal, and freshman Addison Claassen was going to give...
‘It means we belong:’ WPIAL girls celebrate inaugural wrestling tournament
It was a day of firsts at the WPIAL girls wrestling championships Saturday at North Allegheny. Not only was this the inaugural season for girls wrestling across the state, the 13 winners are part of history. Canon-McMillan senior Valarie Solorio always will be known as the first girls WPIAL champion...
Freshmen stood tall during Franklin Regional’s run to PIAA wrestling tournament
Franklin Regional wrestling ended the team portion of the season Feb. 10 on the mats at the Giant Center in Hershey. Thanks to a unique balance of seniors and some talented freshmen, the Panthers (22-3) made it to Day 3 of the PIAA Class 3A team tournament. While the Panthers...
Montour boys pull away to defeat Southmoreland in WPIAL 4A 1st round
Montour coach Bill Minear said his team works on end-of-the-quarter possessions. That extra work paid off big time Friday in his team’s WPIAL Class 4A first-round game against Southmoreland. The third-seeded Spartans (20-3) scored in the final second of every quarter and defeated the Scotties, 71-44. Montour will face Avonworth,...
Latrobe duo among wrestlers eager to hit mat for 1st WPIAL girls tournament
Latrobe junior Lili Maxwell didn’t start wrestling until two years ago. A torn labrum while swimming convinced her to try the sport. Now the 17-year-old is preparing to compete in her first WPIAL individual wrestling championship. It’s a first for all 185 girls set to compete in the inaugural tournament...
High school wrestling notes: Athletes begin individual journeys
As Burrell wrestling coach Josh Shields was addressing his team in the locker room at the PIAA team championship at Giant Center on Feb. 8 in Hershey, he talked about how one chapter of the season was closing and a new one was beginning. Almost all coaches like the team...
Trib HSSN WPIAL wrestling rankings for Feb. 13, 2024
WEEK 9 Class 3A Top 10 Team (This year’s record) Last week’s rankings 1. Connellsville (16-4) 1 2. Trinity (13-3) 2 3. Franklin Regional (22-3) 3 4. Bethel Park (18-3) 4 5. Latrobe (13-5) 5 6. North Allegheny (17-4) 6 7. Fox Chapel (15-2) 7 8. Peters Township (15-6) 8...
Penn-Trafford boys look to carry momentum into playoffs
When the Penn-Trafford boys basketball team entered the final two weeks of the regular season, its WPIAL playoff hopes were on thin ice. But wins against McKeesport and Latrobe in crunch time clinched a postseason berth for the Warriors. Penn-Trafford (5-4, 11-10) was in position to finish as high as...
