High School category, Page 1033
A-K Valley high school football players to watch for Week 1
Dylan Cook Leechburg, sr., QB The veteran quarterback hopes for many opportunities in the Blue Devils’ new “air raid” offense. Cook returns after throwing for 949 yards and eight touchdowns last season as Leechburg went 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the Eastern Conference. Sophomore wideout Braylon Lovelace and senior tight...
Albert Gallatin continues to build as independent program
Before the Albert Gallatin School District decided to merge the district’s three high schools in 1987, its football teams were competitive. Albert Gallatin won two WPIAL titles and German Township one. Fairchance-Georges was also competitive but didn’t win titles or conference championships. It’s been a struggle for the southern Fayette...
Butler football ready to test waters in District 10
When Butler Area School Board members voted to leave the WPIAL for District 10 in football, they did it with a plan. Give third-year coach Eric Christy an opportunity to build up a program that has made the WPIAL playoffs once since Christy graduated from Butler in 1999. “Butler football...
Uniontown ready to right the ship after return to football field
When the Uniontown Area School District voted to cancel football and soccer seasons this fall back on Aug. 4 because of the fear of the coronavirus, football coach Cedric Lloyd accepted the decision. But athletes and parents did not and they wanted the district to reconsider. The district did last...
High school roundup for Sept. 9, 2020: Fox Chapel wins golf showdown
Aidan Oehrle and Zach Paper each fired an even-par 35 to lead Fox Chapel to a 183-189 nonsection win over Sewickley Academy in a battle of defending WPIAL boys golf team champions at Allegheny CC on Wednesday. Sewickley Academy’s Tim Fitzgerald was match medalist with a 3-under 32. Pine-Richland 202,...
Central Catholic transfer Langston Moses wins appeal, eligible for basketball playoffsVideo
If Central Catholic qualifies for the WPIAL basketball playoffs, junior Langston Moses is eligible to take part this winter, the WPIAL decided Wednesday. The 6-foot-3 standout transferred this summer from Winchester Thurston, where he averaged 22 points per game. The WPIAL initially made Moses eligible for the regular season but...
Alle-Kiski Valley girls soccer preview: Burrell back for more
The Burrell girls soccer team made program history last year with an undefeated regular season and its first section title since 2005. The Bucs, who bowed out of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs in the quarterfinals, saw a large group of seniors move on, including Valley News Dispatch Player of...
West Mifflin shortstop Lauren Yuhas makes D-1 commitment
Lauren Yuhas led West Mifflin in just about every offensive category in 2019. She likely would have done the same in 2020, but the spring softball season was canceled because of the virus outbreak and she could not play her junior season. But the stoppage of play did not keep...
Pa. Senate passes bill letting school districts decide who attends sporting events
If House Bill 2787 becomes law, state Rep. Mike Reese plans to watch some high school football games and see his niece play volleyball at Hempfield. But that’s now in the governor’s hands. The bill, sponsored by the Westmoreland County Republican, would let individual school districts determine attendance limits for...
Led by a staff of former Lancers, Deer Lakes ready to turn the corner
Deer Lakes football coach Tim Burk found himself in an interesting situation earlier this year. After last season, all of his assistant coaches went in different directions. Two decided to chase opportunities elsewhere, one moved to take over a family business, and the last received a teaching job at another...
Under new leadership, Derry looks to maintain run of success
A change in leadership does not signal a change in style. At Derry, the concept of grinding the opponent down with basic blocking and running the football will continue, albeit with several potential ball carriers who possess varying styles. But a new 4-3 stack defensive scheme initiated by first-year coach...
Led by talented sophomore, junior classes, East Allegheny set to take next step
During his seven years as the football coach at East Allegheny, Dom Pecora has been trying to create a winning tradition. Over the past four years, he’s done just that. The Wildcats have reached the playoffs the last four years and earned a first-round playoff victory over Mohawk in 2017....
Young Freeport hopes to make impression in revamped conference
Youth will be served on the Freeport football team as underclassmen will be featured at several key positions. “There is a lot of good competition, including some younger players, freshmen and sophomores who got some good playing time last year,” said veteran coach John Gaillot, who welcomes back just five...
North Catholic motivated after falling short in WPIAL postseason
The North Catholic football players are motivated by how their 2019 season ended. The Trojans had great expectations last season, and through the regular season, they fulfilled those expectations. They won eight of nine games with their only loss coming against WPIAL Class 3A champion Central Valley. They captured the...
Valley to rely on experience, running game
The Valley Vikings lacked experience last season, and it showed early. They had a first-year starting quarterback, one returning starter on offense and four on defense, and they lacked strong line play. Despite their 1-9 record, the young team started to develop and learn from its mistakes as the season...
High school roundup for Sept. 8, 2020: Oakland Catholic scores tennis win
Isabella Liu-Lopez, Amanda Santora and Abby Santora swept singles competition to lead Oakland Catholic to a 3-2 Section 3-AAA girls tennis victory over Thomas Jefferson on Tuesday. The doubles teams of Katie Sonnett and Casssidy O’Connell and Holly Hannon and Cindy Oberio won three-set matches for Thomas Jefferson. Blackhawk 3,...
WPIAL Class A football breakdown: Defending champ Clairton brimming with confidence, talent
Clairton returned to the top of Class A in 2019, and with numerous key starters returning, many feel the Bears are the team to beat in 2020. Clairton coach Wayne Wade agrees. He also agrees Class A got a little stronger with the addition of Burgettstown, Shenango and Carmichaels, all...
WPIAL Class 3A football breakdown: Scenery changes but Central Valley still team to beat
The WPIAL Class 3A race may look a little different this year, but the winner could be the same. Perennial contender Aliquippa has moved up to Class 4A, and Beaver Falls has moved down to Class 2A after fielding one of its best teams since 2016. The entire classification has...
Westmoreland County girls soccer preview: Good luck keeping up with Norwin
Team speed is a trait often associated with girls soccer at Norwin. Opponents can feel more like track sprinters as they chase the Knights down the field and back. Expect more foot races to the goal again this fall. Of all the skilled teams with wheels that Norwin has trotted...
WPISL opens season with varsity games, JV tournament
The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Softball League kicked off its season over the weekend, and in varsity league play Sunday and Monday, Baldwin, Ellwood City, Seneca Valley and Montour picked up doubleheader sweeps. Baldwin stopped Mt. Pleasant twice, while Ellwood City took its twinbill against Hempfield. The Highlanders and Wolverines averaged...
Burrell looking to ‘seize the moment’ under 3rd-year coach
Since taking over the Burrell football program three years ago, coach Shawn Liotta has been trying to create a buzz around the Bucs. By the end of last season, players, coaches, administrators and fans could hear that buzz as loud as ever. The Bucs recorded their first winning season since...
Coach optimistic Fox Chapel can make strides in Class 5A
Tom Loughran has a keen appreciation for the competition in WPIAL Class 5A. “Let me say first that 5A has the best collection of teams where anyone can beat you on any given night. You have to come ready to play,” the veteran Fox Chapel coach said. “Everybody in our...
After back-to-back playoff trips, Shaler looking to take next step
What a difference a couple of years make. For most of this recent decade, the Shaler football team entered a season just looking to win a game or two. From 2012-17, fans were forgetting the Titans as they struggled to a 2-56 overall record with five winless seasons. However, the...
Veteran QB Cole Spencer leads Pine-Richland into new Class 5A schedule
Pine-Richland quarterback Cole Spencer threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season, but that isn’t the number his coach likes most. “The best thing you can say about a quarterback is, ‘What’s his record?’” coach Eric Kasperowicz said. “Stats lie. You can have a really bad football team and have great...
Noel Roach, Penn Hills eye return to championship game
Noel Roach remembers fondly the run to WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championship in 2018. He and his Penn Hills teammates hope to renew those feelings this fall. “Every day we just want to go in and work hard to get better,” the senior wide receiver and defensive back said....
