High School category, Page 1078
Road to Hershey opens up as state basketball playoffs tip off Friday
Last year, the western side of the PIAA Class A boys basketball bracket became a WPIAL block party. The six District 7 teams that qualified for the 2019 Class A state basketball playoffs were a combined 4-2 in the first round and a perfect 4-0 in the second round. That...
Hempfield wrestler Berginc pulls off shocking win in PIAA tournament
HERSHEY — It was a perfect first day at the PIAA Class AAA individual wrestling championships for Hempfield, highlighted by a huge upset by junior Ethan Berginc. The student at Jeannette, which co-ops with Hempfield for wrestling, stunned Giant Center crowd when he edged local favorite and No. 2 seed...
Fresh start for Southmoreland in maiden voyage into PIAA girls basketball playoffs
Forgive Southmoreland girls basketball coaches and players for not knowing what to expect in the PIAA playoffs. This is their first time in the state tournament, but don’t expect uncertainty to bother the Scotties much. All coach Brian Pritts knows is his WPIAL runner-up team looks like it is ready...
Derry’s Cymmerman advances with pin at PIAA wrestling tournamentVideo
HERSHEY — Derry junior Ty Cymmerman didn’t panic when Port Allegany junior Braedon Johnson got the first takedown in their first-round match Thursday. Cymmerman made a mistake by walking into a takedown in the PIAA Class AA individual championships at Giant Center. But competing in the state tournament the previous...
Westmoreland County basketball playoff preview capsule: Game of March 6, 2020
Today’s game Boys Class 4A first round Belle Vernon (19-7) vs. Clearfield (15-8) 7:30 p.m. at St. Marys High School Winner plays: Winner of Lancaster Catholic (23-3) and Ringgold (14-10) on Tuesday in second round Coaches: Joe Salvino, Belle Vernon; Nathan Glunt, Clearfield Players to watch: Devin Whitlock, Belle Vernon...
Kiski Area’s Blumer stays alive at PIAA wrestling tournament
HERSHEY — Six Alle-Kiski Valley wrestlers entered the PIAA Class 3A wrestling tournament Thursday, and all six still were in the mix for medals at deadline. However, only one still is contending for a gold medal. Kiski Area’s Jack Blumer qualified for Friday afternoon’s quarterfinals with a dominant 160-pound Round...
Riverview, Freeport girls basketball ready to knock off rust
The Riverview and Freeport girls basketball teams saw their stay in the WPIAL playoffs end with quarterfinal losses Feb. 20. But after two weeks away from competition, the Raiders and Yellowjackets have new life in their respective PIAA tournaments. Riverview begins state playoff action Friday against District 5 champion Everett...
Westmoreland basketball notebook: Belle Vernon aims to improve its defense
Ask Belle Vernon players about their runner-up finish in the WPIAL, and they immediately get defensive. The Leopards (19-7) think the result against Highlands (22-3) could have been different — or at least, closer — in last week’s WPIAL Class 4A championship had they amped up their effort on defense....
Shaler swimmer Nebiolo motivated by WPIAL performance
Lydia Nebiolo provided Shaler Area’s Keith Simmons with extra motivation for next year following her performance at the WPIAL Class AAA championships Feb. 27-28 Saturday at Trees Pool. The Titans junior swimmer missed going to states by less than five seconds in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. That’s the...
North Allegheny swimmer Buerger winds down family tradition
An era will end when North Allegheny senior swimmer Torie Buerger is done competing in the PIAA Class AAA championship meet this week at Bucknell. Buerger is the fourth and final member of her family to swim for the Tigers since 2007. Her brothers, Jonathan, Matthew and Zachary, were standouts...
Girls’ improvement at WPIAL swimming championships gives hope for future
With Hampton boys swimming making waves in its last season in Class AAA, the girls were determined to start laying the foundation for a solid future. “They all improved,” coach Morgan Zweygardt said. “When the boys do so well, it can overshadow what the girls have done. I don’t think...
Hampton boys swimming enjoys huge day at WPIAL championships
Morgan Zweygardt has gotten used to bringing one or two boys to states every year. This year, she will need a bigger vehicle to travel to Hershey. The Hampton boys swim team finished third overall at WPIALs — easily its best finish since the move to Class AAA four years...
Shaler’s Mbalo looks to build off state indoor championship
Cam Mbalo has an idea of what he wants to do with his first memento from his senior season. The Shaler Area senior triple jumper received a gold watch following his PTFCA indoor state championship winning leap of 48 feet, 1 ½ inches Feb. 29 at Penn State. “I’m definitely...
Penn Hills swimming pair turns in impressive WPIAL championship showing
The last few seasons, the Gregory brothers — Norman, Isaiah and Kimani — mainly have represented Penn Hills at the WPIAL Class AAA swimming and diving championships. However, a few other Indians swimmers wanted to let the WPIAL know the program offers more than the Gregory brothers. The two Penn...
Trio of Burrell wrestlers advance to PIAA Class AA quarterfinals
HERSHEY — Burrell had a strong start at the PIAA Class AA wrestling championships Thursday afternoon, advancing three wrestlers to Friday’s quarterfinals. Ian Oswalt (132 pounds) and A.J. Corrado (152) are making a charge for their third PIAA medal. Ricky Feroce (182) is in his first state tournament. Oswalt won...
WPIAL accepts apology, reduces suspension for Mars’ Michael Carmody
The WPIAL accepted senior Michael Carmody’s apology and reduced his suspension to one game, Mars athletic director Scott Heinauer said Thursday. Carmody initially was suspended two games for unsportsmanlike actions in the WPIAL Class 5A basketball championship last weekend. He attended an appeal hearing Wednesday in Green Tree, and the...
Geibel boys seeking 1st PIAA playoff victory in 36 years
By the time the Geibel boys basketball team opens the PIAA Class A tournament Friday against Berlin Brothersvalley at Pitt-Johnstown, more than two weeks will have passed since the Gators last saw the floor in a competitive setting. Their last game was a 99-51 loss to eventual WPIAL champion Vincentian...
High school scores, schedules for March 4, 2020
High schools Basketball Boys PIAA playoffs First round Class 6A Saturday’s schedule Methacton (24-2) vs. Harrisburg (15-10) at Norristown HS, 7:30 p.m.; Abraham Lincoln (13-10) vs. Bensalem (19-7) at South Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m.; Roman Catholic (16-10) vs. Coatesville (20-6) at Cardinal O’Hara, 2:30 p.m.; Wilkes-Barre (16-10) vs. Pennridge (18-8) at...
Butler boys, Chartiers Valley girls sit atop HSSN power rankings heading into states
Twelve WPIAL basketball champions were crowned last weekend. Four were successful in a golden repeat, or in the case of North Catholic girls, a four-peat. Like Our Lady of the Sacred Heart last year, North Catholic’s boys and girls teams pulled off the golden double of district titles. Mohawk’s girls...
Plum senior Cocca raring to go for regional bowling championships
Vincent Cocca knows all about bowling at the state championships. The Plum senior qualified for the singles tournament as a sophomore in 2018 after placing fifth at the Western Regional championships. He also moved on with the Plum boys team in 2017 and last season as the Mustangs were regional...
Freshman Jimmy Kunst playing big role for WPIAL champion Highlands
The Highlands boys basketball team relied on its trio of seniors this season. Johnny Crise, Luke Cochran and Korry Myers are averaging at least 14 points apiece, with Cochran leading the way at 17.2 points. They also have acted as coaches on the court, guiding their younger teammates. It showed...
Mars’ Michael Carmody ‘remorseful, apologetic’ for WPIAL championship actions
Michael Carmody came to Green Tree on Wednesday asking for his two-game suspension to be reduced, but first he was there to apologize, said his father, Mars basketball coach Rob Carmody. “Michael has apologized to his teammates. He has apologized to me as his coach. He has apologized to his...
Norwin hockey focuses on positives after abrupt exit from playoffs
Norwin hockey’s season ended Tuesday night when the Knights fell 3-2 to Kiski Area in the first round of the PIHL Class A Penguins Cup playoffs. But it didn’t diminish the progress the program made. For years, the Knights floundered at the bottom of the standings before taking a step...
Guy Deleonardis, Knoch’s 1st wrestler to make states, prepares for big stage
In its 14 years of existence, the Knoch wrestling program never sent a wrestler to the PIAA tournament. Until now. When senior Guy Deleonardis (23-3) placed fourth in the 160-pound bracket at the WPIAL Class AAA championship this past weekend, he became the first Knights wrestler to qualify for the...
Kiski Area edges Norwin to reach Penguins Cup semifinals
In one season, Kiski Area hockey has gone from a one-win team to being a victory away from playing for a Penguins Cup championship. The Cavaliers’ remarkable turnaround continued Tuesday night with what it is believed to be their first postseason win since 2005 in a hard-fought 3-2 victory over...
