High School category, Page 353

The strong just keep getting stronger. Quaker Valley’s wrestling team compiled a 15-6 record in 2022-23 that included a section title with a 6-0 mark. And the Quakers have eight wrestlers — including WPIAL Class 2A champion Jack Kazalas — back from last year’s winning group. “We expect to be...

Let’s tag them as sophomore sensations. Through two months of PIHL action, the Quaker Valley hockey team — led by an all-sophomore top line of Jace Vasbinder, Max Modrovich and Colin York — was undefeated at 8-0 in the Varsity A Gold Division. “Obviously, record-wise we are quite satisfied,” coach...

There will be several new players in the Quaker Valley girls basketball lineup this season. However, two returning starters will be instrumental to any success experienced by the team, which was placed fifth in Class 4A in the Trib HSSN preseason rankings. Oumou “Mimi” Thiero is a dynamic, 6-foot-4 sophomore...

Michael Ulery used to enter matches hoping his opponent didn’t know his trick. The plan for the 172-pound Shaler senior wrestler was to slap on a front headlock followed by a cement mixer for a quick pin. But Ulery knew that wouldn’t be a recipe for success against more experienced...

Waking up at 4:20 a.m. to start the day makes sense for Shaler junior Noah Lang when he arrives at swim practice. When Lang gets on the pool deck before he starts his practice, he’s in his element. Starting the day with a 5 a.m. practice features a group of...

Last year, the Chartiers Valley wrestling program had two wrestlers medal at the state tournament. With their departure due to graduation, the Colts will turn to a new group of wrestlers looking to make a name for themselves. The Colts will look to replace Dylan Evans, the most decorated wrestler...

After capturing its first section title in program history last season, the Chartiers Valley girls swimming program is looking to defend its title with a different cast of swimmers. Last season, the Colts finished first in Section 1-2A and finished tied for 22nd place in the WPIAL Class 2A swimming...

One of the team leaders for the TJ girls basketball team is 5-foot-9 senior guard/forward Laekyn Flinn, who will continue her career after high school at Frostburg State. Frostburg State is a member of the NCAA Division II Mountain East Conference. “I chose Frostburg because it had everything to offer...

Thomas Jefferson’s boys basketball team has experience on its side for 2023-24. “We have four out of the five starters back from last year and several good young players that need to step up for us,” coach Dom DeCicco said. “We expect to be competitive. “For us to have success,...

The Brentwood girls basketball team’s recipe for success includes a little height mixed in with a solid dose of experience. Experience-wise, the Spartans have three returning starters in Mia March, Jessica Yee and Paige Boehm, along with last year’s top reserve, Ay’Maree Henry. As for frontcourt height, March is a...

The 2022-23 season was an anomaly for the Brentwood boys basketball program. A regular WPIAL playoff participant — Brentwood qualified for postseason action for a fifth consecutive season in 2021-22 — the Spartans sat out last year’s playoffs thanks to a 5-16 record and only minimal success against section opponents....

Baldwin boys basketball wrapped up the 2022-23 season above .500 with a 12-11 record. The Highlanders lost a tough 80-75 decision to eventual WPIAL champion Central Catholic in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. Coach Jeff Ackerman and his players are expecting better results in 2023-24. “I think...

High schools Basketball Saturday’s results Boys AHN/Highmark Tip-Off Tournament Peters Township 69, Altoona 35 Baldwin 74, Chartiers Valley 59 Aquinas Academy Tournament Consolation Cheswick Christian 60, Portersville Christian 42 Championship Aquinas Academy 65, Pittsburgh Christian Academy 34 Armstrong Tournament Consolation Armstrong 57, Westmont Hilltop 56 Championship Kiski Area 69, Deer...

Payton Collins scored 19 points to lead Mt. Lebanon to a 53-24 girls basketball victory over North Catholic at the North Allegheny tip-off tournament Saturday. The Blue Devils (2-0) took control with a 12-4 run in the second quarter. Alayna Rocco scored 16 for North Catholic (1-1). Apollo-Ridge 40, Leechburg...

Peter Kramer scored 31 points to lead Hampton to a 75-63 boys basketball victory over the host team at the North Hills tip-off tournament Saturday night. Alex Nyilas added 21 points for the Talbots (2-0). Zach Pollaro paced North Hills (1-1) with 25 points. Aquinas Academy 65, Pittsburgh Christian Academy...

Terek Crosby let his hair down for Saturday night’s final of the Yough Cougar Tip-off Invitational. But the Yough senior didn’t feel comfortable. “I didn’t have a hair tie,” Crosby said. “My hair was bothering me. It was in my face.” His mom gave him a tie at halftime, and...

Saturday’s second annual We Serve First girls volleyball classic at Kiski Area was another successful evening orchestrated to support local athletes. The all-star event, put together by Tim Toy and the We Serve First foundation, assists those who desire to play volleyball at the next level or play club volleyball....

Led by a first-year coach and an entirely new starting lineup, the Leechburg boys basketball team looks a lot different this year. On Saturday afternoon, however, the Blue Devils found some unfortunate familiarity: Nazareth Prep raising a trophy at their expense. Powered by junior Will Evans and his 14 points,...

ALTOONA — North Allegheny is headed to the PIAA finals for the first time since 2012, and waiting for the Tigers will be a team that’s dominated the state for the past decade. But that’s a concern for another day. North Allegheny had no worries Saturday after a strong defensive...

Jeannette started with five and ended with three, but still almost won. The Jayhawks girls basketball team, which only has five players, took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter against Northgate on Saturday at the Aquinas Academy Tournament, but fell short 27-24 despite playing the final five-plus minutes with...

Student totals came out last week, but the next two-year enrollment cycle for high school teams will kick in next fall. A number of local programs will be in new classifications. In football, Norwin and Hempfield are moving back to Class 6A after two years in 5A. Latrobe and Kiski...

Matt Miller said Courtney Dunn wanted to be a running back several years ago when the senior lineman was coming up in the McKeesport football program. “His mom told him, ‘You’re too slow to run the ball. Get back to your position,’ ” said Miller, McKeesport’s coach. “We don’t want...

When a team loses a generational talent, and loses him earlier than expected, a reinvention of sorts may have to take place. And that will be the case with the North Hills boys basketball team this season. Following the summer departure of rising senior Royce Parham, a 6-foot-8, four-star Marquette...

There will be a new person coaching the Penn-Trafford girls volleyball team next year. Longtime coach Jim Schall said he felt it was time to step away. It will allow him to spend more time with his family (wife Nancy and children Patrick and Kate) and focus more on the...

The Penn Hills wrestling program will be in a year of transition. The Indians bring back four wrestlers — Cameron Patterson (139 pounds), Julian Lavender (133), Daemon Phipps (114) and Levi Smith (127) — who saw significant time last season. All four finished with double-digit wins, but none escaped the...