High School category, Page 381
With fun factor restored, Plum boys look to continue rebuilding process
Justin Walther focused on more than X’s and O’s in his first season as Plum’s boys basketball coach. “Last year, we tried to instill some fun in everything we were doing,” he said. “We brought some enthusiasm and tried to show the players that we really care about them.” Walther...
Through the years: In ’83, Plum’s defense delivered WPIAL gold
Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the games, players and events that have shaped local scholastic history. Two safeties in the final 3 minutes, 44 seconds of play gave Plum its first and, to date, only WPIAL football...
Replacing Tiffany Zelmore won’t be easy, but cupboard’s not bare for Mt. Pleasant girls
It’s not every season a coach has to replace an all-time talent, but Mt. Pleasant girls basketball’s Scott Giacobbi has that challenge in front of him this winter. Tiffany Zelmore, the second-leading scorer in program history, graduated last season after piling up 1,629 points over her four-year career. “You’re not...
With ground broken, new Mt. Pleasant boys coach turns focus to future
What has happened with Annie Malkowiak is a history-making achievement. But for now, she will file it under past history. Malkowiak is ready to live in the present as the groundbreaking new boys basketball coach at Mt. Pleasant. “I started watching film of last year’s team, and I turned it...
Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Linebackers lead Leopards
Matt Humbert describes his inside linebackers as having “nonstop motors.” “Relentless speed,” the coach from Belle Vernon said. “So damn quick.” But that is not the impressive part of the middle two players — and a reserve — who play on the back level of the Leopards’ 4-4 defense. It...
The Birdie gets ready for an Acrisure Stadium football feast with Belle Vernon
Last week: 1-0 (100%) Season: 107-28 (79.3%) Belle Vernon was using a new catchphrase in the WPIAL semifinal win over East Allegheny: “Burn the boat,” a 1500s Spanish reference to destroying the war boats in order to take over the island. “But they already stormed the Beach,” Birdie said, chuckling....
Senior trio has Plum girls in position to take step forward
Plum is counting on the senior trio of Megan Marston, Pascale Olczak and Rayla Smith to set the tone for a successful girls basketball season. “I’m most looking forward to their positive leadership,” coach Rich Mull said. “I think that’s really something they bring to the table that’s important for...
In 16th straight WPIAL title game appearance, Aliquippa to meet worthy adversary in McKeesport
As a first-year coach, Matt Miller led McKeesport to the 2016 WPIAL finals, a rapid ascent that maybe skewed his perception of the playoffs. “I thought it was easy,” Miller said with a laugh. “Young and dumb, right?” After a few heartbreaking near misses in the past seven years, Miller...
PIAA football quarterfinal previews for Nov. 25, 2023
While the WPIAL prepares to crown four district champions at Acrisure Stadium on Friday, the 2023 PIAA postseason continues with state quarterfinals. Recent District 7 title winners North Allegheny in 6A and Peters Township in 5A will battle teams from Erie on Friday while City League champion Westinghouse also faces...
WPIAL Class 4A football championship preview: Aliquippa vs. McKeesport
Two storied programs will clash in the final game of the day Friday at Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore of Pittsburgh in the Class 4A championship game. Undefeated and top-seeded Aliquippa will battle the No. 2 seed, once-beaten McKeesport. This is the 43rd season of Class 4A football in...
WPIAL Class 3A football championship preview: Avonworth vs. Belle Vernon
A rematch is set in the third of four title games Friday at Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore of Pittsburgh in the Class 3A championship game. Undefeated and No. 2-seeded Avonworth will face defending WPIAL and PIAA champion Belle Vernon for a second straight season. This is the 109th...
Trib 10: Ranking the last 10 WPIAL teams left standing
Coming up with this week’s 10 teams was easy because they are the only teams still playing from the WPIAL. However, ranking them in the weekly Trib 10 power poll was not easy. Seven teams have been part of the power rankings for at least two weeks now and some...
Monessen girls, veteran coach ready to again overcome small-school challenges
Thirty-eight years. That’s how long Janine Vertacnik has been coaching basketball, most of it at the high school level. Thirty-eight years and counting, she said. Will she keep going, say, forever? “We’re working on it, but we’re not there yet,” the sixth-year Monessen girls coach joked. After leading the Greyhounds...
In unfamiliar underdog role, Beaver Falls to take its shot at dethroning powerful Steel Valley
When Beaver Falls takes the field for its second consecutive championship game appearance against Steel Valley on Friday after falling 34-14 to the Ironmen a year ago, the Tigers will be playing with a completely different mindset. Beaver Falls entered this postseason as the No. 10 seed in Class 2A,...
After a good season with a bad ending, expectations remain high for strong Monessen boys roster
How far can Monessen go this year? A fair question in the Mon Valley, where things can get gritty. And the tough-minded Greyhounds, indeed, are a part of it. Pause. There’s the matter of last season’s ending, a sore chapter in Monessen’s storied basketball program. Nevertheless, in this new year...
After dramatic turnaround last season, Leechburg girls plan to keep climbing
If the WPIAL gave out a most improved award, the Leechburg girls basketball team might have won it last year. The Blue Devils went from a winless 2021-22 season to seven victories and a playoff spot. Now the goal is to keep trending upward. “It was an exciting year,” Leechburg...
Leechburg boys prepare for season of change with new coach, new-look roster
There is a lot of newness around the Leechburg boys basketball team. Andrew McDermott takes over for longtime Blue Devils coach Damian Davies, who stepped down after last season. McDermott and his staff of young coaches, including his brother Ryan, Dylan Romaniw and Caleb Orendi, are Leechburg grads. They take...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 21, 2023
High schools Football WPIAL championships Friday’s schedule At Acrisure Stadium Class 4A Aliquippa (11-0) vs. McKeesport (11-1), 8 p.m. Class 3A Belle Vernon (10-1) vs. Avonworth (12-0), 5 p.m. Class 2A Steel Valley (10-1) vs. Beaver Falls (8-5), 2 p.m. Class A South Side (13-0) vs. Fort Cherry (14-0), 11...
High school roundup for Nov. 21, 2023: Armstrong hockey picks up win
Jake Graf scored twice to lead Armstrong to a 5-3 victory over Bishop McCort in PIHL Class 2A hockey Tuesday night. Jonas Miller and Jason Rullo each had a goal and an assist for Armstrong (1-6). Sammy Treager had a hat trick for Bishop McCort (3-4-1). Cathedral Prep 8, Baldwin...
In WPIAL championship rematch, Avonworth poses threat to Belle Vernon repeat bid
Avonworth and Belle Vernon were having spells of déjà vu, even a little total recall, as they prepared to meet for the second year in a row for the WPIAL Class 3A football championship. Many of the same players suited up for the title at Acrisure Stadium a year ago...
WCCA all-star volleyball event has successful 2nd year at Ligonier Valley
The traditions at Thanksgiving are endless. The turkey trots, the parades and don’t forget about Charlie Brown. In Westmoreland County, volleyball enthusiasts were hoping the Westmoreland County Coaches Association All-Star Game continued a tradition that started last season and evolved into a second year Tuesday night at Ligonier Valley High...
WPIAL Class 2A football championship preview: Steel Valley vs. Beaver Falls
A rematch is set in the second of four title games Friday at Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore of Pittsburgh in the Class 2A championship game. Defending district champion and top seed Steel Valley will go up against the Cinderella team of the WPIAL football postseason, No. 10 Beaver...
WPIAL Class A football championship preview: Fort Cherry vs. South Side
It will be a battle of unbeaten teams in the first of four title games at Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore of Pittsburgh in the Class A championship game. Undefeated and No. 2-seeded Fort Cherry will battle unbeaten and top-seeded South Side in what should be the perfect lid-lifter...
Latrobe soccer player Ava Yurko chooses Youngstown State
Add another Division I college soccer commit to the list at Latrobe. On the same day she was named to the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All-State list, junior defender Ava Yurko announced Tuesday a verbal commitment to Youngstown State, bringing the Latrobe girls’ total of D-I commits in the last...
Hired at last minute, new coach begins rebuilding process for Ligonier Valley girls
She first excelled on the basketball court as a talented player in a remote, northeast corner of Westmoreland County before continuing on as a successful coach at the now defunct St. Clair school, where she is the all-time leading scorer. Later on, Laurel Valley icon Christy Hajjar enjoyed more prosperity...
