High School category, Page 443
With typically strong defense, Franklin Regional girls soccer prepares to contend again
Each game it is the same. Invade the opponents’ space and be disruptive. Contest shots and clear the ball. Make them work until their formation rips just slightly enough to allow for a goal or two — enough offense to put a nice shine on a shutout. It’s Franklin Regional’s...
Norwin notebook: Former Knights baseball standout wins Palomino World Series
Summer baseball is more fun when it comes with some hardware. Just ask Norwin graduate Justin Weaver. While you were on vacation, he was on the fast track to a world series ring. A member of the Youngstown, Ohio, Palomino team, Weaver celebrated a Palomino World Series title with 13...
Expect excitement from loaded Norwin boys soccer team
Scott Schuchert is looking at this boys soccer season with eager eyes. “Exciting times,” the veteran Norwin coach said. The Knights always seem to be in the hunt in Class 4A, and it doesn’t appear this season will be any different. Despite falling to eventual champion Pine-Richland in the WPIAL...
Top scorer on soccer field, hockey rink takes place in Pine-Richland hall of fame
Matt Crummy was an all-around athlete in his high school days at Pine-Richland. He was also an all-terrain athlete. Whether it was on the grass of a soccer field, the ice at a hockey rink or the rubberized surface of the track, Crummy made an impact with the Rams. He’s...
Record-holder Codi Mullen seeks more yardage, team success for Knoch
Codi Mullen has a unique opportunity this fall. He has the chance to break his own school record. Mullen, a junior quarterback, threw for 1,660 yards last year, breaking a 35-year Knoch record for passing yards in a season. It was a highlight in a difficult season for the Knights,...
Success, death of teammate have reawakened passion for football at Monessen
Monessen’s T.J. Taylor is only a sophomore. But he talks like a senior. He acts like a senior. He is one of the players who has taken it upon himself to make sure teammates are attending workouts and weightlifting sessions. “This year, I’m noticing it doesn’t matter what class you’re...
Steelers quarterbacks check out Willie Thrower Award for area’s top QB
The Willie Thrower Award trophy made its way to Pittsburgh Steelers training camp this week. The trophy is awarded annually to the top quarterback from WPIAL and City League schools. Steelers quarterbacks Tanner Morgan, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph posed with the 2023 Willie Thrower Award at the...
2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the offensive line
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top offensive linemen for the 2023 season. 1. Ryan Cory Pine-Richland Senior, 6-4, 290 Pine-Richland had one of the state’s best running attacks last season, and the blocks Cory...
High school sports scores for Aug. 18, 2023
High schools Golf Friday’s results Boys Class 3A Section 1 Penn-Trafford 203, Armstrong 217 Medalist: Nick Turowski (PT), 38 Section 3 North Allegheny 186, North Hills 210 Medalist: Jake Watterson (NA) Section 4 Franklin Regional 203, Kiski Area 212 Medalists: Jose Balza Jr. (FR), 38; Dylan Matenkosky (KA), 38 Plum...
Clairton seeking donations to renovate 93-year-old football stadium
Before next football season, Clairton’s nearly century-old stadium could undergo a major renovation with new seats, locker rooms and restrooms, artificial turf, modern lighting and a brickwork entrance. But first, organizers need to raise $3 million in donations, a campaign announced Friday as the high school team held media day...
Bill Hand returns to Riverside sidelines as Panthers aim to contend in MAC
More than two decades since the last time they had a chance to welcome their new head coach with the phrase, the Riverside football team is ready to again say, “Aloha, Mr. Hand.” A longtime coach and teacher in the Riverside School District, Bill Hand is about to begin his...
New Brighton ready to move forward after challenging season
When a team goes winless like New Brighton did last season, it has two options. Players can either burn the memory into their brains and use it as motivation or they can burn the game tapes and immediately turn the page. Lions coach Tony Caltury decided to take a little...
Neshannock continues quest for elusive WPIAL championship
If traffic is light, a trip from Neshannock to Cleveland takes less than 90 minutes, so maybe it makes sense for the Lancers to take on a motto catcher Jake Taylor made famous in the movie “Major League.” (Albeit with one word left out in polite company.) I guess there’s...
Mohawk in good position after ups and downs of 2022 season
At this time a year ago, the Mohawk football team was grappling with the effects of a hazing incident that resulted in disciplinary action for multiple students and forced the cancellation of the Warriors’ first two regular-season games. Fast-forward to the present. “We’re focused on the current season,” Mohawk coach...
Western Beaver driven to erase memory of disappointing finish to 2022
Forgive the Western Beaver football team if it comes into the 2023 season with a chip on its shoulder. For a couple of months, last season was going exactly as planned. With quarterback Xander Lefebvre leading the way, the Golden Beavers got off to a 7-1 start. Then, in Week...
New coach hopes to guide Freedom to success
It was mid-March when Ron Balog took the reins of the Freedom football team. It’s been full-speed ahead since. The former Quaker Valley head coach who spent last season as an offensive coordinator at North Catholic wanted to make sure his team was prepared despite the late start to the...
Ellwood City ready to take next step in program turnaround
Ellwood City got rid of a losing stigma last season, and now the Wolverines are aiming to take the next step in the program’s turnaround. They snapped a 27-game losing streak in Week 2 last season with a 46-6 victory at Carlynton. It was the longest skid among WPIAL teams,...
Roster full of offensive weapons helps Beaver Falls reload
Beaver Falls coach Nick Nardone has no idea who is going to end up as the top rusher and receiver for his team this fall. He’s kind of psyched about that. “It’s not, ‘I have no idea because we have no talent,’” Nardone said. “It’s, ‘I have no idea because...
Ligonier Valley junior lineman Sam Caldwell assumes leadership role
Ligonier Valley football coach Roger Beitel smiled when he learned what junior center Sam Caldwell said about himself and the upcoming season. Caldwell is one of two starters returning for the offense. He became the starting center early during his sophomore season. He has taken ownership of the position and...
Isaiah Gonzalez relishes role as quarterback of Kiski Area defense
Isaiah Gonzalez earned a baptism by fire as a freshman when he stepped into the varsity lineup at cornerback against Penn Hills when then-senior and one of Kiski Area’s top players that year, Kenny Blake, was out with injury. “That was a challenging game for him to be put in...
2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the wide receivers
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top wide receivers for the 2023 season. 1. Peter Gonzalez Central Catholic Senior, 6-3, 200 Gonzalez’s size, athleticism and strong hands make him a big-play threat who opponents have...
Saturday’s scrimmage schedule in WPIAL football
Training camps officially began Monday for all 127 WPIAL, City League and independent teams in Western Pennsylvania. That week concludes for all with a scrimmage. The second week of camp ends with most team’s playing a Week Zero game Friday, Aug. 25 or Saturday, Aug. 26, while a few schools...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 17, 2023
High schools Golf Thursday’s results Boys Class 3A Section 3 Seneca Valley 184, Butler 197 Medalists: Tyler Garvin (SV) 34, Hunter Swidzinski (B) 37 Section 6 Peters Township 195, Baldwin 257 Medalists: Ben Miller (PT) 37, Mac Dempsey (B) 47 Section 7 South Fayette 203, Moon 215 Class 2A Section...
Yough aims to build on positives from last season
Ben Hoffer was part of a Yough football team that won three conference titles and compiled 24-15 record. Since then, only the 2013 team has had a winning record at 6-5. It was also the last time Yough made the playoffs. As Hoffer begins his second season at his alma...
Steel Valley gets back to work in defense of WPIAL title
In his 34th season as a head coach, Ray Braszo lifted the WPIAL championship trophy for the first time last November when Steel Valley beat Beaver Falls in the Class 2A finals. How did he celebrate that momentous achievement once practice began again in August? “You start all over and...
