High School category, Page 469
With nearly entire roster turned over, Laurel still expects to compete
When a Class A program loses just about its entire group of starters from a previous season, there could be legitimate reason for worry. But Brian Cooper is far from hitting the panic button. Cooper, in his 10th season as Laurel’s coach, enters the 2023 season with more than a...
Trinity hoping to take a step forward with experienced roster
The positivity resonates throughout Dan Knause’s lingo: • “Make today count.” • “Team chemistry is so important.” • “Person-student-player,” in that order, he says. It’s been Knause’s calling card wherever he’s been, and it’s no different at Trinity, where he serves as assistant high school principal and is entering his...
Star receiver back to provide spark to Thomas Jefferson offense
Veteran coach Bill Cherpak has seen his share of talented wide receivers at Thomas Jefferson. He’s expecting a banner season from senior wideout Sean Sullivan. “Sean should absolutely dominate every game he plays,” Cherpak said, “He has great explosion and speed down the field as well as incredible ball skills...
Latrobe sees uptick in wins, numbers, expectations
Growth in roster numbers is a good gauge of a football program’s stability. Latrobe looks like it’s on firm ground. With 77 players — up from 62 last year and 44 the previous season — the Wildcats are bursting with interest and improvement. “We had some kids who had played...
Speedy, versatile Samir Crosby puts team first for Greensburg Central Catholic
As he is preparing for a quick photo shoot in the bleachers at Centurions Stadium, Samir Crosby flashes a smile, then shifts to a mean mug, turning to face the camera each time with delight and gravitas. “Want me to flex?” Crosby says, playfully clutching a football. The sophomore from...
Big RB Beattie ready to carry load again for Burrell
Devin Beattie hopes to have another big season for the Burrell football team. Connected to that goal is the bruising 200-pound running back’s desire to help lead the Bucs to a third consecutive WPIAL playoff appearance. “Devin is a perfect fit for our type of run-heavy offense,” Burrell coach Shawn...
North Catholic ready to rebound under new coach
North Catholic first-year football coach Chris Rizzo traveled about 2,000 miles to take over a program that’s not too far from where it wants to be. “It was time to get back,” said the Bethel Park native, who spent the past four seasons as head coach at Glendale (Ariz.) Ironwood....
With experienced roster returning, Mars’ jump is ‘mind blowing’
Mars coach Eric Kasperowicz doesn’t go out of his way to compare his current team with his previous one, but he does see some promising similarities. For example, in his first year at Pine-Richland, the Rams went 5-5 and qualified for the playoffs. In year one at Mars, the Planets...
Young Kiski Area roster looks for bounce-back season
Kiski Area hoped to fare better last season in its Greater Allegheny Conference debut. The Cavaliers broke into the win column just once — a 50-13 nonconference rout of Fox Chapel — in Week 8 and went winless (0-6) in conference play. But veteran coach Sam Albert said the returning...
Indiana looks to carry momentum from positive offseason
If a winning football team is built in the offseason, Indiana coach Brad Wright saw evidence of his squad’s progress during a recent linemen challenge at Burrell High School. “We finished second in the competition. That wouldn’t have happened last year,” said Wright, whose team posted a 3-7 overall record...
Highlands hunting playoff success
Luke Bombalski had a simple response when asked about goals for the Highlands football team this season. “Win that first playoff game,” he said. There was no mention of rushing yards, a number of touchdowns or how many tackles or interceptions the senior running back/linebacker wants to accumulate. Nothing about...
Hampton determined to extend playoff streak
Something is catching on with Hampton football. The Talbots return a handful of starters on both sides of the ball, led by back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher Brock Borgo, in their bid to reach the WPIAL playoffs for the fourth consecutive season and further distance themselves from the disheartening days of 2016-19,...
Cadin Olsen era over, but Armstrong’s next chapter looks promising
Armstrong has had some standout athletes come through the program since its inception in 2015, including Zane Dudek and Dawson Porter, and the graduation of Cadin Olsen leaves another huge void to fill. For the most part, though, anytime a major contributor has moved on, the River Hawks have found...
Apollo-Ridge lineman Spencer Sells making up for lost time
Spencer Sells didn’t come out for the Apollo-Ridge football team his freshman and sophomore seasons. He said he was 50/50 with football at the time, weighing wanting to play with other factors, including the covid pandemic his freshman year in 2020. “I do have regrets about that looking back, 100...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Official start of football camp right around corner
After weeks of noncontact workouts and five days of heat acclimatization, WPIAL football teams finally will open training camp Monday. The thought of donning full equipment and going full force against teammates gets players’ interest way up. It’s football season again. “Just the excitement of the team and coaches,” Greensburg...
Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame returns from covid hiatus with Class of 2023
It’s back. After a three-year covid-related hiatus, the Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame weekend has returned. This year’s festive weekend will take place Oct. 13-14 and the 2023 class will be recognized Oct. 13 at the Quakers’ home football game against West Mifflin. Game time is 7 p.m. A...
Franklin Regional lineman Andrew Devola itching to get season started
Andrew Devola has been champing at the bit to get the football season started. The Franklin Regional junior, a three-year starter at left tackle and defensive tackle, had surgery on his shoulders in the offseason and has been limited in his preparation for the season. That is set to change...
Queens of the ‘Burgh volleyball event shines spotlight on top WPIAL players in fun setting
Avonworth girls volleyball coach John Skarupa believes it is the first of many to come. The inaugural Queens of the ‘Burgh volleyball tournament took place Aug. 4-6 at the All American Field House in Monroeville. The tournament was available to all incoming high school junior and senior girls for the...
Quaker Valley volleyball’s Molly MacDonald lends helping hand
Quaker Valley volleyball player Molly MacDonald certainly is an enterprising sort. MacDonald, 16, started a charity this winter called Brazos de Bienvenida, which when translated means “Welcoming Arms.” She is collecting clothing, household items and food for underserved Hispanic and Brazilian residents who relocate to Pittsburgh. “We work with the...
New Pine-Richland hall of famer Bill Colpo shined on mat, gridiron in late ’60s
Bill Colpo was on a golf course in Idaho when he got a call that he’d be part of the 2023 Pine-Richland Athletic Hall of Fame class. It took a minute for it to sink in. “At first, I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Colpo said. “The first reaction...
West Allegheny hopes to write better ending to 2023 story
For a program that has historically finished as well as any, West Allegheny’s end to the 2022 season is something it hopes to rectify. And fast. The Indians stormed out of the gates last fall, establishing themselves as a potential championship-caliber team with a 7-1 record and narrow, three-point loss...
New-look New Castle strives for a much-improved season
New Castle is coming off a down year, as the Red Hurricanes went just 1-9, but second-year coach Stacy Robinson is determined to turn the ship around. The Canes had quite a few seniors, but by the end of the season, the underclassmen made up most of the lineup on...
Montour expects to drive far in Class 4A Parkway Conference
In high school football, having a three-year starter at quarterback usually gives a team the upper hand. In 2023, it will be advantage Montour. Jake Wolfe returns for his third year as starting QB for the Spartans. “To have a three-year starter at quarterback is great for us and a...
Chartiers Valley looking to improve, compete in tough Parkway Conference
Led by Penn State recruit Lamont Payne Jr. and several other returning seniors, there was hope for Chartiers Valley in the first year of the Aaron Fitzpatrick era. However, 2022 became a painful season for the Colts, as they finished in sixth place in the eight-team Class 4A Parkway Conference...
Following coach’s surprising resignation, Blackhawk hopes to keep building
Pat Feeley was thrown into an uncomfortable position just days before training camps opened throughout the WPIAL. But he’s used something comfortable in order to cope: history. “I’m a history teacher,” said Feeley, who took over as Blackhawk’s football coach when Zack Hayward surprisingly stepped down to take the Chartiers...
