High School category, Page 505

When A.J. Brentzel took over the Penn-Trafford wrestling program in 2019, his goal was to rebuild the program. And now he leaves the program in better shape than he got it. Brentzel passes to coaching torch to assistant coach Travis McKillop this season, and the 30-year-old looks to continue the...

Senior Nate Loughner scored two goals and had an assist as Penn-Trafford rallied to a 5-2 victory against Mars in a PIHL Class 2A game on Nov. 28. Garrett Rechtorik and Xavier Solomon added second-period goals to break a 1-1 tie. Loughner and Chase Bonson added goals in the third...

Dom Frollo looks around the wrestling room at Penn Hills and is happy with an opportunity to mentor young wrestlers. Thanks to the effort of Penn Hills football coach Charles Morris, the Indians were able to beef their roster up to 17 kids. “It’s different,” said Frollo, who is a...

Lee Zelkowitz is excited to get the track team moving through the indoor season. Practice was scheduled to start Dec. 5, and the Indians hope to utilize the season to build confidence and capitalize with some strong performances. Zelkowitz emphasized the goal is getting everyone ready for the outdoor championships...

Maddie London believed she had something to offer the athletes on the Shaler swim team. The current Pitt swimmer has had many experiences with coaching and hopes to make a positive impact for the Titans. London, a native of Collierville, Tenn., started her swimming career at Arkansas before transferring to...

The Shaler girls basketball program is excited to have an influx of sophomores ready to contribute at the varsity level. Coach Cornelious Nesbit is also excited he doesn’t have to rush their development, either. Shaler will feature 5-foot-9 senior guard Haley Kostorick, a Clarion commit, and 5-11 senior forward Mackenzie...

High Schools WPIAL Basketball Boys Saturday’s results Aquinas Academy Tournament Cheswick Christian Academy 52, Pittsburgh Christian Academy 47 Aquinas Academy 71, Hillcrest Christian 40 Armstrong Tournament Grove City 65, Geibel 51 Armstrong 58, Kiski Area 37 Baldwin/Peters Township Tournament Baldwin 69, Altoona 56 Chartiers Valley 68, Peters Township 39 Brentwood...

Peter Kramer hit a shot at the buzzer to give Hampton a 76-74 overtime win over the host team in the championship game of the North Hills Tournament on Saturday. Kramer had 34 points while Breenan Murray scored 22 points for the Talbots (2-0). Royce Parham led North Hills (1-1)...

Norwin is trying to develop a defensive identity early in the season. The fact that said development has come with two wins in two games is a bonus that second-year coach Lance Maha will gladly take. “We want to be a good halfcourt defensive team,” Maha said. “When we share...

The start of the high school basketball season Friday featured a number of coaches making their debuts with their respective teams and the advanced start of the season itself. Albie Fletcher, assistant coach to the departed Terence Parham and longtime youth coach in the community, made his debut as Deer...

A nightmarish first quarter for Valley on Saturday led to Freeport’s first boys basketball victory of the season, 55-33. The Vikings went scoreless in the first quarter as Freeport jumped out to a 20-0 lead. But the teams were nearly even for the rest of the game. Brady Sullivan led...

Postseason honors have been piling up for Deer Lakes senior Ryan Hanes. The WPIAL Class 2A Player of the Year was selected to the All-WPIAL team for a second straight year and picked to the all-state team last week. Now, he can add another postseason award to the list. The...

Kaitlyn Killinger works with a girl in her neighborhood, a member of the Plum youth soccer program, on several aspects of the game. “She tells her mom all the time about me and how she looks up to me,” said Killinger, who recently completed a standout four-year varsity career with...

As the offense built from the back, slowly at first and then picking up speed, Sara Felder ran wide like a receiver in football. When the pink-shoed senior forward took the ball and turned on her speed, few teams could keep up with her. There were times when she drew...

When Greensburg Central Catholic needed a goal over the top, it knew whose number to call. Carlo Denis combined speed and a knack for finding space in opposing defenses, giving the Centurions a scoring machine who caused matchup problems for back lines all over WPIAL Class A. The senior forward...

Hailey Longwell had nothing to lose this season. How could she? Her team went a perfect 24-0. The Moon standout powered a run to WPIAL and PIAA championships as the Tigers dropped a class to 3A and dominated. For her efforts, Longwell is the TribLive HSSN Girls Soccer Player of...

When Seneca Valley needed to break down a back line, funnel possession to the midfield or counter an attack, the Raiders knew who get the soccer ball to. Senior midfielder Beau Lizewski has been one of the WPIAL’s most complete players during his prep career, and a winner at that....

The more Joe Enick learned about Bill Fralic, the more he saw himself in the football legend. He saw the blue-collar approach to life, the intense work ethic and the passion for the game. He saw the angry football player and the gentle giant. “We were at hunting camp last...

The first goal Gabby Baldasare wanted to achieve after taking the Pine-Richland girls basketball job in May was to establish what she wants the culture to be in the program. She’s been pleased with the response and is looking forward to seeing how the team continues to progress now that...

Tony Grenek wants his new team to stand up to the bullies. Grenek, hired this offseason to lead North Hills’ struggling girls basketball program, brings years of success in the college ranks and hopes that now translates to the high school game. “My wife and I just absolutely love the...

North Hills enters the new high school boys basketball season coming off one of the most successful years in program history. But the way the season ended, with a heartbreaking first loss in the WPIAL 6A title game and another defeat in the PIAA playoffs, left a sour taste in...

The best player on the Hampton girls basketball team spent this summer getting even better. Junior point guard Meghan Murray, a first-team all-Section 2-5A pick last season, devoted countless hours to putting up thousands of shots to improve her perimeter game. “I had problems last year with the 3s,” Murray...

At some point early this winter, Hampton boys basketball coach Joe Lafko will achieve something “that’s been a career goal with me forever.” The WPIAL Hall of Famer will earn his 500th victory spanning 32-plus seasons, including the past 26 at Hampton. Lafko, 56, will celebrate with his players, his...

As one of the WPIAL’s most accomplished girls basketball coaches, Jonna Burke would rather talk about her players. Burke, entering her second season at Shady Side Academy, is just eight victories away from the coveted 500 mark. “It means I’ve been coaching a long time,” Burke said with a laugh....

It was a memorable season for the Shady Side Academy boys basketball team. The Bulldogs, in their first year with that moniker, brought home the WPIAL Class 3A title with a 66-54 win over Avonworth at Petersen Events Center. It was part of a 20-7 season that ended with a...