High School category, Page 572

When coach John Skiba reviewed video of Apollo-Ridge games last season, he rarely saw his prospective starting lineup on the field. That’s because the Vikings were plagued by a variety of injuries and illnesses that led to a 1-4 record in Allegheny Conference play, 2-7 overall. In fact, in the...

High schools Golf Thursday’s results Boys Class 3A Section 1 Norwin 203, Latrobe 211 Medalists: Alex Graham (N) 38, PJ Germano (L) 40 Penn-Trafford 196, Armstrong 211 Medalist: Nick Turowski (PT) 37 Indiana 199, Hempfield 206 Section 2 Trinity 198, Ringgold 241 Medalists: Brock Carrigan, Logan Daniels (T) 39, Clayton...

The storied history of WPIAL football often focuses on its legendary quarterbacks and, more recently, a string of standout defensive backs. But don’t forget about the tight end tradition. Consider, the first pure tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was from the WPIAL. That was Aliquippa...

A career that literally began by accident will end up rewriting the record book at Highlands. Senior quarterback Chandler Thimons was a wet-behind-the-ears freshman when out of nowhere he got the starting nod to be the Golden Rams signal caller. “I can still remember that day,” Thimons said. “It was...

He will show lionhead rabbits and work a bottle-rocket contest at the Westmoreland Fair later in the summer. But this week, Danny Calabrese is honing his skills as a two-way lineman for Latrobe as the Wildcats make their way into Class 4A football under first-year coach Ron Prady and his...

He earned his chops in “The First State,” but Darwin Manges says he’s back where he belongs. “I cut my teeth in Delaware. I’m not ashamed of that,” he said. But Manges insists his foundation in football lies in Western Pennsylvania. “It’s always going to be here,” said the product...

Familiarity is a buzz word around Southmoreland camp. The more things change with the Scotties, the more they seem to stay the same. The coaching staff is different — only in titles. Tim Bukowski was elevated from offensive coordinator to head coach, and Dave Keefer went from head coach to...

Mt. Pleasant’s starting quarterback from 2021 won’t be lining up behind center this season. That’s because Mt. Pleasant coach Jason Fazekas is pleased with the progress that sophomore Cole Chatfield has made in the offseason which allows him to utilize the talent of Tyler Reese in different ways to benefit...

What do you do with the best athlete on your football team? If you’re Greensburg Salem coach Dave Keefer you make him your quarterback. That’s what Keefer is doing this season with senior Cody Rubrecht. Arguably the top wide receiver returning in the WPIAL, Rubrecht was dangerous every time he...

Belle Vernon coach Matt Humbert doesn’t make too much of his team’s drop to Class 3A, though it would be hard to blame him for being excited. As a Class 4A school last season, the Leopards advanced to the WPIAL championship game, where they lost to perennial power Aliquippa. So,...

How’s this for a good quarterback-receiver combination? One of the top quarterbacks from last season, Laurel Highlands’ Rodney Gallagher, is becoming a wide receiver. And one of the leading receivers from last season, Greensburg Salem’s Cody Rubrecht, is becoming a quarterback. Rubrecht was one of three WPIAL pass catchers to...

High schools Golf Wednesday’s results Boys Class 2A Section 2 Derry 208, Ligonier Valley 208 Derry won on first playoff hole. Medalists: Hunter Jurica, Ashton Beighley (D) 36, Josh Harbert (LV) 39 Mt. Pleasant 210, Jeannette 332 Medalists: Ryan Karfelt, Colin Hayes (MP) 38, Nate Homan (J) 59 Greensburg Salem...

The Freeport Area defense created havoc for opposing offenses throughout the 2021 season. Yellowjackets players combined for 47 sacks, one of the largest totals in all of the WPIAL. The two inside linebackers — Jacksen Reiser and Andrew Sullivan — and the pair of outside ’backers — Colton Otterman and...

Class 3A boys THE FAVORITE Central Catholic The Vikings, who lost to Fox Chapel by one shot in the WPIAL finals, return five of six starters. They also lost in the PIAA championship in a playoff. WATCH OUT FOR Peters Township The Indians return five of six starters, including three...

Penn-Trafford junior Nick Turowski will be attempting to do something that has only been done eight times in 85 years of the WPIAL Class 3A golf championship: go back to back. In fact, the last time someone won consecutive titles was by Pine-Richland’s Mike Van Sickle in 2003-2004. Other notable...

Making up for lost time he can’t get back, Mitchell Steele III plans to give everything he has to his senior football season at Jeannette. It’s all or nothing for the two-sport athlete who regrets not donning shoulder pads sooner in his high school career. “Man, I wish I had...

When Dave Heavner was a student-athlete at Valley High School, the “Back to the Future” movies were popular. But don’t expect Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd to show up at Valley High Memorial Stadium anytime soon. Instead, Heaver has returned to coach the Vikings and hopes to replicate an...

After a one-year hiatus from postseason play, Shady Side Academy qualified for the WPIAL playoffs with the help of some reinforcements. The Bulldogs got a boost from the co-operative with The Neighborhood Academy — and the consolidation went well. After a disappointing 26-25 loss in Week 8 to Ligonier Valley,...

At times, the term “road warriors” is overused in sports. But the 2022 Knoch Knights will actually be road warriors. Knoch will play all its games this season on the road while Knoch Knights Stadium is undergoing extensive renovations — including artificial turf installation. It’s not exactly what new coach...

The Freeport football program celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2022, and this year’s coaches and players hope to make it one for the record books. With several starters and all-star performers returning on both sides of the ball, optimism is high that Freeport can make a run to the WPIAL...

Want a pizza? Dom can make it for you. How about a winning football team? Well, you’ve come to the right place. More times than not, East Allegheny has come away a winner since coach Dominic Pecora’s arrival in 2013. Pecora and his Wildcats are angling for the WPIAL playoffs...

Deer Lakes came as close as a team can to making the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs last year. The Lancers, who finished 4-6 overall and 3-3 in the Allegheny Seven Conference, lost out to East Allegheny and Burrell on a three-way tiebreaker for the third and fourth playoff spots from...

The California football team intends to use strength in numbers to climb the ranks in the Tri-County South Conference. Class A teams are usually lucky to have 30 players on the roster. Cal will enter this season with a roster size of 46. “We love our numbers,” veteran coach Ed...

Take a look at the WPIAL rushing leaders from last season and you’ll notice four state champions. Along with earning a spot among the league’s top five rushers, Central Valley’s Landon Alexander, Mt. Lebanon’s Alex Tecza, Penn-Trafford’s Cade Yacamelli and Aliquippa’s Tiqwai Hayes also led their teams to PIAA titles...

High schools Golf Tuesday’s results Boys Class 3A Section 8 Shaler 202, Highlands 274 Medalists: Joey Miller, Jacob Crissman (S) 37 Class 2A Section 2 Derry 203*, Greensburg Central Catholic 203 Medalists: Hunter Jurica (D) 36, Wade Boyle (GCC) 37 *Won on first playoff hole Section 3 McGuffey 215, Bentworth...