High School category, Page 932
Jeannette, state-final opponent Steelton-Highspire have rich histories
How did you spend your Saturday afternoon? Jeannette football coach Roy Hall spent it watching his team’s next opponent on video stream. His tone was a lot better than it was less than 24 hours earlier after his team’s 48-12 win against Reynolds in the PIAA Class A semifinals. Jeannette...
PIHL juggling schedule amid covid restrictions
When the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League began its season earlier this month, league officials prepared themselves for several possible scenarios. With covid safety protocols in place sent down from the governor’s office, area school districts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, play began with the knowledge that covid...
Moe Rosensteel award goes to North Allegheny star Sarah SchupanskyVideo
After leading North Allegheny to back-to-back WPIAL championships and a PIAA runner-up finish, senior forward Sarah Schupansky claimed a unique postseason honor Sunday. Schupansky, a Pitt recruit, is the 2020 recipient of the Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year Award, which recognizes the most outstanding girls soccer player in the...
H.S. notebook: Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin receives offer from Pitt
Major Division I college football schools are expected to take interest in Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin over the next few years. Pitt is the first in line. The Panthers offered Martin, a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder who played running back, receiver and defensive back for the Leopards this season. Belle Vernon...
Chartiers Valley makes giant leap forward with return to playoffs
While moving down in classifications after four years of struggles in Class 5A to Class 4A this fall, it was one small step for the Chartiers Valley football. However, the season itself was one giant leap for the Colts program. “Overall, we made strides as a program,” Chartiers Valley coach...
Quaker Valley boys soccer using shortened season as motivation for next year
This season didn’t end the way the Quaker Valley boys soccer team wanted it to. After winning WPIAL and PIAA titles last season, the Quakers were motivated to repeat this season. After a solid regular season, where they went 11-1-1 and outscored opponents 114-8, they were ready to head into...
Penn-Trafford field hockey gaining ground on PIAA competition
Since Cindy Dutt took over the Penn-Trafford field hockey program, the gap between her team and teams in Eastern Pennsylvania has shrunk. But the Warriors, who claimed their fifth consecutive WPIAL Class AA title this season, are searching still for that elusive first win in the PIAA playoffs. “When we...
Senior captain sets tone for Shaler hockey turnaround
Tre Junker was surprised when Shaler hockey coach Cory Sakolsky handed him a playbook. Junker, a senior forward for the Titans, has been playing hockey since he was 5. Before Shaler started its new era, Junker had questions. “I wasn’t trusting it at first,” Junker said. “It was new to...
‘Everything was strange’ for South Fayette football this season
Since coming to South Fayette in 2007, coach Joe Rossi has turned the Lions into a perennial power. It’s a program that has won four WPIAL and two PIAA championships in those 14 years. However, something strange happened to South Fayette this fall. Its season ended before the calendar changed...
Second straight WPIAL title continues long run of winning football for Thomas Jefferson
The more things change, the more they remain the same. Thomas Jefferson won its ninth WPIAL football title under coach Bill Cherpak, and 10th all-time, when the Jaguars edged Aliquippa, 35-28, in overtime Nov. 14 at North Allegheny. Cherpak captured his first WPIAL crown in 2004 at age 36. Longtime...
Senior defensive backs brought physicality to Baldwin football
Two undeniable stalwarts on the Baldwin football team this season were senior standouts Connor Lavelle and C.J. Robbins. Both were four-year starters and team leaders for the Fighting Highlanders, who ended up 2-3. Lavelle, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver/defensive back, ranked among the WPIAL’s leading receivers. A Lehigh recruit, he...
Senior class leads Sewickley Academy boys soccer to another strong season
The Sewickley Academy boys soccer team was on the brink of a berth into the WPIAL Class A championship for the first time since winning it all in 2016. The Panthers ran into No. 2 seed Winchester Thurston in the WPIAL Class A semifinals and took the defending PIAA Class...
Shaler swimmers to revamp training for unique season
Planning improvements for the Shaler Area swimming program will need to be a dynamic plan for first-year coach Abi May. WPIAL officials still have many decisions to make on where the championships will be held, how many athletes will qualify and what the qualifying times need to be. All of...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 21, 2020
Field hockey PIAA playoffs Championship Saturday’s results Class 3A Emmaus 4, Central Dauphin 0 Class 2A Palmyra 2, Archbishop Carroll 1 (OT) Class A Wyoming Seminary 3, Greenwood 0 Football PIAA playoffs Class 6A Semifinals Saturday’s results Central York 37, McDowell 21 St. Joseph’s Prep 51, Souderton 43 Championship Saturday,...
Seneca Valley boys soccer wins state championship on Zack LaValle OT goal
HERSHEY — The test was difficult and tested them physically and emotionally. But at evening’s end the Seneca Valley Raiders achieved their goal. Zach LaValle scored 36 seconds into the second overtime to give the Raiders a 2-1 win over Neshaminy on Saturday night in the PIAA Class 4A boys...
North Allegheny volleyball wins 4th straight PIAA title with dominant performance
SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP — In their quest for a fourth consecutive PIAA Class 4A volleyball championship, the North Allegheny Tigers faced a formidable foe with very similar size in Unionville, the District 1 champion. North Allegheny’s size and experience took over and the Tigers completed the four-peat by sweeping Unionville...
Pennridge edges North Allegheny in double overtime for PIAA Class 4A crown
HERSHEY — Sometimes, there’s a bitter side to “The Sweetest Place on Earth.” Despite a superb defensive effort, a huge game from junior keeper Megan Miller and plenty of resolve from the attack, North Allegheny’s first trip to the PIAA Class 4A girls soccer title match ended short of a...
Franklin Regional takes silver at PIAA Class 3A volleyball finals
SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP — Franklin Regional’s dream season carried all the way to the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball final, but the bubble burst quickly behind the power of Bethlehem Catholic. The Golden Hawks earned a 3-0 sweep of the Panthers by game scores of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-17 on...
Pine-Richland headed to Hershey after wild win over Governor MifflinVideo
HOLLIDAYSBURG — “It was over” when Pine-Richland stumbled off the bus and let Governor Mifflin score the first three touchdowns. “It was over” when the Rams threw three interceptions, lost a fumble and misplayed a punt. “It was over” when the team from Berks County held a daunting 22-point lead...
Lewisburg too much for Deer Lakes boys soccer in state title game
Throughout the 2020 season, the Deer Lakes boys soccer team has taken pride in forcing its style of play on opponents. On Saturday, in the PIAA Class 2A championship game at Hersheypark Stadium, it was Lewisburg (22-0) that dictated how the game would flow. From the first whistle, Lewisburg dominated...
North Catholic girls soccer falls in first PIAA championship game appearance
North Catholic goalie Andrea Bean did everything she could during the Trojans’ first PIAA championship appearance on Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium. But with just under 20 minutes remaining in their contest against Bloomsburg, Panthers forward Rylee Klinger drew a penalty and Bucknell commit Paige Temple buried her attempt into the...
Hampton bowlers aiming high with deeper rosters
The Hampton bowling team is turning to a familiar face for a season the likes of which it has never seen before. Coach Glenn Thomas, who started the program five years ago, returns to the helm after last year’s coach, Bob Wallace, stepped away because of covid-19 concerns for his...
Shady Side Academy field hockey caps season with improbable run to PIAA semifinals
The Shady Side Academy field hockey team has made its fair share of PIAA playoff appearances since winning its first WPIAL title in 1993. But SSA could never find its way out of the quarterfinals and into the semifinals. Actually, not many WPIAL teams have been able to do so...
Fox Chapel’s Nate Lazzara caps high school career with all-state, all-WPIAL recognition
Throughout the 2020 high school soccer season, the Fox Chapel boys soccer team had a player to rely on when a goal was desperately needed. Senior forward Nate Lazzara fit that role perfectly for the Foxes, who finished 11-4 and fell just short against No. 1 Peters Township, 2-1, in...
Pro baseball dreams carry Penn Hills catcher to Maine
Penn Hills senior catcher Josh Zambito has dreams of playing baseball professionally. Zambito took a step towards that goal by deciding where he was going to play collegiate baseball. After a tiring virtual recruitment process, Zambito signed his letter of intent Nov. 11 to play baseball at Maine. Zambito, who...
