High School category, Page 96
Quaker Valley navigates tough section schedule to earn spot in WPIAL baseball field
Quaker Valley’s baseball team shook off a few late-season losses with a four-game winning streak resulting in a 12-6 overall record. As a result, the Quakers received the No. 7 seed for the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs and a first-round game with No. 10 Ligonier Valley. “It is always difficult...
Penn-Trafford’s Logan Kerstetter goes back-to-back in javelin at WPIAL championships
History repeated itself for Penn-Trafford senior Logan Kerstetter. For the second consecutive season, Kerstetter went into the WPIAL Class 3A track and field championship May 14 at Slippery Rock’s Mihalik-Thompson Stadium as an underdog in the javelin. And for the second consecutive season, Kerstetter won the title. He was one...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Nick Turowski advances in U.S. Open qualifier
When Nick Turowski plays golf, he likes to play fast. He said he’s slowed down a bit in college by taking his time walking up to his ball. “I don’t like to wait around,” Turowski said after tying for third May 13 at the U.S. Open local qualifier at Quicksilver...
With coach ailing, Pine Richland Aquatics welcomes program alumnus as new leader
It’s never an easy task to find a new coach. Even more so when the person being replaced has been a coach and a pillar of a sporting community for 30 years. Such was the case for the Pine-Richland High School swim team and its feeder program, Pine-Richland Aquatics (PRA)....
Despite late-season woes, coach optimistic about future of Gateway baseball
Two weeks into the 2025 season, Gateway baseball seemed to be on pace for a breakout year. Through the Gators’ opening six games, they had already surpassed their four-win total from the previous season with a series sweep of section rival McKeesport. Through 91/2 innings against the Tigers, the Gators...
Shaler softball’s ‘unique team’ roars into WPIAL playoffs in fine form
The Shaler softball team is prepared for whatever may happen in the postseason. The Titans had to win their final three Section 1-5A games to hold off North Hills for first place. Shaler was without junior pitcher Bria Bosilejevac, an Indiana commit, for two of those games. The Titans delivered,...
Westmoreland softball playoff preview capsules: Games for May 19, 2025
WPIAL softball playoffs Class 3A Quarterfinals 7-Southmoreland (10-7) vs. 2-Mohawk (13-5) 3 p.m. Monday at Montour Winner plays: Winner of 6-McGuffey (11-5)/3-Ellwood City (10-8) on Wednesday in semifinals (time, site TBD) Players to watch: Zoey Murphy, Southmoreland; Lydia Cole, Mohawk Extra bases: Southmoreland, a perennial playoff contender, rallied several times...
Alle-Kiski Valley softball playoff preview capsules: Games for May 19, 2025
WPIAL softball playoffs Class 2A Quarterfinals 1-Neshannock (19-0) vs. 8-Apollo-Ridge (14-4) 5 p.m. Monday at North Allegheny Winner plays: Winner of 13-Shenango (11-8)/12-Bentworth (9-9) on Wednesday in semifinals (site/time TBD) Players to watch: Mikaila Ditty, Apollo-Ridge; Addy Frye, Neshannock Extra bases: The Section 2 runner-up Vikings outlasted No. 9 Our...
Twins’ induction into A-K Valley Hall of Fame emotional for Vick family
David Vick would have liked to see Jaime Vick Moran give her own acceptance speech at the 54th annual Alle-Kiski Sports Hall of Fame ceremony Saturday night at Pittsburgh Shriners Center. Through her battle with leukemia, Vick repeatedly proved that she knew how to hold a room. At a dinner,...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for May 17, 2025
High schools Baseball WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Quarterfinals Monday’s schedule Hempfield (8-12) vs. North Allegheny (14-6) at Boyce Mayview Park, 7 p.m.; Butler (11-8) vs. Norwin (12-8) at North Allegheny, 4 p.m.; North Hills (7-12) vs. Canon-McMillan (14-6) at Boyce Mayview Park, 4 p.m.; Mt. Lebanon (8-12) vs Seneca Valley...
Transgender girl from Eastern Pa. fails to qualify for PIAA track and field championships
A transgender high school student from Eastern Pennsylvania authorized by a judge to compete in girls track did not qualify for the state championships. Plymouth Whitemarsh senior Luce Allen, an openly transgender girl, finished 12th in the 200 meters at the PIAA District 1 championships Saturday. The top five finishers...
Westmoreland high school athletes of the week for May 18, 2025: Derry’s Sophia Mazzoni and Mt. Pleasant’s Jarret Garn
Sophia Mazzoni School: Derry Class: Senior Sport: Track & field Claim to fame: Mazzoni, an Auburn commit, won her third straight WPIAL championship in the javelin. Her winning throw sailed 156 feet at Slippery Rock University. Mazzoni won back-to-back Class 2A titles but Derry was bumped up to 3A this...
A-K Valley high school athletes of the week for May 18, 2025: Freeport’s Mackenzie Magness and Apollo-Ridge’s Jaden McCray
Mackenzie Magness School: Freeport Class: Sophomore Sport: Track and field Claim to fame: Magness came in as the top seed as she looked to defend her WPIAL Class 2A title in the pole vault. She went on to win her second gold medal in the event, vaulting to a personal...
Roundball activities now will include girls underclassman all-star games
After a spike in interest for the boys underclassmen games, organizers of the Roundball Classic all-star basketball weekend decided to add girls games this year. “We’ve had a fabulous response,” lead organizer Allen Deep said. The showcase games will feature top players in grades nine through 11 who play in...
Senior outfielder makes impact on North Hills softball with bounce-back season
While taking a step back, Alexa Edmunds has been able to bounce back. A year ago, Edmunds — a standout outfielder for North Hills’ softball team — had her junior season derailed when she tore her labrum in a freak collision while stealing a base. The injury was not only...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Latrobe at forefront of girls flag football movement
It is just a matter of time before girls flag football is a fully sanctioned PIAA sport, complete with district and state championships. Latrobe is one of the local club teams preparing to field a team in the WPIAL for 2025-26. It appears to be in good standing with the...
Riverview, Plum athletes earn trips to PIAA track and field championships
Riverview senior Matt Orbin was seeded fourth entering the Class 2A boys javelin at last Wednesday’s WPIAL track and field championships at Slippery Rock. Orbin didn’t let the fact that it was his first appearance at the WPIAL finals get to him as he stayed consistent from his season-best of...
North Allegheny’s Advaita Sircar readies for state singles
North Allegheny tennis standout Advaita Sircar is feeling rejuvenated these days. The arm that bothered him during a straight-set loss in the WPIAL Class 3A team championship has recovered, and the upcoming PIAA tournament includes a favorable bracket for the Tigers’ star sophomore. “I feel super confident now after all...
Senior class filled with college recruits puts North Allegheny baseball in good place
North Allegheny ninth-year baseball coach Andrew Heck considers every senior class special. But this year’s group could be extra special. “They do a really good job of making sure they keep everything light and tight-knit,” Heck said, “and that’s what you like to see as a coach.” The 10-player Class...
3 Franklin Regional athletes advance to PIAA track and field championships
Five athletes from the Franklin Regional track and field team earned medals at the WPIAL Class 3A championship May 14 at Slippery Rock, but only three secured a trip to the PIAA championship meet Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg. Senior Will Weaver, sophomore Sean Cartwright and sophomore Jamie Kociela will...
Hampton boys tennis surprises with deep playoff run
Hampton junior Zane List admits the Talbots boys tennis team held modest goals this season. “Honestly,” he said, “we just wanted to make the playoffs.” After graduating five of their top seven players from last year’s WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinalist, including PIAA singles qualifier Vitaliy Pikalo, the youthful Talbots were...
Hampton girls lacrosse coach Kelsey Burke makes ‘bittersweet’ departure
Hampton girls lacrosse coach Kelsey Burke is leaving behind one beloved family to focus on another. Burke, an expectant mom, told her players after the Talbots’ 12-1 victory over Trinity in the WPIAL Class 2A first round May 12 that this will be her final season. “It’s very bittersweet,” she...
Playoff win headlines list of memorable moments in Fox Chapel softball season
The Fox Chapel softball team’s season won’t end with a trip to the PIAA Class 5A tournament, but the Foxes were able to create memorable moments before they were knocked out 6-3 by North Hills in the WPIAL quarterfinals. In the first round, 12th-seeded Fox Chapel (13-7) stunned No. 5...
Fox Chapel Herald notebook: Shady Side girls relay team wins WPIAL title
The Shady Side Academy girls 3,200-meter relay team was laser focused on winning a WPIAL Class 2A championship. The Bulldogs didn’t disappoint in their pursuit May 14 at Slippery Rock University. Shady Side Academy finished nearly 10 seconds ahead of second-place North Catholic en route to the top of the...
Fox Chapel junior shakes off pressure, wins WPIAL gold in discus
Claire Conti knows what the issue is when her progress stalls out in the thrower’s circle. The Fox Chapel junior has to find a way to get out of her own way. Conti showed she is more than capable of defeating her own self doubt during the WPIAL Class 3A...
