Brownsville

SHIPPENSBURG — Eden Christian’s Sean Aiken attempted the 3,200 meters for the first time a couple of months ago, and he really didn’t like running nearly two miles. “I personally don’t enjoy the two-mile,” he said. “I don’t know how many guys actually do, but it definitely had to grow...

SHIPPENSBURG — Jolena Quarzo prefers running in the morning. The Brownsville junior was pleased when the PIAA announced that it was splitting the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events and running the 1,600 final as the first race Friday morning. Quarzo won her first PIAA Class 2A 1,600 title Friday with a...

When Baldwin track and field coach Ed Helbig approached the Baldwin-Whitehall School District administration about the 48th annual Baldwin Track and Field Invitational, they wanted the event to be held over two days because of covid concerns. But with the covid threat diminishing, Helbig was told recently the meet could...

Last spring was a celebration as district athletes returned to the diamond after the 2020 season was canceled because of covid-19 shutdowns. Baseball thrived throughout the WPIAL as six new champions were crowned, some in dramatic fashion. That success carried over to the state playoffs as WPIAL teams captured two...

The Keystone Oaks girls basketball program had not lost an opening playoff game, preliminary or first round, since 2006. That is why there were some nervous moments in the first 13 minutes of the game as Brownsville led by as many as eight points. However, host Keystone Oaks used a...

A busy night of WPIAL girls basketball is highlighted by a couple of games for first place. One of those contests is in Section 2-3A as South Park hosts Brownsville. The Eagles (7-2, 3-0) are No. 3 in the latest Trib HSSN Class 3A rankings. South Park had won six...

Elizabeth Forward’s defense allowed only 28 points combined in six conference games, a dominance that led Interstate coaches to name senior DaVontay Brownfield as the conference’s top defensive player. In all, 10 Elizabeth Forward players earned first-team all-conference honors. The Warriors finished 6-0 in the WPIAL Class 3A conference. Southmoreland...

Moon senior Mia Cochran picked up a huge honor when the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association named her the girls athlete of the year. Cochran was also named first-team All-State after winning her third consecutive PIAA Class 3A cross country title. She was joined on the first team by...

Greensburg Salem’s boys cross country team has built a tradition under coach Nathan Snider. The Golden Lions were WPIAL Class 2A champions in 2016, 2018 and 2020 and PIAA champions in 2018. During that time, numerous individuals have contributed to the team’s success. While the Golden Lions aren’t in contention...

Mia Cochran trains with the Moon boys cross country team. That was the reason the first thought on her mind after crossing the finish line Thursday was concern for one of her training partners who had a medical issue following the boys race. “I believe he’ll be OK,” Cochran said...

Leaving WPIAL football was an idea Brownsville athletic director Scott Roebuck once was adamantly against, but now he agrees that drastic move is the best chance to save the program. With the team mired in a 21-game losing streak, the Brownsville school board voted Thursday to follow the lead of...

Joey Prentice threw for 151 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 2 North Catholic to a 33-7 victory over No. 5 Freeport (4-4, 3-1) in WPIAL Class 3A Allegheny Seven Conference play Friday night. Kyle Tipinski ran for 102 yards and a touchdown for the Trojans (9-0, 5-0), who...

There’s no place like home, especially in the playoffs. This fall that home-field advantage is a bigger factor than usual since the WPIAL decided to extend that perk to higher-seeded teams for both first-round and quarterfinal games. The WPIAL informed schools this week. So, a matchup like Friday’s between Fox...

Last week: 12-1 (92.3%) Season: 71-27 (72.4%) It’s time to get weird. Then again, what else is new in this column? The PIAA’s playoff footballs, soccer balls and volleyballs were stuck on a boat somewhere, and there was a chance they wouldn’t get here in time for the postseason. The...

Class 6A Canon-McMillan (4-4, 2-3) at Norwin (2-6, 0-5) 7 p.m. Friday, Norwin Knights Stadium After winning two straight, Canon-McMillan takes a two-game losing streak into Friday after falling to Seneca Valley and North Allegheny in consecutive weeks. Mike Evans threw for 114 yards and a touchdown and Ryan Angott...

Last week: 8-4 (66.7%) Season: 59-26 (69/4%) His ears still ringing from his first Rolling Stones concert he attended last week at Heinz Field — stage-side; he knew a guy — the Birdie has been strutting around the office like Mick Jagger. He can’t believe how entertaining the band is...

Class 6A 2-Central Catholic (5-2, 3-1) at Hempfield (2-5, 0-4) 7 p.m. Friday, Spartan Stadium, Hempfield Central Catholic lost a game and its No. 1 ranking last week when it fell to Mt. Lebanon, 35-14, in a game that carried over into Saturday morning because of lightning delays. Gannon Carothers...

The Brownsville at Mt. Pleasant football game scheduled for Friday night has been canceled and will be ruled a no contest by the WPIAL. Brownsville told Mt. Pleasant it does not have enough players to compete due to covid-19 concerns. No. 4-ranked Mt. Pleasant will not pursue another opponent on...

Last week: 11-2 (84.6%) Season: 51-22 (69.9%) ^ The Birdie had a lot of jobs growing up before he finally answered his calling to become a prep football virtuoso. “I tested crash helmets for a spell, was a survey taker for Family Feud briefly, and read palms on weekends,” he...

Class 6A Baldwin (1-5, 1-2) at Hempfield (2-4, 0-3) 7 p.m. Friday, Bill Abraham Field at Spartan Stadium, Hempfield The Spartans dropped their third consecutive conference game, falling at Canon-McMillan, 45-27. Baldwin picked up its first win of the season by scoring on a blocked punt and fumble return to...

The WPIAL’s longest losing streak is over. Adam Fernandez scored on a 60-yard punt return and an 81-yard kickoff return as Ambridge scored a 35-9 victory over Hopewell (0-5, 0-1) in the Class 3A Northwestern 6 Conference on Friday night, snapping a 28-game losing skid. Deavon Ivory threw for 107...

Moon senior Mia Cochran truly has the hang of the White Oak Park cross country course. The Moon senior and two-time WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A champion defended her Red, White & Blue Class 3A title Saturday, holding off Morgantown (W.Va.) junior Irene Riggs by three seconds. Cochran won with...

It was a busy opening weekend to the 2021 season for many WPIAL girls volleyball teams with dual-match and tournament action. The Western PA Volleyball Coaches Association released its Week 1 Top 10 poll Monday morning, and North Allegheny (Class AAAA), Montour (Class AAA), North Catholic (Class AA) and Bishop...

WPIAL girls soccer preview Class 4A Defending champion: With Sarah Schupansky and others gone, two-time defending champ North Allegheny will be a different team. But the Tigers only lost six players to graduation. Lucia Wells and Anna Bundy will keep the Tigers in the mix. Contenders: Peters Township looks to...

The 2021 High School All-American soccer games will be played Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla. The WPIAL might have quite a showing on a national stage. Ten senior players from the district are on the All-American games watch list, which came out Wednesday, including eight girls. Selections will be announced...