Andrew John stories, Page 12

After winning their first PIAA football title since 1995 last season, members of the Penn Hills football program have turned the page to focus on the coming campaign. With a young and inexperienced team, coach Jon LeDonne has been trying to find ways for his players to gain valuable experience...

After finishing second in the Westmoreland County Youth Legion North Division last year, the Penn Hills Baseball Association Junior Legion team struggled this season as only a handful of players returned from last year’s team. Penn Hills finished the regular season 4-12 and was outscored 112-58 by its opponents in...

The Schifino name is well known in the athletic circles of the Penn Hills community. The family tradition of basketball success continues as Jalen Hood-Schifino is getting national attention similar to his uncle, Drew Schifino. Hood-Schifino, who now resides in Charlotte, N.C., recently was ranked No. 23 as a five-star...

With their program’s 30th year looming, Chuck and Becci Carter continue to be gratified by assisting and developing youth athletes through the Penn Hills Eagles Track Club. This year, the Penn Hills Eagles Track Club consists of 90 athletes. The team includes members of the Penn Hills community and also...

After winning two of three tournaments to start the season, the Pittsburgh Elite 10U flag football team is now ranked No. 1 in the nation in a division that consists of around 60 teams. Pittsburgh Elite (15-1), coached by Penn Hills alum Jayvin Turner, recently won all five games in...

Tommy Kegerreis School: Franklin Regional Sport: Baseball Class: Senior Claim to fame: Kegerreis went 2 for 5 with three RBIs to lead Franklin Regional (19-3) to a 13-4 win over District 10 champion Erie Cathedral Prep in the PIAA Class 5A first round at Neshannock on June 3. Kegerreis went...

A majority of the seniors from the Penn Hills football who helped win a state championship for the first time since 1995 got to play together for one final time. Eleven seniors from Penn Hills played for the Never Fear team in the NFBD all-star football game June 2 at...

Mario Disso School: Penn-Trafford Sport: Baseball Class: Senior Claim to fame: Disso, a Pitt-Johnstown recruit, drove in a run in the third inning during the WPIAL Class 6A championship May 30, but Penn-Trafford (18-5) lost 7-2 to Pine-Richland. The Warriors’ season ended after 6-5 loss to Wilson in the first...

Last fall, the Penn Hills football program won its first PIAA championship since 1995. Jayvin Turner, a Penn Hills graduate, is trying to do his part for future championships by laying the foundation for the next group of Penn Hills athletes. Turner is in his second year coaching the Pittsburgh...

A year ago when Anthony Tucci was trying to make his college decision, he decided to attend CCAC-Boyce to have more time to consider his academic and athletic paths. After a year there, the Penn Hills grad announced May 17 his intentions to play baseball at Clarion for the final...

Justin Huss School: Derry Sport: Track and field Year: Junior Claim to fame: Huss set a school record after finishing fifth in the 400-meter run in 49.53 seconds at the PIAA Class AA championships at Shippensburg on Saturday. “I was happy to place fifth. I was seeded sixth going into...

This season, the Penn Hills track and field program has been led by the girls team. If the Indians wanted to travel to Shippensburg this season, they were going to have to lean on senior Lillia Allen in the shot put and discus, as well as their 400- and 1,600-meter...

In recent years, there has always been a member of the Penn Hills fitness program who finished in the top five at the National High School Physical Fitness Championships. This year, senior Steve Salah and junior Amanda McCann each took third at nationals in Fort Indiantown Gap. McCann finished in...

Jared Bannon School: Hempfield Sport: Track and field Year: Senior Claim to fame: Bannon captured the 110-meter hurdles title in 14.11 seconds at the WPIAL Class AAA championships at Slippery Rock on May 16. Bannon qualified for the this week’s PIAA meet in the 200 by finishing fourth and will...

Drew Schifino was one of the top basketball players to come out of the WPIAL. Schifino didn’t have the smoothest ride during his playing career, which has led him to share his experiences with young players so they can learn from his experiences. Schifino, who trains basketball players during his...

Even though the Penn Hills baseball and softball programs didn’t have the type of seasons they were hoping for, five players from the two programs received all-section honors for their play this year. The Indians were headlined by junior center fielder and pitcher Yasmine Logan, who received Western PA Big...

Aaren Putt School: Greensburg Salem Sport: Baseball Year: Junior Claim to fame: Putt, who struck out two and walked one, allowed a leadoff hit to Mt. Pleasant’s Asker O’Connor and then retired the next 19 batters to lead Greensburg Salem to a 5-0 victory in a Section 1-4A game May...

When Penn Hills senior Lillia Allen was asked how to describe her high school athletic career, Allen had only two words — rocky and crazy. After missing all of her junior year with a shoulder surgery, Allen will make her third appearance at WPIALs. Allen will look to qualify for...

This year, Penn Hills brought its first PIAA football title since 1995 back to the community. The accolades for the team are still coming through, with the latest being two members of the state champion team being part of the 18th annual PSFCA Big 33 East/West game May 5 at...

Hunter Martin School: Belle Vernon Sport: Track and field Year: Senior Claim to fame: Martin, a Seton Hill commit, captured four individual titles, and the Leopards won the boys team title at the Scott Frederick Mid Mon Classic on April 29 at Charleroi. Martin placed first in the 110-meter hurdles...

Two years ago, the Penn Hills boys volleyball team was on the doorstep of qualifying for the WPIAL playoffs. With the departure of top talent combined with a tough section schedule, wins have been tough to come by for the program this season. Even if the Indians’ record (1-10, 0-9...

Wrestling has been part of Justin Perkins’ life since he was a toddler. He dreamed about being a national champion at the collegiate level. Perkins will look to accomplish that dream at Notre Dame College (Ohio) in the fall. He signed a letter of intent April 24. He also was...

Malia Anderson School: Greensburg Salem Sport: Track and field Year: Senior Claim to fame: Anderson, a Georgetown commit, won the 800 meters (2:18.52) and ran anchor for the 1,600 relay (4:13.71) and 3,200 relay (9.53.24) at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association championship meet April 27 at Latrobe. “It was a...

At a young age, Penn Hills senior Diamond-Jay Whittington was introduced to the game of basketball by her father. Now, after a bout of adversity, Whittington gets to continue to play the game at the collegiate level. After a strong sophomore season, Whittington tore the ACL in her right knee...

Last year, the Penn Hills track and field program was well represented by the boys team in the postseason meets. This year, it’s the girls turn as they look to bring a big contingent to states. After dealing with injuries last season, senior Lillia Allen is getting back into form...