High School category, Page 166
Shaler wrestlers expect to be in the hunt for sub-section title, spots at WPIALs
Shaler sophomore wrestler Anthony Jones is in an ideal position for a wrestler competing in the lightest weight class. Jones wasn’t focused on figuring out how to cut weight to get down to 107 pounds in the offseason. Instead, Jones spent the offseason worrying about adding weight. “He has a...
Baldwin spotlights wide array of alumni working in sports media
Baldwin is becoming known as a school that produces a mass influx of professionals in the sports media industry. The long list of Baldwin alumni in the business includes Austin Bechtold (93.7 The Fan), Cory Berger (JRM Sports), Nathan Breisinger (Pittsburgh Sports Now), Marc Cardillo (Pittsburgh Penguins, JRM), Kevin Gorman...
Brentwood girls eye return trip to WPIAL postseason
The Brentwood girls basketball team is looking to build on last year’s WPIAL playoff season. Brentwood finished third in Section 2-2A with a 6-4 record a year ago behind co-champions Fort Cherry (9-1) and Burgettstown (9-1). “I’m very excited for this season,” coach Rachel Thomas said. “We have a solid...
With deepest lineup in years, Brentwood boys excited about season’s possibilities
The Brentwood boys basketball team had a great deal of anticipation for the tipoff of the 2024-25 season. And it started with their veteran coach, Dan Thayer. “Our expectations for this year’s team are high,” Thayer said. “We return eight players from last year’s team and have added three new...
Baldwin girls seek improvement behind experienced roster
Baldwin’s girls basketball team finished 9-13 overall in 2023-24. The Highlanders are looking for a vast improvement on that record in 2024-25. “We have very high expectations this year,” Baldwin coach Jamal Woodson said. “We have been in the gym non-stop, and we have been working on developing a different...
Even after WPIAL finals appearance, Baldwin boys still seek breakout year
Jeff Ackermann is in his fifth season as head coach of the Baldwin boys basketball team. The Highlanders have shown improvement each year capped by a memorable appearance in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game last winter. Baldwin lost to Upper St. Clair, 64-41, at Petersen Events Center after defeating...
Sewickley Herald notebook: Junior helps Quaker Valley hockey to quick start
Junior forward Max Modrovich led the Quaker Valley hockey team to a first-place regular-season finish in 2023-24 in the PIHL Varsity A Gold Division. Modrovich, also known as “Double M,” accounted for 19 goals and 21 assists to pace the Quakers offensively. QV racked up a 16-3-0-1 regular-season record, good...
With colleges in hot pursuit, 6-5 guard Mimi Thiero leads Quaker Valley girls into season
Mimi Thiero’s basketball credentials are well grounded. Thiero is an awe-inspiring 6-foot-5 junior guard/forward on the Quaker Valley girls basketball team and a third-year starter. As a freshman, the athletic hoopster was QV’s leading scorer (13.2 points per game) and rebounder (10.4 per game). She also led the team in...
Quaker Valley swimmers look to build on successful season
The Quaker Valley swimming and diving program racked up a banner season in 2023-24. The Quakers are looking for similar results in 2024-25. But before diving too deep into this year, a review of last season as it pertains to the team’s returning athletes seems to be in order. Margaret...
New era begins for Eden Christian girls basketball
Not only is it a new season for the Eden Christian Academy girls basketball team, the Warriors started the season with almost a whole new team. A pair of sophomore guards, Emmie Smith and Hannah Wallace, are the only girls back from last year’s 10-player squad. “We are experiencing a...
Penn-Trafford boys basketball gets off to fast start
Penn-Trafford boys basketball coach Doug Kelly could not have asked for a better start from his team in the season-opener against rival Norwin. The Warriors scored the game’s first 10 points of the game, withstood any pushback from Norwin, rebounded well and ended up with an impressive 68-51 victory. Penn-Trafford...
Coach Brandon Sensor happy to kick off new era of Shaler boys basketball
Brandon Sensor was happy to earn the opportunity to lead the Shaler boys basketball program. For one thing, Sensor got to be closer to home for his four children, who are all 6 and under. Sensor and his family live in the Shaler district. He also has the interesting challenge...
Chartiers Valley wrestling looking to rebound with international flair
When you walk down the steps into the depths of the Chartiers Valley gymnasium and wind your way through the hallways, you’ll eventually find the Colts wrestling practice rooms. On your way to the rooms, you pass a weight room on your right that is partitioned off from the hallway...
Chartiers Valley swimming aims high with largest roster in a decade
Last year, the Chartiers Valley girls swim team fell just short of its goal of winning back-to-back section titles, suffering a single section loss to Montour. Even though it was disappointing, coach Morgan Soulia said the failure to reach that goal did not diminish what the team accomplished during the...
Baldwin athletes take lessons from annual WPIAL sportsmanship summit
The 15th annual WPIAL Summit on Sportsmanship took place Nov. 13 at the Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. Student-athletes from the schools in attendance listened to keystone speakers discuss topics related to the importance of sportsmanship in athletics, and the league recognized Cornell and Moon,...
Thomas Jefferson girls soccer season marked by improvement, 1-goal losses
First place in Section 3-3A was at stake Oct. 7 for the Thomas Jefferson and South Fayette girls soccer teams. A TJ win would result in the two teams sharing the section championship. A victory by South Fayette would give the Lions sole possession of the top spot. South Fayette...
Thomas Jefferson girls look to set new standard with revamped lineup
Thomas Jefferson’s girls basketball team has won nine games in each of the past two seasons. The Jaguars intend to reach double figures in 2024-25. “I expect everyone to work extremely hard and compete. We’re hoping to make the playoffs,” said TJ’s third-year coach Matt Gould, a Penn State graduate...
Thomas Jefferson players reflect on school’s 11th WPIAL football championship
One for the other thumb? Definitely. Distinguished coach Bill Cherpak led the Thomas Jefferson football team to the apex of the WPIAL Class 4A mountaintop this season. The No. 1-seeded Jaguars defeated newly anointed rival and No. 3 seed McKeesport, 28-7, on Nov. 16 at Norwin to give Cherpak his...
Despite abrupt end, Thomas Jefferson piled up highlights during boys soccer season
The Thomas Jefferson boys soccer team lost its first game of the 2024 season in double overtime. The Jaguars did not lose another one in the regular season in ringing up a 10-1-3 record in Section 2-3A. TJ earned the section championship — its third in four years — ahead...
Thomas Jefferson boys planning encore after successful season
The Thomas Jefferson boys basketball team has a tough act to follow in 2024-25. Last year’s team enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history as the Jaguars advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A semifinal round and racked up a 21-6 record. “Our kids did everything I asked,” coach...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 7, 2024
High schools Basketball Boys Saturday’s results Aquinas Academy tournament Consolation Cheswick Christian Academy 67, Propel Montour 50 Championship Aquinas Academy 84, South Park 77 Baldwin/Peters Township tournament Baldwin 73, Altoona 49 Shaler 74, Peters Township 44 Brentwood tournament Consolation Geibel Catholic 61, Freedom 50 Championship Carrick 75, Brentwood 45 Brownsville...
High school roundup for Dec. 7, 2024: Neshannock girls sweep day-night tipoff doubleheader
When she looked at the final version of her regular season schedule, Neshannock girls basketball coach Luann Grybowski realized her team had been double booked for Saturday. Rather than cancel one of the games at the last minute, she decided to make a day of it. The Lancers (4-0) swept...
We Serve First all-star event shows continued growth in 2024 event
There is always a fire and good competition at the We Serve First Volleyball All-Star Classic, but some years outshine others. Tim Toy saw first hand after Friday night’s practice just what this year’s group would bring to the event Saturday at Kiski Area High School. “All the girls came...
St. Joseph’s Prep overpowers Central Catholic to win 3rd straight state title
MECHANICSBURG — Khyan Billups isn’t the St. Joseph’s Prep running back bound for Ohio State, but the junior might’ve fooled anyone watching him Saturday night. With help from a talented offensive line, Billups took the first snap 80 yards to the end zone for one of his three touchdowns, and...
Strong defensive effort leads Hempfield girls past Greensburg Salem
Hempfield’s girls are starting to believe in the merits of team defense. The proof is in the “daggers” and “turkeys.” Daggers are recorded when Hempfield gets a defensive stop and scores right after it. Turkeys, like bowling, are when the Lady Spartans collect three defensive stops in a row. With...
