High School category, Page 366
Hampton hockey shows glimpses of potential while gaining varsity experience
Hampton hockey coach Buck McKee knew some growing pains awaited his young Talbots this season. With a combined 12 freshmen and sophomores on the 18-man roster, experience was the biggest missing ingredient. “They are all very talented, and as far as the skill level goes, I think we are deeper...
Seniors spearhead another impressive season for Hampton boys soccer
The Hampton boys soccer team prepared for the 2023 season by attending soccer camp in mid-August in Edinboro that included a trip to a nearby water park. Then the Talbots made a splash. Hampton put together another memorable season, rolling to the Section 1-3A title, returning to the WPIAL finals...
Gateway girls ready to turn corner after challenging seasons
Senior Anayla Jordan had an optimistic tone when asked about the prospects for this year’s Gateway girls basketball team. The lone starter back from a team that fought through challenges last year and finished with a 4-18 overall mark and an 0-12 record in Section 1-5A, Jordan said the players...
Gateway boys aim to continue trend of PIAA playoff appearances
Members of the Gateway boys basketball team were outdoors on the football stadium track last week for a series of conditioning runs just a couple of days before the start of official preseason practices. Gators coach Alvis Rogers said endurance in games will be key for his players as they...
Sewickley Academy girls tennis season highlighted by section title, state playoff berth
Sewickley Academy had little difficulty defeating District 5 champion Bedford in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A girls tennis playoffs. The Panthers, coached by the legendary Whitney Snyder, won by a 4-1 margin. It was a bit of a different outcome in Round 2, as Scranton Prep, the...
Sewickley Academy girls soccer makes playoffs with young roster, looks to bright future
The Sewickley Academy girls soccer team landed in the WPIAL playoffs once again in 2023. Coached by Dale Giovengo, Sewickley posted a 6-4 record in Section 3-A to end up third behind Freedom (10-0) and Eden Christian (7-3). The Panthers received the No. 11 seed for the postseason. “I am...
Quaker Valley athletes focus on sportsmanship at WPIAL summit
Quaker Valley athletics was in vogue at the 14th annual WPIAL Summit on Sportsmanship held Nov. 8 at the Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. More than 400 student-athletes from schools throughout Western Pennsylvania gathered at the event, which was presented by The Wilson Group and...
Penn-Trafford wrestling looking to take another step forward
There is a change at the top of the Penn-Trafford wrestling program, but it’s only temporary. Larry Hohman has taken over as head coach for the upcoming season while Travis McKillop adjusts to his new job. McKillop is expected to return to the head coaching position for the 2024-25 season....
Pine-Richland notebook: 6 Rams make college choices official
A half dozen Pine-Richland athletes made their college choices official during the early national signing day Nov. 8. Three softball players — Mackenzie Gillis (Mercyhurst), Jocelyn Langer (Millersville) and Izzy Sulesky (Susquehanna) — girls lacrosse player Ashley Woodward (Mercyhurst), boys lacrosse player Cooper Zancosky (Oberlin) and girls basketball player Madison...
Penn-Trafford notebook: 8 Warriors named to all-conference 1st team
The Penn-Trafford football team didn’t win the Big East Conference, but the Warriors did dominate the first team all-conference team with eight players selected by conference coaches. Selected to the first-team offense were junior center Ethan Septak, senior guard Riley McCaw, senior tight end Mark Jollie, junior running back Tasso...
Penn Hills notebook: Senior soccer standout chosen for all-star game
Penn Hills senior Landon Hankey had to tough out playing two sports during his senior season. The Indians boys soccer team’s senior goalkeeper struggled to stay on the field. However, he was able to grind it out and find a way to play as much as possible in both football...
Plum, Riverview athletes ink plans for college careers
For many high school seniors throughout the WPIAL, Nov. 8 was the culmination of years or hard work, dedication and determination. It also was a celebration as those athletes were able to finalize their decisions to continue on in their chosen path to the next level. National letter of intent...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 18, 2023
High schools Football WPIAL playoffs Class 6A Championship Saturday’s result North Allegheny 44, Central Catholic 41 Class 5A Championship Saturday’s result Peters Township 43, Pine-Richland 17 Class 4A Championship Friday’s schedule Aliquippa (11-0) vs. McKeesport (11-1) at Acrisure Stadium, 8 p.m. Class 3A Championship Friday’s schedule Belle Vernon (10-1) vs....
With 6 TDs, North Allegheny QB Logan Kushner shines brightest in WPIAL title win over Central Catholic
“Best player on the field” was how North Allegheny coach Art Walker described his quarterback Logan Kushner. Sure, there were bigger guys out there. He’s not headed to a Big Ten school. Division I colleges aren’t really recruiting him. But on a field dotted with major-college talents, Kushner passed for...
North Allegheny handles pressure, sweeps Unionville for 7th straight PIAA volleyball crown
SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP — North Allegheny and state girls volleyball championships are synonymous with each other. North Allegheny won its seventh straight PIAA Class 4A title Saturday night with a sweep of Unionville at Cumberland Valley. Game scores were 25-18, 25-18, and 26-24. The only loss this season for WPIAL...
Moon passes tough title-game test to complete PIAA 3-peat
MECHANICSBURG — Two Goliaths grappled in the Class 3A girls soccer state championship game. Reigning back-to-back champion Moon defeated undefeated Abington Heights, 3-1, securing a state final three-peat Saturday night. “Three in a row’s nice. I’m happy for the kids,” Moon coach Bill Pfeifer said. “To win one that really...
Hampton falls to Pope John Paul II in state championship battle of volleyball unbeatens
SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP — Hampton took its unbeaten streak on the road to Cumberland Valley High School for the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championships against fellow unbeaten and defending state champion Pope John Paul II from District 1 on Saturday. Pope John Paul II repeated as champions, winning 3-1...
Freeport boys establishing culture under new coach after losing 10 seniors
Rich Macura basically has been involved with Freeport basketball his entire life. He started as a player in third grade and was a longtime assistant coach for the Yellowjackets, so getting the opportunity to be the bench boss at his alma mater is a dream come true. “What’s exciting is...
Experienced Freeport girls rally around new coach Mallory Ketterer
It’s been a year of positive transition for Mallory Ketterer. She recently welcomed a new baby into the world and now is gearing up for her first season as the Freeport girls basketball coach. Ketterer spent the last four years as an assistant to former Freeport coach Fred Soilis, who...
Hempfield girls basketball wants to push pace this season
Bob Madison has been coaching girls athletics long enough to have reached a universal truth, at least one that rings true in his mind. “Girls work harder than boys,” the first-year Hempfield girls basketball coach said. “They have this innate nature to want to learn and listen. The boys like...
Hempfield boys ready to reap rewards from growing pains
Last season was a series of gradual improvements interrupted by teaching moments for the Hempfield boys basketball team. The Spartans lost their first two section games by a combined 90 points but won two of their final three to settle at 8-14 overall and 3-7 in Section 2-6A. Section coaches...
Delco Christian stops Charleroi in Class A state title game
Something had to give when Charleroi and District 1’s Delco Christian met to decide the PIAA Class A boys soccer championship Saturday afternoon at Cumberland Valley’s Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg. Both the Knights and the Cougars came in seeking their first state title. The teams also reached the...
Peters Township routs defending 5A champ Pine-Richland for 1st WPIAL football title
Peters Township would not be denied this time. After falling in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game to Gateway in 2019 and Pine-Richland in 2020, the top-seeded Indians put together a dominating performance Saturday and rolled over Pine-Richland, 43-17, at Norwin Knights Stadium. It was the program’s first WPIAL football...
Riverview settles for silver after falling to Dock Mennonite in PIAA Class A girls soccer final
MECHANICSBURG — The Riverview girls soccer team’s history-making postseason run ended one win short of PIAA gold. District 1 champion Dock Mennonite (21-1-2) scored twice in the in the first half and three more times over the final 40 minutes to finish off a 5-1 victory in the Class A...
With top 8 players back, Shaler boys feeling confident
Shaler boys basketball coach Rob Niedeberger has always prided himself on having depth in his program. This season, the Titans had more than a solid foundation to build on. Shaler will bring back the top eight players from its rotation last season. Six of those players go straight from hanging...
