High School category, Page 427
After a long offseason, the Birdie is ready to stick to football and Westmoreland County picks
The Birdie Last season: 107-29 (78.7%) His feeble body is healing fine, thanks for asking. The Birdie, who became bored without football, was roughed up this offseason. There is no way to sugar-coat it. First, he was thrown off a local basketball team’s charter bus for trying to go to...
2023 WPIAL Class 6A football breakdown: New coaches add intrigue to competitive fieldVideo
Nearly half of the teams in the WPIAL’s largest classification have new football coaches in 2023. Now before launching an investigation into the coaching landscape in the district, keep in mind, there are only five teams in Class 6A. The two coaches who stepped away are quite significant. Terry Totten...
2023 WPIAL Class 5A football breakdown: Reaching postseason no easy taskVideo
In WPIAL Class 5A, there’s no room for error. Penn Hills knows that as well as anyone after ending last season disappointed. The Indians tied for second in the Northeast Conference, yet missed the playoffs on tiebreakers. They had even celebrated a regular-season win over eventual state champion Pine-Richland, but...
2023 WPIAL Class 4A football breakdown: Aliquippa begins quest for 3-peatVideo
No team has three-peated as WPIAL champion in Class 4A since the WPIAL went to six classifications in 2016. Thomas Jefferson won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017, but South Fayette stopped the Jaguars’ attempt for a third straight in 2018. TJ again won titles in 2019 and 2020, but...
2023 WPIAL Class 3A football breakdown: Belle Vernon heavily favored to repeatVideo
If you ask any coach which team is considered the best in WPIAL Class 3A, the unanimous choice is returning WPIAL and PIAA champion Belle Vernon. The Leopards (12-2) return a roster full of starters from a squad that defeated Avonworth, 24-7, in the WPIAL finals and Philadelphia’s Neumann-Goretti, 9-8,...
2023 WPIAL Class 2A football breakdown: Graduation leaves road to Acrisure wide openVideo
Last season, the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs were a star-studded affair. Take a quick look at the four teams that reached the semifinals and the resumes of their quarterbacks. • WPIAL champion Steel Valley had Cruce Brookins, who led the district with 34 rushing touchdowns and is now at Pitt....
2023 WPIAL Class A football breakdown: Strength of Big 7 Conference on displayVideo
It’s popular coachspeak to say that a meat-grinder conference schedule prepares teams for the postseason. Last season, that appeared to be absolutely accurate in the WPIAL Class A Big 7 Conference. Laurel won the conference with a 6-0 record and earned the No. 2 seed for the Class A playoffs...
2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the tight ends
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top tight ends for the 2023 season. 1. Brandon London Shaler Senior, 6-3, 240 Shaler’s two biggest wins last season were over playoff qualifiers Franklin Regional and Woodland Hills,...
After losing playmakers to graduation, expectations remain high at Sto-Rox
Ever notice how Aliquippa never really has a rebuilding year? “We graduated a lot of seniors. Going to be lucky to go 5-5,” said no Quip ever. Sto-Rox coach Marvin Mills is a former Aliquippa assistant, which explains how he’s approaching this season, his second with the Vikings. “I still...
Keystone Oaks eyes deep playoff run with veteran roster
Keystone Oaks will look for another deep playoff run as most of its starters return from a team that advanced to the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals last season. The Golen Eagles bring back seven starters on each side of the ball, including senior Clinton Robinson, who was named to the...
New coaching regime looks to get Brentwood back to playoffs
Brentwood’s football team finished 2-4 in the Class 2A Century Conference last season and 3-7 overall. Longtime coach Kevin Kissel resigned. Nick Caponi, who served as an assistant under Kissel for 18 years, fulfilled a lifelong dream by taking over. “So far, the coaching staff has loved how hard the...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Latrobe girls soccer coaches take on 1st season as husband and wife
Jamie Morrison and Ross Campbell will begin their eighth season together as coaches of the Latrobe girls soccer team. This will be their first season, however, as wife and husband. The couple got married in June, nearly a decade after they met during a pick-up soccer game at Hempfield Park....
Peter Kramer leads senior-heavy Hampton boys golf team
The Hampton boys golf team is looking to turn experience into exultation. The senior-ladened Talbots return five of their top six golfers from a 6-11 team and entered the 2023 season with lofty expectations. The nine-player roster consists of eight seniors and one junior, making it the most seasoned group...
With typically strong defense, Franklin Regional girls soccer prepares to contend again
Each game it is the same. Invade the opponents’ space and be disruptive. Contest shots and clear the ball. Make them work until their formation rips just slightly enough to allow for a goal or two — enough offense to put a nice shine on a shutout. It’s Franklin Regional’s...
Norwin notebook: Former Knights baseball standout wins Palomino World Series
Summer baseball is more fun when it comes with some hardware. Just ask Norwin graduate Justin Weaver. While you were on vacation, he was on the fast track to a world series ring. A member of the Youngstown, Ohio, Palomino team, Weaver celebrated a Palomino World Series title with 13...
Expect excitement from loaded Norwin boys soccer team
Scott Schuchert is looking at this boys soccer season with eager eyes. “Exciting times,” the veteran Norwin coach said. The Knights always seem to be in the hunt in Class 4A, and it doesn’t appear this season will be any different. Despite falling to eventual champion Pine-Richland in the WPIAL...
Top scorer on soccer field, hockey rink takes place in Pine-Richland hall of fame
Matt Crummy was an all-around athlete in his high school days at Pine-Richland. He was also an all-terrain athlete. Whether it was on the grass of a soccer field, the ice at a hockey rink or the rubberized surface of the track, Crummy made an impact with the Rams. He’s...
Record-holder Codi Mullen seeks more yardage, team success for Knoch
Codi Mullen has a unique opportunity this fall. He has the chance to break his own school record. Mullen, a junior quarterback, threw for 1,660 yards last year, breaking a 35-year Knoch record for passing yards in a season. It was a highlight in a difficult season for the Knights,...
Success, death of teammate have reawakened passion for football at Monessen
Monessen’s T.J. Taylor is only a sophomore. But he talks like a senior. He acts like a senior. He is one of the players who has taken it upon himself to make sure teammates are attending workouts and weightlifting sessions. “This year, I’m noticing it doesn’t matter what class you’re...
Steelers quarterbacks check out Willie Thrower Award for area’s top QB
The Willie Thrower Award trophy made its way to Pittsburgh Steelers training camp this week. The trophy is awarded annually to the top quarterback from WPIAL and City League schools. Steelers quarterbacks Tanner Morgan, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph posed with the 2023 Willie Thrower Award at the...
2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the offensive line
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top offensive linemen for the 2023 season. 1. Ryan Cory Pine-Richland Senior, 6-4, 290 Pine-Richland had one of the state’s best running attacks last season, and the blocks Cory...
High school sports scores for Aug. 18, 2023
High schools Golf Friday’s results Boys Class 3A Section 1 Penn-Trafford 203, Armstrong 217 Medalist: Nick Turowski (PT), 38 Section 3 North Allegheny 186, North Hills 210 Medalist: Jake Watterson (NA) Section 4 Franklin Regional 203, Kiski Area 212 Medalists: Jose Balza Jr. (FR), 38; Dylan Matenkosky (KA), 38 Plum...
Clairton seeking donations to renovate 93-year-old football stadium
Before next football season, Clairton’s nearly century-old stadium could undergo a major renovation with new seats, locker rooms and restrooms, artificial turf, modern lighting and a brickwork entrance. But first, organizers need to raise $3 million in donations, a campaign announced Friday as the high school team held media day...
Bill Hand returns to Riverside sidelines as Panthers aim to contend in MAC
More than two decades since the last time they had a chance to welcome their new head coach with the phrase, the Riverside football team is ready to again say, “Aloha, Mr. Hand.” A longtime coach and teacher in the Riverside School District, Bill Hand is about to begin his...
New Brighton ready to move forward after challenging season
When a team goes winless like New Brighton did last season, it has two options. Players can either burn the memory into their brains and use it as motivation or they can burn the game tapes and immediately turn the page. Lions coach Tony Caltury decided to take a little...
