High School category, Page 616
Upper St. Clair loaded with returning starters, ready for another playoff run
After finishing in second place in the balanced Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference a year ago, Upper St. Clair qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for a 22nd straight year. That postseason run trails only Aliquippa and Thomas Jefferson at 27 years on a row and McKeesport at 24 straight playoff...
Short on seniors, Peters Township looks for next wave to take over
Senior night promises to be a short affair at Peters Township. The football team has only five seniors, so coach T.J. Plack will turn to his junior and sophomore classes to fill some leading roles as the Indians seek a sixth straight trip to the WPIAL playoffs. “Depth will be...
After unforgettable run to WPIAL finals, rebuilding process begins at Moon
Moon is one year removed from a historic run for the program, making its first championship appearance since 1998. Although Penn-Trafford went on to win the Class 5A title, coach Ryan Linn said the team built a lot of confidence after last year’s run. “In the 86 years we’ve played...
With slew of starters returning, expectations soaring at Bethel Park
Bethel Park coach Brian DeLallo can count on an impressive list of returning players for the 2022 edition of his football team. Missing from the list is an experienced quarterback candidate, someone to take over for the highly acclaimed Max Blanc, now a freshman at Youngstown State. “Our most pleasant...
Baldwin moves into Class 5A looking to regain confidence
Although Baldwin has taken a step down from Class 6A to 5A this season, its 2022 schedule still can be considered a grind. Along with conference games against Bethel Park, Moon, Peters Township, South Fayette and Upper St. Clair, Baldwin will have early season matchups with Brashear, Thomas Jefferson, North...
Experienced Seneca Valley squad ready to make a run for gold in Class 6A
Editor’s note: Starting today, Trib HSSN will preview one WPIAL conference per day until the start of high school football season Aug. 26. Back in the mid-2000s, Seneca Valley was a struggling Class AAAA program just trying to stay out of the basement in the old Quad North Conference. The...
Perfection in the past, Mt. Lebanon starts new season with lots of fresh faces
Editor’s note: Starting today, Trib HSSN will preview one WPIAL conference per day until the start of high school football season Aug. 26. When Bob Palko made the big move to Mt. Lebanon after decades of success and championships at West Allegheny, he knew there was something special about the...
Central Catholic looking to regain championship swagger
Editor’s note: Starting today, Trib HSSN will preview one WPIAL conference per day until the start of high school football season Aug. 26. “Inexperience” is a word high school football coaches use a lot in August. Whether it is at a starting position or depth, the fear of the unknown...
New coach brings passion for basketball to struggling Jeannette girls program
Adopted at age 11 and growing up in a family of eight siblings, Anna Leonard learned to make her own way through life. Basketball has been her vehicle. It is her passion. After all, her nickname is “Hoopz.” “I moved out after high school, and I have been running the...
New football coach Eric Kasperowicz wants to repeat Pine-Richland success at Mars
Last names were written on strips of tape and stuck to the forehead of Mars football helmets, a tool to help new coach Eric Kasperowicz and his assistants learn the names a little quicker. It’s an old school tactic but one he hadn’t used much since his early days at...
Highlands grad Alan Crise aims to help local student-athletes navigate recruiting path
Alan Crise went through the college recruiting process during his senior year at Highlands in 2011-12, and the football, basketball and track and field participant remembers having a lot of questions throughout the journey that ultimately led to a track and field scholarship at Division II West Virginia Wesleyan. After...
Nolan Larry takes reins of Elizabeth Forward boys basketball
Nolan Larry watched from afar last season while the Elizabeth Forward boys basketball team enjoyed quite a bit of success. Larry, a newly hired chemistry teacher at the high school, sat in the gymnasium stands on a few occasions as Matt Loftis and his staff led the Warriors to a...
Breaking down changes to the 2023-24 WPIAL boys tennis alignment
The WPIAL released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports, and changes will be implemented starting this fall. This summer, the Tribune-Review will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports. Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL boys tennis season: 2022 WPIAL championships Class...
Breaking down changes to the 2023-24 WPIAL boys volleyball alignment
The WPIAL released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports, and changes will be implemented starting this fall. This summer, the Tribune-Review will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports. Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL boys volleyball season: 2022 WPIAL championships Class...
Breaking down changes to the 2023-24 WPIAL track and field alignment
The WPIAL released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports, and changes will be implemented starting this fall. This summer, the Tribune-Review will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports. Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL track and field season: 2022 WPIAL championships...
High-end Pittsburgh summer basketball league features fierce competition, fun trash talk
Every Monday through Thursday afternoon during the summer, Gilmore Cummings comes to A Giving Heart Community Center, a small, gritty gym located on Climax Street in Allentown, to prepare for the night’s basketball games. “I want to build a culture for the pros and college kids here in Pittsburgh,” Cummings...
Breaking down changes to the 2022-23 PIHL alignment
WPIAL sports aren’t the only ones that went through realignment in the offseason. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League also made some changes to its alignment in advance of the 2022-23 season. This summer, the Tribune-Review will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports and the PIHL. Here’s a...
Breaking down changes to the 2023-24 WPIAL girls lacrosse alignment
The WPIAL released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports, and changes will be implemented starting this fall. This summer, the Tribune-Review will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports. Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL girls lacrosse season: 2022 WPIAL champions Class...
Breaking down changes to the 2023-24 WPIAL boys lacrosse alignment
The WPIAL released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports, and changes will be implemented starting this fall. This summer, the Tribune-Review will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports. Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL boys lacrosse season: 2022 WPIAL champions Class...
Canon-McMillan looks to join elite in shrinking Class 6A
Editor’s note: Starting today, Trib HSSN will preview one WPIAL conference per day until the start of high school football season Aug. 26. Canon-McMillan football coach Michael Evans is not a math wizard. However, he seems to have a grasp on the numbers breakdown in Class 6A this season. “Lebo,...
North Allegheny expects to be in the title mix in Class 6A
Editor’s note: Starting today, Trib HSSN will preview one WPIAL conference per day until the start of high school football season Aug. 26. The bar is always set high at North Allegheny. While most football coaches would be content with a younger team finishing 7-5 overall and reaching the district...
Latrobe basketball standout Emma Blair verbally commits to S.C. Upstate
Emma Blair wanted to make her college commitment before the start of her senior year. The rising senior basketball standout at Latrobe didn’t want to wait around for any more Division I scholarship offers, though, so she snagged the first one on the table. Blair announced Sunday a verbal commitment...
Former Mars coach takes over Sewickley Academy girls soccer program
The Dale Giovengo coaching era begins this season in the Sewickley Academy girls soccer program. Giovengo was hired in mid-July to take over for Jessica Peluso, who resigned for family reasons. “Jessica Peluso was a dedicated and passionate leader of our women’s soccer program for over 18 years,” SA athletic...
Bushy Run, Penn-Trafford complete strong Legion seasons
If anything was learned about the Bushy Run American Legion and Penn-Trafford Junior American Legion programs in 2022, it’s that the future is bright and the programs remain strong. Both teams had successful campaigns this summer. Bushy Run finished second in the District 31 American Legion regular season, third in...
Plum sophomore’s game grows heading into high school golf season
Wes Lorish said he didn’t play his best golf last week at the 46th Junior PGA Championship at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Palos Park, Ill., but the Plum sophomore and returning WPIAL individual semifinalist said he was grateful for the opportunity to test his mettle with some...
