Bill Hartlep stories, Page 31
Bishop Canevin ready to rebuild brick by brick
Building takes time … brick by brick. There are steps to every project, and levels that need to be achieved. New Bishop Canevin football coach Richard Johnson hopes to establish a solid foundation this season and begin to rebuild the proud program at Bishop Canevin. Brick by brick. “It’s a...
Ambridge works to get up to speed before season-opener
Veteran football coach Don Phillips had a quick response when asked of his biggest concern entering the 2020 season, his second at the helm at Ambridge. “Conditioning.” Ambridge is a bit behind the 8-ball after the school district shut down offseason workouts Aug. 3 when three students tested positive for...
Improvements in strength, conditioning to be key for Hopewell
Hopewell was a first-half football team a year ago. The Vikings came out strong each game with energy, excitement and the competitive juices flowing. Too often, however, they ran out of gas in the second half. Second-year coach Matt Weiss wants to make sure that trend doesn’t continue this season....
Tanner Garry looks to restore tradition at alma mater Fort Cherry
Tanner Garry remembers fondly his playing days at Fort Cherry. It was just nine years ago when he threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns to lead the Rangers to a 7-4 record and a trip to the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals. Fans lined the fences at Jim Garry...
Shenango to lean on versatile Reis Watkins in move to Big Seven
The plan was always to get the ball in Reis Watkins’ hands. He’ll just get it a little sooner than expected now. The Shenango senior ran for 1,269 yards and 13 touchdowns as the team’s feature running back a year ago. He will start this season taking snaps at quarterback...
Quaker Valley’s young, battle-tested roster ready to rebound
There are just three seniors on the Quaker Valley football roster this fall. Typically, that would be cause for concern. But the Quakers’ underclassmen are more experienced than most their age and have been game tested against some of the best teams WPIAL Class 3A has to offer. “The junior...
With coach in their corner, Trinity seniors set to showcase their skills
Trinity football coach Jon Miller spent time during pandemic quarantine promoting his rising senior players on Twitter. He posted photos, links to Hudl highlights and a few strengths for each of his upperclassmen. Now, with actual football about to be played, he wants to see them back up his words...
Pitt, Penn State, WVU players recognized for community service
The Wuerffel Trophy is known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.” Apparently, several area players have made their mark on their communities. Players from Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia were named to the Wuerffel Award watch list Thursday. Pitt senior defensive end Patrick Jones II, and Penn...
5 West Virginia men’s basketball players test positive for covid-19
West Virginia postponed the start of the men’s basketball team’s offseason workouts for two weeks after five players and a staff member tested positive for covid-19. The Mountaineers were scheduled to begin workouts Monday. Those who tested negative can start workouts July 20. The players and staff member who tested...
Robert Morris coaches react to move to Horizon League
Robert Morris University announced Monday that the Colonials will be competing in the Horizon League in men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, women’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s golf and softball. Here’s what Robert Morris coaches had to say about the move,...
Senior Spotlight: Latrobe captain hoped to lift Wildcats into title contention
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Ainsley Novotny and her senior teammates worked the past three years to help Latrobe girls lacrosse compete with the WPIAL powerhouses. The group hoped this would be their year...
Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional lacrosse standout denied shot at championship, still gets a parade
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Noelle Boyd has heard plenty of cheers from the stands as a member of the girls lacrosse team at Franklin Regional. On Friday evening, she will be cheered once...
Senior Spotlight: Preseason trip provided lasting memories for Division I-bound USC midfielder
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. The Upper St. Clair girls lacrosse team was able to spend more time together than most in Western Pennsylvania. There were the typical captains’ practices throughout the offseason, as...
Senior Spotlight: Mt. Lebanon 100-goal scorer wanted more for himself, team
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. John Sramac is one of the WPIAL’s top lacrosse talents. An all-section, All-WPIAL and All-MSLCA honoree a year ago, the Mt. Lebanon senior had even higher expectations for himself...
Senior Spotlight: Seton LaSalle’s All-WPIAL goalie to start anew at Youngstown State
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Youngstown State will play its first season of women’s lacrosse in 2021, and Mikaela Staranko is planning to be the Penguins’ last line of defense. The Seton LaSalle senior...
Senior Spotlight: Seneca Valley senior maintains love of lacrosse despite pandemic
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Noah VandeWater has a love of lacrosse. So much so that not even a quarantine can keep him from playing. “I pretty much play lacrosse two to three hours...
Senior Spotlight: Peters Township All-American relished impromptu senior ceremony
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Most high school spring sports athletes were deprived of a senior recognition night because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Peters Township girls lacrosse team, however, did find a way...
Senior Spotlight: Moon’s opening scrimmage a highlight for Beddings’ lacrosse season
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Alek Beddings’ senior highlight reel includes an impressive goal where he carries the ball for 40 yards, beats two defenders and scores from 10 yards out. It’s also the...
Senior Spotlight: Moon lacrosse player takes up new hobby before putting his head in the stars
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Zack Jadlocki is like many other high school seniors. He fills his time with schoolwork, video games and athletics. The coronavirus pandemic, however, has taken sporting competition away from...
Senior Spotlight: Lacrosse only part of Irwin’s starring role at Canon-McMillan
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight WPIAL spring athletes whose senior years were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. When spring began, Ashley Irwin was preparing for starring roles in the school musical and as a scoring middie/attack on the Canon-McMillan girls lacrosse team. Then, the coronavirus pandemic...
Senior Spotlight: Plum lacrosse player spending spring as ‘essential worker’
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight a WPIAL spring athlete whose senior year has been cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the world might be shut down, but Carli Chini has never been busier. The Plum senior might not be able to take the field with...
Senior spotlight: WPIAL high jump gold medalist had more championship aspirations
Editor’s note: Each day, Trib HSSN will spotlight a WPIAL spring athlete whose senior year has been cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Sami Taoufik was supposed to be standing atop a podium in his home stadium Friday night. The Butler senior and reigning WPIAL Class AAA high jump champion...
Scholarship offers start flowing in for Kiski Area defensive end Dilts
College football coaches aren’t saddled with leading spring practices or monitoring workouts or even attending daylong meetings on campus during the coronavirus pandemic. Many are stationed at home, hunkered over a computer screen, scouring highlights of high school athletes from around the country. Apparently, a junior defensive end from Kiski...
Area freshmen garner offers from Michigan
A pair of Western Pennsylvania freshmen have stepped into the recruiting spotlight this week. After receiving football scholarship offers to Pitt and Penn State earlier this week, Laurel Highlands’ Rodney Gallagher and Brashear’s Ta’Mere Robinson received offers from Michigan on Friday. Robinson, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound safety, reported offers from Syracuse,...
BeeGraphix Great 38 football all-star game canceled
A day after Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association officials called off the annual Big 33 Football Classic and East-West all-star football game, another all-star contest was canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak. The BeeGraphix Great 38 game, scheduled for June 13 at Trinity, has been canceled. The inaugural game was...
