Paul Schofield stories, Page 57
Rivals Hempfield, Greensburg Salem to square off for 57th time
It’s only one game on the schedule, the first of the season. And in the grand scheme of things, it won’t impact conference standings for either team. But bragging rights will again be on the line between the football players, students and communities from Hempfield and Greensburg Salem. The 2022...
Senior Daniel Tarabrella pushes Penn-Trafford to ‘keep climbing the ladder’
It was not a surprise to Penn-Trafford football coach John Ruane that Daniel Tarabrella had a fantastic junior season, helping the Warriors win their first WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A titles. “His desire is through the roof,” Ruane said. “He wants to be great, he wants to be on a...
Mt. Pleasant senior Labuda looks to help 2 teams this fall
As if Robbie Labuda wasn’t busy enough. Now the top running back for the Mt. Pleasant football team wants to add soccer to his packed schedule. It would be his fourth sport in high school. He already plays basketball and runs track. “I want to try to help them win...
Armed with championship lessons, Penn-Trafford captains ready for next chapter
It was quite a way for the 2021 Penn-Trafford football team to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary: winning its first WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championships. The Warriors capped a memorable season with a thrilling, 17-14 overtime victory over Imhotep Charter at Hersheypark Stadium on Dec. 10, 2021. And while...
WPIAL Class 3A football breakdown: Belle Vernon leads new-look field of contenders
A changing of the guard in WPIAL Class 3A football will occur in 2022 and Belle Vernon, a Class 4A finalist last year, is favored to be the top team to replace three-time WPIAL champion Central Valley. That’s because Central Valley is moving up to Class 4A after dominating Class...
Football’s a family business at Ligonier Valley this season
Ligonier Valley football coach Roger Beitel is now the elder statesman of coaches in Westmoreland County with the retirement of Jeannette’s Roy Hall. But during practice, he allows the players to play different genres of music as background noise. Entering his 19th year as coach at the school, Beitel might...
Ligonier Valley aims to stay healthy, put offensive weapons to good use
Roger Beitel begins his 19th year as head football coach at Ligonier Valley, and he hopes the 2022 season isn’t as bizarre as 2021. The fact that Ligonier Valley finished 8-3 and made the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs for the first time is amazing with the amount of injuries the...
Mt. Pleasant aims to build on WPIAL playoff experience
Mt. Pleasant’s starting quarterback from 2021 won’t be lining up behind center this season. That’s because Mt. Pleasant coach Jason Fazekas is pleased with the progress that sophomore Cole Chatfield has made in the offseason which allows him to utilize the talent of Tyler Reese in different ways to benefit...
Greensburg Salem puts offense in hands of skilled standout Cody Rubrecht
What do you do with the best athlete on your football team? If you’re Greensburg Salem coach Dave Keefer you make him your quarterback. That’s what Keefer is doing this season with senior Cody Rubrecht. Arguably the top wide receiver returning in the WPIAL, Rubrecht was dangerous every time he...
WPIAL golf preview: Teams and players to watch and dates to circle
Class 3A boys THE FAVORITE Central Catholic The Vikings, who lost to Fox Chapel by one shot in the WPIAL finals, return five of six starters. They also lost in the PIAA championship in a playoff. WATCH OUT FOR Peters Township The Indians return five of six starters, including three...
Penn-Trafford’s Nick Turowski commits to WVU, looks to defend WPIAL championship
Penn-Trafford junior Nick Turowski will be attempting to do something that has only been done eight times in 85 years of the WPIAL Class 3A golf championship: go back to back. In fact, the last time someone won consecutive titles was by Pine-Richland’s Mike Van Sickle in 2003-2004. Other notable...
Trio of Westmoreland County running backs poised for big things in PAC
When Kyrie Miller, Justin Flack and Justin Huss were playing football in high school in Westmoreland County, they torched opposing defenses. Now the trio is doing the same in the NCAA Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference. Miller starred at Ligonier Valley, where he rushed for 3,742 yards and 58 touchdowns...
Greensburg Salem senior Wallish provides huge heart
One thing a person can’t see is the size of a football player’s heart. At 5-foot-6, 125-pounds, not many people would fear Greensburg Salem senior Jerome Wallish. But don’t be fooled: Wallish isn’t afraid of a challenge. In fact, he relishes it. “You have to keep putting the work in,”...
Westmoreland County’s new football coaches breeze through Day 1 of practice
Westmoreland County’s five new high school football coaches had an uneventful first day of training camp. Players usually are greeted with hot, humid weather, but Monday was cool and damp. Things went so smoothly at Derry that Mike Arone gave his team an early dismissal. “It was a good day,”...
Penn-Trafford golfers look to take the next step
Penn-Trafford boys golf coach Andy Rizzardi said he’s set some lofty goals for his team. Not only does he want his Warriors to defend their Section 1-3A title and qualify for the WPIAL playoffs, he wants them to reach the WPIAL team finals. It would be a first in school...
Franklin Regional’s Ayden Hudock looking for breakout season
Franklin Regional football coach Lance Getsy can’t wait to unveil junior Ayden Hudock on opposing defenses this season. The coach did so when the multipurpose threat was healthy during his sophomore season. “People got a small glimpse of Ayden last year,” Getsy said. “Some nagging injuries slowed him down, but...
Pony League World Series set to begin Friday
The 2022 Pony League World Series begins Friday with two games and two fun contests for the players. Home run hitting and fastest runner contests will be held 11 a.m. Two games and opening ceremonies will be held in the evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. A full field of 10...
Penn-Trafford ready to tackle the challenge of staying on top
Penn-Trafford football coach John Ruane is faced with something he’s never encountered before: preparing a team to defend a WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championship. It’s a challenge Ruane will embrace. Penn-Trafford celebrated the school’s 50th anniversary by winning its first WPIAL and PIAA titles last season. Now Ruane said...
Franklin Regional hopes last year’s learning experience benefits returning players
Injuries to two key players derailed Franklin Regional’s 2021 football season. But those injuries could provide a boost to the 2022 campaign. Those injuries forced then first-year Franklin Regional coach Lance Getsy to play more freshmen and sophomores than he wanted. The Panthers finished with a disappointing 3-8 record, which...
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...
Washington County’s Pony World Series returns to normal
When the 2022 Pony League World Series begins Aug. 12, things will be back to normal. After the 2019 tournament was cancelled by covid-19, the 2020 version had only eight teams. A full field of 10 teams, including three international teams, will be converging on Washington County next week. The...
Seton Hill football aims to improve; IUP, Slippery Rock picked 1st in PSAC West
With nine starters returning on defense and seven on offense, the Seton Hill football team could be looking for a banner season in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in 2022. Led by preseason All-American defensive back Damonte Pratt, the Griffins will look to build off a season in which they...
Saint Vincent looks to continue to grow in PAC; Westminster picked 1st in preseason poll
If Brady Walker has anything to say about it, the Saint Vincent football team will be hoisting up the Presidents’ Athletic Conference trophy at the end of the season. The veteran quarterback, a four-year starter from Gateway, completed 192 of 323 passes for 2,738 yards and 22 touchdowns in helping...
Golf notebook: Strong finish lifts Jimmy Ellis to Pittsburgh Classic title
Amateur Jimmy Ellis of Venetia birdied the final two holes and rallied to win the Pittsburgh Classic at St. Clair Country Club. Ellis was trailing first-round leader Greensburg amateur Kevin Fajt when he made the final charge. Ellis shot a 3-under par round 69 and finished 8-under 136. Fajt, who...
Murrysville Junior Legion team wins state title
For the second consecutive season, a team from Westmoreland County has won the American Legion Junior state title. This year it was Murrysville, which defeated Upper Perkiomen, 8-3, in the championship game Tuesday at First Commonwealth Bank Field in Homer City. Penn-Trafford was the champion last season. This was the...
