Paul Schofield stories, Page 91
Hempfield could emerge as top contender to Waynesburg’s throne on WPIAL Class AAA mats
Is there any team in the WPIAL that can defeat No. 1-ranked Waynesburg? Hempfield coach Vince DeAugustine isn’t sure, but he hopes his team gets a chance later this season. The Spartans are ranked No. 2 in the Tribune-Review preseason rankings, and DeAugustine feels a real battle is brewing for...
Class AAA wrestlers to watch on WPIAL mats this season
Carter Dibert, Franklin Regional The senior was a PIAA champion in 2019 and a WPIAL champion in 2020. Dibert (115-25, 42-3) placed third in the state in 2020 and was a WPIAL runner-up in 2019. Mac Stout, Mt. Lebanon The junior was a PIAA runner-up in 2020 after winning his...
Teams to watch in WPIAL Class AAA wrestling this season
No. 1 — Waynesburg The Raiders finished second in the state to Nazareth in 2020 and return 13 starters. Zander Phaturos, who attended Liberty High School in Peoria, was a 113-pound champ in Arizona. He is the second wrestler to transfer to Waynesburg from another state. Wyatt Henson, the PIAA...
Class AA wrestlers to watch on WPIAL mats this season
WPIAL Class AA wrestlers to watch Dayton Pitzer, Mt. Pleasant The junior missed his sophomore season while recovering from knee surgery. He was a Class AA WPIAL, Southwest Regional and PIAA champion his freshman season when he compiled a 43-1 record at 182 pounds. Joey Fischer, South Park The senior...
Teams to watch in WPIAL Class AA wrestling this season
Preseason top 10 WPIAL Class AA wrestling teams: No. 1 — Burrell Burrell has won 14 consecutive Class AA titles, and it doesn’t look like the streak will end very soon. The Bucs return eight starters, which includes four PIAA qualifiers. Two of those qualifiers, seniors Ian Oswalt (132) and...
Led by 3-time WPIAL champ, Derry wrestlers gunning for playoff return
As the Derry wrestling team prepares to open the season Saturday, the district and coach Mike Weinell have one common theme: Don’t look too far ahead. “You can’t,” Weinell said. “With this pandemic, things change by the minute. We just have to worry about today and hope we can practice...
Coaches have mixed feeling about PIAA wrestling proposals
Wrestling coaches around Westmoreland County had mixed feelings about the PIAA’s proposal for how to handle postseason tournaments amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The PIAA board of directors will meet Wednesday and will consider reducing the amount of teams and individuals that will qualify for the state tournaments because of the...
Moon’s Mia Cochran named Pa. Track and Field Coaches Association Runner of the Year
Mia Cochran came minutes away from not defending her WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA titles. After receiving a negative covid-19 test and getting cleared to compete just before the WPIAL championship race, Cochran went on to capture another district gold medal. A week later she won the state championship. For...
Robert Morris women’s basketball looks ahead to new season opener
The Robert Morris women’s basketball team’s season opener Sunday was canceled amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The Colonials were scheduled to play Norfolk State on Saturday, but the game was postponed until Sunday. The game was then canceled. “The health and safety of the RMU and Moon Township community remains paramount...
Penn-Trafford girls basketball ready for challenge in move to Class 6A
There will be a new set of challenges for the Penn-Trafford girls basketball team this season, and it has nothing to do with the coronavirus. Penn-Trafford has jumped from Class 5A to Class 6A, and veteran coach John Giannikas knows the competition will be a lot tougher. The Warriors are...
Familiar face leads Penn-Trafford boys basketball into season
When Penn-Trafford district officials went searching for a new boys basketball coach after Jim Rocco resigned following five seasons, they were looking for someone familiar with the program. Doug Kelly, who was the P-T boys junior varsity coach in 2018-19, was hired in June. He was a P-T girls basketball...
Ongoing pandemic means changes to high school wrestling season in WPIAL, state
There could be massive changes to high school wrestling this season because of the ongoing pandemic. Some early season tournaments have been canceled, moved or are on hold. The WPIAL and PIAA tournaments also could see a drastic change if things involving the coronavirus don’t improve. If the effects of...
Emily Daugherty hired as Ligonier Valley girls basketball coach in unanimous vote
It’s official. Emily Daugherty is the new Ligonier Valley girls basketball coach. And the 2010 Ligonier Valley graduate is eager to get started. The Ligonier Valley school board voted 9-0 on Wednesday to hire her to replace Tim Gustin, who was recently hired as the boys coach. Daugherty, 28, is...
Beloved Jeannette football coach Joe Mucci dies of coronavirus at age 86
Joseph G. Mucci was a legendary football coach in Westmoreland County. But he was much more than that, according to his former assistant coaches, players and people in the community. The beloved coach and administrator at Jeannette and Greensburg Central Catholic influenced a lot of people whose lives he touched....
Girls basketball preview: Coaching hire coming soon for improving Ligonier Valley
When Tim Gustin became the Ligonier Valley boys basketball coach a month ago, he hoped the district’s school board picked the right person to replace him as girls coach. The Ligonier Valley School Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday and on the agenda is hiring a new girls coach. Athletic...
Boys basketball preview: Ligonier Valley readies for WPIAL
A little more than a month ago, Tim Gustin was preparing the Ligonier Valley girls for their return to the WPIAL after 40 years. Then Ligonier Valley boys coach John Berger decided his regular job, Chief of Police in Ligonier Valley, was too demanding during the pandemic. So Berger stepped...
Boys basketball preview: Jeannette has deep, experienced roster, hopes to avoid slow start
If the Jeannette boys basketball team can duplicate the success of the football team, then the Jayhawks could be looking at a long season. That’s what veteran coach Adrian Batts is hoping for. The elder statesman of Section 3-2A is looking forward to the season. With four starters returning, a...
Girls basketball preview: Jeannette ready to make WPIAL playoff push
When Jonathan Bass took over the Jeannette girls basketball program in 2018, he was hoping to have things turned around in three years. This is the start of his third season at Jeannette, and Bass feels things are on the right track. Even though Jeannette is coming off a 4-18...
Jeannette football turns season of distractions into memorable run
The Jeannette football team experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat during the 2020 season. It was a season of uncertainty — a shortened season with the specter of covid-19 looming constantly. It also was thrilling, with their 10th WPIAL championship. But Friday, the season ended with...
2 interception returns lift Steelton-Highspire past Jeannette in PIAA Class A football finalVideo
HERSHEY — Steelton-Highspire did to Jeannette what the Jayhawks did to opponents all season: get defensive scores. Steelton-Highspire returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter and held on to defeat Jeannette, 32-20, on Friday at Hersheypark Stadium to capture its third PIAA Class A football title. Daivin Pryor’s...
Jeannette defense hopes to continue causing havoc in PIAA title game
One more gigantic test remains for the Jeannette football team. That’s what the defense faces at 11 a.m. Friday in the PIAA Class A championship game at Hersheypark Stadium. High-powered Steelton-Highspire strolls into the chocolate capitol of the world with a powerful running back and dangerous group of wide receivers...
Perennial PIAA powers clash when Jeannette, Steelton-Highspire meet for Class A title
Two of the winningest teams in the state will play for the PIAA Class A title Friday. Steelton-Highspire, with 772 victories, according to PennLive.com and Dr. Roger Saylor’s records, and the WPIAL’s No. 1 team, Jeannette, with 766, will square off at 11 a.m. at Hersheypark Stadium. The schools have...
PIAA Class A football championship preview: Jeannette vs. Steelton-Highspire
No. 2 Jeannette vs. No. 1 Steelton-Highspire 11 a.m. Friday, Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey On the air: Audio: TribHSSN.triblive.com PIAA titles: Jeannette 2 (2007 in Class AA, 2017). Steelton-Highspire 2 (2007, 2008) Jeannette (10-1) Player to watch Brett Birch, Junior, 5-10, 170, WR/DB Birch received an offer from Central Michigan after...
Girls basketball preview: Veteran coach hopes young Derry roster can build on success
Things couldn’t have gone much better last season for Derry girls basketball coach Gene Brisbane, who took over a program in flux. The Trojans finished second in Section 3-3A and qualified for the WPIAL playoffs. Derry lost to Freedom, 47-32, in the opening round, but the former Hempfield and Westmoreland...
Boys basketball preview: Derry faces long road trips, tough competition in new section
When Derry boys basketball coach Tom Esposito stepped into the gymnasium on Monday, he didn’t know what to expect. “I didn’t know if 15 players would show up for the first day of practice or 25,” Esposito said. “I told them we should cherish every moment and every game we...
