Bill Hartlep stories, Page 26
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 8
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 8: Bobbie Boyd Jr. McKeesport, Jr., RB Boyd (5-9, 163) ran for 173 yards and a touchdown as McKeesport beat Laurel Highlands, 42-7, last week. The Tigers (7-1, 4-0) face another tough test in the Class 4A Big...
6 defending champions earn top seeds for WPIAL soccer playoffs
Defending WPIAL champions again will have targets on their back when the district soccer playoffs begin this weekend. Six teams that won 2020 titles were awarded top seeds Wednesday when the WPIAL soccer committee released playoff pairings for the boys and girls soccer postseason tournaments. All four returning girls soccer...
A-K Valley senior spotlight: Leechburg’s Eli Rich
Eli Rich Leechburg football Eli Rich is used to being on the receiving end of passes and celebrating touchdowns. But one of the highlights from Leechburg’s 6-2 start to the 2021 season had him on the other side of the offensive attack. Rich, typically a tight end, threw a 26-yard...
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 7
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 7: Brock Borgo Hampton, So., RB Borgo (6-0, 180) ran for 139 yards on nine carries including a 53-yard TD jaunt, as Hampton rolled to a 35-7 win over Plum last week. Borgo has rushed for 709 yards...
A-K Valley senior spotlight: Deer Lakes’ Madeline Boulos
Madeline Boulos Deer Lakes soccer Madeline Boulos’ upcoming milestone is a product of many factors. The Deer Lakes senior forward has scored 99 career goals over three-plus seasons, many thanks to outstanding individual effort and creative distribution from talented teammates. Lancers coach Frank Accetta said Boulos’ “work ethic is outstanding....
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 6
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 6: Isaiah Brown Armstrong, So., WR Brown had four catches for 63 yards in last week’s shutout win over Mars. One of the WPIAL’s top receivers, he has 18 catches for 366 yards this season. The River Hawks...
A-K Valley teams begin 2021-22 PIHL season
The PIHL season is underway, and A-K Valley teams have begun the six-month grind toward the Penguins Cup playoffs. Teams will play a 20-game regular-season schedule that will stretch into March before the postseason begins. Among A-K Valley teams, four are competing this season in Class A: Fox Chapel, Plum...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Valley’s Rachel Schrock
Rachel Schrock Valley girls tennis Rachel Schrock has grown accustomed to winning tennis matches this season. The senior is 10-0 playing at second singles. It’s not a coincidence the Vikings (10-0 overall, 6-0 in Section 1-AA) also have won all of their matches, thanks in part to the play of...
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 5
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 5: Nehemiah Azeem OLSH, Jr., QB/FS Azeem completed 17 of 25 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score as OLSH (4-0, 2-0) defeated Fort Cherry, 27-6, in a Class A Big Seven...
A-K Valley senior spotlight: Freeport’s Erica Lampus
Some would call it a tradition of success or an expectation to win. At Freeport, girls volleyball players simply “refuse to lose.” It’s a mantra that held true for many years under coach Tom Phillips, according to senior outside hitter Erica Lampus. “That’s ingrained in all of us,” she said....
Covid cases force Burgettstown to forfeit Week 4 game to Rochester
A fifth WPIAL Week 4 football game was canceled Friday morning, just hours before the contest was scheduled to begin. Burgettstown was forced to forfeit its Class A Big Seven Conference game at Rochester due to covid cases and quarantine within the Burgettstown program. In a statement, Burgettstown Superintendent Stephen...
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 4
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 4: Shane Cornali Fort Cherry, Fr., DB/K Cornali scored on interception returns of 61 and 50 yards, made seven tackles and also kicked five extra points in last week’s 35-7 victory over Shenango as the Rangers improved to...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Springdale’s August Tabacheck
Saturday was special for Springdale soccer standout August Tabacheck, but it had nothing to do with his talents on the pitch. The senior center midfielder saw more than a year’s worth of hard work on display with the opening of the Daniel R. Tabacheck Memorial Dog Park in Agan Park...
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 3
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 3: Brad Birch Gateway, So., QB Birch, who transferred from Jeannette, completed 11 of 19 passes for 222 yards as Gateway defeated Penn Hills, 41-13. Next up for the Gators will be a nonconference test at Bethel Park...
Westmoreland Senior Spotlight: Ligonier Valley’s Logan Smith
Logan Smith Ligonier Valley golf Logan Smith spent a lot of time on golf courses this summer. Whether he was playing in junior tournaments around the region or working at Rolling Rock Club, he immersed himself in the game he loves. It’s paying off in a big way. Smith is...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Burrell’s Caroline Dynka
Caroline Dynka Burrell tennis To be the best, you have to beat the best. Burrell’s Caroline Dynka faces that challenge every time she takes the court. As the Bucs No. 1 singles tennis player, she has the tough task of facing each opponent’s top player. She’s coming off a 6-4,...
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 2
Here are four WPIAL football players to watch for during Week 2: Lorenzo Jenkins Blackhawk, Sr., WR A two-time all-conference performer at Fox Chapel, Jenkins (6-4, 175) transferred to Blackhawk last winter and has made an immediate impact for the Cougars. He had nine catches for 73 yards and two...
Westmoreland Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Salem’s Kylie Smith
Kylie Smith Greensburg Salem Senior First-year Greensburg Salem girls soccer coach Jessica Melodia rattled off numerous strengths for senior forward Kylie Smith, an all-section honoree in 2020. Among them was her ability to be a team player. That skill was honed the past several years while working at her family’s...
A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Highlands’ Dan Thimons
Dan Thimons knows the importance of his position on the football field. The play can’t physically start until he says so. Highlands’ senior center takes pride in his work, making sure the ball gets in the hands of his cousin, junior quarterback Chandler Thimons. He also works to keep his...
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 1
Here are four WPIAL football players to watch for during Week 1: Ryan Angott Canon-McMillan, Sr., RB/LB Angott opened his senior season with a bang against neighborhood rival Trinity. He rushed for 163 yards and three scores on 17 carries as the Big Macs won 48-0. Last season, he rushed...
2021 City League preview: Westinghouse chasing 3-peat but elite talent is everywhere
Some of the top football prospects in Western Pa. will display their talents on the Cupples Stadium turf this season, and plenty of eyes will be on the City League. Perry’s Tyreese Fearbry and Brashear’s Ta’Mere Robinson are highly regarded four-star prospects, but many other elite players are set to...
Changes taking hold under 2nd-year coach at Fort Cherry
Tanner Garry enjoyed the offseason. It almost felt normal. After enduring a rocky, covid-impacted first season as head coach at his alma mater in 2020, Garry led Fort Cherry through a full offseason program. Now, he’s excited to see the results. “Even though it’s my second year as a head...
Strong line play could help Trinity go toe-to-toe
Competing against perennial WPIAL title contenders Thomas Jefferson and Belle Vernon is a challenge. And that challenge usually is decided in the trenches. Trinity coach Jon Miller hopes improved line play will help the Hillers go toe to toe with the top teams in the Class 4A Big Eight Conference...
Mt. Lebanon’s Ashleigh Connor commits to St. Louis
Mt. Lebanon’s Ashleigh Connor, one of the top scorers in WPIAL girls basketball, announced a commitment to St. Louis on Monday. The senior guard averaged 21 points and guided Mt. Lebanon to the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals last season. Connor, a 5-foot-10 guard, also had offers from Xavier, Cleveland State,...
Serra Catholic’s Pharoh Fisher commits to Navy
One of the WPIAL’s most experienced varsity football players made his college decision over the weekend. Serra Catholic senior defensive back Pharoh Fisher made a verbal commitment to Navy via his Twitter account. COMMITTED⚓️???? #beatarmy @wpialsportsnews @SerraCatholicFB @Cover3_ATH @SportsByBLinder @210ths @recruitgfx pic.twitter.com/rYL6Fyzjpf— Pharoh Fisher (@fisher_pharoh) August 22, 2021 He thanked...
