Penn-Trafford to vie for 3rd straight WCCA 7-on-7 championship
Football teams take different things from the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Larry Sellitto Memorial 7 on 7 Passing Tournament. For some, it’s extra reps. For others, it’s chemistry between quarterbacks and receivers. Penn-Trafford takes home championships. The Warriors have won half of the tournaments since the event began in 2011....
Westmoreland high school notebook: PIAA considers adopting bigger bases for baseball in 2027
Beginning next spring, if the PIAA adopts several new rules, WPIAL baseball teams will have the option to use a 18-inch first base bag or a double-base. One or the other will be mandatory in 2027. The double-base rule already exists in softball. The new bases are in place as...
Franklin Regional’s Williams goes to Nationals in 3rd round of MLB Draft
Luke Williams enjoyed his graduation party Saturday at his Murrysville home, a quiet get-together with family and friends to celebrate his ascent to college. But it looks like college might have to wait. Williams, the five-tool baseball star from Franklin Regional, suddenly has a professional career to think about and...
New Franklin Regional football coach Brian Johnson pleased with progress
It has been a busy summer for new Franklin Regional football coach Brian Johnson. Between his role as the school’s director of facilities, where he oversees maintenance, repairs and contractor coordination on building projects, and coaching the football team, Johnson has little free time. Johnson, 43, replaced Luke Getsy, who...
Franklin Regional’s Luke Williams ‘grateful’ as MLB Draft day approaches this weekend
Luke Williams’ life could change this weekend if his name is called during the MLB Draft. As it looks now, it’s not if, but when he will be selected. The Franklin Regional alum already made a name for himself at the high school level. Williams, a five-tool talent who is...
South Fayette returns to the top in Class 5A Trib Cup standings
A bridesmaid a year ago in the race for the Class 5A Trib Sports Cup winner, the green machine was more than happy to move up to jubilant bride status standing in the winner’s circle. Leaning heavily on a couple of girls teams’ runs through the district and state playoffs,...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Belle Vernon’s ‘twin towers’ earn scholarship offers
Belle Vernon’s twin towers have twin scholarship offers. Girls basketball players Aubrey Brown and Isis Almyty last week were offered by Robert Morris, setting the pace for what looks like a ramped-up offseason for the frontcourt mates. “It was a special day at Robert Morris with Isis and Aubrey,” Belle...
Franklin Regional heavyweight John Montgomery having successful offseason
Franklin Regional junior John Montgomery is looking to be the best heavyweight wrestler in the state. According to his high school coach, Matt Lebe, Montgomery’s love of wrestling drives him to work hard. That hard work is, obviously, paying off this offseason. He recently represented Pennsylvania on the 16U team...
2026 TribLive HSSN Terrific 10 Baseball All-Stars
The recently completed WPIAL baseball season featured many players putting up incredible numbers and driving their teams to on-field success. While we tip our cap to them, tough choices were made in paring a list down to a Terrific 10. Here’s a look at the TribLive HSSN baseball all-stars for...
Franklin Regional’s Luke Williams busy as MLB Draft buzz builds
Luke Williams isn’t shying away from the chaos that comes with being a Major League Baseball draft prospect. He is leaning into it, wearing it with gratitude and quiet confidence like he’s been there before. The recent Franklin Regional graduate just finished a barnstorming tour, working out for MLB teams...
TribLive Westmoreland County softball all-stars: Julia Varhola earns her spot in Hempfield history
Player of the year Julia Varhola Sr., P, Hempfield Julia Varhola wonders about her place in Hempfield softball history. “People might say, ‘Was she really that special?’” the ace right-hander said. “I know I only started (in the circle) for one (full) season, but I put four years into this.”...
TribLive Westmoreland County baseball all-stars: Luke Williams a 5-tool player for Franklin Regional
Player of the Year Luke Williams Sr., SS, Franklin Regional Franklin Regional senior shortstop Luke Williams may face a difficult challenge in a few weeks. The Westmoreland County TribLive Baseball Player of the Year might get drafted in the upcoming MLB Draft. He is committed to playing college baseball at...
Trib HSSN Head of the Class 2026: The top WPIAL baseball players in each classification
In a day and age of specialization in high school sports, the players sitting in the front row of the 2026 WPIAL baseball head of the class showed off their versatility. Most were two-way players who enjoyed great success on the mound but also showed off their skills at smashing...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Franklin Regional junior leaves camp with Division I offers
A summer football prospect camp doesn’t always prove fruitful. Players go through drills and skill work and exit quietly with a “don’t call us, we’ll call you” message from coaches and evaluators. There are a lot of unknowns. Often, they hear nothing at all about their tryout-like performance. But Franklin...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Norwin’s Bossart gets 1st Division I offer
Will Bossart started every game for Norwin last season at left tackle and was a model of durability and consistency. Maybe that explains why he has his first NCAA Division I scholarship offer. Bossart, who will be a junior, picked up an offer this week from Akron. Bossart competed at...
Senior all-star game lures Franklin Regional coach out of retirement … for 1 night anyway
Jim Armstrong was looking forward to reprising his role — at least for one night. The retired Franklin Regional coach was set to coach in the third annual Western PA Softball All-Star Game set for 7:15 p.m. June 16 at Plum. Armstrong said he was excited to coach the game...
Westmoreland H.S. notebook: Latrobe’s Robert Young ends career with MVP performance
Robert Young was in the area for only one year, but the 6-foot-7 basketball player made a lasting impression with Latrobe fans. Young, who attends Adelphoi Village in Latrobe and is permitted to play sports at the nearest high school — lucky you, Latrobe — put a bow on his...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Norwin establishes Randy Rovesti scholarship
A scholarship has been established in the name of late Norwin coach and athletic director Randy Rovesti, who died last month at age 74. The scholarship does not yet have a set value, but it will be given each year to a graduating senior at Norwin. It will begin next...
Westmoreland County athletes of the week: Franklin Regional’s Jamie Kociela, GCC’s Anthony Grippo
Jamie Kociela School: Franklin Regional Class: Junior Sport: Track and field Claim to fame: Kociela became the first girl in Franklin Regional history to win a PIAA track and field title, winning gold in the high jump at the Class 3A championship in Shippensburg. Her top mark was 5 feet,...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Greensburg CC girls stay in 3A after realignment
The WPIAL basketball alignment is out for the next two-year cycle, and the Greensburg Central Catholic girls have once again been impacted by the PIAA competitive balance formula. GCC, the PIAA 3A champion this season, has Class A enrollment but was forced to play in 3A the last two years...
Motivated Sean Cartwright shines for Franklin Regional at WPIAL meet
Sean Cartwright was not a happy camper after his first race at the WPIAL Class 3A Track and Field Championships. Second place in the 110-meter hurdles was not what he planned. His attitude changed about an hour later when the Franklin Regional junior stood atop of the podium after winning...
Franklin Regional notebook: Former Panthers goalkeeper on comeback trail
Aris Lamanna is on the comeback trail. The former Franklin Regional standout soccer goalkeeper announced recently that she has been cleared for physical activity with no restrictions after she underwent shoulder surgery in November. Six months of rehabilitation are in the past as she eyes a successful third season of...
Westmoreland baseball notebook: Derry, Hampton make unlikely quarterfinals matchup
Not many people saw this quarterfinal matchup coming. Well, maybe the teams did. Whatever the case, may the best underdog win. Derry, the No. 13 seed, will meet No. 12 Hampton in the WPIAL 4A playoffs at 7 p.m. Monday at Plum for the right to play in the semifinals....
South Fayette baseball comes through in 6th, beats Franklin Regional
Coming into the baseball postseason having lost five of its last seven games, South Fayette found a rhythm on the mound it hadn’t since the first game of the season and collected timely hits to take down No. 7 Franklin Regional, 8-2, on Tuesday in the WPIAL Class 5A first...
WPIAL track and field championship preview: Young distance stars run into spotlight
What do you get when a freshman phenom and sophomore sensation get together? One of the most-anticipated races of the WPIAL track and field championships. Two young distance stars will go head-to-head Thursday at Slippery Rock when Peters Township freshman Katie Froelich and South Fayette sophomore Angela Zeng battle it...
