Four Westmoreland football teams secure playoff spots

While two weeks still remain in the WPIAL football regular season, dozens of teams have already punched their tickets to the playoffs. Included in that group are four teams from Westmoreland County, as Franklin Regional, Belle Vernon Area, Ligonier Valley, and Greensburg Central Catholic have clinched. At 4-0 in the Class 5A Big East Conference, the Panthers have already captured a share of the conference title, and would win the tiebreaker. In the Class 3A Interstate Conference, Belle Vernon Area is tied atop the standings at 3-0, and has already secured its spot in the postseason. The Leopards can win the conference title outright by winning their final two contests. Ligonier Valley has clinched in the 2A Allegheny Conference, as the Rams sit in third at 3-2. Lastly, Greensburg Central Catholic tops the standings in the Class 1A Eastern Conference at 4-0, and the Centurions would secure conference supremacy via a tiebreaker with a win in the final week of the regular season. Several more county teams could secure a postseason berth this weekend, as Greater Latrobe, Southmoreland, Mount Pleasant Area, Jeannette, and Monessen all would clinch with wins this week. Other teams still alive for postseason consideration include Penn-Trafford and Hempfield Area in Class 5A, Greensburg Salem in 3A, and Burrell, Yough, and Derry Area in 2A.

GCC girls golf captures another WPIAL title

The Greensburg Central Catholic girls golf team continued its historic run, as the Centurions claimed their eighth consecutive WPIAL team title last week. Playing at Cedarbrook Red Golf Course in Rostraver Township last Thursday, GCC captured the Class 2A crown, finishing with a team score of 366, 20 strokes better than second place Mount Pleasant Area. GCC junior Izzy Aigner was a catalyst for the golden performance, as she shot a four-over-par 75, which was 10 strokes better than anyone else in the field. Sophomore Erica Rodriguez posted the second-best round for the Centurions, as she carded a 94. Haley Gill, the lone senior on the team, compiled a score of 96, freshman Alayna Stawovy shot 101, and junior Macee Magill carded 106. The second-place Vikings had three golfers score in the 90s, as senior Natalie Miller shot 94, and juniors Gabby Kinneer and Emily Eutsey carded 95 and 97, respectively. Both teams will compete in the PIAA Class 2A event on Wednesday at Penn State University. Meanwhile on the boys side, Belle Vernon Area was denied its first WPIAL Class 2A championship in heartbreaking fashion, as the Leopards were edged by a single stroke in a playoff with Sewickley Academy. Playing one additional hole in sudden death, the Panthers scored 21, while the Leopards shot a combined 22. Junior Rogan Maloney paced Belle Vernon Area, as he shot a three-over 75, the lowest score among Class 2A boys. Additionally, senior Patrick Bush carded a 77 for the Leopards.

Norwin's Sidun wins Super 32 Wrestling Challenge

Norwin eighth grader Landon Sidun, one of the top junior high wrestlers in the country, won the 112 pound middle school championship at the illustrious Super 32 Challenge over the weekend. Sidun dominated the five matches he wrestled in as he won three by major decision, one by technical fall and another by pin. For his efforts, he was named Outstanding Wrestler in the middle school category.

Kiski Area duo claims WCCA cross country titles

The Kiski Area cross country teams turned in a golden performance last week, as Cavaliers captured both the boys and girls individual titles at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association competition. Last Wednesday at Westmoreland County Community College, Sam Plazio, a freshman, won the boys title, while junior Eliza Miller took gold in the girls race for the second year in a row. Plazio recorded a time of 16:41.6, ahead of runner up Antonio Tuttoilmondo of Hempfield Area, who finished at 16:49.9. Kiski Area boys took first in the Class 2A team competition, while the Spartans won the Class 3A team title. Meanwhile, Miller clocked 18:18.6 in her victory, outpacing Penn-Trafford’s Amelia Barilla, who finished at 18:33.6. Norwin and Greensburg Salem took first in the girls team competitions in Class 3A and 2A, respectively.

Wildcats down Spartans in hockey clash

Greater Latrobe scored less than two minutes into the contest, and the Wildcats never relinquished that early advantage to defeat Hempfield Area 5-1 at the Kirk Nevin Arena in Greensburg last Thursday. GL’s Josh Coffee opened the scoring with a backhand goal, and JD Robinson extended the Wildcats lead in the second period, as he tapped in a rebound on a Coffee shot that squirted behind Hempfield Area goalie Chase Sankey. Hempfield Area’s lone goal came on the man-advantage, as Nick Bruno unleashed a one-timer, and his shot was deflected in by teammate Ian Shaw in front of the net. Greater Latrobe wasted little time in restoring its two-goal edge as Coffee scored his second marker on a terrific individual effort. In the third, Jacob Hannah and Robinson added insurance goals for GL to put the exclamation point on the impressive win. In the victory, Coffee led GL with two goals and two assists, while Robinson netted a pair of markers, and Hannah added a goal and two assists. GL goaltender Connor Keddie earned the win, making 17 saves. As a result, Greater Latrobe improved to 2-0-0 in Class AA play, while the Spartans fell to 0-1-0.

Bearcats football notches win

Propelled by an offensive outburst, Saint Vincent College football scored a 41-25 victory against Geneva College on Saturday. In winning their second game of the season, the host Bearcats amassed 410 yards of offense, notching at least one touchdown in every quarter. QB Brady Walker was 16-of-34 passing for 221 yards and three touchdowns, while he also rushed for a score. On the ground, DJ Gray and Ja’Tier Berkley rushed for 93 and 92 yards, respectively, with Berkley adding a touchdown. Molayo Irefin paced SVC receivers with five catches for 74 yards and a score.