Norwin to host WPIAL football championships

Once again, Norwin High School will play host to some of the biggest WPIAL football games of the year. The school was selected as the venue for the district championship games in 6A and 5A, the two largest classifications for football. Those contests will take place on Nov. 19, while the 4A-1A games will be held on Nov. 25 at Acrisure Stadium (formerly Heinz Field). Norwin also hosted the Class 6A Championship last year, as well as 5A and 2A in 2019, and 5A in 2018. Another WPIAL title will take place in Westmoreland County in the fall, as Cedarbrook Golf Club in Rostraver Township will host the golf team championships on Oct. 13.

Greensburg Salem to name press box in memory of Huddie Kaufman

Greensburg Salem announced this week that it will honor Howard "Huddie" Kaufman by naming the press box at Offutt Field in his memory. Kaufman served as the sports editor at the Tribune-Review for almost 40 years and was a long-time supporter of Golden Lions athletics. The dedication will take place prior to Greensburg Salem's football opener against Hempfield on August 26th. Kaufman died in 2020 at the age of 92.

Leonard to lead Jeannette girls hoops

Anna Leonard was approved last week as the new head coach for Jeannette girls basketball. She replaces Bill Flow, who stepped down after one season and is now the athletic director at Yough. Leonard, a Mohawk graduate, served as an assistant coach at West Mifflin last season, and she also has experience coaching at East Allegheny, as well as in the AAU ranks. The Jayhawks went 0-19 last campaign, and their 41-game losing streak extends back to Jan. 30, 2020.

Seton Hill hires Johnson for track and field/XC

Jamal Johnson was approved on Monday as the new head coach For Seton Hill University’s track and field and cross country programs. Johnson previously guided the track and field team at Mansfield University for two years. Prior to that, he was an assistant for both track and field and cross country at the University of Southern Indiana, and he began his coaching career leading the track and field program at Wayne Memorial High School. He’s a graduate of Eastern Michigan University.

Griffins tab Martin as baseball assistant

Seton Hill University baseball added Clay Martin to its coaching staff last week. Previously, Martin was an assistant coach and director of baseball development/operations at Eastern Illinois University for one year. Prior to that, he was an assistant at Westminster College. A 2019 graduate of Washington & Jefferson College, Martin set Presidents’ records for career and single season saves, and he was a two-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference selection.

Westmoreland standouts Alessandro, Schmeling added to SVC wrestling staff

A pair of Westmoreland County wrestling standouts were added to the coaching staff for Saint Vincent College last week. Joe Alessandro and Chad Schmeling were hired to join the Bearcats wrestling program as assistant coaches. Alessandro, who attended Greensburg Central Catholic, wrestled for Hempfield Area in high school, and then went on to compete on the mat at Seton Hill from 2015-18 before wrestling at the University of Pitt – Johnstown in his final year. As a coach, he was an assistant at Norwin High School, as well as Saint Andrews University. Meanwhile, Schmeling was a stellar wrestler at Greater Latrobe High School, and has coached in the district for the past 15 years, including the last nine as a high school assistant.