Bukowski resigns at Southmoreland

After three seasons guiding Southmoreland football, all of which included playoff appearances, Tim Bukowski stepped down as the head coach of the Scotties last week. Bukowski achieved a 17-16 overall mark guiding the program, including 7-4 this past season. Southmoreland qualified for the WPIAL Class 3A postseason but fell to Highlands 56-20 in the first round. Prior to taking over as head coach, Bukowski served as an assistant at Southmoreland for four seasons. His previous assistant coaching stops included Ringgold, Clairton, Charleroi, Monessen, and California University of Pennsylvania. Bukowski plans to continue coaching.

Derry Area edges Greater Latrobe on the mat

Jeremiah Gess notched a pin in the final match to carry Derry Area to a 32-28 victory against host Greater Latrobe in a nonsection wrestling clash last Wednesday. Gess’ triumph came against Aaryn Chappel after the Wildcats took the advantage in the prior bout on a decision by GL’s Dom Angelicchio. Mason Horwat, Chase Lukon, and Matt Fernell also scored falls for the Trojans, while Ewan Olson, Rocco DeCario, and Giovanni Beatrice registered decisions. Leo Joseph and Marco Scarton earned pins for GL, Brody Bronson won via forfeit, and Hunter Snyder and Luke Willochell claimed decisions. While Derry Area improved to 6-1 on the campaign, the Wildcats dropped to 0-1.

Mount Pleasant swimmers set national record

Four swimmers from Mount Pleasant set a national record in the 15-18 age group in the 400 mixed medley relay on Sunday competing in the Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics event held by USA Swimming at Pitt. Representing the Mount Pleasant Aqua Club, Kieresten O'Connor, Lily King, David Mutter and Joseph Gardner swam a record time of 3:25.59. The previous record was 3:25.84. All four are Division I swimming recruits for the Vikings.

PT girls notch section win to stay perfect

Penn-Trafford girls basketball remained undefeated on the season, notching three victories last week. The Warriors bested Franklin Regional, Baldwin, and Greensburg Salem to improve to 7-0, including 1-0 in Class 5A Section 2 courtesy of the win against the Golden Lions. Last Monday, PT rolled to a 53-27 road win against the Panthers, as Lauren Marton tallied 11 points, and Kam Pieper added 10 points, while Madison DeRiggi paced FR with a dozen points. On Wednesday, homestanding PT edged the Highlanders 57-46, as Torrie DeStefano notched a game-high 15 points, and Isabella Fontana registered 13 points. The following day, the host Warriors overmatched the Golden Lions 57-31 in a mercy-rule victory, as Marton amassed 14 points and Pieper produced a dozen. The Warriors will travel to play Greater Latrobe in a section showdown on Tuesday.

Wildcats hockey rallies to edge Spartans

Fueled by a pair of third-period goals, Greater Latrobe hockey edged Hempfield Area 4-3 last Thursday at the Kirk Nevin Arena in Greensburg. In the Westmoreland County clash, the host Wildcats deadlocked the score at 3-3 on a power play tally by Cam Mikulsky approximately four minutes into the third. Brogan Murphy then netted the winner for GL with just more than five minutes remaining. Dylan Morris and Jackson Hayburn also ripped the twine for Greater Latrobe, while Brock Pflugh notched 20 saves in net. In the loss for the Spartans, JJ Williams scored two goals and dished out an assist, while Nick Crupie compiled three helpers. Aiden Nader took the loss between the pipes, making 23 stops. With the triumph, Greater Latrobe ascended to 8-2-0, and with 24 points, the Wildcats sit in second place in the PIHL Class AA. Hempfield Area, conversely, tumbled to 3-6-0, which translates to nine points.

Jeannette’s Bryant steps down

Jeannette girls soccer coach Billy Bryant stepped down from his position last week, ending his four-year tenure at the helm. This past fall, the Jayhawks went 0-12-0, forfeiting multiple matches due to lack of players. In 2023, the Jayhawks snapped a 52-game losing streak courtesy of a 4-1 win at Valley, finishing that season with a mark of 1-13-1.

Griffins WBB moves up national rankings

Boasting an unblemished record, Seton Hill University women’s basketball continued to climb the national rankings last week. The Griffins, who are 10-0 on the season, including 4-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), moved to No. 7 in the D2CSC poll last Tuesday. That represents a four-spot improvement from the previous week, as the Griffins sit atop the Atlantic Region. Additionally, SHU is ranked No. 14 in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, ascending seven spots from the prior week. The Griffins, who did not play last week, return to the hardwood on Wednesday, hosting East Stroudsburg University.