Strong second half carries PT football at Kiski Area

Led by Tasso Whipple’s big performance on the ground and a key special teams play, Penn-Trafford football claimed a crucial 33-7 win at Kiski Area last Friday. Whipple rushed 14 times for 185 yards and a touchdown, and Michael Cheplick added a 98-yard kickoff return score for the Warriors. Derek Carr added 101 yards on the ground. Kiski Area’s lone score came on a TD pass from Carson Heinle to Aven Shirley to briefly tie the game at 7-7 early in the third quarter. The Warriors scored 26 unanswered points in response, though, including a touchdown catch by Jack Weishaar and a TD run courtesy of Cody Yacamelli. Conversely, Landon Kucic compiled 19 carries for 73 yards in the defeat for the Cavs. As a result, the Warriors evened their mark at 1-1 in the Class 5A Big East Conference, while the Cavaliers dipped to 0-2.

Dusi repeats as WPIAL tennis champ

A year after she became the first Belle Vernon Area tennis player to capture WPIAL gold, Gabby Dusi repeated the feat last week. Dusi, a junior, capped a dominant run through the Class 2A bracket on Thursday with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph against second-seeded Grace Stitt of Hampton at Bethel Park High School. The top-seeded Dusi previously defeated North Catholic’s Brea Kelley 10-0 and Beaver Area’s Anna Mrkonja 6-1, 6-1 on Wednesday. Additionally, Dusi qualifies for the PIAA Class 2A competition, which will take place in Hershey on Nov. 1-2. Also qualifying for the state tournament is Penn-Trafford junior Amelia Williams, who garnered silver in Class 3A.

Brisbane steps down from DA girls basketball

After five years guiding the Derry Area girls basketball program, Gene Brisbane has resigned from the position. Brisbane stepped down last week, finishing his tenure with the Trojans with a record of 38-61. His lengthy head coaching resume includes stints with the Hempfield Area girls and the Westmoreland County Community College women, as well the Jeannette boys. He was also a boys assistant at Hempfield Area and Greensburg Salem. Last winter, DA went 5-15 overall, including 2-10 in Class 4A Section 1, missing the postseason.

Hillen hired to lead Mount Pleasant girls

Mount Pleasant Area hired its replacement for longtime girls basketball coach Scott Giacobbi last week. Scott Hillen, who boasts considerable college basketball coaching experience, was approved to lead the Vikings girls. Most recently, Hillen guided the women’s basketball program at Penn State Fayette. Prior to his nine seasons in that role, he led the Westmoreland County Community College women’s program for eight years. He also has served as an assistant coach for the Southmoreland boys basketball team. Giacobbi led the Vikings for 19 years, but retired following last season, finishing with a mark of 246-192. Mount Pleasant went 14-8 overall in 2023-24, including 6-4 in Class 3A Section 3. The Vikings made the WPIAL postseason, losing to South Park in the first round.

Westmoreland well-represented in WPIAL girls golf tournament

The WPIAL Class 3A and 2A girls individual golf championships commence today, and Westmoreland County is well represented in the field. The first round, which takes place at Willowbrook Country Club in Apollo, includes nine county players. The Class 3A field features Norwin junior Adalena Robb, Hempfield Area senior Milana Yannascoli and junior Katarina DeVito, and Franklin Regional juniors Gianna Johnson and Athena Neuschwander. Of that group, Robb fired the best qualifying round last week, as she carded a 79. In Class 2A, county players include Greensburg Central Catholic sophomore Kennedy Kelly and junior Alayna Stawovy, Southmoreland sophomore Kendall Campbell, and sophomore Morgan Miller of Mount Pleasant Area. Of that quartet, Kelly had the best qualifier round a week ago, firing an 84. The final round will occur next Monday at Butler Country Club, with the top seven finishers in Class 3A and top nine scorers in Class 2A qualifying for the PIAA competition.

Seton Hill announces latest HOF class

Seton Hill University unveiled its Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024 last Thursday, which features a quartet of standouts who graduated within the past six years. The group includes Perry Dellavalle (Class of 2018 – baseball), Brett Craig (19 – men’s lacrosse), Emily LoPresti (19 – women’s soccer), and Emma Simmers (19 – women’s lacrosse). Dellavalle racked up a career record of 21-11 on the mound for the Griffins, garnering All-PSAC honors and setting a single-season strikeout record for SHU. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018. Craig was a four-time All-GMAC honoree, winning both the G-MAC Specialist of the Year and the G-MAC Defender of the Year. He was selected by the Colorado Mammoth in the 2019 NLL Draft. LoPresti garnered four All-PSAC selections, scoring 40 goals in her career with the Griffins. Lastly, Simmers was a three-time All-PSAC honoree, netting 215 goals in her career, which ranks second all-time in SHU history. The group will be inducted on Oct. 25, and recognized the following day during the Seton Hill football game against Clarion for homecoming.