Wetzel steps down from Greater Latrobe

Greater Latrobe boys basketball coach Brad Wetzel ended his lengthy and successful career guiding the Wildcats last week, as he resigned from his position. After 24 seasons at the helm, Wetzel finished with a record of 310-226. Last season, the Wildcats went 10-13, defeating Mars Area in a preliminary playoff game, but falling to Thomas Jefferson in the WPIAL Class 5A first round. Wetzel, a 1987 graduate of Greater Latrobe who also played at Saint Vincent College, served as an assistant coach at Mount Pleasant Area and Derry Area before taking the reins at Greater Latrobe.

Yough tabs Houseman to lead football program

A former standout player was named to lead Yough football, as Scotty Houseman was hired last Wednesday as the head coach. He replaced Benny Hoffer, who guided the Cougars for four campaigns and stepped down earlier this offseason after going 10-30 during his tenure. After his playing days at Yough, Houseman matriculated to Lackawanna College, and then transferred to the University of Albany, where he also served as a grad assistant. Last season, Houseman was on Hoffer’s staff, as the Cougars went 2-8 overall, including 0-5 in the Class 3A Interstate Conference. Next season, Yough will compete in a section with Avonworth, Propel Braddock Hills (formerly Imani Christian Academy), Shady Side Academy, South Park, and West Mifflin Area.

Lisa Mankins returns to Golden Lions

Following the retirement of Greensburg Salem girls basketball coach Rick Klimchock, former coach Lisa Mankins was rehired for her second stint at the helm of the Golden Lions. Mankins steered the program for three years prior to Klimchock’s tenure, which spanned nine years. After her first stint with the girls program, Mankins joined as an assistant to Craig Mankins with the GS boys team. Lisa Mankins, who teaches in the Greensburg Salem School District, intends to add her daughters, Abby and Kaitlyn, to her staff. Last season, Greensburg Salem went 8-13 overall, including 3-9 in Class 5A Section 2, failing to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

Hempfield’s Howard, BVA’s Brown take Scholar-Athlete honors

Hempfield Area’s Lauren Howard and Elijah Brown of Belle Vernon Area stood above the rest at the annual Westmoreland County Scholar-Athlete banquet last Tuesday, as they were the female and male winners of the Excellence Award. Howard competes in volleyball and softball for the Spartans, setting multiple softball records for the storied program, and she’s committed to the University of Virginia to continue her career on the diamond. Brown is a three-time WPIAL Champion and two-time state gold medalist in wrestling for the Leopards, and he’ll matriculate to Penn State University to continue wrestling next season. Each Westmoreland County high school nominates one male and one female athlete, with the other finalists including Andy Tatsch and Annalyse Bauer of Greater Latrobe, Norwin’s Tristyn Tavares and Annie Czajkowski, Erica Gribble of Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette’s Kymon’e Brown, Gianna DeVito of Kiski Area, Franklin Regional’s Cruise Lamanna, Dom Detruf of Hempfield Area, Torrie DeStefano from Penn-Trafford, and Southmoreland’s Allison Stinnett. Moreover, legendary boys basketball coach Joe Salvino, who guided Monessen and Belle Vernon Area for more than 40 years combined, was honored as the Michael and John Ferrante Memorial Award winner.

Hempfield, GCC prevail at WCCA T&F

A pair of schools claimed both the boys and girls team titles at the annual Westmoreland County Coaches Association Track and Field Championships last week at Mount Pleasant Area, as Hempfield Area took first in Class 3A, while Greensburg Central Catholic finished atop Class 2A. On the boys side, Greater Latrobe’s Preston Miller was recognized as the track MVP, Luke Rullo of Greensburg Salem and Nicolas Anderson from Kiski Area shared field MVP honors, and Franklin Regional’s Sean Cartwright was the combined MVP. On the girls side, Isabella Dinkle of Greensburg Salem captured the track MVP, Alaysia Bell of Kiski Area garnered the field honors, and GCC’s Georgia Evans won the combined MVP.