Greater Latrobe Wildcats Boys

Head Coach: Brad Wetzel – 20th Season

Conference: Class 5A Section 3

Last Season: 9-7 overall record – lost to New Castle in the WPIAL 5A quarterfinals

Key Losses: Ryan Sickenberger, Drew Clair, Frankie Newell, Nick Rauco

Key Returners: Chase Sickenberger, Landon Butler

Promising Newcomers: Ben Hamaty, Luke Hamaty, Zach Marucco, Drew Kozuch, Dante Basicano, Tyler Mondock, JaTawn Williams

Although Greater Latrobe boys basketball often ranked among the top teams in the WPIAL for most of the past decade, Wildcats head coach Brad Wetzel had been anticipating a few lean years. Last season, his team exceeded expectations, finishing with a winning record and a playoff victory.

Just two key players from that team return for 2021-22, however, so Wetzel and his squad will rely upon the core values and culture that has helped create the winning tradition throughout his tenure.

“Really, I thought it was a great season,” Wetzel said of last campaign, in which GL went 6-3 in section play and 9-7 overall.

Nearly half of those wins came by one possession, as brothers Ryan and Chase Sickenberger both hit buzzer beaters throughout the season.

Ryan Sickenberger has since graduated, though, and is now playing at Allegheny College. He, along with classmates Drew Clair, Frankie Newill, and Nick Rauco represent significant voids that the Wildcats must fill. Sickenberger paced the Wildcats offensively, scoring approximately 15 points per game, but his veteran presence, along with Clair’s, was instrumental in the team’s success.

As a result, Chase Sickenberger will be relied upon to fill a variety of needs for Greater Latrobe in 2021-22. The 6-foot-1 senior will play both inside and on the perimeter. The other notable returner is Landon Butler, a 6-foot-4 junior guard who is following in the footsteps of his accomplished brothers, Austin and Bryce.

“Austin and Bryce were very, very different. And Landon seems to be kind of a mix of those two,” Wetzel detailed.

The Wildcats’ roster consists of four other seniors - Ben and Luke Hamaty, Zach Marucco, and Spencer Mills. In addition to Butler, the junior class is comprised of Drew Kozuch, Dante Basciano, Tyler Mondock, and Conner Lakin. Several underclassmen could be in contention for playing time, as well, including sophomore guard JaTawn Williams.

The Wildcats will likely be undersized in most of their section games, as they compete in Class 5A Section 3 with Franklin Regional, Kiski Area, Gateway, Penn Hills, Woodland Hills, and McKeesport Area. A year ago, the Indians won the section at 6-0, followed by the Panthers at 7-3. The Wildcats finished third, ahead of the Gators, Tigers, Cavaliers, and Wolverines.

“We like to push the pace. We want to press you. We like to speed the game up,” Wetzel detailed of his team’s preferred style of play. “I think that’s really the only way we have a chance, being how small we are and have been.

“Our job is to stick to our culture and who we are, and I think if that happens, we’ll grow tremendously this year,” he continued.

Greater Latrobe’s first section game is slated for Dec. 17 at Woodland Hills.

Greater Latrobe Wildcats Girls

Head Coach: Mark Burkardt – 7th Season

Conference: Class 5A Section 4

Last Season: 14-3 overall record – lost to Chartiers Valley in WPIAL 5A semifinals

Key Losses: Rachel Ridilla, Lexi Weatherton

Key Returners: Anna Rafferty, Emma Blair, Bailey Watson, Elle Snyder, Camille Dominick

Promising Newcomers: Josie Straigis, Carley Berk, Belle Blossey

Last season was a banner year for the Greater Latrobe girls, as the Wildcats captured a section title and reached the WPIAL semifinals. Most of the top players are back for Greater Latrobe this season, so expectations should be high once again for Mark Burkardt’s squad.

A pair of forwards who averaged double-doubles last season will once again lead the way for the Wildcats. Senior Anna Rafferty, who stands 6-foot-2, and 6-foot-1 junior Emma Blair provide an interior presence that few teams in the entire WPIAL can combat. Rafferty, who is committed to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds per game last season. Blair, meanwhile, recorded 10.8 points and 12.1 rebounds per contest.

Three other letterwinners return to the mix in Bailey Watson, Elle Snyder, and Camille Dominick. Watson, a senior guard, will orchestrate the offense after averaging 3 assists per game last campaign. Sophomore Elle Snyder, who has good length for a guard at 5-foot-9, contributed 7.1 points and 4 boards per game in 2021, while junior forward Camille Dominick also played significant minutes.

Additionally, junior forward Josie Straigis, sophomore guard Belle Blossey, and freshman guard Carley Berk could all carve out roles in the rotation for a team that lost four players to graduation, including shooting guard Rachel Ridilla (8.1 points per game) and point guard Lexi Weatherton (3 assists per game).

Competing in Class 5A Section 4, the Wildcats went 9-1 last season, with the only loss coming against Woodland Hills. The Wildcats redeemed that setback with a 46-44 victory against the Wolverines to conclude the regular season, however. Both teams ultimately reached the semifinals in Class 5A. Section opponents McKeesport Area and Penn Hills also posted winning records overall, while Gateway, Greensburg Salem, and Franklin Regional finished at the bottom of the standings.

Perhaps fittingly, Greater Latrobe opens section play on the road against Woodland Hills on Dec. 16.

“We play in an extremely competitive section with excellent coaches,” said Burkardt, in his seventh season at the helm. “On any given night, I believe that any team can beat any other team.”