Mike White
@mwhiteburgh
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Post-Gazette sports writer
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Joined February 2011
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Go ahead and try to keep a dry eye through this. In 2018, Laurel High School’s Hayden Hamilton was paralyzed from the neck down after a hit in a high school football game. Tonight HE WALKED!!!! To get his diploma at graduation - and then got a standing ovation.
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Going undefeated until losing in state championship can be gut-wrenching. But Aliquippa coach Mike Warfield has great perspective - and is awfully proud of his team.
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When T.J. McConnell was this pencil-thin 9th grader - at 5 feet 7 - playing varsity at Chartiers Valley, who would've ever thunk he would get a triple double someday in the NBA.? It happened tonight with the Philadelphia 76ers.
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It’s NCAA Div. 2 game in Florida. But I bring it up because it’s surreal & former WPIAL standout Nick Smith is on the end of one of the most horrific cheap shots you’ll ever see. Also surreal official standing right next to it & nothing happens to this Saint Leo’s U. player.
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Darrelle Revis has been elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame. That means Aliquippa now has more HOF members (3) than any high school in U.S.
Revis was outstanding in football - but little factoid about his athletic ability: He led WPIAL hoops in scoring in 2002-03 (26.2 ppg).
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Fall sports are on!!!!!! PIAA just voted 25-5 to conduct ALL fall sports. Up to schools if they want to participate.
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Look who showed up for the WPIAL 1A championship. Kentucky coach John Calipari is cheering for Cornell. Says a lot about him that he would fly in just for his old high school coach. Cornell coach Bill Sacco was Calipari’s coach at Moon.
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And how bout this! A Pittsburgher wins womens Pittsburgh Marathon.
South Fayette’s Nicole Hilton. Former WPIAL standout.
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Just sayin’. Interesting sign in front of Central Catholic student section for tonight.
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Big day for T.J. McConnell - and congrats to one of WPIALs all time bests. Re-signs with Pacers: 4 years at $33 million. Now it’s back to working out with Dad at Chartiers Valley like he’s done all summer.
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Tremendous before game. National anthem didn’t work. So entire crowd sang it. Was really great to see. Especially Upper St. Clair student section.
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Gov. Wolf has increased restaurant seating capacity to 50 percent. So why in the world is there still an indoor gathering limit of 25 people for school sports? Absurd.
Hopefully that will change this week also.
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It’s over. Mt. Lebanon wins its first state title with a 35-17 victory against St. Joseph’s.
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I don't know the answer to this, but ...
When was the last time the No. 1 college men's team in the country had a WPIAL player in the starting lineup?
Ethan Morton of Butler is starting for No. 1 Purdue, averaging 25 minutes a game.
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Kind of sad. This is the last Monday ever you’ll be able to hold one of these in your hands - a Post-Gazette newspaper.
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This is wild. Has one high school ever had this on successive days, like Pine-Richland?:
Senior QB (Cole Spencer) wins playoff game Friday.
College QB (Boston College's Phil Jurkovec) plays No. 1 team in country Saturday.
Rookie (Ben DiNucci) makes first NFL start Sunday.
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Remember this guy at Pine-Richland High School? Well, Phil Jurkovec is coming home.
Phil just confirmed, "I'm committed to Pitt."
Story later on.
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Time to go back in time: LaVar Arrington
@LaVarArrington
was often a man among boys when he played football. Well, check him out as an 8th grader when he played on the 9th grade basketball team at North Hills in 1992.
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Moon does it. Beats Philly Catholic League team. Down nine in fourth Moon comes back for 74-64 win over Archbishop Wood.
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So what in the world was Mt. Lebanon coach Bob Palko doing at the Pro Bowl getting interviewed by Lisa Salters?
Getting the Don Shula National Coach of the Year award, of course.
Quite an honor for one of best in any sport in WPIAL history.
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Pine-Richland football players gather together for a rally coming soon this morning to show support for Eric Kasperowicz.
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Look familiar? "Like father, like son, like daughter." Four years ago, coach Tim McConnell with son Matty after WPIAL title. Today, coach Tim McConnell with daughter Megan after WPIAL title. Family moments captured by P-G photographers
@mattfreedpghpg
and
@StephChambers76
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Chase Winovich of the New England Patriots has a message for his alma mater Thomas Jefferson as they try for a state championship tomorrow. And is that really Tom Brady snapping the ball to Chase?
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Serra coach Jose Regus is confined to a wheelchair during games because of a neurological disorder diagnosed in September. Tonight he’s a WPIAL champion.
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Mike Zmijanac goes high about removal as coach: "A small group of people who made a decision aren't going to make me be bitter. ... I'm not going to let them destroy all the great things that happened, all the tremendous relationships I acquired. They aren't going to ruin that."
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It was a tough week for Bob Palko, losing a dear friend, Mark Davis, who passed away from a stroke. But it ended in grand fashion when Palko’s Mt. Lebanon team won its first state championship. The second for Palko. Palko on all of the emotions:
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A plan:
1. Start winter sports just before Christmas finish 1st weekend March.
2. Fall sports games March 5. Finish 2nd weekend of May.
3. Spring sports contests first weekend of May. Finish July 9.
All seasons have at least 10-11 weeks. Kids could still play multiple sports.
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You haven’t seen a national anthem at a WPIAL high school game until you see this John Tucci do it. The hands have it.
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This is pretty funny. This is all Belle Vernon coach Matt Humbert said to his team on field after winning state championship.
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For parents who think sports specialization is a must these days, think of this from NFHS: Of 106 players in Super Bowl, 96 percent played multiple sports in high school. Thirty-three played three sports. Track and field & basketball were most popular other sports.
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Three years ago, he was carted off the Laurel High School field, paralyzed from neck down from a hit in a football game.
Friday night, Hayden Hamilton was back at the same field - getting a standing ovation.
HE WALKED AT GRADUATION!!!
Story and video:
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This one just about over. So what do you think? Pine-Richland one of the best teams to come out of the WPIAL?? Maybe ever?? I know one thing that I am now ready to declare. Phil Jurkovec is best QB I've seen since started covering WPIAL for P-G in 1980. Almost 40 years.
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Everything is perfect. Chartiers Valley girls finish off a perfect season with 53-40 victory over Archbishop Carroll to win 5A state title to finish 30-0.
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Gotta like this some, don’t ya? Some old school celebration music by Mt. Lebanon in locker room after today’s win against Central Catholic.
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A little post game talk in a state championship locker room from Tim McConnell....:. Can we all just love each other?
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Here at Pine-Richland and a student rally at entrance to campus has now lasted about an hour and a half. About 200 kids stood together in chilly rain to show support of football coach Eric Kasperowicz.
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Oh, the emotions of high school sports — that you don’t get many other places. Check out Central Valley star lineman Sean FitzSimmons in tears after winning state title again - and he was terrific again. Pitt fans should be happy. You’re getting a good one - in a number of ways.
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Pine-Richland security won’t let media on school grounds. This is from across the street of entrance to school. These kids have been out here for more than hour and a half. And they’re having a little fun.
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Has to be one of the greatest comebacks in PIAA championship history. Connor Hamrick’s fourth hit of the game drives in winning run in bottom of the eighth. Shaler wins state championship with 9–8 win against Strath Haven. Shaler trailed 8-3 in 6th.
You celebrate, Titans.
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Ryan Shazier called. Pat Narduzzi visited today. Friends, opposing coaches and players are reaching out. Western Pennsylvania football community is rallying around injured Laurel High School player Hayden Hamilton.
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New Castle coach Ralph Blundo has a way with words about his teams and players that can be so special to hear. He’s so emotionally invested in that school, town and team and it showed once again tonight. This group had a special place in his heart.
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This is must see.
Avonworth finished regular season undefeated for only fourth time in school history, so they celebrated last night on the bus ride home —— in song.
“Hallelujah” to these perfect Antelopes - and QB Hunter Blackson on lead vocals.
Tremendous.
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Pittsburgh guys stick together, even across NBA and NFL.
Look at what Chartiers Valley’s T.J. McConnell of the Indiana Pacers wore to tonight’s game at 76ers, just to show support for Damar Hamlin.
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One of the hardest things still to figure in this is how in the world can all youth baseball, club sports, AAU basketball go on all summer with fans in the stands, sometimes more than 100? But high school games CAN'T have fans?
I still think this might change.
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28 yrs. ago the WPIAL 3A baseball championship had two future MLB All Stars on opposite teams - Butler's Matt Clement and Upper St. Clair's Sean Casey.
Tonight, their sons (Mattix and Andrew) meet in basketball with winner moving on to WPIAL championship - Butler and USC again.
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A toast to Jim & Bob. And all parents should remember this Palko comment: “The problem with parents nowadays is they won’t let their kids fail with anything. They always have to step in. That’s sometimes the best thing for kids to learn. Let them fail."
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What a story. Larry Kelly started his head coaching career this year —at age 67!!! And he gets a WPIAL title with Shenango’s 2-1 win against Seton LaSalle.
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"The ball was a congratulatory gesture from one cancer conqueror to another."
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New Castle lost to Imhotep Charter in state championship.
Count New Castle coach Ralph Blundo among the many coaches who feel something should be done about private/Catholic/charter schools in Pa. sports.
“Common sense,” Blundo says.
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Mars wins WPIAL 5A title on Andrew Recchia 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left. Check it out
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Close to 100,000 Pennsylvania athletes play high school winter sports in the PIAA. And tonight is the start-up of games again.
Good luck to all. May you cherish the opportunity to have a season, don't take it for granted - and may you make some memories that last a lifetime.
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Kobe Bryant’s comment to me in 1996 as we were eating McDonald’s after All-American Game practice: “You can’t say ‘I don’t want to be a role model’ because you are. I think there are a lot of negative things going on right now in this nation and kids need somebody to look up to.”
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Anthony Chiccitt provided us an inspiring story before, beating cancer. Now unfortunately he faces it again. So, best wishes to
@achiccitt23
, one terrific young man.
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North Catholic coach Jim Rocco on Lincoln Park’s Meleek Thomas and Brandin Cummings. Pretty high praise.
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Stopped at Central Catholic today to watch a little bit of a workout. Counting group of 9th graders that just came aboard, new coach Ryan Lehmeier said he has 127 players signed up play in grades 9-12. Yes, I said 127!!!!
This day and age, that’s incredible.
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Pretty cool. George Karl on SportsCebter tonight with his Penn Hills jersey as backdrop.
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Cancer took away his right hip and part of his pelvis. But Dom Giallonardo is starting for Mount Pleasant basketball team. If you need some inspiration, try Dom's comeback story:
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PIAA reaffirms winter sports practices will start on time Friday.
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Really, to me, he was a one of a kind player in Western Pa. history. He was the dual-threat QB before the dual-threat QB.
The one, the only, The Maj of Brashear High.
West Virginia retired Major Harris’ number today.
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Wow! It will be like a 3-day party for Shaler athletics Thursday-Saturday at Penn State.
Shaler boys volleyball team just won state semifinal. That means Shaler softball, baseball and volleyball teams have all made state finals.
Never happened before in Pa. high school history;
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When you have done so much in your high school basketball career and finally, finally, finally get that championship that you’ve longed for. Butler’s Ethan Morton:
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Washington's Ron Faust - good man, excellent coach (595 wins), and tremendous comment tonight. After quarterfinal playoff loss, was asked if he will come back for his 33rd season as coach. “I hope so - unless the Aliquippa school board moves to Washington."
#mikezmijanac
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You won't find many football programs where cussing is not allowed.
But at Westinghouse, coach Donta Green demands players act, look and talk a certain way. A man who is making a huge difference at an inner-city school - and winning.
Donta Green's story:
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Somewhat surprising. PIAA board of directors just voted and granted Aliquippa some relief.
Aliquippa will NOT be bumped up to Class 5A in football next season.
Quips will remain 4A.
Story coming soon.
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I will always remember in 1996 when P-G photographer Pete Diana put a camera on top of hoop at McDonalds practice at Pitt Field House and we asked Kobe if he would do something for a photo to run with our big story. He was more than happy to dunk.
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Who says Western Pa. can't produce basketball players? Good night for two former WPIAL players in NBA. T.J. McConnell (Chartiers Valley) with 12 points, 8 assists, 3 boards for Pacers. Cam Johnson (OLSH) with 15 points and 6 rebounds for Phoenix Suns.
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It was a historical win by Mt. Lebanon for a number of reasons. Here’s coach Bob Palko.
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He turned down NFL draft inviite to watch the draft from home in New Castle. Malik Hooker the hometown hero:
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Speeeeech. Mt. Lebanon’s Bob Palko. It’s about togetherness.
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Funny part of WPIAL championship weekend. Butler star Ethan Morton, about 20 minutes after his team lost, had dressed and had come out of the locker room near the court when three Petersen Center workers stopped him. "Hey, we really hope you come here," one said.
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Pa. athletic oversight committee of state legislators just finished meeting with PIAA director Bob Lombardi and some others. Certainly sounds like everything is moving forward for PIAA to approve start of fall sports. PIAA board meeting is Friday.
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Big 33 streak and Super Bowl is still going. Never been a Super Bowl without a former Big 33 player. DL Kevin Givens (Altoona) and K Robbie Gould (Central Mountain) are with 49ers. QB Chad Henne (Wilson) is on Chiefs roster.
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By the way, PIAA exec. director Bob Lombardi said today, “We have not learned of any team to team spread of the virus through athletics."
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Five years ago, Blackhawk's Brendan McKay was the Post-Gazette baseball player of the year. According to reports, Saturday he'll pitch his first game in the major leagues for the Tampa Bay Rays.
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Can you believe it? A no-no in WPIAL largest class championship. David Shields of Mt. Lebanon pitches a no-hitter in 4-0 win against North Allegheny. Dogpile and flips after the last out. Great stuff
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This is tremendous. Big announcement this morning concerning Aliquippa's renovated stadium "The Pit."
There will once again be a Heinz Field in Western Pa.!!!!! It will be at Aliquippa.
It's the name of the renovated stadium. Mark Belko with story:
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Pittsburgh has best of any site in country. Villanova, Duke, Collin Sexton, Trae Young and Pittsburgh guys. Could it be any better???
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When you play 30 games. Win a state championship. AND NEVER LOSE. Peters Township girls finish off a perfect season with 62-49 victory against Garnet Valley. Makenna Marisa 29. Journey Thompson 16. Isabella Mills 14.
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Wanna feel-good holiday high school story?
One of the WPIAL championship gold medals Penn-Trafford won was sent by coach John Ruane to a man who missed an extra point in the WPIAL title game 24 years ago.
"I was blown away by it"
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Heard another absurd parent story from a coach today. I think next school year, I might keep track of all the ridiculous parents stories and print them all at end of year.
The "all-star parents stories." Would probably need a full page or more.
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A former WPIAL and PIAA champion distance runner, South Fayette’s Nicole Hilton ran her first marathon ever at Pittsburgh Marathon Sunday - and won.
Who does this?
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Unreal story of South Park's Randy Dobnak just got more absurd last night. Undrafted, playing in Independent League two years ago. Twins sign him, he vaults from Class A to majors this season. Pitches 4 shutout innings in first game vs. Indians last night. Someone make a movie.
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John Calipari on why he flew in to Pittsburgh for the WPIAL Class 1A championship Thursday night: "I had to come. He means a lot to me. He didn’t even know I was coming.”
Calipari was talking about his old high school coach.
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This video posted yesterday has gone viral and here’s update on this player, Isaiah Hill, of Saint Leo’s Fla. who did this horrific thing to former North Hills standout Nick Smith (Nova Southeastern) in Div. 2 game. Team suspended Hill rest of 2019. That’s 2 games. Yes, 2 games.
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It's a good day. Official start of high school basketball practice in Pa. is today. Good luck to all those players and coaches. Make it happen.
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Virtual school board meeting going on right now with Pine-Richland school board and administrators. Taking calls from community.
Many, many strong comments against board and administrators. Basically, getting ripped.
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Nice classy touch by Penn Hills players. Long way from Florida but Penn Hills team warming up for state game tonight in T-shirts in support of Parkland shooting victims. All 17 names on back.
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Yes, this is the same kid.
5 1/2 years ago this was the Neal Shipley who finished second at the WPIAL championship at Oakmont Country Club.
Now, get this: Today, this was the Neal Shipley who played in the Masters with Tiger Woods. And actually had a better score than Tiger.
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He wasn't drafted, but former Kittanning High School and Penn State tight end Nick Bowers, a P-G Fabulous 22 pick, already signed free agent with Oakland Raiders, says his high school coach Frank Fabian.
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Aliquippa gets its 20th WPIAL title and coach Mike Warfield his fourth. The man’s record is now 72-6.
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Hey Upper St. Clair’s Aidan Besselman, you made ESPN this morning! Besselman’s catch on final play of regulation against South Fayette makes “You Got Mossed” on NFL countdown. It was not in OT as Mr. Moss said, but so what.
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Spending the day playing 18 with all three of my guys — and finishing it off with that Dairy Queen ice cream cake and those chocolate crunchies. Now that’s a day. That’s a good Fathers Day.
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Penn-Trafford does it!!
They win their first WPIAL title this year - and tonight win state championship. Warriors knock off Imhotep, 17-14, in overtime in 5A title game.
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Now this is pretty cool. Rather than continue a blowout against an overmatched opponent, two girls soccer teams split up in the second half and finished with players from both teams playing together. Eddie Phillipps with story:
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In a tremendous, defensive performance from Aliquippa, the highlight had to be an 88 yard return of a fumble by 6-3 1/2, 341-pound nose guard Naquan Crowder. It might be one of the plays of the year in WPIAL football.
Let Naquan tell you about it.
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Oops. I blinked and almost missed Aliquippa’s M.J. Devonshire (Kentucky football recruit) jet by on way to second WPIAL 100 meter title. He beat former Quip and NFLer Tommie Campbell’s meet record. M.J. ran 10.67. Athlete of year???
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Horrible news. So sad. Maclean Maund, standout pitcher a year ago at Penn-Trafford High School, was killed yesterday in a car accident. Maclean was a freshman at Seton Hill. Prayers for his family.
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