By:
Saturday, June 28, 2025 | 4:35 PM
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Thomas Jefferson’s Matthew Martinis blocks a punt by Alquippa’s Malachi Shegog throughout the second quarter of their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Nov. 8, 2024 at Chartiers Valley.
Christopher Horner | TribLive
North Allegheny’s Bridgit Murphy celebrates with teammates after scoring in opposition to Spring-Ford throughout the PIAA Class 4A championship match Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley Excessive College.
Louis B. Ruediger | TribLive
Belle Vernon’s Elijah Brown wrestles St. Joseph Prep’s John Boggs at 215 kilos within the PIAA Class 3A wrestling event March 7 at Big Middle in Hershey.
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Shaler’s Addison Aleski scores throughout the WPIAL Class 5A championship recreation in opposition to Penn-Trafford on Could 29 at North Allegheny.
Prime highschool sports activities tales from 2024-25
Sept. 18, 2024
Ladies flag soccer officially becomes a PIAA-sanctioned sport. With greater than 100 school-sponsored groups statewide, the PIAA board votes so as to add the game within the 2025-26 faculty yr.
Sept. 27, 2024
Hopewell’s Rocco Marcantonio ties a WPIAL record with a 55-yard field goal. Just one different participant in WPIAL historical past is thought to have transformed a kick from that distance.
Oct. 1, 2024
Eight months earlier than Oakmont hosted the U.S. Open, Peters Township’s Colton Lusk tames the historic golf course with seven birdies. The senior shoots a 4-under 67 to win the WPIAL 3A boys title.
Nov. 8, 2024
An iconic streak ends when the Aliquippa soccer group loses to Thomas Jefferson, 38-21, in a WPIAL 4A semifinal. The Quips, who’d reached the finals yearly since 2008, have been trying to make their 17th straight appearance.
Nov. 16, 2024
Thomas Jefferson’s Invoice Cherpak turns into the first football coach to win 10 WPIAL titles when the Jaguars defeat McKeesport within the Class 4A closing at Norwin. Later within the faculty yr, longtime Riverside coach Dan Oliastro turns into the primary to win seven WPIAL baseball titles.
Nov. 16, 2025
The North Allegheny ladies volleyball group wins its eighth straight state championship, tying the longest streak of consecutive PIAA titles in any sport. The Tigers defeat Spring-Ford, 3-1, within the PIAA 4A closing. Solely Norwin ladies volleyball (1976-83) and Villa Maria Academy ladies swimming (2011-18) additionally received eight PIAA titles in a row
Dec. 6-7, 2024
No WPIAL soccer groups win a state title for under the second time for the reason that PIAA playoffs began in 1988. Including to the WPIAL’s woes, no soccer groups win states both.
Dec. 12, 2024
Longtime Rochester soccer coach Gene Matsook announces he’s stepping down after 39 years with this system. In 25 years as head coach, he led the Rams to 221 wins, 4 WPIAL titles and two state championships.
Feb. 27, 2025
Weeks after he shared plans to retire, the Belle Vernon boys basketball group sends coach Joe Salvino out on top by successful the WPIAL 5A title. The WPIAL title was the group’s first since 1978. For Salvino, the title was his seventh general however first since turning into Belle Vernon’s coach in 2018. He retired because the second-winningest coach in WPIAL boys basketball historical past.
Feb. 10, 2025
Elite Clairton scorer Iyanna Wade becomes the fourth girls basketball player in WPIAL historical past to achieve 3,000 profession factors. The senior guard finishes with 3,120, second most in WPIAL historical past. 4 boys be a part of the two,000-point checklist: Avonworth’s Rowan Carmichal, Chartiers Valley’s Jayden Davis, Belle Vernon’s Zion Moore and Neighborhood Academy’s Courtney Wallace.
Feb. 4, 2025
The Highlands boys basketball group qualifies for the WPIAL playoffs, transferring previous early season hazing allegations that left the Golden Rams shorthanded and with out their coach.
Feb. 20, 2025
The PIAA changes its transgender athlete policy to adjust to a Trump Administration directive — now classifying college students by “intercourse” quite than “gender.” The hassle attracts criticism from all sides.
March 7, 2025
A battle within the bleachers spills onto the courtroom main officers to chop quick a PIAA boys basketball playoff game between Uniontown and Meadville. An Imani Christian vs. Aliquippa recreation was similarly halted two months earlier, additionally after followers ran onto the courtroom. A ladies playoff recreation between St. Joseph and Farrell finishes in an empty gym.
March 8, 2025
Belle Vernon’s Elijah Brown wins his school’s first state wrestling title, doing so in a weight class dominated this yr by WPIAL athletes. All 4 semifinalists within the 215-pound bracket for Class 3A hailed from WPIAL colleges.
March 13, 2025
Mt. Nice’s Lily King turns into the primary swimmer in a profession to win eight individual gold medals at both the WPIAL and PIAA championships. As a senior, the N.C. State recruit swept the 100- and 200-yard freestyle for Class 2A ladies.
March 29, 2025
The South Fayette ladies basketball group completed its “revenge tour” by beautiful Philadelphia Catholic League energy Archbishop Wooden, 45-37, within the PIAA 5A closing. Wooden had received a PIAA title 4 years in a row and 9 instances general.
Could 15, 2025
Laurel sprinter Tori Atkins finishes off her so-called “quadruple-double” by successful each the 200 and 400 meters in 4 consecutive years on the WPIAL 2A ladies monitor championships. She is the primary athlete to perform that feat.
Could 28, 2025
Riverside’s Zach Hare pitches the first known perfect game in WPIAL baseball championship historical past, however his 1-0 win over Quaker Valley is a part of one thing greater. In all, Hare pitches 34 consecutive no-hit innings within the playoffs, serving to the Panthers win WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A titles.
Could 29, 2025
The Shaler softball group completes the Titans’ trifecta by successful the WPIAL Class 5A title in 11 innings. Within the span of three days, Shaler celebrates WPIAL titles in baseball, softball and boys volleyball.
June 9-10, 2025
It takes 17 innings — and two days — however Indiana wins the longest baseball game in PIAA playoff history. A walk-off stroll lets the Indians defeat East Pennsboro, 6-5, in a Class 4A semifinal. Indiana received WPIAL and PIAA titles, and 4 of its seven postseason wins wanted additional innings.
June 12, 2025
The Neshannock softball dynasty rolls on with a second straight undefeated season and one other state title, this time over South Williamsport within the PIAA 2A closing. The Lancers, behind pitcher Addy Frye, went 100-1 in 4 seasons with 4 WPIAL championships and three PIAA titles.
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter protecting sports activities. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter on the Beaver County Occasions. He could be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
