Franklin Regional did not overachieve this boys soccer season. At the same time, however, it did not exactly underachieve, either.
That is because outside expectations were lower than the team’s heading into another fall that stretched deep into the postseason.
Consider:
• The team was unranked to start the season.
• It had no returning all-state or all-WPIAL players.
• It lost eight seniors to graduation.
Yet there the Panthers were, competing for a WPIAL championship for the second time in as many years at Highmark Stadium. After a short state playoff run, they finished 19-5.
“It’s been a tremendous season,” coach Nick White said. “The boys have had a chip on their shoulder all year and were out to prove themselves. These seniors have done so much for the program, and so much for me personally.
Franklin Regional, which overcame a crate-load of injuries that dotted the season, made it farther than any local boys soccer team, finishing second in WPIAL Class 3A before falling to Conrad Weiser in the PIAA quarterfinals for the second year in a row 2-0.
“We went down swinging,” White said.
The Panthers had five all-section players, three of whom made all-WPIAL, and an all-state pick in defender Thomas Bridges.
This time, they will lose only six seniors, so 2026 could come with more preseason hype.
Franklin Regional has had 10 straight double-digit-win seasons, five WPIAL finals appearances since 2017 and has made the state tournament five times in eight years.
Midnight madness
High school basketball practice will begin Friday across the PIAA, and the Mt. Pleasant girls are bringing back an old tradition.
The team is beginning practice at 12:01 a.m.
“The girls wanted to bring it back,” Mt. Pleasant second-year coach Scott Hillen said. “We are going to practice for a couple hours, do a couple team bonding things and get them to bed at the school. They will get up and attend classes. They wanted to be the first to practice.”
The Vikings are trying to rebound from a 6-16 season. They made the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs but lost to North Catholic.
Hillen will be relying on four starters — seniors Morgan Gesinski and Grace Arrigo and juniors Ryleigh Drzal and Danica Trainer — to lead the way.
Soccer stars
Numerous local players were selected to the Big 5/6 Conference all-section soccer teams.
The boys Section 1 first team included Norwin’s Ryan Schoemer, Danny Metzger and Logan Plichta and Hempfield’s Braden Crowe.
The girls Section 1 first team featured Norwin’s Cameryn Reed, Nicole Bown and Alex Kobus, Latrobe’s Emerson Shine, Annalyse Bauer and Mackenzie Kubistek and Penn-Trafford’s Tori Yurt, Elle Lebe, Emilie Oslosky and Alannah Hall.
Ashley DeVito of Norwin was tabbed the section coach of the year.
Volleyball stars
The Big 5/6 Conference announced its all-section girls volleyball teams.
The Section 3-4A first team included Claire Benning and Maggie Maiers of Latrobe, Lauren Howard, Antonella Bompiani and Preslee Horchak of Hempfield, Ashley Black of Norwin and Ella McDonald, Ava Ruane and Cianna Culgan of Penn-Trafford.
Penn-Trafford’s Tracy McDonald was named section coach of the year.
Mankins, Long coaching
Two former local high school basketball players have joined the college coaching ranks.
Jeff Mankins, a Greensburg Salem alum who coached on Rick Klimchock’s staff with the Golden Lions girls last season, is now a student assistant on the West Liberty men’s staff.
Mankins had been caddying on the Korn Ferry Tour for Greensburg’s Mark Goetz, but the tour grind became an issue for Mankins, whose father, Craig, is the former Greensburg Salem boys coach.
Bella Long, a former Penn-Trafford standout who played college hoops at Slippery Rock, is now a women’s assistant coach at Seton Hill.
Long was an assistant last year with the Penn-Trafford girls.