The WPIAL announced nominees for its James Collins Scholar-Athlete Award, which will be given out for the 35th year.
Each winner receives a $1,000 scholarship.
Of the 151 nominees, 20 of them — 10 boys, 10 girls — were announced as winners. Two are from Westmoreland County: Hempfield’s Jonathan Stetchock (track and field, cross country) and Megan Mehall of Southmoreland (soccer, track and field).
Schools can nominate one boy and one girl and they are evaluated by the WPIAL Scholarship Committee. Since 1992, the WPIAL has awarded $739,000 in scholarships to recipients.
There are few single-sport nominees this year, According to the WPIAL, 82.1% of them play more than one sport, with 46.4% playing at least three sports.
Fifteen nominees are ranked No. 1 in their class.
Other local nominees included Annalyse Bauer of Latrobe (soccer, track), Jacob Briggs of Penn-Trafford (football, basketball), William Brown of Mt. Pleasant (football, soccer, tennis, unified bocce), Ava Christopher of Norwin (basketball, track, volleyball), Hannah Goldsmith of Hempfield (field hockey, lacrosse, tennis), Madison Grisnik of Belle Vernon (softball), Tyler Jones of Ligonier Valley (golf, wrestling), John Kerin of Derry (soccer, volleyball), Josh Lenart of Norwin (football, basketball), Lillie Mackey of Monessen (softbal), Logan Metzger of Belle Vernon (soccer, cross country, track), Madison Repak of Derry (volleyball, swimming), Jack Sacriponte of Latrobe (golf), Sadie Sarver of Greensburg Salem (basketball, tennis, track, wrestling), Kaden Shannon of Southmoreland (football, track, wrestling), Alyvia Singer of Yough (basketball, volleyball), Torrence Taylor of Monessen (football, basketball, track), Max Topper of Greensburg Salem (football, track), Mia Williams of Penn-Trafford (lacrosse, tennis) and Addie Witkoski of Ligonier Valley (golf, softball).
Martin up for award
Norwin wrestling coach Kyle Martin is a finalist for the Cane’s WPIAL Coach of the Year.
The other two finalists are Bethel Park softball coach Nicole Davis and Chris Goyke, the middle school soccer coach at East Allegheny.
Martin guided the Knights to a WPIAL Class 3A runner-up finish this season. The Knights’ Landon Sidun was a PIAA champion at 121 pounds.
Coach of the week
Latrobe’s Mackenzie Livingston was lauded for her efforts in leading the flag football team to an 8-1 start.
Livingston was named the Steelers Youth Football/Giant Eagle Girls Flag Coach of the Week.
Livingston also coaches the Latrobe girls basketball and Saint Vincent College women’s flag football teams.
Latrobe’s flag girls are averaging over 40 points per game.
Net gains
Hempfield senior Landan Kalp was named a Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A player of the week for the fifth week of the WPIAL season.
Kalp is a setter for the Spartans, who are the highest-ranked local team, checking in at No. 6 in the WPVCA Class 3A top 10.
Norwin is No. 8 and Penn-Trafford is No. 10.
In 2A, Derry is ranked No. 6.
Hoops showcase
Saint Vincent College will host a high school basketball shootout Oct. 3-4 at the soon-to-be-opened Dunlap Center, a multi-million-dollar, 80,000-square-foot athletic facility adjacent to the Fred. M. Rogers Center on campus.
Teams can enter the two-day event for a fee of $350. Teams from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland are expected to compete.
Recruiting
• Yough football player Corbin Reinstadtler committed to Division II Clarion. The 6-foot, 260-pound senior is a two-way lineman and long snapper.
• Eight Penn-Trafford athletes signed with college programs. They are Caeley Simon (Bryn Mawr, field hockey), Colton Payne (Seton Hill, soccer), Nate Desmond (Rose-Hukman Institute of Technology, football), Joe Boulware (Marietta, football), Blaise Burrell (Saint Vincent, football), Liz Welsh (Westminster, softball), Jake McMurdy (Saint Vincent, soccer) and Sarah Ley (Saint Francis, field hockey).
• Franklin Regional senior Sydney Gimbel will continue her competitive cheerleading career at Ohio State.
• Hempfield senior golfers Mads Pevarnik and Raegan Reamer will play golf at Division III Saint Vincent.
• Greensburg Central Catholic junior basketball player Avery Jones has opportunities to play at Allegheny and Saint Vincent.