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Sunday, December 10, 2023 | 3:45 pm
Chaz Paul | Tribune Review
Riley Kerr (14) of Greensburg Central Catholic will play for St. Francis (Pa.) in college.
The recruiting process ended as quickly as it started for Riley Kerr.
After the WPIAL girls’ soccer season ended with a rare first-round loss to Greensburg Central Catholic, the junior forward is starting to get used to the floor.
She gauged interest and looked for the right fit in a program that not only had a sound program, but wasn’t too far away either.
She found that at St. Francis (Pa.), a Division I program in Loretto.
“I really liked how close it was to home, and I always thought I wanted to be close to home and go to college and a smaller school because that’s how I grew up,” Kerr said. “I love the community feel of the school.
“I had other schools interested, but I felt like it was the right place. I loved the coaches and the campus, and I felt at home there.
Kerr scored 40 goals and had 18 assists last season with the GCC side and will total 102 goals in her first season.
Panthers doubled
Westmoreland County already has one for the thumb. Now it has its sixth state soccer title.
Belle Vernon has won back-to-back WPIAL 3A titles and doubled up for its second straight PIAA championship with a 38-7 win Saturday over Northwestern Lehigh.
The Panthers (13-1) became the second two-time winner from the district.
Other local state champions are: Franklin Regional (2005), Jeannette (2007, ’17), and Penn Trafford (2021).
Belle Vernon is the first repeat WPIAL winner since Central Valley in 2020 and ’21.
Other repeat champions are: Thomas Jefferson (2019, ’20), South Fayette (2013, ’14), Clairton (2009, ’10, ’11, ’12), T.J. (2007, ’08), Rochester (2000, ’01) and Farrell (1995, ’96).
Belle Vernon will move up to Class 4A next season.
All nets state
Senior setter Ella Dindak of Penn-Trafford (Class 4A) and sophomore right-side hitter Ashlyn Black of Greensburg Central Catholic (Class A) were named to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association all-state lists.
The position has been opened
Ben Trafford is on a one-year contract, and the district decided not to renew the contract of boys soccer coach Ben Suchko, who coached the Warriors for one season.
Penn-Trafford finished 5-11-2, went 1-6-1 in its last eight games and missed the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.
Suchko, a Hempfield alumnus, was an assistant at Yough from 2008-11.
Then there were two
With Deer Lakes winning its first playoff game in football, there are only two WPIAL teams that have not won a postseason game.
Southmoreland, the team that lost to Deer Lakes in the 3A first round, has made the playoffs in five of the past six seasons. But the Scots have yet to win a playoff game.
Another school without a postseason win is Summit Academy, a school for tight ends near Butler.
enlistment
Franklin Regional senior baseball player Blake Bertucci has announced that he will continue his playing career at Gannon. Bertucci is a right-handed pitcher for the Panthers.
• Latrobe junior varsity football standout and linebacker Alex Tatsch has added Akron to his growing list of Division I scholarship offers.
• The Norwin senior will continue her playing career at IUP, which plays in PSAC Division II. Graham played at Norwin this season after transferring from Greensburg Central Catholic.
• Luke Denny, a senior at Norwin, has received a preferred offer from Division I Akron. Denny is a wide receiver and defensive back.
• Penn Trafford senior soccer player Carmen Metcalf has been offered a favorite walking spot in West Virginia. The all-conference defensive back, known for his ball-catching skills, also earned a Division II offer from West Virginia.
• West Virginia also offered Hempfield senior fullback and linebacker Brennan Knight.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill via email at bbeckner@tribive.com or via Twitter .
Tags: Beautiful VernonFranklin Regional, Greensburg CC, Latrobe, Penn Trafford, Southmoreland
Westmoreland High School is proud to announce that one of our very own standout students, Kerr, has made a significant decision about his future. Kerr has chosen to further his education at GCC, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for him. His dedication and hard work have truly paid off, and we are confident that he will excel in this next chapter of his academic journey. Join us in congratulating Kerr on this exciting accomplishment!