February 25, 2025 4:22 am
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — One NFL team is proposing an end to the tush push play the Philadelphia Eagles have used so successfully at the goal line and in short-yardage situations, including during their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. According to NFL Network and the Washington Post, league executive Troy Vincent said Monday that a team submitted a proposal to ban the play. Vincent didn’t identify the team. The tush push is a modified quarterback sneak where two teammates behind Jalen Hurts push him forward to help him try to gain the yardage necessary for a first down or touchdown.
February 25, 2025 4:25 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Lawrence J. Dolan, owner of Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team since 2000, has died at age 94. The Cleveland Guardians said in a statement Monday that Dolan died Sunday night of natural causes. Dolan, a Cleveland native, bought the team from Richard Jacobs in 2000 for $320 million. The Dolan family is the longest-tenured ownership group in Cleveland franchise history. The franchise was known as the Cleveland Indians before changing its name to the Guardians after the 2021 season. Over the past 24 seasons, Cleveland has won seven American League Central Division titles, made nine postseason appearances and advanced to the 2016 World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs.
February 24, 2025 4:39 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Adam Fox scored the go-ahead goal at 11:26 of the third period, J.T. Miller had two goals and the New York Rangers rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3. Will Cuylle scored on the power play and Jimmy Vesey added his 100th NHL goal for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin made 30 saves. Ryan Shea scored two third-period goals to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead. Vesey tied it for the Rangers 4:21 into the third. Evgeni Malkin had Pittsburgh’s other goal. Sidney Crosby had an assist and became the ninth player in NHL history with 17 or more 60-point seasons.
February 24, 2025 4:38 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin had so many chance to score in the Washington Capitals’ rout of the Edmonton Oilers that he joked, “I’ll take three.” His 32nd hat trick of his 20-year NHL career puts him at 882 goals. He is 13 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record that long seemed unapproachable. Ovechkin, even after missing 16 games with a broken leg earlier this season, is now back on pace to pass Gretzky this spring. The Capitals have 25 left to play for him to make that a reality.
February 23, 2025 3:45 pm
The road to the PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships continued Saturday with the WPIAL Individual Championships at Chartiers Valley (2A) and Canon-McMillan (3A). The top eight 2A place-winners advance to next week’s Southwest Regional in Altoona while 3A will see its top 7 return to Canon-McMillan for the West Regional. Click on each tournament for medal-bout results.
WPIAL 2A Championships–Washington/Greene County wrestlers won four individual 2A titles, including Fort Cherry senior Braedon Welsh winning his second championship. Juniors Lucas Barr (McGuffey), Owen Ivcic (Bentworth) and Colin Whyte (West Greene) also stood atop the medal platform at the end of the day. McGuffey is sending 8 wrestlers to the SW Regional next weekend. Burgettstown has five qualifiers. Beth-Center and Jeff-Morgan have four wrestlers advancing, Bentworth and Wash High three apiece. West Greene is sending two to Altoona, with Avella, Chartiers-Houston and Fort Cherry one each.
WPIAL 3A Championships–Nicholas McGarrity (Peters Township) and Jake Stephenson (Waynesburg) won individual 3A titles on Saturday. McGarrity, a sophomore, won his second straight 107-pound championship. Canon-McMillan has six Western Regional qualifiers. Trinity has four wrestlers advancing, Ringgold and Waynesburg three each. Peters Township has two qualifiers.
February 23, 2025 7:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jakob Chychrun scored twice during a second-period surge and the Washington Capitals raced past the Pittsburgh Penguins 8-3 on Saturday. Alexander Ovechkin was held without a goal to remain at 879 for his career, 15 away from tying Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark. The Capitals hardly needed the Russian superstar in their return from the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Chychrun beat Alex Nedeljokvic twice in less than four minutes to break open a tie game. Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson pushed Washington’s lead to 6-2 by the end of the period as the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals improved to 13-1-6 in their last 20 games. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby — fresh off Team Canada’s victory at 4 Nations — scored his 18th of the season on a pretty backhand 6:36 into the second that briefly tied the game before Washington took firm control. The goal was the 610th of Crosby’s career, tying him with Bobby Hull for 18th in NHL history.
February 22, 2025 11:00 pm
WPIAL 2A Individual Championships at Chartiers Valley
Championships
107 Javeon Chambers (Highlands) MAJ DEC Darius Simmons (Burgettstown), 10-0
114 Preston Bubash (Elizabeth Forward) DEC Bruce Anderchak (Quaker Valley), 3-2
121 Auston Kosanovic (Avonworth) MAJ DEC Carter Thomas (Burrell), 13-1
127 Antonio Boni (Central Valley) FALL Danny Smith (Burgettstown), 3:27
133 Anthony Mucci (Derry) DEC Drake McClure (Bentworth), 3-2
139 Lucas Barr (McGuffey) DEC Julian Bertucci (Burrell), 10-4
145 Lucas Boyer (Elizabeth Forward) DEC Owen Layhew (Knoch), 7-0
152 Mason Horwat (Derry) TECH FALL Jonah Erdely (Frazier), 21-5 4:45
160 Owen Ivcic (Bentworth) MAJ DEC Ryan Celaschi (Frazier), 10-2
172 Jackson Angelo (Frazier) DEC Isaac Lacinski (Burrell), 10-6
189 Brady Brown (Derry) TECH FALL Slayton Williams (South Side), 19-4 1:44
215 Braedon Welsh (Fort Cherry) TECH FALL Braiden Sudor (Carlynton), 19-2 5:26
285 Colin Whyte (West Greene) DEC Henry Barbisch (Carlynton), 10-4
Third Place
107 Angelo Boni (Central Valley) DEC Brayden Hanning (Jefferson Morgan), 15-8
114 Clayton Ealy (McGuffey) DEC Alex Medlen (Beth Center), 7-2
121 Dylan Bateman (Derry) DEC Tucker Main (McGuffey), 8-1
127 Giovanni Beatrice (Derry) FALL Rocco Zugai (Summit Academy), 0:37
133 Jacob Stewart (Burrell) DEC Mason Wright (Beth Center), 3-1
139 Matthew Danna (Quaker Valley) TECH FALL Aiden Burford (Highlands), 19-4 4:42
145 Tristan Wtorkiewicz (Mt. Pleasant) DEC Caleb Patton (Washington), 8-7
152 Gavyn McCray (Freedom) FALL Calio Zanella (Burrell), 1:54
160 Alek Palko (Jefferson Morgan) DEC Gabe Lilly (Ellwood City), 4-2
172 Noah Layhue (Beth Center) DEC Marcus Richey (Quaker Valley), 7-2
189 Malachi Peak (Beth Center) DEC Wyatt Markovich (South Park), 4-1 SV
215 Kolton Carlson (Laurel) DEC Luke Boylan (Burrell), 9-3
285 Alex Rusilko (Bentworth) MAJ DEC Parker Cunningham (South Park), 9-1
Fifth Place
107 Warren Woleslagle (Elizabeth Forward) DEC Rocco DeCario (Derry), 8-2
114 Victor Wagner (North Catholic) FALL Raydn Thomas (Valley), 0:35
121 Noah Collins (West Greene) FORFEIT Noah Patton (Washington)
127 Jeremy Wagner (Keystone Oaks) FALL James Dulaney (Jefferson Morgan), 2:44
133 Emmett Wolfe (McGuffey) DEC Carter Katus (Burgettstown), 7-0
139 Angelo Amelio (North Catholic) DEC Brett Klim (Derry), 4-1
145 Antonio Perkins (Valley) MAJ DEC Cadyn Crawford (Burrell), 14-5
152 Logan Noyes (Burgettstown) DEC Garrett Newman (McGuffey), 7-0
160 Chaney Lewis (Neighborhood Acad.) DEC Ben Catullo (Burrell), 5-4
172 Reid Teagarden (McGuffey) DEC Landon DeLara (Southmoreland), 5-1 TB2
189 Zeshawn Williams (Freedom) FORFEIT Jake Mundorff (Ligonier Valley)
215 Kaden Shannon (Southmoreland) DEFAULT Brennan Breisinger (Quaker Valley)
285 Casey Wilson (Laurel) FORFEIT Teddy Gray (Burgettstown)
Seventh Place
107 Michael Pierro (North Catholic) DEC Jake Guzek (South Park), 2-0
114 Caleb Dulaney (Jefferson Morgan) DEC Kamden Stamm (Chartiers-Houston), 4-0
121 Drake Buzzard (Avella) MAJ DEC DeJamire Suber (Highlands), 8-0
127 Lucas Guzek (South Park) DEC Archer Brua (Laurel), 10-4
133 Garen McDonald (Central Valley) FALL Juzef Betts (Valley), 2:22
139 Jahvon Woods (Washington) FALL Josue Martinez (Valley), 2:41
145 Victor Bonus (McGuffey) MAJ DEC Jeremiah Gess (Derry), 17-3
152 Braxton Carr (Laurel) TECH FALL Joshua Kuczma (South Park), 15-0 1:09
160 Ewan Olson (Derry) DEC Stephen Predajna (Mt. Pleasant), 4-2
172 Jermell Lindsey (Carlynton) DEC Ethan Miller (Greensburg Salem), 9-3
189 Bryce Metz (Avonworth) TECH FALL Aaron Supler (McGuffey), 16-1 4:51
215 Justin Beck (Avonworth) TECH FALL Noah Taylor (Central Valley), 17-1 2:32
285 Peyton Schaum (Mt. Pleasant) DEC Ayden Kun (Burrell), 4-1
February 22, 2025 11:00 pm
WPIAL 3A Individual Championships at Canon-McMillan
Championships
107 Nicholas McGarrity (Peters Township) MAJ DEC Tommy Gretz (Connellsville), 11-0
114 Nico Kapusta (Hempfield Area) DEC Dylan Barrett (Penn Trafford), 13-12
121 Leo Joseph (Greater Latrobe) DEC Nolan Rice (Connellsville), 6-3 SV
127 Santino Sloboda (Butler Area) TECH FALL Dom Canali (Trinity), 18-2 5:04
133 Nico Fanella (Indiana) DEC Luke Willochell (Greater Latrobe), 7-5
139 Kai Vielma (Connellsville) FALL Dominic Ferraro (Pine Richland), 3:20
145 Ramil Islamov (Baldwin) TECH FALL Kase Chopp (Butler Area), 17-2 2:37
152 Maddox Shaw (Thomas Jefferson) DEC Evan Petrovich (Connellsville), 1-0
160 Lonzy Vielma (Connellsville) DEC Brayden White (Thomas Jefferson), 5-4
172 Bode Marlow (Thomas Jefferson) MAJ DEC Mario Hutcherson (Kiski Area), 10-2
189 Jake Stephenson (Waynesburg) DEC Nezumiiro Green (Pitts. Central Catholic), 7-1
215 Elijah Brown (Belle Vernon) DEC Cooper Roscosky (Kiski Area), 6-4
285 Shepherd Turk (Thomas Jefferson) DEC Philup Rearick (Armstrong), 4-1
Third Place
107 Beau Fennick (Franklin Regional) DEC Zach Rehak (Thomas Jefferson), 8-2
114 Zachary Franks (Connellsville) DEC Titus Colangelo (Franklin Regional), 2-1
121 Thomas Bencho (West Allegheny) DEC Nate Caracciolo (Hempfield Area), 8-6
127 Carter Putt (Indiana) DEC Evan Tolliver (Ringgold), 8-5
133 Collier Hartman (Canon-McMillan) DEC Cael Yanek (Moon Area), 4-3
139 TJ Allison (Trinity) DEC Owen Campbell (Plum), 4-1
145 Ethan Higgins (Bethel Park) DEC Max Firestine (Franklin Regional), 4-1
152 Darius McMillon (Peters Township) DEC Luke Dunlap (South Fayette), 9-7
160 Brock Evans (Waynesburg) DEC Rook Smith (Montour), 4-1
172 Carter Morvay (North Hills) DEC MacLane Miller (Pine Richland), 3-1
189 Hunter Snyder (Greater Latrobe) DEC Zach Labryer (Thomas Jefferson), 8-3
215 Roman Thompson (Pitts. Central Catholic) DEC Jake Conroy (Ringgold), 6-1
285 Cam Danna (West Allegheny) FALL Bradyn McConneha (North Allegheny), 4:31
Fifth Place
107 Michael Johnson (West Allegheny) MAJ DEC Bryce Thomas (Moon Area), 10-2
114 Coleton Klipa (Norwin) TECH FALL Parker Jennings (Trinity), 16-0 1:39
121 Luke DeSantis (Penn Trafford) MAJ DEC Gionno Gardner (Canon-McMillan), 15-4
127 Mikey Ruane (Franklin Regional) DEC Evan Sala (Mt. Lebanon), 7-0
133 Chase Smith (Franklin Regional) DEC AJ Snatchko (West Allegheny), 3-2
139 Talan Mizenko (South Fayette) FORFEIT Deydon Soto (Belle Vernon)
145 Mason Calgaro (Canon-McMillan) DEC Liam Hein (Mars), 5-3
152 Griffen Reid (North Allegheny) DEC Cole Gibbons (Mt. Lebanon), 4-2
160 Cristian Lowther (Ringgold) DEC Logan Matrisch (Penn Trafford), 4-0
172 Kaleb Kinzey (Armstrong) MAJ DEC Michael Olszewski (Moon Area), 12-0
189 Mason Hartung (North Allegheny) FORFEIT Mark Gray (Kiski Area)
215 Roan Tustin (Waynesburg) DEC Brayden Collins (Canon-McMillan), 7-1
285 Owen Rush (Canon-McMillan) DEC D’Angelo Hamilton (Fox Chapel), 2-1 TB2
Seventh Place
107 Bennett Ferraro (Pine Richland) DEC Nick Savannah (Butler Area), 7-5
114 Brady Rohaly (North Hills) DEC Leif Syrko (Ringgold), 4-2
121 Pierce Reinhart (Bethel Park) DEC Michael Worsen (Fox Chapel), 3-0 SV
127 Daniel Smith (Connellsville) DEC John DeLuca (Kiski Area), 5-2
133 Gus Stedeford (North Allegheny) MAJ DEC Jake Lilley (Connellsville), 15-5
139 Nathan Klingensmith (Norwin) DEC Aden Stout (Bethel Park), 8-6
145 Devin Junko (Trinity) FALL Tuscan Blystone (Indiana), 2:44
152 Kole Doppelheuer (Belle Vernon) DEC Jack White (Norwin), 3-0
160 Liam Costa (Moon Area) DEC Ethan Cartwright (Franklin Regional), 7-1
172 Ayden Solomon (Canon-McMillan) DEC Devin McCauley (Mt. Lebanon), 4-1
189 Henry Patts (Franklin Regional) DEC Bryce Collins (Canon-McMillan), 4-1 SV
215 Hunter Goelz (Bethel Park) DEC Christopher Cook (Connellsville), 1-0
285 Ben Lloyd (Mt. Lebanon) DEC Michael Gibson (Bethel Park), 2-1 TB2
February 21, 2025 12:48 am
The WPIAL basketball quarterfinal ended Friday night. Peters Township boys knocked off Uniontown in a thriller, moving to the WPIAL semifinals on Tuesday against Mars. Fort Cherry and Chartiers-Houston girls both lost to their opponents for a second time this year. The Rangers and Bucs will now have to win one of their next two games in the consolation bracket to reach the state tournament. Semifinals start Saturday and the WPIAL championships return to the University of Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center Feb. 27-March 1. Click for WPIAL Brackets
WPIAL Quarterfinals
Friday, Feb. 21
Boys 5A #6 Peters Township 56, #3 Uniontown 52
Girls 2A #4 South Side Beaver 45, #5 Fort Cherry 32
Girls 2A #3 Winchester Thurston 40, #6 Chartiers-Houston 27
WPIAL Semifinals
Saturday, Feb. 22
Girls 5A #2 Peters Township vs. #6 Thomas Jefferson at Mt. Lebanon, 11:45 am, WJPA-FM (95.3) Watch/Listen Here
Girls 5A #1 South Fayette vs. #13 Mars Area at Mt. Lebanon, 1:45 pm, wjpa.com Watch/Listen Here
Tuesday, Feb. 25
Girls 6A #4 Canon-McMillan vs. #1 Norwin / #8 North Allegheny winner
WPIAL Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Wednesday: Peters Township got 14 points from Natalie Wetzel and Taylor McCullough, rolling past Indiana in the WPIAL quarterfinals Wednesday night. The Indians led by four at the half before a 20-4 third period gave the #2 seed total control. Peters Township will face #6 Thomas Jefferson in Saturday’s semifinals, the Jaguars upsetting previously unbeaten Penn-Trafford in overtime.
Girls 5A #2 Peters Township 51, #7 Indiana 32
Girls 5A #6 Thomas Jefferson 65, #3 Penn-Trafford 60 OT
Thursday, Feb. 20
Canon-McMillan girls fell behind early but roared past Butler and into the WPIAL semifinals. Chartiers-Houston boys trailed by 16 after three quarters, pulled to within six with over a minute to play, but couldn’t close the dealing, losing to Sewickley Academy. Similarly, West Greene trailed big at the end of three, got back within reach, but ran out of steam, losing at Geibel.
Girls 6A #4 Canon-McMillan 58, #5 Butler 41
Boys 2A #2 Sewickley Academy 48, #7 Chartiers-Houston 39
Girls 1A #2 Geibel Catholic 60, #7 West Greene 48
February 21, 2025 4:38 am
BOSTON (AP) — When they played “O Canada” for the second time, there were no American fans left in the arena to boo. Instead, the Canadian team stood at the blue line, arm in arm, player and coach, wearing their championship hats while the maple leaf flag was lowered behind the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy and the national anthem reverberated across the Americans’ home ice. The fans who remained, many of them in their red Team Canada jerseys, sang along. Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night as the North American rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into a geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy. “A lot of stuff going on with Canada and the USA right now, and us playing against each other was kind of a perfect storm for our sport,” said Nathan MacKinnon, who was selected the MVP of the new tournament with four goals in four games. “It was much more popular than even we would have imagined. It was getting so much attention from our whole continent.”
