Shea Fleenor is entering his eighth year as Albert Gallatin boys basketball coach, so one would think the opening of the season is old hat to him.

Frazier’s Thayne Lawrence is hoping to become the 46th wrestler to win three state championships since the PIAA tournament began in 1938, while Mount Pleasant’s Dayton Pitzer is seeking a second PIAA title in as many years with the wrestling season getting underway this afternoon and evening with dual meets and tournaments across the state of Pennsylvania.

Sometimes it can be a challenge for a basketball team to remain healthy for an entire season, but the Beth-Center boys have already been hit by the injury bug this year.

Beth-Center qualified for the WPIAL playoffs a year ago but struggled down the stretch while point guard Olivia Greco was out with nagging knee injuries.

Yough had its best season in program history, as the Lady Cougars advanced to the WPIAL Class AA final and the state tournament, which gave head coach Dann Appolonia’s team the nod as the overall top squad on the 2019 Herald-Standard All-Area Team.

After winning a state title in Missouri last season, Wyatt Henson has transferred back to Waynesburg High School.

Benjamin Jackson etched his name into the record books with several amazing accomplishments during his senior season at West Greene.

Belle Vernon and Charleroi won their respective sections and advanced to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL playoffs to lead the local contingent of boys soccer teams on the 2019 Herald-Standard All-Area Team.

The wait is over for swimmers, basketball players, wrestlers, gymnasts and rifle athletes with the official start of winter sports practice.

Frazier dominated Section 3-AA in volleyball again in 2019 so it shouldn't be a surprise that the Lady Commodores put three players on the WPIAL Class 2A All-Star team and four on the all-section first team.

PERRYOPOLIS -- Beth-Center bottled up Kenny Fine most of the game and easily won the statistical battle against host Frazier during their Century Conference battle Friday night.

The Bentworth girls were rewarded for their Section 2-A title with the No. 2 seed in the WPIAL Class A soccer playoffs.

Belle Vernon was the lone area team to be give a top-four seed, Laurel Highlands drew a trip to No. 1-ranked Franklin Regional and Connellsville and Ringgold were also slated to play road games as the WPIAL released its boys soccer pairings on Wednesday.

Benjamin Jackson couldn't lift West Greene over perennial power Clairton on Friday night but he did register the longest touchdown of the season against the Bears as he continues his record-breaking year.

Western Pennsylvania has been blessed with many outstanding football coaches through the years and former Beth-Center, Ringgold and Belle Vernon coach Bill Connors ranks right up there with the best of them.