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.

Southmoreland boys basketball coach Frank Muccino has been fortunate to have guided the Scotties to six playoff appearances in 10 years as head coach.

Ian McCombs played under Don Williams and is well aware of his legendary status as longtime Carmichaels boys basketball coach.

Jefferson-Morgan's boys basketball team struggled at times last year with a young roster but the Rockets still found themselves in the WPIAL playoff hunt after a couple key late-season victories.

Most girls basketball teams would be in a major rebuilding mode after losing a trio of 1,000-point scorers among a strong senior class, but not West Greene.

Last season Frazier's boys basketball team had a disappointing 8-14 overall record with a 4-8 section record, but for the 2019-2020 season, the Commodores are making strides to return to their winning ways and the playoffs.

Stewart "Stu" Davis was a high school basketball star who graduated from Geibel Catholic in 1996 but his playing career began when he was a freshman at Brownsville.

Patty Columbia is in her fifth year as coach of the Brownsville girls basketball team and by now the players are familiar with the program.

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.

Mapletown's girls basketball team went from making a second straight playoff appearance last year to a squad with just one returning player this season, leaving first-year coach Kaitlyn Novak with a major rebuilding job.

It was only one game but Mapletown's clash at Jefferson-Morgan on Jan. 18 of last season had a huge impact on the mentality of the Maples' team, according to second-year coach Chad Stevenson.

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.

Shawna Little returns for her second year as the Connellsville Lady Falcons head coach and likes to tell he girls she started in the program as a manager sweeping the floors before becoming a player and now the head coach.

Connellsville head basketball coach Andy Hedrick is trying to piece together a team to make another run at the WPIAL playoffs after the Falcons finished fourth in Section 3-AAAAAA last year.

The Monessen boys basketball team enters the 2019-20 season with one of the longest section winning streaks in WPIAL history.

Second-year Belle Vernon boys basketball coach Joe Salvino has a nice problem on his hands.

Coming off of a season where his team achieved more than expected, second-year Belle Vernon girls basketball coach Ronnie Drennen has a nice mix of returning experience and a talented freshman class.

Southmoreland's girls basketball team had one of the best years in program history last season with an 18-6 record and a record-low 36.8 points per game on defense.

With four players back who were at least part-time starters, second-year California boys basketball coach Aaron Balla said expectations are higher than last season.

When Chris Niemiec took over the California girls basketball program a year ago from Chris Minerd, he was familiar with the team as Minerd’s assistant.