Westmoreland high school notebook: Greensburg Salem’s Anderson collects Penn State offer

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, October 20, 2018 | 4:48 PM

Malia Anderson expected colleges to take notice after the season she had on the track last spring. The interest has trickled in for the Greensburg Salem senior, who is primed for a big senior year.

The 800-meter specialist has heard from Penn State, Villanova and Georgetown.

She took an official visit to Penn State and said she received at least a partial scholarship offer.

Anderson is one of the top 800-meter runners the WPIAL history. Her times of 2 minutes, 11.28 seconds as a sophomore (at the PIAA meet) and 2:11.34 last year in the WPIAL final are inthe district’s top-10 territory. She placed third in the WPIAL as a sophomore and was runner-up last year.

While the season is months away, Anderson has her sights on a time that also would carry historical significance.

“My goal is to break 2:10, and I hope to break the WPIAL record and win states,” Anderson said.

No girl in the WPIAL has run a 2:10 flat.

Two years ago, Pine-Richland grad Amanda Kalin posted a 2:10.09 for the WPIAL record.

West Allegheny senior Maddie Salek, who edged Anderson for the WPIAL title last year, graduated, so Anderson can cross off at least one of her top competitors.

Shady Side Academy sophomore Melissa Riggins, however, is back. She held off Anderson to win the Pine-Richland Invitational.

Anderson won titles at the Butler Invitational, Lady Spartan Invitational and Westmoreland County Coaches Association meets.

She is playing for the Golden Lions volleyball team, which will open the playoffs later this week.

Hetrick honored

Penn-Trafford athletic director Kerry Hetrick was named the Eastern Association of Interscholastic Football Officials High School Administrator of the Year.

The award was a pleasant surprise for Hetrick, who recently resumed working after having surgery on his neck.

The award is for someone in Hetrick’s position who “provides continuous teamwork, loyalty and excellence; inspires individuals or groups to high levels of accomplishments; and provides positive contributions to student-athletes on campus and within their communities.”

Hetrick, who has been with Penn-Trafford since 2010, will be honored at a banquet Nov. 15 at Alpine Hunting and Fishing Club in Bridgeville.

“I am honored, and it’s a privilege to work at Penn-Trafford,” Hetrick said, “and to form such great relationships with all of the wonderful people I come across on and off the field. I that feel our students at P-T are second to none.”

Hetrick also worked as an AD at CCAC-South and Elizabeth Forward.

He said he could not put in the time he does if it weren’t for the support of his wife and son.

“My family has put up with my schedule for 20 years,” he said.

He also was a baseball coach at CCAC South from 1995-2001 and was the NJCAA East Regional and Rawlings coach of the year in 1999.

Hetrick is a member of the WPIAL basketball committee. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports East Boros Chapter Hall of Fame in 2014.

State golf

The PIAA golf championships will be played Monday through Wednesday at Heritage Hills Resort in York.

Franklin Regional senior Palmer Jackson headlines the Westmoreland County contingent after his 6-under-par 66 to win the PIAA Western Regional at Tom’s Run in Blairsville.

Jackson will go for the Class 3A title. A male from Westmoreland has not won a state golf title since Pat Shinners of Hempfield in 1972.

Arnold Palmer won two titles, in 1946 and ‘47 with Latrobe.

Other local players in the state field include Brady Pevarnik of Latrobe (3A boys), Tiger Hubbard of Burrell (2A boys), and Abby and Meghan Zambruno of Greensburg Central Catholic (2A girls).

Olivia Zambruno of Greensburg Central won three PIAA titles from 2014-16, and Hempfield’s Katie Miller won in 1999, 2000 and ‘02. The last county team to win a state championship was the Latrobe boys in 2009.

GCC’s girls just won their fourth straight WPIAL title but never have won the state crown. The Centurions have three runner-up finishes (2015-17).

The two-day individual competition is Monday and Tuesday with the team event Wednesday.

LV wins golf title

Ligonier Valley won the Heritage Conference (District 6) championship by a stroke over West Shamokin at Champion Lakes Golf Club in Bolivar. Jon Rankin was the Rams’ medalist with an 81, which placed him fourth in the individual standings. Kendra Pechora won the girls division with an 85.

Rankin, Pechora and Maddy Pierce were named to the all-conference team.

Volleyball playoffs

The WPIAL will release girls volleyball playoff pairings Monday and first-round action begins Tuesday.

Local qualifiers include: Latrobe, Hempfield and Norwin in 4A; Kiski Area, Franklin Regional and Greensburg Salem in 3A; Southmoreland, Derry and Burrell in 2A; and Greensburg Central Catholic in A.

Hempfield honored

The Hempfield softball team was recognized Thursday at Westmoreland County Courthouse for winning its fourth straight WPIAL championship and third straight PIAA title. Westmoreland County Commissioners also honored longtime Spartans coach Bob Kalp. Hempfield finished 24-3.

Memorable career

Derry’s Juliet Tatone ended up playing 26 matches in her senior season with the tennis team and will graduate as one of the program’s top players. She qualified for WPIAL doubles three times — with three different teammates — and also qualified for the WPIAL section singles tournament.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Burrell, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley