The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

North Star’s Roberts captures national championship
Nick Roberts took the first step Monday on what he hopes will end in England four years from now.
Roberts, a 14-year-old from Hooversville capped a dominant run to a national Greco-Roman wrestling title at 84 pounds on Monday night in Fargo, N.D., helping Pennsylvania capture the team title in the Accelerade Cadet National Championships.
Eric Knopsnyder | Lazor goes into the Lions’ den
Greg Lazor isn’t worried about trying to replace a legend at Chestnut Ridge High School.
In fact, that’s exactly why the Tussey Mountain graduate joined the Lions’ coaching staff two years ago - he hoped that one day he’d take over for Hall of Famer Jim Clark.
But that doesn’t mean Lazor underestimates the task at hand as he succeeds Clark, who won 342 dual meets in 31 seasons and capped off his career by coaching Gary Pfahler to a state championship last season.
Mike Mastovich | Winners through and through
Winning, as the saying goes, wasn’t “everything” for the 1958 Johnstown high football team.
Oh, those Trojans knew how to win, of course.
Coach Dave Hart’s team was perfect in all 11 games it played that memorable season 50 years ago. The magical march was capped by a 3-0 victory over Clairton in the WPIAL Class AA title game played before 11,911 fans at Pitt Stadium, a facility that no longer stands.
But there was more to this group that includes men – now retired and far removed from their gridiron playing days – who still consider each other family.
You might say the ’58 Trojans are brothers.
Last-minute choice has done a first-class job
Jim Siehl is not your typical high school coach.
The Bedford tennis coach took over a floundering Bisons program just two weeks prior to the start of the 2003 season and has been there ever since then.
Eric Knopsnyder | Coach facing new challenge
Tom Smith knows all about challenges.Playing college football as a 160-pound nose tackle will teach you those lessons awfully quickly.
Now, Smith will face a challenge of a different kind as he takes over the Richland High School wrestling program.
He’s quick to admit that he doesn’t have much of a wrestling background, but he does have a desire to succeed, and that’s all he needed to become an all-conference lineman and team MVP at St. Francis in 1992.
CORY ISENBERG | Stars shine on Altoona diamond
The inaugural S&T Bank Altoona Curve High School Classic at Blair County Ballpark featured a chance for 30 of the top senior high school baseball players from districts 5, 6 and 9 to play their last games at a big-league field.
South offense, lightning too much for North squad at Lantzy game
The 38th annual Ken Lantzy Finest 40 All-Star Football Game Saturday night at Trojan Stadium featured impressive passes, jarring hits and some jaw-dropping rushes.
But this Lantzy game had something that no previous one had ever experienced – stoppage of play due to lightning.
West wins abbreviated game in Altoona
A pair of football players from The Tribune-Democrat’s coverage area put an exclamation point on their high-school careers during the eighth annual PSFCA East West All-Star Game, which featured 68 of the state’s best college-bound high school players.
Lantzy all-stars: Multisport stars make quick transition
A week ago, Jordan Kaufman and his Somerset teammates were playing for a state championship in baseball. Now he’s concerned with handing off a football and throwing a spiral to Ken Lantzy teammates tonight at 7:30 at Greater Johnstown High School’s Trojan Stadium.
Blackwell, Cruz get chance to shine on TV
Central Cambria defensive end Mitch Blackwell and Bishop McCort tight end Mike Cruz will represent this area in tonight’s eighth annual East-West All-Star football game at 6 p.m. in Altoona’s Mansion Park.
They will play for the West squad in the game, which features 68 of the state’s best college-bound high school players.
South set to sling it around
While preparations for the 38th annual Ken Lantzy Finest 40 All-Star Football Game continued Wednesday under fall-like weather conditions, chilly and damp, the practices for the athletes and coaches were getting more fired up.
“It’s always a fun week,” said South offensive coordinator Sam Zambanini of Conemaugh Township, who is assisting in his fourth Lantzy game, which kicks off Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Trojan Stadium. “Every kid you have is talented or they wouldn’t be here. And not only are they talented, but they have great football senses. They pick things up very quickly and are very football-savvy kids.”
North coach adapting to passing in Lantzy game
North squad coach Dave Small has been an assistant for the Ken Lantzy Finest 40 All-Star Football Game several times, but this is the first time the Purchase Line coach has been the head honcho.
Lantzy Finest 40: South coach looking to add elements to defense
Preparations began on Monday for the 38th annual Ken Lantzy Finest 40 All-Star Football Game as the squads from the North and South started practices at the Pitt-Johnstown campus.
North Star head coach Stacy Schmitt is at the helm for the South squad. It’s Schmitt’s first time as a Lantzy coach, and he started at the top.
Somerset celebrates silver
A rainbow looms above the PIAA Class AAA runner-up trophy, which is being held aloft by members of the Somerset baseball team on Monday night at a rally celebrating the Golden Eagles’ playoff run. Somerset advanced to the championship game before falling to Berwick at Blair County Ballpark on Friday night. Below, coach Steve Costea speaks during the rally.
Crisafulli to coach boys hoops at Westmont
The Westmont Hilltop school board voted on Monday to hire former girls basketball coach Mike Crisafulli as boys basketball coach.
Crisafulli was the Ferndale girls coach for five years, but left the program before last season.
Prior to that, he had been involved in the sport in several ways.
Cory Isenberg | Somerset celebrating silver
The community of Somerset is getting accustomed to celebrating the success of the Golden Eagles baseball team.
After PIAA victories in Somerset’s first three rounds, the team returned to town with escorts from the police and fire department not to mention the numerous banners that have been prevalent throughout the town, trumpeting support of the team’s historic run.
The community of Somerset will hold a ceremony in honor of the silver medal-winning Golden Eagles baseball team at 8 p.m. tonight at the baseball field.
Bulldogs strike late to drop Eagles
The Somerset baseball team’s dream of gold had a silver lining Friday night at Blair County Ballpark.
The Golden Eagles (19-7), who had soared to 18 of 19 wins since mid-April, fell to Berwick 6-2 in the PIAA Class AAA championship.
Reliever provides the power
Berwick junior relief pitcher Zach Lazar truly realized the significance of the Blair County Ballpark stage on Friday soon after the Bulldogs arrived at the site of the PIAA Baseball Championships.
Lazar and his teammates watched Camp Hill’s postgame celebration and the trophy presentation after a victory over Carmichaels.
Berwick and District 6 champion Somerset were on deck, waiting to play the Class AAA title game in front of an estimated 2,500 fans.
Reed ramping up for Big 33 game
Greater Johnstown star Antwuan Reed will make one more appearance as a high school football player today before heading off to begin his collegiate career at Pitt.
But, if Trojans coach Kevin Marabito is right, that won’t be the last chapter in Reed’s gridiron story.

Popular business directory searches