“It’s amazing watching this athletics program grow over the years,” reflected Athletic Director Kevin Miller as the remarkable fall 2013 season wound down.

“The kids have worked really, really hard, put in a lot of hours. They’ve seen success and it’s great how now the expectations have changed.

“It used to be, WT’s fall athletics season was over by the second week of October. Now, breaking .500 isn’t enough. Making playoffs isn’t enough. I am so glad to see the kids’ hard work pay off.”

Miller isn’t exaggerating when he calls it “a great season all the way around.” Teams and individual athletes performed at the highest levels. Four teams advanced to the WPIAL playoffs, eight athletes were recognized by the WPIAL for their outstanding performance, and for the second time Adam Brownold was named WPIAL Class A Section I Coach of the Year. And this fall, more students participated in Athletics than ever before.

Field Hockey Section Champs

For the first time in school history, the Varsity Field Hockey team was crowned WPIAL Section Champs, beating out Greensburg Central Catholic 3-1. The team advanced to the WPIAL Finals where they faced Shady Side Academy, falling in a tough overtime loss 1-2.

Senior Laurie Thompson and freshman Caroline Benec were named to the WPIAL Field Hockey All-Section team, and junior Alexa Zytnick was recognized as a WPIAL honorable mention.

Golf Team Makes History
The Varsity Golf team made school history by becoming WPIAL Section Champs. The team was undefeated for the season in section play. Junior Will Robinson took fifth place at the WPIAL AA boys golf individual championship, advancing him to the PIAA Western Regional Tournament.

Second Consecutive WPIAL Playoff for Boys Soccer
Finishing the season 12-3, the Bears advanced to the WPIAL Playoffs for the second year in a row. The team faced Carlynton High School in the first round and lost the hard fought match 1-3.

Senior Quinn Charney and junior Mathieu Lebiere were nominated to the All-WPIAL team. The team also celebrates the nomination of the following players for WPIAL All-Section: seniors Manoli Epitropoulous and Quinn Charney and juniors Lucas Rosenblatt and Mathieu Lebiere. Sophomore Adrian Baymei received honorable mention. The players are nominated and voted on by coaches in the section.

Coach of the Year for a Second Time
Varsity Soccer Coach Adam Brownold received WPIAL Class A Section I Coach of the Year for the second time in three years. Brownold has been coaching at WT for 11 years, where he is also a Middle School Social Studies teacher.

Runners Make States…AGAIN!

The Boys Varsity Cross Country team qualified for the PIAA Cross-Country State Championship for the first time. The team tied for eighth place out of 19 teams. Senior Maddie Schmiedeknecht placed fourth in the WPIAL finals, advancing to States where she came in sixth out of 206 runners. This was Maddie’s third appearance at States.

“As Director of Athletics,” Kevin Miller offered, “I am at games all the time. I see the kids, the coaches. But now you look across the field, and you see teachers and classmates. You see the support of the whole community. We pack the sidelines. And this is an experience these kids will have forever. You may not remember the final score, but you’ll remember that feeling.

“These are very special kids. And this is a very special time in their lives. We’re always going to look back and remember this fall.”

Go Bears!