High school notebook: Romanchak gets preferred walk-on offer from Penn State

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, July 1, 2018 | 11:21 PM

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Freeport rising senior Austin Romanchak is expected to have a lot to think about in the coming months concerning where he will continue his education and football pursuits in college.

He now knows Penn State is a possibility.

Romanchak received a preferred walk-on offer last week from the Nittany Lions, his first collegiate offer.

“It’s a real special feeling to have this offer,” said Romanchak, the starting quarterback and defensive back for the Yellowjackets. “To have that opportunity, it’s crazy. It’s almost unreal.”

Blessed to have received a PWO offer to Penn State! #WeAre ?⚪️ pic.twitter.com/O6dBQB7HGu

— Austin Romanchak (@austinromanchak) June 25, 2018

Romanchak said Penn State most likely would have him line up at wide receiver.

He attended a camp at Penn State last summer and a second one last month. Romanchak attended a game last fall and the spring game in April and was able to soak up the gameday atmosphere.

He said several Division II and III schools also have shown interest in him as preseason practices in early August approach.

“I am really looking forward to the season and having fun with my teammates, and (the recruiting process) is just a big plus and an add-on to all the fun we’re going to have,” he said. “Helping the team get wins comes first.”

Romanchak led the Freeport offense in rushing last fall with 680 yards and 13 touchdowns. The dual-threat quarterback added 494 yards passing and six scores. From his cornerback spot, Romanchak had 38 tackles (17 solo) and three interceptions.

Freeport finished second in the Allegheny Conference, losing to Seton LaSalle in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.

Junior season highlights‼️‼️ @Darnell_Dinkins @WPAFootball @WPIAL_Insider @ETHICTraining – https://t.co/zKrBkI9Tn1

— Austin Romanchak (@austinromanchak) November 6, 2017

Crowned Chuck

Chuck Tursky is getting a call to the Hall.

Again.

The all-time winningest WPIAL wrestling coach will get inducted into the Kiski Area Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 1 at the Greek Social Hall in Oakmont.

It marks the sixth induction for Tursky, who also is a member of the Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame, the WPIAL, PIAA and Slippery Rock halls of fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In a 36-year career at Burrell and Kiski Area, Tursky racked up 505 victories — the only WPIAL coach to reach 500 — including 459 wins and a pair of WPIAL Class AAA titles at Kiski Area. One of those Cavaliers titles teams, the 2003 squad that finished as PIAA runner-up, also will be inducted into Kiski Area’s Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to Coach Tursky, the 2003 Wrestling Team, & the rest of the 2018 Kiski Area Sports Hall of Fame Inductees!#kiskiproud https://t.co/CMGvqF2GkT

— Kiski Area Wrestling (@KAWrestling) June 28, 2018

Since retiring in 2015, Tursky has worked as the Cavaliers’ top assistant under Chris Heater. The team won back-to-back WPIAL titles in 2017 and ’18.

Shootout stars

After a mostly seamless trial run last summer, the Westmoreland County Coaches Association will bring back its boys basketball shootout.

A dozen area schools will be represented July 6 at Hempfield.

Each team gets three games in a round-robin format, but no champion will be recognized.

“It’s a really nice event to promote our sport and bring the players and coaches from our county together to enjoy a nice day of competition,” Hempfield coach Bill Swan said.

Latrobe finished 3-0 last year, including a 62-59 overtime win over Valley in the event’s final game.

Five participating teams will have new coaches next season: Belle Vernon (Joe Salvino), Mt. Pleasant (Allan Bilinsky), Derry (Tom Esposito), Greensburg Central Catholic (TBD) and Kiski Area (Will Saunders).

Friday’s schedule is as follows:

9 a.m.: Derry vs. Southmoreland; Mt. Pleasant vs. Greensburg C.C.; Kiski Area vs. Burrell

10 a.m.: Connellsville vs. Belle Vernon; Hempfield vs. Valley; Latrobe vs. Jeannette

11 a.m.: Greensburg C.C. vs. Derry; Belle Vernon vs. Southmoreland; Mt. Pleasant vs. Burrell

Noon: Hempfield vs. Jeannette; Connellsville vs. Valley; Latrobe vs. Kiski Area

1 p.m.: Greensburg C.C. vs. Belle Vernon; Burrell vs. Derry; Mt. Pleasant vs. Southmoreland

2 p.m.: Latrobe vs. Valley; Hempfield vs. Kiski Area; Connellsville vs. Jeannette

Showcase showdown

District 31 American Legion Baseball, which includes Kiski Valley, will hold a player showcase at 6 p.m. July 26 at Latrobe’s Legion Keener Park.

Players will get a chance to perform in front of college coaches. Bethany, Chatham, Penn State Dubois, Penn State New Kensington, Pitt-Greensburg, Seton Hill, St. Vincent and Washington & Jefferson are among the schools scheduled to attend.

District 31 Player Showcase

Thursday July 26th 6pm
Legion Keener Park
Latrobe, PA 15650

Players and college coaches should receive info over the next week! @LatrobeJethawks @UnityBaseball @YoughLegion @DerryLegionBB pic.twitter.com/qiYFZSOCsi

— District 31 Baseball (@D31_baseball) June 25, 2018

Tags: Burrell, Freeport, Kiski School, Valley