West Virginia
West Virginia-bound Patton Graziano an all-around performer for Penn-Trafford Water Warriors | Trib HSSN
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Sunday, January 7, 2024 | 2:34 PM
Patton Graziano gained a second home in November as he signed a national letter of intent to swim at Division I West Virginia.
His first home, Penn-Trafford, is where he hopes to continue to make his mark in a senior season filled with high expectations.
The defending WPIAL Class 3A champion in the boys 100-yard freestyle said he is happy with his performances so far but knows there can be no taking the foot off the gas pedal.
“I am definitely happy with where I am right now,” Graziano said. “I am in a better place now than where I have been the past three years. I have taken advantage of some good training. I know there is still room for improvement and change before the championship season comes.”
Penn-Trafford coach Dave Babik said Graziano is performing probably a little bit better than how he thought he would to this point.
“He’s qualified for every (individual) WPIAL event I’ve put him in,” Babik said. “He still has to do the breaststroke. His times are pretty good. We’re happy with where he is at this point.”
Earning All-American honors this year is a goal for Graziano as is returning to the top of the medals podium.
Westmoreland County swimmers went 1-2 in the WPIAL 3A boys 100 free in 2023 as Graziano came from the third seed to claim the title, edging Hempfield’s Dom Falcon by 12 one-hundredths of a second.
Graziano was right back in the pool for the 100 backstroke, where he earned silver in a time of 50.39 seconds.
“Last year at WPIALs, it wasn’t easy,” Graziano said. “It was so competitive. You are constantly pushing yourself as you are being pushed by others. It’s a very fun meet, and I am sure it will be again this year.”
Graziano also helped the Penn-Trafford boys 200 medley relay place fifth and the 200 free relay finish seventh.
“There’s definitely that chance of repeating my events from last year, but there is room for change, depending on what the rankings look like as it gets closer to WPIALs,” Graziano said. “I will have a lot of good options, which is nice.”
Graziano said he is pleased with his decision to head to WVU and appreciates all who have had a hand in making it possible, including his mother, Kim, a coach at the Greensburg YMCA who also is one of Penn-Trafford’s assistant coaches.
Conversations, he said, with current Mountaineers freshman and Kiski Area graduate Parker Sterlitz and others helped him see that WVU was the best fit for him.
“I went down and got to meet the team, and it is such a great environment with swimming and everything else,” Graziano said. “The coaches really create a winning atmosphere. It all made the decision really easy. The recruiting process can be a little overwhelming, so when I signed, it was such a great feeling to know I was set to go to such a great place.”
Babik said Graziano is a model athlete and student and has a bright future.
“He is dedicated to becoming the best swimmer that he can be,” Babik said. “He works hard in the pool and weight room but is always refining his technique. He knows what times he wants to achieve and what it would take to achieve them. Patton is a good student and teammate. He is humble and quick to give credit to his teammates and coaches.”
Michael Love is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Michael by email at mlove@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Tags: Penn-Trafford
West Virginia
Justice firm’s delinquent DEP fines rise past $1.6M amid DOJ criminal liability relief
West Virginia
West Virginia First Foundation advances key initiatives at second quarterly board meeting
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) convened its second quarterly board meeting of 2026 at Ascend West Virginia in Charleston, continuing its work to advance prevention, treatment and recovery efforts across West Virginia through responsible stewardship of opioid settlement funds.
The meeting provided board members with updates on several key initiatives and strategic priorities currently underway.
Expert panel appointments
A significant focus of the meeting was the appointment of several volunteer Expert Panel members following the conclusion of certain panel terms. Expert panelists serve in advisory roles and provide regional knowledge, professional expertise and community perspective to help inform WVFF’s work and funding priorities. To allow time for all appointees to complete the necessary confirmation and onboarding process, names will not be publicly released until all appointments have been finalized.
“Expert Panelists play an important role in helping us understand the needs, challenges, and opportunities facing our local communities,” said Jonathan Board, Executive Director of WVFF. “We are grateful for the individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to support this work and help guide thoughtful, informed decision-making.”
Local government reporting and best practices
Board members reviewed progress on the 2026 Local Government Expenditure Report, which compiles annual spending data submitted by local governments receiving opioid settlement funds. Staff reported that more than 65% of eligible local governments have submitted expenditure reports to date, with the statewide report expected to be released in mid-July.
The board also received an update on new resources being developed to help local governments identify promising practices and learn from successful approaches being implemented across West Virginia. While WVFF does not direct how local governments spend their allocated settlement funds, the Foundation remains committed to providing educational resources that highlight allowable uses, share examples from around the state and support informed local decision-making.
![[CHAMBER] [2026-06-23] Hiring Executive Director](https://res.cloudinary.com/mytown/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_limit,w_1080/spotlights/jqvoqa1wl63oqmzrnmeg)
In the coming months, WVFF plans to host regional learning sessions that will bring local government representatives together to share experiences, discuss challenges and explore opportunities to maximize the impact of opioid settlement investments within their communities.
Strategic priorities
The board received updates on the Community Catalyst Grant (CCG) program, which opened for applications on June 1 and remains open through June 30. Designed as a three-year, outcomes-driven investment, the program will support projects focused on public safety response, day report centers and generational prevention efforts.
Board members also received updates on the West Virginia Wayfinder, the statewide needs assessment project led by the West Virginia University Health Affairs Institute, in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs, and Data Driven WV. Meetings and engagement activities are underway with WVFF staff, expert panelists and community stakeholders across the state, with data, insights and priority areas currently being gathered and analyzed to help identify needs, gaps and opportunities related to substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery services in West Virginia.
![[DHS] [2025-05-23] Pain Free Living](https://res.cloudinary.com/mytown/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_limit,w_1080/spotlights/xswzc9oud10whhzr94hg)
“Our Board remains focused on ensuring these funds are invested responsibly and strategically for the benefit of West Virginia communities,” said Greg Duckworth, Chairman of the WVFF Board of Directors. “Each meeting provides an opportunity to review progress, strengthen accountability, and continue building on the work being done across the state.”
Direct funding request approved
The board also voted to approve a $4 million direct funding request submitted by the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) at West Virginia University. The project is focused on expanding access to innovative addiction treatment and recovery support tools while building the technology and infrastructure needed to support implementation across West Virginia.
Consistent with WVFF’s commitment to transparency and accountability, additional details regarding the project and funding agreement will be released in the coming weeks following the completion of final documentation. WVFF and RNI plan to issue a joint announcement once the agreement process has been finalized.
![[TWIN] [2025-08-08] Meadowlands](https://res.cloudinary.com/mytown/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_limit,w_1080/spotlights/sueaeb3swu4g4qwmu3x2)
Hold the Line Tour stop at Rea of Hope
After the board meeting, WVFF board members and staff will visit Rea of Hope, an Initial Opportunity Grant awardee, as part of the Foundation’s Hold the Line Tour, which highlights organizations and programs working to make a difference in communities across West Virginia. The visit will provide an opportunity to hear directly from leadership about the impact of recovery-focused services and community support.
The next regular meeting of the Foundation’s board of directors is scheduled for September 17, 2026 (subject to change). Visit wvfirst.org to learn more.
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