West Virginia

West Virginia-bound Patton Graziano an all-around performer for Penn-Trafford Water Warriors | Trib HSSN

Published

2 years ago

January 7, 2024

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West Virginia-bound Patton Graziano an all-around performer for Penn-Trafford Water Warriors | Trib HSSN

By: Michael Love

Sunday, January 7, 2024 | 2:34 PM

Patton Graziano, Penn-Trafford

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

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West Virginia

West Virginia First Foundation lauds Wheeling police for crisis intervention success

Published

57 minutes ago

December 11, 2025

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West Virginia First Foundation lauds Wheeling police for crisis intervention success

WHEELING, W.Va. — The West Virginia First Foundation visited the Wheeling Police Department to commend its efforts in addressing the area’s mental health and opioid crisis.

Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger presented to the WVFF board, highlighting the department’s progress.

Schwertfeger attributed a 14% decrease in Group A crimes from 2024 to 2025 to the department’s crisis intervention program.

“Just another great partnership,” he said. “More collaboration in this area that we are very proud of and we want to keep the momentum going,.”

WVFF Executive Director Jonathan Board praised the program’s success.

“This in particular, the CIT program, that isn’t just in the ether, but is showing success – actual scientific success about de-escalation, about bringing together services providers and to boots on the ground and first responders, this is vitally important to not only this region but the entire state,” Board said.

The visit was part of WVFF’s ‘Hold the Line’ tour across the state.

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West Virginia

Where West Virginia’s Decommits in the 2026 Recruiting Class Signed & What Happened

Published

13 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Where West Virginia’s Decommits in the 2026 Recruiting Class Signed & What Happened

Now that you know about West Virginia’s 2026 recruiting class, I figured it’d be a good time to give a little insight into those who were once committed to the Mountaineers and landed elsewhere.

What happened, and where did they go?

QB Brodie McWhorter (Mississippi State)

McWhorter committed to Neal Brown and his coaching staff, but reopened his recruitment when the coaching change was made. Rich Rodriguez did recruit him at the beginning, holding several conversations with him before backing off and pursuing Jyron Hughley and Legend Bey. Hughley committed, Bey committed to Ohio State (signed with Tennessee), while WVU added two more quarterbacks in Wyatt Brown and John Johnson III.

RB Jett Walker (Texas)

Walker fit the bill for what Rodriguez wanted in the backfield. A big, physical presence who could absorb contact and hammer it in between the tackles. With multiple backs committed and feeling good about a few others, WVU didn’t feel pressed to hold onto him. Walker flipped to Minnesota and then flipped to Texas just three weeks later

WR Jeffar Jean-Noel (Georgia Tech)

Jean-Noel was the second recruit to commit to Rodriguez in the 2026 class, but reopened his recruitment in mid-April. He then considered Purdue, Pitt, Kentucky, UCF, and Florida State before landing at Georgia Tech.

OL Justyn Lyles (Marshall)

The Mountaineers had a number of offensive line commits, and with the late additions of Kevin Brown and Aidan Woods, and their chances of securing Jonas Muya, Lyles took a visit to Marshall and flipped his commitment.

LB Caleb Gordon (North Carolina)

Gordon’s commitment to WVU was very brief. As a matter of fact, it was the shortest of the bunch, announcing his pledge on November 24th and then flipping to NC State on the first day of the early signing period (December 3rd).

LB Daiveon Taylor (Kent State)

Taylor was the first commit in the class; however, it was so early that he was committed to Neal Brown’s staff, announcing his decision in April of 2024. He backed off that pledge the very day Brown was fired (December 1st) and eventually signed with Kent State.

CB Emari Peterson (unsigned)

Peterson decommitted from WVU just days before signing day, likely due to the Mountaineers zeroing in on a pair of JUCO corners in Rayshawn Reynolds and Da’Mun Allen. He will sign in February and currently has offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, FIU, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kentucky, Liberty, LSU, South Florida, Southern Miss, Texas A&M, Toledo, Wake Forest, and a few others.

S Aaron Edwards (committed to Tulsa)

West Virginia chose to part ways with Edwards and ultimately replaced his spot with fellow JUCO safety Da’Mare Williams.

S Jaylon Jones (undecided)

Jones decommitted in late October and did not sign during the early signing period. He will likely choose between Central Michigan, Hawai’i, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, and Texas State.

S Taj Powell (Louisville)

Taj is the brother of former Mountaineer basketball guard Jonathan Powell, who is now at North Carolina. He decommitted the day after West Virginia lost to Ohio and flipped to Louisville that same day.

West Virginia

West Virginia National Guard member killed in DC laid to rest

Published

1 day ago

December 10, 2025

Press Room

West Virginia National Guard member killed in DC laid to rest

A West Virginia National Guard member who was fatally shot last month in the nation’s capital was laid to rest with full military honors in a private ceremony.

Spc. Sarah Beckstrom’s funeral took place Tuesday at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in a statement.

“The ceremony was deeply moving and reflected the strength, grace, and love of a remarkable young woman and the family and friends who surrounded her,” Morrisey said.

Beckstrom graduated with honors from Webster County High School in 2023 and joined the National Guard several weeks later. She served in the 863rd Military Police Company.

Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe were ambushed as they patrolled a subway station three blocks from the White House on Nov. 26. She died the next day.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who was also shot during the confrontation, has been charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty.

Morrisey has said Wolfe, who remains in a hospital in Washington, is slowly healing and his family expects he will be in acute care for another few weeks.

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