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Afrim Latifi, a standout player on the pitch for Cathedral Prep, Gannon University and the Erie Admirals over the last decade, will focus his attention more on coaching as of this fall.

Cathedral Prep athletic director Bill Flanagan announced Wednesday that Latifi has been hired to coach its sister school, Villa Maria Academy. He takes over for Walt Federowicz, who announced his retirement in March after 14 seasons in charge of the Victors.

Latifi was a District 10 player of the year while at Prep, where he graduated from in 2007. He then played for Gannon, where he was the PSAC’s player in the year in 2010, before embarking on a professional career with the Admirals.

– Mike Copper

The offseason brings coach turnover and Fairview is looking to fill four positions. Jamin Bookhamer, the boys soccer coach, has accepted a teaching position in Korea and is leaving at the end of the school year. Dino Montagna, the cross country coach, is also relocating out of state. Ben Corbin, the wrestling coach, and Christine Gretka, the competitive spirit coach, have also resigned.

Fairview is in looking to fill the positions right away. For information on the four vacancies, contact athletic director Jerry Lightner at 814 474-2600, ext. 3218 or by e-mail glightner@fairview.iu5.org.

–Tom Reisenweber

Longtime girls soccer coach Dale Claypoole will be replaced with one of his former players. Claypoole, who announced his retirement in January, coached Harbor Creek for the past 23 years, accumulating a record of 311-125-13, including the 2011 District 10 Class AA championship. Taylor Hilinski, a 2006 graduate, will replace Claypoole this coming fall. Hilinski led the Huskies to their first PIAA appearance and was named all-district during her career. She competed for Mercyhurst College and received several awards with the Lakers. Hilinski teaches science and math at Harbor Creek and is also the jumping coach for the Huskies’ track and field team.

–Tom Reisenweber

Villa Maria will begin an immediate search to replace Walt Federowicz as the Victors’ head soccer coach. Federowicz resigned recently after coaching Villa for the past 14 years. His run with the Victors included a record of 224-71-7 and two District 10 championships. Federowicz coached for 18 total seasons, including a few at Iroquois and Fairview, with a final record of 286-87-14. For information on the open position, contact athletic director Bill Flanagan at bill.flanagan@prep-villa.com.

–Tom Reisenweber

A pair of area high school graduates, Adam Clement and Ryan Zapolski, have had a great week in their respective sports.

Clement, who starred in soccer for McDowell, was drafted by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Major League Soccer supplemental draft Tuesday. He recently completed his career with Duquesne University and could be headed for a pro soccer career.

Zapolski, who was a hockey standout at Cathedral Prep, has had a big year in the East Coast Hockey League. The former Mercyhurst University star also was named MVP of the ECHL All-Star Game Wednesday.

Here’s a look at the District 10 Player of the Year for each fall sport.
Football – Damion Terry, Cathedral Prep
Boys soccer – Eric Campbell, Harbor Creek
Girls soccer – Sarah Kaiser, Mercyhurst Prep
Girls volleyball – Maria Peluso, Fort LeBoeuf
Girls tennis – Adrianna Jeffress, McDowell
Boys cross country – Dan Jaskowak, Grove City and Austin Pondel, Corry
Girls cross country – Bernadette Prichard, Villa Maria
Boys golf - Brett Rinker, Slippery Rock
Girls golf - Megan Moylan, North East

District 10 champions
Football
Class A – Sharpsville
Class AA – Hickory
Class AAA – Cathedral Prep
Boys soccer
Class A - Mercer
Class AA – Harbor Creek
Class AAA – McDowell
Girls soccer
Class A – Fairview
Class AA – Mercyhurst Prep
Class AAA – McDowell
Girls volleyball
Class A – Maplewood
Class AA – Fort LeBoeuf
Class AAA – McDowell
Girls tennis
Class AA team – Mercyhurst Prep
Class AA singles - Adina Spahalic, General McLane
Class AA doubles – Katie Elia, Brittany McBride, Mercyhurst Prep
Class AAA team – McDowell
Class AAA singles – Adrianna Jeffress, McDowell
Class AAA doubles – Rachel Dougherty, Larissa Chen, McDowell
Boys cross country
Class A team - Saegertown
Class A individual – Jeremy Parsons, Maplewood
Class AA team – Grove City
Class AA individual – Dan Jaskowak, Grove City
Class AAA team – Cathedral Prep
Class AAA individual – Austin Pondel, Corry
Girls cross country
Class A team – West Middlesex
Class A individual – Olivia Mamula, Cambridge Springs
Class AA team – Villa Maria
Class AA individual – Bernadette Prichard, Villa Maria
Class AAA team – McDowell
Class AAA individual – Melissa Perseo, McDowell
Boys golf
Class AA team – Harbor Creek
Class AA individual – Sean Sculley, Mercyhurst Prep
Class AAA team - Meadville
Class AAA individual – Brett Rinker, Slippery Rock
Girls golf
Class AA team - Mercyhurst Prep
Class AA individual – Rosy Hearns, Hickory
Class AAA team – McDowell
Class AAA individual - Megan Kaverman, McDowell

–Tom Reisenweber

After filling in for Pedro Argaez, who resigned early in the season, Mercyhurst Prep soccer coach Doug Bakka will go back to coaching only the boys next year. Bakka was tasked to coach the boys and girls after Argaez’s resignation. Mercyhurst has started its search for a new girls soccer coach. Mercyhurst athletic director Dan Perfetto will accept applications until Jan. 4. Interested applicants should send a resume to Perfetto at dperfetto@mpslakers.com or to the school at Mercyhurst Preparatory School, Attn. athletic director, 538 East Grandview Blvd., Erie, PA 16504.

–Tom Reisenweber

PIAA soccer championships
Class AA boys
Pequea Valley 1, Lancaster Mennonite 0, 2 OT
Class AAA boys
Upper St. Clair 1, Wilson 0
Class AA girls
Moon 1, Archbishop Wood 0
Class AAA girls
Peters Township 1, Cumberland Valley 0

PIAA girls volleyball championships
Class A
Clarion def Williamson 25-14, 25-14, 25-9
Class AA
Fort LeBoeuf def Delone Catholic 25-20, 15-25, 25-20, 25-23
Class AAA
Hempfield def Parkland 25-21, 18-25, 25-16, 25-23

–Tom Reisenweber

PIAA soccer championships
Class A boys
Mountain View 1, Sewickley Academy 0
Class A girls
Greensburg Central Catholic 5, Conwell-Egan 1

–Tom Reisenweber

Check back throughout the night for updates from the Mercyhurst Prep-Moon girls soccer match and the Fort LeBoeuf-Mars girls volleyball match.

Update 26
Fort LeBoeuf has advanced to the PIAA Class AA final with a 15-3 victory in the fifth set of their semifinal against Mars.

Update 25
Mars calls timeout with LeBoeuf leading 11-2 in the fifth set.

Update 24
Mars calls timeout with LeBoeuf leading 5-1 in the fifth set.

Update 23
Fort LeBoeuf and Mars will play a fifth set to determine who goes to the PIAA Class AA final. The Bison recover from a poor third set for a dominant 25-13 victory in the fourth. This is the first time LeBoeuf has played five sets this season.

Update 22
Mars calls timeout with Fort LeBoeuf leading 13-5 in the fourth set.

Update 21
Mars calls timeout with Fort LeBoeuf leading 10-5 in the fourth set.

Update 20

Mars takes a 2-1 lead in sets with a convincing 25-12 win of the third set. Fort LeBoeuf will have to play its first five-set match this season in order to advance to the PIAA Class AA final.

Update 19
Fort LeBoeuf calls timeout with Mars leading 13-4 in the third set.

Update 18
Fort LeBoeuf calls timeout with Mars leading 9-2 in the third set.

Update 17
FYI: A late-arriving crowd now has LeBoeuf leading in terms of fan count.

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–Tom Reisenweber
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