Hempfield’s Liz Tapper will never forget the final home match of her high school volleyball career.
Not only was she honored on senior night, but the track and field star also announced where she will be attending college.
Tapper, one of the best high school throwers in the country, has decided to represent the maize and blue at the next level, this after verbally committing to Michigan on Oct. 20. She made her decision public prior to Hempfield’s volleyball match against Gateway.
“I picked Michigan because it was the first place that I could confidently call home,” Tapper said. “I saw a lot of things there that I have now. The coaches and staff at Michigan, it’s almost like a family atmosphere. It’s very comfortable as a student-athlete to walk into a place knowing that you are going to be treated well.”
Michigan was the fourth and final school to which Tapper took an official visit. And as it turns out, the Wolverines weren’t Tapper’s leader heading into her trip to Ann Arbor. At that point, Tapper said she favored Duke, another school she officially visited in addition to Ohio State and Kentucky. Among the highlights of Tapper’s visit to Michigan included attending the Michigan-Penn State football game and a Michigan hockey game.
“I think that’s when I realized that was the place for me. I had people telling me that when I found the right school, I would know,” said Tapper, adding that she is considering majoring in biology.
It’s undoubtedly a huge recruiting coup for Michigan, as Tapper ranks among the nation’s premier discus throwers. She had a mammoth junior season, winning WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A discus and shot put titles before claiming a national title in the discus at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
With her volleyball season now complete, Tapper has quickly shifted her focus to the indoor track season, which begins later this month. When the outdoor season gets underway in the spring, Tapper will aim for more gold medals, as well as a pair of WPIAL all-time records. Tapper’s top discus throw of 164 feet, 4 inches ranks second in WPIAL history behind only Greensburg Central Catholic great Colleen Rosensteel, who threw 168-11 in 1984. Tapper’s career best of 48-0½ in the shot put ranks fourth in WPIAL history. Center’s Allyn Laughlin (1984) and Shenango’s Emma Callahan (2022) share the WPIAL record of 50-10¾.
Tapper’s commitment is the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable high school career. She came into high school as a pole vaulter and didn’t begin throwing until her freshman season.
“It’s been crazy,” she said. “It’s almost like a dream that I’m living out, but it’s so surreal that I don’t realize I’m the one living it. I’ve accomplished a lot of great things. It’s been an amazing experience. I’m excited that I have finally committed.”
Robbins commits
In late September, a Marist coach visited Upper St. Clair High School to watch Kate Robbins work out, which quickly led to a scholarship offer. Less than a month later, Robbins decided that she would like to continue her basketball career playing for the Red Foxes.
Robbins is a 6-foot-1 senior forward and two-time all-section choice who will become a four-year starter this winter. As a junior, Robbins averaged 13 points per game while helping Upper St. Clair reach the WPIAL Class 6A final.
Marist competes in the Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and has a veteran coach in Brian Giorgis, who is entering his 21st season. The Red Foxes went 8-21 last season.
Robbins won’t be the first member of her family to play Division I college basketball. Her mom, Kim (Seaver) Robbins, was a former Post-Gazette Fabulous 5 selection at Mt. Lebanon who went on to have an excellent career at Virginia Tech. She ranks among the program’s career leaders in field-goal percentage and blocked shots.
First offer
Robbins’ teammate, Rylee Kalocay, recently received her first Division I offer. Kalocay, a 5-8 guard and one of the WPIAL’s top sophomores, was offered by Quinnipiac. Kalocay averaged 13 points a game for Upper St. Clair her freshman season when she served as the team’s sixth man. She had a memorable performance in the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals, scoring Upper St. Clair’s final nine points in a 48-44 win against two-time defending champion North Allegheny.
Baseball commitments
Montour’s Nick Walker (Gannon); Neshannock’s Andrew Frye (Slippery Rock); North Catholic’s Drew Doherty (Mount Union); Seton LaSalle’s DiMaggio Lonero (North Alabama); Shaler’s Brady Alexander (Ohio).
Basketball commitment
Mars’ Olivia Donnelly (John Carroll).
Cross Country/Track commitments
Peters Township’s Brett Kroboth (Penn State); Pine-Richland’s Natalie McLean (Georgetown); South Fayette’s Jake Borgesi (Penn State).
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.