Apollo-Ridge's Tipton, Connellsville's Wiltrout are Pittsburgh Trib's Athletes of the Year

Apollo-Ridge's Tre Tipton and Connellsville's Madison Wiltrout have been named the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Athletes of the Year.

Tre Tipton

Apollo-Ridge · Senior · Football, basketball, track & field

Every so many years, sometimes decades, an athlete comes along who has the ability and total-package wherewithal to change the face of sports programs.

At Apollo-Ridge, that athlete was Tre Tipton.

“He's a special one,” football coach John Skiba said.

Tipton not only led teams to victories in highlight-reel fashion, but he did so with a smile and his teammates and fans in mind. “I play for my town,” he said.

Tipton, whose full name is Charles Tipton III, became the face of Vikings football, basketball and track and field for much of his brilliant four-year career, his name becoming synonymous with his school. For his achievements, Tipton is the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Boys Athlete of the Year.

After successful seasons in football and basketball, Tipton, a Pitt football recruit, capped his prep career by winning a gold medal in the long jump at the PIAA Class AA track championships. He leapt 22 feet, 9 ¹⁄₄ inches, winning by almost 8 inches. And that came with a nagging stress fracture in his foot.

You shared an interesting quote about your mother, saying she told you to go to Pitt to “protectyour city,” like you'd protect your house. These words seemed very inspirational, no?

Yes. She said that to me after I visited Pitt. I wondered, what if I commit there and I'm still not sure it's the right spot? When my mom said that, I really thought about what I'd be doing for my city. There's no way I'd ever leave.

How much has your mom had to do with your success?

I could just say it's been all hard work but both my mom and dad have had a lot to do with my success. My mom gave me free rein, but made sure I was guided the right way. She let me think for myself so I could become more of a man. My father made sure I was going to school for academics. That was his emphasis. In eighth grade, I struggled with school a little but they helped me see what I needed to see, and I hit the ground running.

What will people at Apollo-Ridge remember most about Tre Tipton?

I can't really tell you. I hope for them to remember that I did it for them, not myself. Every sport I played I wanted to bring something back to my town. I had a lot of teammates that pushed and pushed for me to make it to that level. We all pushed each other.

You've been dealing with a nagging stress fracture in your foot. How is it now?

I am getting stronger every day; not 110 percent yet.

What advice do you have for up-and-coming high school athletes?

Fight and stay focused. Whatever your coach asks you to do, push yourself 10 times harder.

You seem to enjoy helping people. What's an example of that?

I paid for another senior to go on a field trip. He really wanted to go, so I helped him out.

What has college life been like so far?

You have to grow up and be a man about it. I am getting used to the fact I am on my own. I'm feeling more comfortable.

Why did you give the PIAA gold medal to your school?

I felt like it needed to end that way for me.

MADISON WILTROUT

Connellsville · sophomore · track & field

Once the track meet officials switched to another tape measure, Connellsville javelin thrower Madison Wiltrout realized that maybe she'd just done something very special.

She watched as they measured her heave at 185 feet, 8 inches.

“It really didn't hit me at first,” Wiltrout said. “I was thinking, what's going on? That's when they said the number and it hit me. Oh my gosh! I just threw that?”

At a WPIAL Class AAA qualifier May 7, her throw broke the national high school girls record by more than 4 feet. The previous record was 181-2, according to the NFHS.

“It was a wave of emotion,” she said. “I just started flipping out.”

Only a sophomore, Wiltrout was suddenly a javelin star and drew crowds wherever she threw. She won gold at the WPIAL and PIAA championships and set meet records both times. She also started for the girls basketball team. For her accomplishments, Wiltrout is the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Girls Athlete of the Year.

She had surgery Tuesday to repair a partially torn ligament in her throwing elbow.

How was the surgery?

It went very well. It was very successful. Doctor said I'll be back in no time, better than ever. Right now I'm in a splint for a few weeks. I don't really know how long it will be (before full motion returns), but it shouldn't be very long.

How will you keep busy this summer?

Right now I'm focused on catching up on movies with Netflix. That's what I'm doing. I'm loving the series “Prison Break.”

Where do you keep your collection of gold medals?

They're on a shelf in my room. They take me back to the point when I won them. Considering now where I'm at, it's definitely motivation.

Which moment this season did you most enjoy?

My favorite was definitely the WPIAL qualifier at Norwin when I threw the 185. That was the biggest moment for me and the most shocking when I heard that number.

What were your thoughts beforethat record throw?

Before I threw it I was so relaxed. I had nothing on my mind. I just wanted to make it to WPIALs. It was a nice day. Hot. No wind. That was my first throw. I just got up and thought through everything I needed to do. When I got on the runway, I didn't think of anything. I just looked out at the tree and just let the thing fly.

Did you enjoy the added attention after breaking the national record?

I love having people around and seeing the crowds. I'm very good with handling that stuff; I act like nobody's there. But I love seeing people come out to support me.

How do you motivate yourself without a close challenger?

Normally what I try to do is stay consistent within my throws. I'd pushed myself because I don't want (the distances) to go down. … But I did take second at Penn Relays, so that was definitely a huge motivation for me.

Once you're healthy again, what are your goals?

I'm definitely going to try to keep breaking the records that I have right now. Make it to states and win that again. The Olympic Trials (in July 2016) have also been in my head.

Top storylines

The top tales told by the Tribune-Review during the 2014-15 school year:

12.6.14

South Fayette quarterback Brett Brumbaugh became the all-time passing leader in PIAA football history with his record-breaking yards coming in the state semifinals. Brumbaugh, who graduated with 11,084 career yards, led the Lions to a second consecutive PIAA Class AA title.

12.12.14

WPIAL football teams enjoyed a record-setting weekend in Hershey. It was there that Clairton sophomore Lamont Wade broke the WPIAL single-season rushing record (2,762) of Hopewell's Rushel Shell from 2009, and then Pine-Richland senior Ben DiNucci became the first 4,000-yard passer in state history (4,269).

1.20.15

Two of the most successful leaders in WPIAL history retired as head coaches five months apart, with Blackhawk football's Joe Hamilton announcing his departure in January. On June 17, Kiski Area wrestling's Chuck Tursky also resigned as head coach. Hamilton owns the second most wins in WPIAL football history (342-170-11). Tursky, the winningest coach in WPIAL wrestling history (504-136-2), remains an assistant at Kiski Area.

2.27.15

The WPIAL moved its basketball finals from Palumbo Center to Petersen Events Center, which showcased some spectacular moments. Chartiers Valley senior Matty McConnell scored 34 points, including the 2,000th of his career in a Class AAAA victory over North Allegheny. In Class AAA, Indiana senior Riley Stapleton scored with 1.5 seconds left to beat Beaver Falls, 62-61.

3.7.15

The WPIAL won nine PIAA Class AAA wrestling titles, an all-time high, with a record-tying four by Franklin Regional teammates Devin Brown, Michael Kemerer, Spencer Lee and Josh Shields. Only five other schools in PIAA history had won four individual titles in one year.

3.21.15

Vincentian's Brenna Wise and Blackhawk's Chassidy Omogrosso each finished illustrious careers with another state basketball title. Only two others in history graduated with multiple WPIAL titles, multiple state titles and 2,000 career points.

5.5.15

Ford City and Kittanning, two rival schools that competed athletically for more than 100 years, met for the last time. Kittanning baseball won 7-1. The schools merged to become Armstrong.

5.7.15

With a throw of a 185 feet, 8 inches, Connellsville sophomore Madison Wiltrout broke a national javelin record during a WPIAL Class AAA qualifier at Norwin. She later broke WPIAL and PIAA championship meet records. Wiltrout and Knoch sophomore thrower Jordan Geist became the must-see stars of track season, with both drawing larger-than-usual crowds to field events.

6.12.15

Neshannock's Frank Fraschetti, a right-handed junior, follows his WPIAL championship shutout with a shutout in the PIAA Class A final.

Parade of champions

State winners from the WPIAL during the 2014-15 school year.

baseball

Knoch (AAA)

Neshannock (AA)

Girls basketball

Blackhawk (AAA)

Vincentian Academy (A)

Girlsbowling

Megan Paul, Butler

Competitive spirit

Pine-Richland (small varsity)

BoysCross country

North Allegheny (AAA)

Winchester Thurston (A)

GirlsCross country

Brianna Schwartz, Shaler (AAA)

Marianne Abdalah, Vincentian (A)

Football

South Fayette (AA)

Boys Golf

Jason Li, Sewickley Acad. (AA)

Girls Golf

Central Valley (AAA)

Olivia Zambuno, Greensburg Central Catholic (AA)

Gymnastics

S.S. Beaver (Gold division)

Hopewell (Silver division)

Makayla Gologram, South Side Beaver (Diamond division)

Hope Magusiak, South Side Beaver (Gold division)

Boys soccer

Peters Township (AAA)

Boys swimming/diving

Quaker Valley (AA)

Joe Ference, Penn-Trafford (AAA, diving)

Upper St. Clair (AAA, 200 medley)

Ryan Dudzinski, Upper St. Clair (AAA, 100 butterfly)

Francis Folz, Mars (AA, 100 freestyle, 50 freestyle)

Jarod Kehl, West A. (500 free)

Quaker Valley (AA, 400 relay)

Matthew Kwalick, Quaker Valley (AA, 200 IM)

Girls swimming/diving

Maria Lohman, Chartiers Valley (AAA, diving)

Kathryn Painter, Norwin (AAA, 500 freestyle)

Jacquelyn Du, North Allegheny (AAA, 100 backstroke)

North Allegheny (AAA, 200 medley relay)

Bailey Bonnett, Highlands (AA, 500 freestyle)

Taylor Petrak, Ellwood City (AA, 50 freestyle)

Taylor Hockenberry, Mars (AA, diving)

Boys tennis

Chad Kissell, Latrobe (AAA, singles)

Jared Isaacs/Richard Hoffman, North Allegheny (AAA, doubles)

Girls tennis

North Allegheny (AAA)

Ananya Dua, SSA (AAA singles)

Tina Li/Eugenia Lee, North Allegheny (AAA doubles)

Boys track and field

Tyler Carter, Trinity Christian (AA, triple jump)

Jordan Geist, Knoch (AAA, discus, shot put)

Tre Tipton, Apollo-Ridge (AA, long jump)

Ori Rinaman, Mars (AAA, 110 hurdles)

Domenic Perretta, Beaver Falls (AA, 800, 1,600)

Girls track and field

Madison Wiltrout, Connellsville (AAA, javelin)

Marianne Abdalah, Vincentian Academy (AA, 3,200)

Madeleine Davison, North Allegheny (AAA, 3,200)

Nicole Scherer, Burrell (AA, 100)

Hannah Bablak, Quaker Valley (AA, 1,600)

Girls volleyball

Greensburg C.C. (A)

Wrestling

Franklin Regional (AAA)

Devin Brown, Franklin Regional (AAA, 113)

Spencer Lee, Franklin Regional (AAA, 120)

AC Headlee, Waynesburg (AAA, 132)

Sam Krivus, Hempfield (AAA, 138)

Michael Kemerer, Franklin Regional (AAA, 145)

Vincenzo Joseph, Central Catholic (AAA, 152)

Josh Shields, Franklin Regional (AAA, 160)

TeShan Campbell, Penn Hills (AAA, 170)

Kellan Stout, Mt. Lebanon (AAA, 182)

Gavin Teasdale, Jefferson-Morgan (AA, 106)

Micky Phillippi, Derry (AA, 132)

Mike Carr, South Fayette (AA, 138)

Jake Wentzel, South Park (AA, 152)

Greg Bulsak, South Park (AA, 170)

Al Beattie, Burrell (AA, 285)