Lampe sisters choose Carlow
By Joe Tuscano/Staff writer/jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
Softball coach Bill Simms stands with Madison and McKenna Lampe.
By Joe Tuscano/Staff writer/jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
Basketball coach Jordan Watson stands with Madison and McKenna Lampe.
Madison Lampe
McKenna Lampe
ROGERSVILLE – The two most prolific softball players in West Greene High School’s history have settled on a college.
Twins Madison and McKenna Lampe have chosen Carlow University, located in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, and both will pursue a degree in nursing.
The Lampes chose Carlow over Waynesburg University and Saint Vincent and will use the nursing degree in their pursuit of a career in the United States Army. They went through basic training last summer and will enroll in the ROTC program, which is affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh.
“I liked all the colleges but I saw a lot more opportunity at Carlow,” said Madison Lampe.
“All the major hospitals are right down the road,” said McKenna Lampe, referring to the UPMC medical system. “I liked how small it was and how small the classes were going to be. We were told the professors will work with you and make sure you won’t fail.”
Carlow competes in the River States Conference, as well as the United States Collegiate Athletic Association and is part of the NAIA structure.
Home games are played at Lind Field in Fairhaven Park, Kennedy Township.
The Lampe sisters were vital parts of an athletic resurgence at West Greene that netted WPIAL and PIAA titles in softball and a trip to the WPIAL finals in basketball.
“It’s been a lot of fun being a part of the (school’s success),” said Madison Lampe. “I enjoyed it a lot. I always knew we’d be successful. Going to states in softball and basketball was kind of a surprise at first, but I was just glad to be a part of it.”
They are part of a softball team that has won three straight WPIAL Class A titles, made the state finals three consecutive years and are the two-time defending PIAA champions. The Pioneers became the first team from Washington or Greene counties to repeat as state champions.
The Lampes have been named to the Observer-Reporter All-District Softball Team three times.
“Their historical legacy is going to be the name itself,” said Bill Simms, athletic director and softball head coach at West Greene. “It’s just a matter of waiting (the required) five years to put them into the hall of fame we have at the school. Cross country, basketball softball. They are very multi-faceted kids. I love them for that. … They’re both in the National Honor Society. The accolades speak for themselves.”
In basketball, the Lampes spearheaded the Pioneers to the WPIAL Class A finals last season, the first time that happened in the program’s history.
They could make it back to the Petersen Events Center with a win over Vincentian Academy in tonight’s semifinals at Peters Township High School (6 p.m.).
The program has a 78-19 record over the past four seasons and has won 32 of its 36 section games over that period. The Pioneers won three section titles and will be headed to a third appearance in the PIAA playoffs.
The Lampes and Kaitlyn Rizor each passed the 1,000-career point milestone, the first time that happened since Blackhawk High School girls basketball team had three do it in 2015.
“They have been unbelievable,” said Jordan Watson, the Pioneers’ girls basketball coach. “They started for four years. They are in great shape, they handle our press, they can both shoot. They really do it all.”
In cross country, the Lampe sisters helped West Greene win its section for the first time in school history, finish third in the Class A girls competition and qualify for the PIAA Championships for the first time in the program’s five-year history.