The student news site of Baldwin High School

The Purbalite
The student news site of Baldwin High School

The Purbalite
The student news site of Baldwin High School

The Purbalite
Nico Macurak

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor

Senior Sports Editor Nico Macurak is in his fourth year on the Purbalite. He can be found playing sports, listening to music, or playing video games.

The Baldwin boys golf team plays in the 3A division.

2 Baldwin golfers qualify for WPIAL championships

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
September 16, 2025

Purb Take podcast discuss Steelers, Pitt losses

Nico Macurak, Ben Majcher, and Jackson Presto
September 15, 2025
The Baldwin girls soccer team watches their teammates during the game.

Girls soccer loses on late goal to Connellsville

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
September 11, 2025
Boys soccer battles against Chartiers Valley into overtime.

Boys soccer falls to Chartiers Valley in OT

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
September 5, 2025
The Highlanders football season starts with loss but they persevere.

Football team looks to build on positive moments

Nico Macurak, Logan Connelly, and Ben Majcher
September 5, 2025
Baldwin athletes decide if they will continue their sport in college. Photo via Nico Macurak.

End of an era

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
June 10, 2025
Jan 5, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Aaron Rodgers (8) runs with the ball during the third quarter of their game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Steelers fans should be excited about Rodgers signing

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
June 6, 2025
Senior Nate Wesling has been named the Purbalite Male Athlete of the Year.

After big senior season, Wesling named Purbalite Male Athlete of the Year

Nico Macurak and Trevor Brain
June 2, 2025
The boys varsity volleyball team competes during the spring sports season.

Boys volleyball loses in first round of playoffs

Nick Burg and Nico Macurak
May 14, 2025
The Baldwin High school softball team competes in the WPIAL Class 6A division.

Softball loses to Trinity, misses out on section title

Nico Macurak and Emma Powell
May 7, 2025
Senior Kaylee Smolko gets ready to catch a ball to get a player out at first.

Led by DeFelice’s no-hitter, softball shuts out Albert Gallatin

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
April 29, 2025

Purb Take discusses Steelers’ draft picks

Trevor Brain, Nico Macurak, and Jackson Sgattoni
April 28, 2025
Senior Gavin Serafini is a four-year varsity player on Baldwin's boys lacrosse team.

Serafini has quickly developed into a lacrosse leader

Nico Macurak and Jackson Sgattoni
April 28, 2025
Baldwin huddles up near the middle of the field before their game.

Boys lax earns big win over Gateway

Jackson Sgattoni, Nico Macurak, and Nick Burg
April 14, 2025
The girls lacrosse team celebrates with senior Aliza Very after her 100th goal.

Very scores 4, including her 100th career goal, to lead girls lax to win

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
April 8, 2025
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the main organization of college sports. Image via NCAA

NIL, transfer portal taking fun out of March Madness

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
April 4, 2025

Purb Take breaks down men’s and women’s Final Fours

Trevor Brain, Nico Macurak, Jules Ott, and Jackson Sgattoni
April 3, 2025
Senior Ryley Shaw attempts to hit the ball against Norwin.

Softball team defeats Norwin

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
March 20, 2025

Fan producer Bechtold, Saras join Purb Take to talk March Madness

Nico Macurak and Jackson Sgattoni
March 19, 2025
The Baldwin Fighting Highlander girls basketball team plays in the 5A division.

Girls basketball’s big season ends with loss at states

Emma Powell and Nico Macurak
March 10, 2025
Pittsburgh University is known for their NCAA division one sports programs. Image via Wikimedia Commons

Blame coach for Pitt’s basketball season collapse

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
February 26, 2025
The Baldwin varsity ice hockey team plays in the 2A division.

Ice hockey team loses, ending playoff hopes

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
February 21, 2025
Highlanders Boys basketball wins WPIAL 5a section 3 this season.

A year to remember

Nico Macurak, Milana Varon, and Trevor Brain
February 18, 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers acquire NBA superstar Luka Doncic in return for Anthony Davis. Luka Doncic by Erik Drost is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Lakers, Mavericks headline blockbuster trade

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
February 4, 2025
Ramil Islamov has won the section championship for the first time in his eight years of wrestling.

Islamov works to pin down his lofty wrestling goals

Jackson Sgattoni and Nico Macurak
February 3, 2025
Senior Logan Cramer lines up at center for the second period.

Ice hockey team loses in overtime to Hempfield

Jackson Sgattoni and Nico Macurak
February 1, 2025
The open campus plan will offer flexibility for juniors and seniors.

Hall of Fame inductees to be honored tonight

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
January 21, 2025
Senior Logan Cramer lines up at center for the faceoff in the offensive zone.

Latrobe shuts out ice hockey team

Jackson Sgattoni and Nico Macurak
January 14, 2025

Purb Take debates how to improve the Steelers

Trevor Brain, Nico Macurak, Emma Powell, and Jackson Sgattoni
January 13, 2025
The Baldwin Fighting Highlander girls basketball team plays in the 5A division.

Girls basketball defeats Bethel Park

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
January 13, 2025
The Steelers have been making many moves in the off-season. Photo via Steelers.com

Struggling Steelers need to find a way to win again

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
January 6, 2025
Senior Nate Wesling dribbles down the court against Mount Lebanon.

Wesling reaches 1,000 career points in holiday tourney

Nico Macurak and Trevor Brain
January 2, 2025
The boys basketball team won against Peters Township 61- 57 on Tuesday night.

Boys basketball defeats Peters Township, winning sixth straight game

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
December 18, 2024
The boys basketball team won against Peters Township 61- 57 on Tuesday night.

Boys basketball defeats Brashear, prepares for Peters Township

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
December 16, 2024
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the main organization of college sports. Image via NCAA

Opinion: Jeanty should run away with Heisman

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
December 12, 2024
The boys basketball team won against Peters Township 61- 57 on Tuesday night.

Boys basketball come back to defeat Penn-Trafford

Trevor Brain and Nico Macurak
December 12, 2024
Senior Ramil Islamov sets a new record for Baldwin Wrestling after placing 4th in the state wrestling competition.

Islamov takes first at wrestling tournament

Jackson Sgattoni and Nico Macurak
December 9, 2024

Purb Take podcast discusses Steelers-Bengals game

Trevor Brain, Nico Macurak, and Jackson Sgattoni
December 2, 2024
The Baldwin varsity ice hockey team plays in the 2A division.

Ice hockey falls to Cathedral Prep

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
November 15, 2024
Seniors signed their letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers.

Seniors sign their college letters of intent

Purbalite Staff
November 14, 2024
The Fighting Highlanders competitive cheer team performs across the area.

Cheer team named grand champions at Bethel competition

Jackson Sgattoni and Nico Macurak
November 7, 2024
Baldwin High School serves the Baldwin, Whitehall, and Baldwin Township communities.

WPIAL investigates Baldwin football, athletic program

Emma Powell, Nico Macurak, and Jackson Sgattoni
October 24, 2024
Senior WIll Penrod stands out in his senior soccer season.

Penrod stands out in senior soccer season

Jackson Sgattoni and Nico Macurak
October 18, 2024
Jason Dolak and his brother-in-law Andy Urban stand at the Eastern Continental Divide. Photo Contributed by Jason Dolak

On the trail to fitness

Arpan Basnet and Nico Macurak
October 9, 2024

Purb Take discusses Pens, Steelers, college football

Nico Macurak and Emma Powell
October 8, 2024
Tecca's new album provides upbeat flows, rhymes, and new features. Image via Galactic Records.

Lil Tecca’s ‘Plan A’ a career highlight

Nico Macurak
October 4, 2024
volleyball girls

USC sweeps girls volleyball

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
October 4, 2024
Sophomore Michael Quallich plays for the Baldwin golf team for his second season.

Quallich takes 2nd at WPIAL golf championship

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
October 2, 2024

Video story: Boys soccer loses to Montour

Arpan Basnet, Nico Macurak, and Jackson Sgattoni
September 30, 2024

Girls soccer falls to USC

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
September 26, 2024
Sophomore Michael Quallich plays for the Baldwin golf team for his second season.

Quallich returns to WPIAL golf finals

Jackson Sgattoni, Molly Gorman, and Nico Macurak
September 25, 2024

Boys soccer loses to West Allegheny

Jackson Sgattoni and Nico Macurak
September 20, 2024
volleyball girls

Girls volleyball falls to Canon-Mac

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
September 18, 2024
Sophomore Michael Quallich plays for the Baldwin golf team for his second season.

Quallich, Dempsey qualify for WPIAL golf championships

Nico Macurak and Jackson Sgattoni
September 17, 2024
The Baldwin boys golf team plays in the 3A division.

Golf team loses to Lebo

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
September 13, 2024
Pittsburgh University is known for their NCAA division one sports programs. Image via Wikimedia Commons

Pitt faces major challenge with WVU game

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
September 13, 2024

Boys soccer team loses to South Park

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
September 9, 2024
The Baldwin boys golf team plays in the 3A division.

Golf team falls just short to Thomas Jefferson

Jackson Sgattoni and Nico Macurak
September 4, 2024

Video story: Class of 2024 graduates

Dom Brown, Nick Burg, Sean Galentine, Nico Macurak, Alayna Scanlon, and Ethan Stock
June 7, 2024
The College World Series is played each June in Omaha, Nebraska. Image via Google

Tennessee is the favorite in College World Series

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
May 29, 2024

Purb Take podcast talks Paul Skenes, Pirates

Dom Brown, Jackson Sgattoni, Nico Macurak, and Nick Burg
May 22, 2024
Seniors signed their letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers.

Seniors sign college letters of intent

Purbalite Staff
May 10, 2024
The boys varsity volleyball team competes during the spring sports season.

Boys volleyball headed to playoffs after win over Bethel

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
May 8, 2024
DiCesaro helps lay foundation for the future of Baldwin Boys lax.

DiCesaro helps lacrosse team build for the future

Nico Macurak and Jackson Sgattoni
May 2, 2024

Sports columnist discusses challenges facing Steelers, Penguins, Pirates

Connor Boros, Kevin Hutchinson, Nico Macurak, Emma Powell, and Zach Wiatrowski
May 2, 2024
The boys varsity volleyball team competes during the spring sports season.

Boys volleyball beats USC, 3-1

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
April 26, 2024
The Baldwin High school softball team competes in the WPIAL Class 6A division.

Softball splits two games over weekend

Nico Macurak and Adam Degenhardt
April 22, 2024

Purb Take podcast debates Sweet 16 of men’s bracket

Adam Degenhardt, Nico Macurak, Jackson Sgattoni, and Zach Wiatrowski
March 26, 2024

Video story: Boys volleyball falls to Norwin

Nico Macurak and Jackson Sgattoni
March 21, 2024
Baldwin High School is represented by the fighting highlander mascot.

Winter sports teams make memories

Adam Degenhardt, Nico Macurak, Jackson Sgattoni, and Jacob Staley
March 18, 2024
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the main organization of college sports. Image via NCAA

March Madness brackets feature favorites, sleepers

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
March 18, 2024
This is Babytron’s fifth album in the past year and that plays a huge factor in his growth. Photo via The Hip Hop Lab.

Babytron latest isn’t as strong as previous efforts

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
March 7, 2024
The Baldwin boys wrestling team competes in the 3A division.

Klodowski, Islamov qualify for state playoffs.

Nico Macurak and Adam Degenhardt
March 4, 2024
Boys Basketball Coach Jeff Ackermann has been coaching the team since 2020.

[Photo] Head coach ready to lead boys basketball into WPIAL Championship game

Jacob Staley, Sports Editor
March 1, 2024
The Baldwin boys wrestling team competes in the 3A division.

7 wrestlers advances to WPIALs

Adam Degenhardt and Nico Macurak
February 26, 2024
The Baldwin boys wrestling team competes in the 3A division.

Wrestling team takes 4th place at Montour Duals

Jackson Sgattoni and Nico Macurak
February 12, 2024

Podcast: Purb Take team previews the Super Bowl

Dom Brown, Nick Burg, Nico Macurak, and Jackson Sgattoni
February 9, 2024
The Highlanders watch their team play while on the bench.

Hockey team loses to NA

Jackson Sgattoni and Nico Macurak
January 26, 2024

Video: Ice hockey loses to Pine-Richland

Kenzie Hirt, Nico Macurak, and Jackson Sgattoni
January 22, 2024
Junior Spencer Maist has been on the swimming team for two years.

Maist has high hopes for swim teams

Nico Macurak and Zach Wiatrowski
January 22, 2024
The Baldwin Fighting Highlander girls basketball team plays in the 5A division.

Girls basketball falls to USC

Nico Macurak, Sports Editor
January 19, 2024
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