A visit with WPIAL champion baskeball player Rachel Martindale


Background Info: At the start of her high school career Rachel Martindale was one of the most sought-after softball players in the WPIAL. She even accepted a scholarship offer to Pitt and was committed as a sophomore. Then she changed her mind and refocused her efforts on basketball and the rest is history. Martindale, a senior for the Tigers, has been to the WPIAL finals each of her first three seasons, losing to Norwin as a freshman in Class 4A and winning the last two in Class 6A. In last season’s title game against Peters Township, she reached the 1,000-point plateau in the second period of a 79-48 win. That victory ended up being costly, however, as she tore her ACL later in the game and missed the Tigers run to the state semifinals.

Rachel Martindale on her WPIAL experience.
"I feel like it’s been great. North Allegheny has had a lot of success, but I think the WPIAL just brings a lot of good support and we have a lot of new friends because of each team. I think it’s great that you get to play against your friends and you just have a fun time with it."

Rachel Martindale on living up to the North Allegheny championship standard.
"I think NA is a really successful school and we have to do what we have to do, not to bring home a championship, but to win a game. I think we take it game by game and I think we’re very good with that and it’s just all about winning that next game and having an opportunity to win every time."

Rachel Martindale on being a two-time WPIAL champion.
"It’s really amazing. Sometimes we take it for granted, but I know we work hard every day and, for all seven of us seniors, it’s a dream that we can maybe do it again as seniors and that’s amazing."

Rachel Martindale on tearing her ACL in the WPIAL finals.
"It was definitely tough, but my team ended up going to stated and almost winning it without me. I thought it was amazing and they played their butts off. It was crazy to watch it from the sidelines and I helped as much as I could and they did really well."

Rachel Martindale on her comeback.
"It’s been tough. It’s been a journey. But the girls on this team, the coaching staff and my parents, they’ve been a huge help."