About Bill Beckner Jr.

Bill Beckner Jr. 724-224-2696
Local Sports Editor
Valley News Dispatch

Contact Us | Video | RSS | Mobile

Erica Hilliard | Valley News Dispatch

Knoch football player Dakota Bruggeman.

Top high school sports

•  Thursday’s high school softball photos
•  WPIAL track and field championships
•  West Mifflin tops Mt. Pleasant for 1st playoff win in 15 years
•  Slam carries Greensburg Salem girls over Highlands in playoffs
•  Shaler’s Schwartz breaks 2 records at WPIAL championships

High School Photo Galleries

WPIAL track and field championships
2013-05-16

Thursday’s high school softball photos
2013-05-16

Wednesday’s high school photos
2013-05-15

Daily Gallery

Friday - May 17, 2013

Senior Dakota Bruggeman played a number of positions for the Knoch football team over the years. He lined up at wide receiver, played cornerback and even handled the punting duties.

But quarterback always was his favorite, and that's where he saw himself playing in college.

Alderson-Broaddus College was willing to give him that chance, so Bruggeman accepted, giving the school from Phillipi, W.Va., a verbal commitment.

Bruggeman received a few calls from Penn State, and believed a preferred walk-on offer was forthcoming. But that plan fizzled, so he narrowed his choices to Alderson-Broaddus and Concord. Both are Division II schools. D-II Indiana (Pa.) also showed strong interest.

“Penn State said their roster was full,” said Bruggeman, who passed for 1,264 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. “I went down (to Alderson-Broaddus) for a visit and it matches me perfectly. I want to get into nursing and they have the top program in the state.

“I love playing quarterback, and they'll give me the chance to play it.”

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Bruggeman, who also intercepted five passes for the Knights last season, was a key player on Knoch's WPIAL runner-up in 2011.

Nursing has been an interest of Bruggeman's for some time.

“I like helping people,” he said. “It gives me a good feeling to help someone out.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is the Local Sports Editor of the Valley News Dispatch. He can be reached at bbeckner@tribweb.com.

1. Kovacevic: The smartest man in hockey
2. Penguins far from satisfied after Game 2
3. Behind Crosby’s hat trick, Penguins sneak past Senators
4. Penguins notebook: Malkin makes points run
5. Ex-Steelers QB Batch learns new form of 2-minute drill
6. Motorcyclist dies after crash in Latrobe
7. Error in 9th allows Pirates to rally past Astros
8. Pirates notebook: NL Central not so soft after all
9. Just hold on, 911 officials say of busy signals, but frustrated callers want explanation
10. Pair denied contact once baby born
11. Former Pirates prospect Grossman now starting in center for Houston

Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.