Bill Beckner stories, Page 106
Strength and conditioning coaches, trainers bolster Westmoreland County football programs
High school football teams used to use an honor system in the summer months for offseason training. Players promised to work out on their own. Coaches hoped they did. “The offseason dictates everything,” Hempfield coach Mike Brown said. “I mean, kids play other sports, and that’s fine. But training is...
With defense leading way, Franklin Regional girls soccer expects strong season
After a 14-win season and a run to the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals, the Franklin Regional girls soccer team is primed to go farther. The Panthers return seven starters, including junior goalkeeper Aris Lamanna, an All-WPIAL selection last season. The others back are sophomore midfielder Abby Paterline, senior forward Sierra...
Opportunity knocks for young Norwin boys soccer roster
Don’t count Norwin out of the WPIAL playoff chase just yet. Knights veteran coach Scott Schuchert said WPIAL Class 4A is “Seneca Valley and everybody else,” but he likes to think his team is in that vast group of pursuers. While six starters return from a 14-2-1 team that lost...
McKeesport gets impressive victory vs. Penn-Trafford
It might have been youth night at Warrior Stadium, but this was big boy football. Or was it Big Boyd football? Running back Bobbie Boyd gave McKeesport a pronounced edge in a statement win for the Tigers. Boyd ran for 149 yards and three touchdowns and intercepted three passes to...
Penn State’s James Franklin to arrive via helicopter to watch Quinton Martin, Belle Vernon play Laurel Highlands
James Franklin will make quite an entrance tonight at Belle Vernon. The Penn State football coach is expected to arrive by helicopter to watch Laurel Highlands play Belle Vernon — and five-star junior Quinton Martin, the top-rated 2024 prospect in the state — at James Weir Stadium. Belle Vernon athletic...
Plum blanks Franklin Regional in ‘brawl’ between Class 3A contenders
A matchup of the Tribune-Review’s top two teams in the WPIAL Class 3A rankings wasn’t exactly the Backyard Brawl of boys soccer, but it was close. The game between returning WPIAL semifinalists had physical interaction, contested shots and strong play in net. The bragging rights, at least after the first...
Westmoreland football notebook: Hempfield senior perseveres after 3 ACL tears
Arthritis at age 25? A knee replacement at 35? These are potentially small prices to pay to lineman Zach Persinger, who has had three anterior cruciate ligament tears in his left knee, and major surgery, in as as years. The unshakable Hempfield senior is finally healthy and starting at nose...
Franklin Regional buckles down, makes early goal stand up in win over Penn-Trafford
Get a goal on the board early, possess the ball and make defensive stops. Franklin Regional checked all three boxes in its Section 3-3A opener Wednesday night at Penn-Trafford. “We’re going to play a lot of games this way,” Panthers coach Scott Arnold said. Senior winger Natalie Ribar scored off...
Westmoreland County boys soccer notebook: New coach putting stamp on Franklin Regional program
Hired very late in the process, Lukas Petersen is still getting to know his players, implement the basics of his system and make the Franklin Regional boys soccer program his own. He had been with the team for less than a month when the season opened Aug. 26. The No....
With shackles off, expect big goal totals from Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer
One of the first directives Rob Fabean put into place when he took over the Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer team last season was his three-goal rule. Once a player scored three times in a game, a hat trick achieved, that player was asked to back off and let someone...
Westmoreland County don’t miss high school football matchups for 2022 Week 1
Nonconference Connellsville (1-0) at Hempfield (1-0) 7 p.m. Friday at Bill Abraham Field at Spartan Stadium, Hempfield Connellsville forced seven turnovers, which helped it end a 17-game losing streak with a 16-13 win over Albert Gallatin. Benjamin Zavatchan kicked a 40-yard field goal, and sophomore running back Xavier Malone rushed...
Seton Hill softball coach Jessica Strong steps down
Jessica Strong has resigned as the head softball coach at Seton Hill after four seasons. She is leaving to pursue another coaching endeavor but did not want to comment until the end of the week, when her tenure at Seton Hill is complete. Strong guided the Griffins to a memorable...
Norwin girls soccer players seek healthier trip through section schedule
Injuries took a toll on Norwin last year to the point where the girls soccer team rarely had the same set lineup on the field. The inconsistency led to a pair of losses to upstart Latrobe — now a Class 3A team — and a second-place finish in Section 3-4A....
Westmoreland soccer notebook: Norwin set to host Moe Rosensteel Kickoff Classic
Norwin will host the inaugural Moe Rosensteel Memorial Kickoff Classic on Saturday at Knights Stadium. The classic, named for the late Katelyn “Moe” Rosensteel, a standout player at Ringgold whose father, Ed, used to coach at Greensburg Central Catholic, will feature three girls games: Ringgold vs. Hickory (noon), Thomas Jefferson...
Greensburg Central Catholic girls aim to continue golf dynasty under new coach
In what has been an astounding run of success in WPIAL girls golf, Greensburg Central Catholic has won seven consecutive championships since its program began in 2015. A dynastic 7 for 7. The Centurions are hoping to make it eight titles in a row this fall, but they are competing...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Former Norwin soccer players join new teams
A pair of former Norwin girls soccer standouts has transferred to new programs. Lacey Bernick and Katelyn Kauffman began their college careers together at Pitt, but the sophomore forwards have gone separate ways. Bernick was looking for a full reset. She made the move to Akron of the Mid-American Conference....
Westmoreland high school notebook: Flickinger stepping down as Derry baseball coach
Derry baseball coach John Flickinger is stepping down after 11 years at the position. “Flick,” who coached for 23 years overall with the program, is leaving to spend more time with his family. A 1992 Trojans alum, he will go out on top, in a sense. He led Derry to...
Westmoreland football notebook: Secret is out on Latrobe’s Fulton
Latrobe first-year football coach Ron Prady joked Friday night that the “secret’s out” on Robby Fulton IV, his senior running back and linebacker. There won’t be any hiding his secret weapon now. “He’s something else,” Prady said after Fulton, a transfer from Central Catholic, rushed for 209 yards and five...
Norwin notebook: Soccer standouts set to begin college careers
A bout of injuries plagued Norwin at the wrong times last girls soccer season, leaving the team and fans wondering what could have been. But every senior player, injured or healthy, has gone on to a college career. All eight of them are set to play at the next level,...
Franklin Regional’s Morrison plots future with Sprint football
Maddox Morrison is taking a unique path to college football. The playmaker from Franklin Regional is headed to a Division II program to play, only not in the traditional sense. Morrison, a senior wide receiver and defensive back, is going to play Sprint football at Alderson Broaddus in Philippi, W.Va....
Latrobe dominates Derry in football opener
Neighboring rivals Latrobe and Derry had a lot in common heading into their season-opening matchup. Both have new coaches — Ron Prady at Latrobe, Mike Arone at Derry. Both are stepping down to new classifications — Latrobe to Class 4A, Derry to 2A. Both have switched to odd-man fronts on...
Yough has ‘extension of a coach’ in WR Roebuck
When he found out he was moving from quarterback to receiver late last season, Yough’s Gavin Roebuck had mixed emotions. OK, he was pretty bummed out. Distraught and disconnected, he was a wayward soul who lost his footing and suddenly was sliding down the side of Cougar Mountain. But then...
Westmoreland high school football notebook: ‘Huddie’ Kaufman to be honored
The press box at Offutt Field was one of his favorite spots to watch a football game. It was part office, part sanctuary. Whether he was covering games during his near-40-year career at the Tribune-Review or working the game clock later in life, Howard “Huddie” Kaufman felt connected to Greensburg...
Westmoreland County girls soccer preview: Class 3A field loaded with contenders
WPIAL Class 3A girls soccer just got a lot stronger. As if three-time defending champion Mars — with its 63-game winning streak — wasn’t already a problem for opponents, the addition of former 4A teams Moon, Latrobe and Penn-Trafford only stands to thicken the title chase. Moon won WPIAL and...
Westmoreland County boys soccer preview: New challenges for Jeannette, Franklin Regional
Jeannette is not necessarily running from anyone by playing up in classification in boys soccer. The way the Jayhawks see it, the move is about perspective and proper placement. Jeannette is a Class A school according to enrollment numbers, but it chose to play in Class 2A to be with...
