Bill Beckner stories, Page 108
Westmoreland high school notebook: Norwin senior headed to UMBC
While she had other interest from NCAA Division I soccer programs, Norwin’s Reagan Casper went with the school that felt right. The incoming senior defender made a verbal pledge to play at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County in Baltimore. The Retrievers play in the America East Conference. “I love the...
Latrobe’s Butler brothers teammates in international 3-on-3 basketball event
Austin and Bryce Butler have staged many shirt-ripping driveway basketball battles against one other over the years. But now they’re teaming up to play for their country on an international stage. The brothers from Latrobe are playing for the USA Basketball 3x3 U23 team in the FIBA 3x3 Nations League...
Former Westmoreland County softball standouts find ‘extra’ special roles in ‘A League of Their Own’
Mollie Kovalcin watched the film “A League of Their Own” so many times growing up, she lost count. It was part of her childhood and still holds a special place in her film collection. You might say it is “extra” special now. “I’ve probably seen it maybe 300 times, over...
Added depth, drop to Class 5A fuel optimism at Hempfield
Dropping to Class 5A means little to Hempfield, at least on paper. To second-year coach Mike Brown, the move — and accompanying chatter that things might ease up for the Spartans — are about as useful as a broken elevator. Going up or down doesn’t matter. “It’s all outside noise,”...
Norwin has postseason aspirations amidst field of new 5A opponents
Dave Brozeski stops short of using air quotes when he talks about Norwin “dropping down” to Class 5A this football season. But his sentiment still is clear. Big picture: the change is inconsequential to the Knights. “If nothing else, it’s better for us in terms of the locality of opponents...
Incoming Norwin freshman set to take Pony League World Series stage
A game-winning hit to the gap or a highlight catch to seal a victory. That is the way Liam O’Donnell wants to go out at the PONY League World Series. He has dreamed about playing on this stage, and now he wants to make his mark. An incoming freshman at...
New coach brings passion for basketball to struggling Jeannette girls program
Adopted at age 11 and growing up in a family of eight siblings, Anna Leonard learned to make her own way through life. Basketball has been her vehicle. It is her passion. After all, her nickname is “Hoopz.” “I moved out after high school, and I have been running the...
Westmoreland Campus Clippings: Norwin’s Reilly Parker to coach at W&J
Norwin graduate Reilly Parker is joining the women’s volleyball coaching staff at Washington & Jefferson, giving her a return to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in a new capacity. Parker was a standout player at Bethany, where she was a three-time All-PAC First Team selection. She was named the 2022 Ohio...
Latrobe basketball standout Emma Blair verbally commits to S.C. Upstate
Emma Blair wanted to make her college commitment before the start of her senior year. The rising senior basketball standout at Latrobe didn’t want to wait around for any more Division I scholarship offers, though, so she snagged the first one on the table. Blair announced Sunday a verbal commitment...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Football season kicks off with ‘heat week’
High school football season is a hot topic again. Monday is the beginning of heat acclimatization week, a requirement of teams started in 2013 by the PIAA, marking the start of the 2022 season. While teams can’t begin full contact workouts until next Monday when training camps open, this week...
Katie Miller Gee wins 3rd straight state mid-amateur — by 16 shots
Katie Miller Gee wasn’t altogether sure what her golf life would be like after she became a mother for the first time. Could she regain her balance, her form, her touch? Moreover, could she win again? Yes, yes, yes and — yes! Miller Gee, the former Hempfield and North Carolina...
Franklin Regional grad Nate Leopold working with Houston Texans
Last fall, Nate Leopold was breaking up passes, wrapping up running backs and earning all-conference accolades at John Carroll. This summer, he is helping the Houston Texans prepare for the NFL season. Leopold, a former Franklin Regional two-sport standout, is working as a team personnel assistant. He initially had plans...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Derry grad earns preseason honors for W&J
Justin Huss is primed for a big junior season at Washington & Jefferson. The running back and return specialist out of Derry was named to the Division III Preseason Starting Lineup, which is presented by College Football America Yearbook — one of 27 players from NCAA Division III to make...
Recently graduated Franklin Regional football player battling brain cancer
Pain is temporary. The long-used refrain has pushed many football players to overcome the rigors of training camp, the grind of preparation and long, sometimes injury-plagued seasons. The same words are motivating Joe Purdue to fight cancer. Purdue graduated from Franklin Regional in June. Less than two months later, during...
Mt. Pleasant softball standout Katie Hutter’s long recruiting journey ends happily at Bowling Green
A teeth-gritting, 315-pound dead-lift had some angst behind it. Some pent-up irritation even. Katie Hutter was grinding through another WPIAL softball season, continuing to put up impressive numbers while making a sacrifice to move from center field to shortstop so Mt. Pleasant could increase its chances of winning. All the...
Norwin notebook: North Huntingdon’s Morgart earns promotion
John W. Morgart, Jr. of North Huntingdon received a promotion. The successful sensai is now a fifth-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do under Grandmaster Cynthia Rothrock. Morgart, who has won on a world stage and taught dozens, is known for forming and cultivating his own style called, “Wei Son...
With baseball playing career complete, Latrobe’s Ryan Shawley follows path into coaching
When Ryan Shawley played baseball for Latrobe, he was a calming voice in the dugout and an animated, rah-rah teammate on the field. Maybe that’s why he gravitated to coaching. It seemed like a natural progression, wearing a hard helmet inside the third-base box and waving runners around, or advising...
Latrobe girls soccer standout Regan Reilly commits to Bowling Green
Latrobe girls soccer is primed to make a splash as it drops to WPIAL Class 3A this season. Junior Regan Reilly has a lot to do with the raised expectations. The talented forward became the third Wildcats player to make a Division I college commitment this offseason, announcing her intentions...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Basketball standout Rocco continues to get offers
Alayna Rocco is on the path to Division I college basketball. But where will she play? She has plenty of choices on a growing list of schools. The junior guard at North Catholic, who lives in Trafford, is having another big summer with the Western PA Bruins AAU club, and...
Pitt-Greensburg tabs Conroy to coach women’s volleyball team
Kevin Conroy will lead the Pitt-Greensburg women’s volleyball program into the future. The position was opened in the offseason after it became full time and, after an extensive search, UPG found its man. A Flint, Mich., native, Conroy has been the girls head volleyball coach at Potomac State High School...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Franklin Regional grad runs to All-American honors
Westminster senior Ryan Beard and his teammates ran circles around opponents during the outdoor track and field season. A Franklin Regional alum, Beard was a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Region Mid-Atlantic honoree as part of the 400-meter relay team. The foursome ran to the first...
Former Hempfield ace opens eyes with excellent freshman year at Bloomsburg
While hitters were taken aback by the quick emergence of freshman Callie Sowers as a true gamer in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, nobody was more open-mouthed than Sowers herself. Rookie seasons are not supposed to be this good. The fast-throwing pitcher’s first year at Bloomsburg was productive, sound and...
Norwin announces 2022 sports hall of fame class
From its all-time leading scorer in girls basketball, to a pair of three-sport standouts, to two WPIAL championship teams of 2016, the Norwin Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022 covers a lot of ground. Soccer, wrestling and football also are part of the mix. Even the district’s favorite ticket-taker...
Seton Hill alum Katie Nolan to play pro basketball in Great Britain league
Double-double producing center Katie Nolan is going from Seton Hill to the pros. The recent grad signed to play for the Newcastle Eagles of the Women’s British Basketball League. The Eagles are based in Tyne, England. “I am extremely excited to be able to continue my basketball journey and blessed...
High school notebook: Norwin wrestling coach leads U16 team to national duals title
Called the “toughest wrestling tournament in the country,” the USA Wrestling National Championships represent a true test of talent for coaches and competitors. To Kyle Martin, the event represents a grandiose stage that matches the competition level. Martin found so much enjoyment and success in last year’s event, he couldn’t...
