Bill Beckner stories, Page 111
Latrobe’s Bryce Butler tabbed MEC’s top athlete
Whether he was finishing a fast break with a thunderous slam dunk, putting back a missed shot or moving the ball with precision in the halfcourt for high-scoring West Liberty, Bryce Butler stood out on the hardwood. Opposing teams were watching the sophomore put in work.They saw his end-to-end talent,...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Latrobe’s Blair gets D-I offer
Emma Blair has her first NCAA Division I scholarship offer. The girls basketball standout from Latrobe was offered over the weekend by South Carolina-Upstate in Valley Falls, S.C. The 6-foot-1 throwback forward, who is known for her prowess to produce double-doubles, averaged 13.6 points and 12.5 rebounds and shot 56%...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Penn-Trafford grad Josh Spiegel earns all-conference honors
Josh Spiegel became a fixture in the Penn State baseball lineup this season and put together an all-conference junior year. A Penn-Trafford graduate, Spiegel was named to the All-Big Ten second team. He played in all 55 games for the Nittany Lions (26-29) and started 53 of them as either...
2022 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Penn-Trafford’s Joe Enick
Editor’s note: The Tribune-Review and the TribLive High School Sports Network are profiling each member of the 25-player Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star team. The players will be recognized July 15 during HSSN Media Day at Kennywood Park. Referred to as “the best finisher” Penn-Trafford has had in the John...
Murrysville Star notebook: Palmer Jackson earns All-American honors
Some might say Palmer Jackson’s golf game is a 9 out of 10. No golfer is perfect. The game won’t allow for it. But Jackson had nine top-10 finishes this past college season, which also points to excellence. The junior from Notre Dame is one of the top players in...
Penn-Trafford’s Mia Smith takes 2022 Tribune-Review Westmoreland Softball Player of the Year honors
The evolution of Mia Smith’s high school softball career began in 2019 when she was a freshman. A closer two seasons ago when Penn-Trafford won a PIAA championship, Smith took over the lead role in the circle this season and shined. She led the Warriors (20-4) to a runner-up finish...
Norwin grad Matijevic homers again in Astros’ no-hit win over Yankees
When the baseball finally landed in the second deck high above the field at historic Yankee Stadium, JJ Matijevic had his second big-league hit. Two hits. Two home runs. Matijevic, who started at first base, hit another solo homer as the Houston Astros no-hit the New York Yankees, 3-0, on...
Penn-Trafford’s Conlan Greene commits to Temple
Football prospects are often enthused by college visits and feel an instant connection to certain schools. Conlan Greene had that feeling when he visited Temple over the weekend but it was more than that for the Penn-Trafford rising senior. Having the opportunity to secure a spot on the Owls’ defense...
Franklin Regional grad Michael Krauza joins New York Mets organization
The New York Mets now own the contract of pitcher Michael Krauza, and, if all goes according to his plan, he will be climbing the minor-league ranks. This could be the big break the hard-throwing right-hander has been looking for. Krauza, a Franklin Regional graduate, will leave the Cleburne (Texas)...
Belle Vernon’s Viva Kreis playing high-level international handball with U.S. national team
Viva Kreis has been on a global barnstorming tour training with the U.S. junior and senior handball teams. The rising senior at Belle Vernon is sightseeing and bonding with her teammates, with her mother, Mary, by her side, as she continues to extend her budding playing career. The trip also...
Penn-Trafford grad Cleland made strong impact as freshman for Seton Hill softball
Playing college softball for the first time wasn’t like setting off into the wild for Brooke Cleland. The Penn-Trafford graduate brought her heavy bat and was prepared to make an impact from Day 1. Her vast experience playing youth, high school and travel ball had her ready for anything. She...
Latrobe grad Austin Butler selected to USA Basketball 3×3 team
After displaying a knack for making splash plays in 3-on-3 basketball in March at the 3x3U National Championship during the Final Four, Austin Butler was a favorite to make the USA Basketball 3x3 team. The Latrobe alum’s addition to the team became official Monday as he joined six other former...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Saint Vincent grad Kristin Consuegra joins PAC leadership
Mt. Pleasant native and Saint Vincent graduate Kristin (Hozak) Consuegra has joined the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in a progressive position. Consuegra was named the Assistant Commissioner for Governance and Championships in the conference. The position is funded partially through the NCAA Division III Strategic Alliance Matching Grant and is meant...
Westmoreland H.S. notebook: Penn-Trafford, Greensburg Salem among biggest moves in basketball realignment
Summer is just starting, but the WPIAL has its new basketball sections in place for the next winter season. The biggest movers in Westmoreland County are Penn-Trafford and Greensburg Salem, which are dropping from Class 6A. Penn-Trafford will be in 5A in boys and girls hoops. The Greensburg Salem boys...
Norwin grad JJ Matijevic homers for 1st MLB hit
JJ Matijevic’s first major-league hit was a home run. Because of course it was. The Houston Astros rookie power hitter, called up for the second time this season, launched a solo homer into the Crawford Boxes in left field at Minute Maid Park on Sunday night in Houston for his...
WPIAL recognizes Norwin grad Sydney Willig for courage in cystic fibrosis fight
It takes courage to do what Sydney Willig does every day. To wear a vibrating vest each morning. To use multiple nebulizers before classes. To constantly ingest medication. When you have cystic fibrosis, it takes courage to do what is necessary to stay alive. Willig wears the illness’ symbolic purple...
Norwin notebook: Lacrosse player honored as positive athlete
Norwin senior Nickolas Harris was one of 32 winners at this year’s Western Pennsylvania Positive Athlete Awards presentation, done virtually via social media. Harris won the award in boys lacrosse. Athletes are honored for overcoming obstacles, giving back to their schools and communities or having positive attitudes that better those...
Looking to challenge himself, Franklin Regional grad Kadyn Hannah transfers to Cal (Pa.)
The challenge, not the change of scenery, is what attracted Kadyn Hannah to Cal (Pa.). Ever since he left Franklin Regional, Hannah wanted to play at the highest level of college basketball his talent would allow. Feeling somewhat under recruited, he went to La Roche and became an immediate impact...
Spring-Ford quiets Seneca Valley bats in PIAA Class 6A title game
UNIVERSITY PARK — Jules Scogna said she was having some back issues coming into Friday’s Class 6A state softball final at Penn State. The Spring-Ford senior pitcher showed no ill effects in the circle, and she seemed just fine lifting the trophy. Scogna, a Boston University commit, tossed a two-hit...
Former Hempfield standout excited to join reborn Robert Morris hockey program
The reinstatement of the Robert Morris hockey program meant a lot to alumni and fans of the program. It may have meant more to future Colonials prospects like Dominic Schimizzi. His allegiance to RMU was re-energized when hockey came back to Moon. The men’s and women’s programs were cut last...
No extra time needed: Latrobe soccer standout Bulava commits to Maryland
The final pieces of her college decision came together rather quickly. Maybe quicker than a penalty kick. A Maryland coach talked to Ella Bulava on Wednesday afternoon and, by early evening, she was a Maryland commit. Small talk. Offer. Acceptance. Good morning. Good afternoon. Good night. Bulava, a rising junior...
Norwin alum JJ Matijevic recalled to majors with Houston Astros
Things are looking up again for JJ Matijevic. The power hitter was promoted to the Houston Astros for the second time this season from Triple-A Sugar Land. The Astros’ No. 30-ranked prospect out of Norwin has hit 12 home runs and driven in 35 runs this season. The first baseman...
Norwin grad excited to don orange, green as new Yough athletic director
In his stops along a North Carolina-to-Pennsylvania path through high school sports, Bill Flow has worn a number of hats. He coached boys and girls basketball, football, golf and baseball. His new hat will have a “Y” on it for Yough, where he is set to oversee all sports as...
Armstrong wins rematch with Penn-Trafford to return to state championship game
Just think, these teams will be in the same section next year. After their WPIAL championship thriller, Armstrong and Penn-Trafford met again in the PIAA Class 5A softball semifinals Monday. The state final-four game didn’t quite live up to the late-inning drama of the last meeting — there was no...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Palmer Jackson named to PING All-America team
Some might say Palmer Jackson’s golf game is a 9 out of 10. No golfer is perfect. The game won’t allow for it. But Jackson had nine top-10 finishes this past college season, which also points to excellence. The junior from Notre Dame is one of the top players in...
