Bill Beckner stories, Page 121
Norwin notebook: Wrestler brings home junior high state title
The Norwin wrestling program showcased some potential future standouts at the Pennsylvania Junior High Wrestling State Championships earlier this month at the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown. Landon Sidun brought home gold with his victory in the 107-pound weight class. He defeated Melvin Miller in the finals, 10-4, to...
1st-year coaches take lessons from Franklin Regional basketball season
While their teams fell short of the WPIAL postseason, first-year basketball coaches Jesse Reed and Bernie Pucka saw new systems begin to take root and programs take on new personalities this winter. The boys finished 7-14 overall and 5-7 in section and lost out on a tiebreaker to make the...
Miles Higgins of Ligonier Valley commits to UNC-Wilmington
Ligonier Valley senior Miles Higgins will aim for a WPIAL repeat this spring, but he’ll do so with his college plans firmly in place. Higgins committed to continue his track and field career at North Carolina Wilmington, a Division I program. The 6-foot-3 Higgins won the WPIAL Class 2A javelin...
Gardinier’s career game helps Quaker Valley get by Belle Vernon, into PIAA quarterfinals
Belle Vernon didn’t know Jack. “That No. 5, where the (heck) did he come from?” Belle Vernon coach Joe Salvino said after the game. The Leopards won’t soon forget No. 5 after what he did to them in the state playoffs. Quaker Valley is going to remember his performance for...
Westmoreland PIAA basketball playoff capsules for March 12, 2022
Boys Class 2A Second round 7-3 Greensburg Central Catholic (19-4) vs. 9-1 Ridgway (21-5) 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Clarion University Coaches: Christian Hyland, GCC; Tony Allegretto, Ridgway Winner plays: Winner of OLSH (24-0)/Carlynton (21-3) on Wednesday in quarterfinals Layup lines: GCC returned to the PIAA playoffs after four years and...
Greensburg Central Catholic boys vow to ‘Compete!’ in PIAA 2nd-round matchup with Ridgway
Christian Hyland had three things written on the locker room dry-erase board Wednesday night at Conemaugh Township. Three things he figured a state playoff win might boil down to. The Greensburg Central Catholic boys basketball coach scribbled down: “Run; Tall on D; Compete!” Item No. 3 was in caps and...
Southmoreland girls seeking 1st trip to PIAA quarterfinals
For the better part of three seasons, the Southmoreland girls rarely have been viewed as an underdog. But come Saturday, the Scotties (19-4) will face the top dog in WPIAL Class 4A in the second round of the PIAA playoffs. Blackhawk (25-0) awaits them for a 3:30 p.m. tip at...
PIHL announces 2022 all-star rosters
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League announced rosters for its annual all-star games. The games will be April 3 at Alpha Ice Complex. Division II will start the day off at noon, followed by Class A at 2 p.m., 2A at 4 and 3A at 6. Rosters are as follows: Division...
Bukowski hired as Southmoreland football coach, steps in for late friend Frederick
Tim Bukowski had planned to be Ron Frederick’s right-hand man on the Southmoreland football coaching staff. But when tragedy struck, and Frederick died of heart attack the day after learning he would be the next head coach of the Scotties, Bukowski felt he needed to go beyond the call of...
Westmoreland PIAA playoff capsule: Belle Vernon vs. Quaker Valley, Friday, March 11, 2022
Friday’s game Boys Class 4A Second round 7-4 Belle Vernon (20-4) vs. 7-1 Quaker Valley (24-0) 6 p.m. at North Allegheny Winner plays: Winner of Fairview (24-2)/Lincoln Park (18-7) Tuesday in quarterfinals Layup lines: Belle Vernon advanced to the second round for the second time in three years with a...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Belle Vernon’s Martin gets 5-star rating
Belle Vernon sophomore Quinton Martin is now a five-star recruit, at least according to one reputable recruiting website. 247Sports.com has upgraded the Leopards football standout to the highest rating a prospect can receive. Being recruited as an “athlete” by many schools who are not sure if he will fit in...
Belle Vernon to face monumental challenge in Quaker Valley in PIAA 2nd round
Belle Vernon knows it could be in for its toughest challenge of the season. It would be that way even if the Leopards had Devin Whitlock in the lineup. But with their best player out again, it is probably going to take another all-hands-on-deck effort like the one the Leopards...
WCCC to join NJCAA Division II, offer scholarships
The incentive to play sports at Westmoreland County Community College in the past was minimal. Play on a team for a year or two and maybe earn credits for a future transfer to a four-year college. But things are changing in Youngwood. WCCC announced it will be joining National Junior...
Greensburg Central Catholic boys advance on Turner’s buzzer-beating layup
DAVIDSVILLE — Greensburg Central Catholic was hooting on the way to hollering with a 19-point lead early in the fourth quarter. This first state playoff game — a new experience for all of the players and their coach — was going to be easy. Or so they thought. District 5...
Westmoreland PIHL playoff capsule: Westmont Hilltop vs. Norwin, Thursday, March 10, 2022
Class A Quarterfinals 5-Westmont Hilltop (13-7) vs.4-Norwin (14-4) 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Palmer Imaging Arena, Delmont Winner plays: Winner of 8-North Hills/1-Fox Chapel in semifinals, 6:45 p.m. March 16 at Robert Morris University Island Sports Center, Moon Ice chips: Westmont Hilltop turned around a five-game losing streak before the new...
Nathan Smith to captain 2025 Walker Cup team
Decorated district amateur golfer Nathan Smith was named captain of the United States Walker Cup team for 2025, the USGA announced Wednesday. Smith, 43, who is from Brookville and lives in Pittsburgh, will guide the American team against Great Britain and Ireland when the match, played in odd-numbered years, is...
Norwin carries momentum into Penguins Cup playoffs
The word “monumental” was used to describe this hockey win. Norwin trailed undefeated Fox Chapel, 5-3, with three minutes to play — the Knights were down most of the night — but found a spark as the clock dripped away Feb. 24 at Alpha Ice Complex. A pair of short-handed...
Short-handed Belle Vernon advances, gets coach Salvino his 700th career win
After doing postgame interviews, Joe Salvino was sprayed with water as soon as he opened the door to the Belle Vernon locker room. His players surprised him with an onslaught of hydration. Salvino barely got wet, though. The veteran coach has been around plenty of celebrations over the years and...
Joe Lewandoswki steps down as hoops coach at Point Park
After four years on the sideline at Point Park, Joe Lewandowski is signing off as men’s basketball coach. Initially brought aboard in an interim role, Lewandowski stayed around to lead the Pioneers on a part-time role but put in full-time hours. He also works as a ninth grade English teacher...
Westmoreland PIAA basketball playoff capsules: Games for Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Boys Class 2A First round Greensburg Central Catholic (18-4) at Conemaugh Township (21-3) 7 p.m. Wednesday District seeds: Greensburg Central Catholic 7-3; Conemaugh Township 5-1 Winner plays: Winner of Ridgway (20-5)/Cambridge Springs (13-12) Saturday in second round Layup lines: Greensburg Central Catholic picked up the No. 3 seed in the...
Saint Vincent weightlifter Amanda Serapiglia wins bronze at national event
She majors in biochemistry, but Saint Vincent’s Amanda Serapiglia also experiments in another discipline. The junior from Trafford is bringing home a bronze medal after competing in the Arnold Sports Festival’s USA Weightlifting National University Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Serepiglia, a 20-year-old cross-fitter, took third in her weight division while...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Grove City’s Podkul, Kallock earn all-conference honors
Allison Podkul and Megan Kallock used to play for neighboring high schools. But now they are college teammates and starters on the Grove City women’s basketball team. And, they’re both all-conference players. Podkul, a senior forward from Hempfield, and Kallock, a junior out of Greensburg Salem, picked up All-Presidents’ Athletic...
Westmoreland PIAA basketball playoff preview: Games of Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Tuesday’s game Boys Class 4A First round 7-4 Belle Vernon (19-4) at 8-1 Obama Academy (12-8) 7 p.m. Winner plays: Winner of Hickory (16-8)/Quaker Valley (23-0) on Friday in second round Layup lines: Belle Vernon returns to the court after a 64-53 loss to Montour in the WPIAL semifinals. Montour...
PIHL Penguins Cup playoff previews: Games of Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Tuesday’s games Class 2A Quarterfinals 5-Meadville (12-7) vs. 4-Penn-Trafford (15-4) 8:30 p.m. at Palmer Imaging, Delmont Winner plays: Winner of 8-Hempfield/1-Thomas Jefferson in semifinals, 7 p.m. March 15 at Robert Morris University Island Sports Center, Neville Township Ice chips: Meadville finished third in the West Division behind Thomas Jefferson and...
Known for highlight catches, former Seton Hill standout Derek Orndorff is showing HR power at Liberty
Derek Orndorff has become known for his highlight catches in center field. The grad student baseball player at Liberty has made ESPN SportsCenter’s Top Plays three times in less than a year. He even grabbed the show’s No. 1 highlight on Feb. 19 with a diving snag on the warning...
