Bill Beckner stories, Page 165
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Football standouts still mulling college offers
While Ethan Carr of Penn-Trafford, James Sanders of Jeannette and Jack Dilts of Kiski Area were the only Division I football signees from Westmoreland County on Wednesday, a number of others from the area could sign in February when the NCAA regular signing period begins. It runs from Feb. 3...
Mars’ Blair Gerlach wins national coach of year award
Most people will be more than happy to throw away calendars from 2020 and hang a new docket on the wall. While the year has been downright revolting to the masses, it has been pretty good to Mars girls soccer coach Blair Gerlach. The leader of the Fightin’ Planets received...
High school basketball teams committed to staying sharp during shutdown
Christian Zilli had his junior baseball season ripped away. The back end of his senior football season also was a casualty of the coronavirus, which dug in its claws and forced the cancellation of two games. But the Hempfield senior is bound and determined to have a basketball season in...
Signing day punctuates season of change for Penn-Trafford, Jeannette stars
One moved from wide receiver to quarterback. The other, from quarterback to receiver. Both made sacrifices to make their teams better. Now a pair of talented athletes from Westmoreland County will look to add to the quality of play at two in-state Division I FCS football programs. Senior Ethan Carr...
Former Southmoreland star Brandon Stone transferring to Robert Morris
In a matter of four days, Brandon Stone set his college basketball career on a new course. On Saturday, he left the La Salle campus. On Monday, he entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. By Tuesday, he had a new suitor: Robert Morris. Yes, it happened that quickly for the former...
Jeannette’s James Sanders commits to St. Francis (Pa.)
James Sanders went with the school that recruited him from the beginning. The Jeannette senior standout wide receiver and defensive back verbally committed to St. Francis (Pa.) on Tuesday, a day before the early signing period begins for NCAA Division I and II programs. He was recruited for defense but...
Hempfield baseball player Brandon Coughlin verbals to Lehigh
Brandon Coughlin was a junior varsity player at Hempfield in 2019, the last time the Spartans played a baseball game. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 season over the covid-19 pandemic, Coughlin has yet to play in a varsity game. But that hasn’t stopped him from earning a Division...
Steelers provide helping hand as Yough renovates weight room
Yough hopes to be flexing its muscles again soon in the WPIAL — with a little lift from the Black and Gold. The school district recently accepted a $15,000 grant from the Pittsburgh Steelers to upgrade its weight room and the project is drawing rave reviews in Herminie. Yough athletes...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Spencer Lee receives award before Iowa football game
Iowa senior wrestler Spencer Lee was honored virtually in April as co-winner of the prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award, which recognizes the nation’s most outstanding amateur athlete. He actually got his hands on the award over the weekend, accepting it in person. Lee, a Franklin Regional alum, was presented...
Westmoreland high school notebook: FR’s DiFalco awarded again
The honors continued to roll in for Franklin Regional junior soccer star Anthony DiFalco, who garnered United Soccer Coaches Region II All-America and USC All-Region East team honors for the second year in a row. DiFalco, the Trib Westmoreland player of the year, propelled the Panthers to a third straight...
Norwin infielder chosen for exclusive showcase
No high school baseball season last spring only served to motivate players like Alex Gabauer, a slick-fielding, power-hitting shortstop at Norwin. The senior has committed to play at Penn, so his college future is secure — as secure as it can be during the covid-19 pandemic. But baseball can lead...
Franklin Regional’s Lindeman chooses Towson
Franklin Regional girls soccer coach Scott Arnold calls Sydney Lindeman a leader by example. The junior midfielder does not have to say much to inspire her teammates. Her skilled game does most of the talking. They often follow the pace she sets. “Syd’s teammates love and respect her,” Arnold said....
Penn-Trafford fits in basketball sweep before sports shutdownVideo
One and done. Before the big pause, Penn-Trafford’s basketball teams opened the season Friday with a doubleheader — the only games the Warriors will play in 2020. The girls took on Sto-Rox and the boys entertained North Allegheny in Harrison City. In between games, a sparse crowd — about 10%...
Franklin Regional grad Spencer Lee to receive Sullivan Award in person Saturday
Iowa senior wrestler Spencer Lee was honored virtually in April as a co-winner of the prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award, which recognizes the nation’s most outstanding amateur athlete. Now he will actually get his hands on the award. Covid-19 is still ravaging the country with spikes in positive cases,...
Some teams getting one last game in before sports shutdown beginsVideo
Basketball teams across the state found themselves with a dilemma Thursday after Gov. Tom Wolf announced the feared shutdown of high school sports, among a throng of other statewide restrictions due to the accelerated spread of covid-19. With the three-week mandate going into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday — a...
State soccer player of year is Mars’ Ellie Coffield; Anthony DiFalco, Sarah Schupansky join her as All-Americans
Because the covid-19 pandemic cut down on postgame ceremonies and awards banquets, Mars senior soccer star Ellie Coffield probably is going to get a lot of trophies, medals and other hardware in the mail. If the pieces all arrive the same day, the postal worker or delivery person might need...
WPIAL standouts named to all-state soccer teams
A number of the WPIAL’s brightest stars were recognized Wednesday morning with the unveiling of the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All-State teams. Thirteen boys and eight girls from District 7 were selected to the statewide lists, which were not broken down by classification. Deer Lakes had two selections on the...
Pine-Richland DE Miguel Jackson commits to Charlotte after losing scholarship at Liberty
Miguel Jackson felt a lot of emotions when he made his college football decision — for the second time. Almost simultaneously, the star lineman and defensive end from Pine-Richland experienced relief, a renewed sense of belonging and peace of mind when he announced he will play at Charlotte of Conference...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Franklin Regional’s Kindelberger honored
Franklin Regional standout hitter Aly Kindelberger was awarded for an outstanding senior season, one that saw her help the Panthers make team history. Kindelberger was named to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class AAA all-state team for the second straight season. A DePaul commit, Kindelberger powered the Panthers to their...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Brennan Marion’s offensive influence grows
Brennan Marion’s GoGo offense has made its way around the country since he put the system in place a few years ago at Howard. Marion, a Greensburg Salem graduate, has seen shades of his offense in plays run by Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma, and even in the NFL by Kliff...
NCAA Division II reducing qualifiers for 2021 postseasons in winter, spring sports
NCAA Division II lost nearly $35 million of its projected allocation revenue from the cancellation of the 2019-20 men’s basketball championships due to the covid-19 pandemic. The NCAA did divvy up $270 million from multiple insurance policies and Division II announced it received $15 million to help mitigate the financial...
Saint Vincent’s Aaron Smetanka named to AFCA 35-under-35 coaching institute
Aaron Smetanka could be on his way to climbing the coaching ranks in college football. For now, the third-year Saint Vincent coach just hopes to see a season in 2021. The coronavirus wiped out the 2020 season in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and left teams anxious and longing for a...
Boys basketball preview: Southmoreland steps up in class with young roster
With a quiet demeanor, the Southmoreland boys basketball team practices with masks on while the coach looks on wearing a face shield. The facial coverings are a sign of the times, but the Scotties are getting used to them. And the shield has not changed the way coach Frank Muccino...
Girls basketball preview: Southmoreland hopes for strong encore to historic season
Reaching the WPIAL finals for the first time and going two rounds deep in the state playoffs made Southmoreland one of the darlings of WPIAL girls basketball last season. Their story caught the eye of starving fans in town, neighboring spectators and even casual observers who appreciate good teams come...
Westmoreland H.S. notebook: Local football players dot all-star teams
The Big 5/6 Conference, which recognizes the accomplishments of teams and athletes in the WPIAL’s largest classifications, announced all-star teams for football. A number of local players made the lists, including in Class 6A where Hempfield senior center Sean Knight and the Norwin trio of senior lineman Anthony Giansante, senior...
