Bill Beckner stories, Page 166
Pine-Richland’s Miguel Jackson named 2020 Bill Fralic Memorial Award winner
Pine-Richland teammates gave Miguel Jackson the nickname, “Smoke,” when he was a sophomore because they often caught him saying, “They don’t want no smoke.” It became his catchphrase, a warning of sorts that meant opponents would do better not to mess with him on the football field. They used to...
Norwin notebook: Recruitment heating back up for Knights lineman
Anthony Giansante isn’t ready to give up on playing Division I college football. In fact, he may be more enthusiastic now than before he started getting scholarship offers. Giansante, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman from Norwin, is back on the recruiting trail, proactively reaching out to schools that had already recruited...
Former WPIAL hoop stars Kalin, Marisa come through in clutch for Duquesne, Penn State
Amanda Kalin and Makenna Marisa were exceptional talents when they played basketball in the WPIAL. They were all-around players who could shoot it, drive it and defend it — Kalin at Pine-Richland and Marisa at Peters Township. But they also had something else in common: They both were clutch. Their...
Norwin girls basketball again set to contend for Section 1 title
Just as Norwin girls basketball was getting started this season, the Knights had to stop. When a team member tested positive for covid-19, the girls had to shut down for a week and could interact only via Zoom meetings. Coach Brian Brozeski did his best to keep the team engaged...
Tall, experienced group returns as Norwin boys seek trip to postseason
Everybody is back. They’re all seniors. And they’ve had more than a full season to get accustomed to their coach’s system. It all adds up to four words. Watch out for Norwin. “We’re leaps ahead of where we were at this time last year,” said second-year coach Buddy Valinsky, whose...
Westmoreland notebook: Norwin’s Giansante back on recruiting trail
Anthony Giansante isn’t ready to give up on playing Division I football. In fact, he might be more enthusiastic now than before he started getting scholarship offers. Giansante, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman from Norwin, is back on the recruiting trail, proactively reaching out to schools that had already recruited him...
Mars’ Blair Gerlach, George Williams of Seneca Valley tabbed state’s top coaches
Blair Gerlach directed the Mars girls soccer team to back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA championships. He also doubled up on one of the state’s top honors. Gerlach was named the Class AAA coach of the year by the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association, becoming the first repeat winner in the classification since...
Trib HSSN WPIAL girls soccer all-stars: Ellie Coffield led Mars to new heights
Player of the year Ellie Coffield Mars, Sr., MF With both arms raised high, Ellie Coffield stretched the PIAA championship trophy toward the sky, her face framed in pure joy on a cold November night in Hershey. The Mars senior standout and her teammates reveled in winning another state title,...
Westmoreland high school notebook: FR golfer Tragesser picks Rhode Island
Chuck Tragesser always knew he wanted to play golf collegiately. But he was unsure of where or what level. He just knew he had the game to compete at a higher level and waited for an opportunity to come along. The Franklin Regional senior had a breakout year, one that...
Norwin grad Jayla Wehner shows drive to succeed at NAIA Marian
Jayla Wehner went from having doubts about a season happening to earning a starting spot on the Marian women’s basketball team. The Norwin graduate and college freshman has become an important backcourt player for Marian, a private school in Indianapolis that fields a prominent NAIA program. With covid-19 lurking at...
Girls basketball preview: Hempfield expects fluid lineup
Over the last two seasons, Tom Brush had a firm rotation for the Hempfield girls basketball team. Unless there was foul trouble or an injury, the lineup didn’t change much. But this season, the Spartans could look different from game to game. “We’ve had a pretty set rotation here,” Brush...
Boys basketball preview: Hempfield ready to pick up pace
Hempfield is in somewhat of a unique situation. While its boys basketball team lost six seniors, it returns two of its top three scorers. Seniors Christian Zilli (12 points per game) and Michael Hosni (10.8 ppg) are back to lead the Spartans (12-11), who finished second in Section 3-6A and...
Franklin Regional’s DiFalco named Tribune-Review Westmoreland Boys Soccer Player of the YearVideo
Player of the Year Anthony DiFalco Jr., F, Franklin Regional Rand Hudson has seen a number of dynamic players over the course of his 28-year coaching career at the college, club and high school levels. He has an eye for talent. But one such player seems to stand out among...
Southmoreland’s Cernuto chosen Tribune-Review Westmoreland Girls Soccer Player of the YearVideo
Player of the Year Olivia Cernuto So., MF, Southmoreland Olivia Cernuto moved to forward this season for the Southmoreland girls soccer team, and the Scotties went forward with her. The Scotties were one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 season as they won their first section title since 2011...
With college choice made, Norwin lefty Jayden Walker itching to pitch
Jayden Walker was finally ready to pitch again last spring, nearly a year after shoulder surgery to fix a damaged labrum. The hard-throwing lefthander was chomping at the bit and pounding his glove in anticipation of taking the mound again. But that was when the covid-19 pandemic had just begun...
Franklin Regional athletes have unprecedented run of success in fall season
Franklin Regional decided the best way to navigate a pandemic during a sports season was to keep playing — and keep winning. The fall sports season, which lived in the shadow of covid-19, turned out to be one for the mantle at Franklin Regional. A number of teams celebrated lengthy...
Young, tall team returns for Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball
Perspective is a trigger word this season around the Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball program. Third-year coach Sam Salih, who works as a behavior specialist, has used Zoom meetings and team gatherings to help guide his players through the country’s turbulent times. With uncertainty surrounding this season, the coach has...
Loss in 1st round of playoffs last season motivates Greensburg C.C. boys
The final score is all but burned into their collective mind. Eden Christian 66, Greensburg Central Catholic 56. And just in case it isn’t, Greensburg Central Catholic boys basketball coach Christian Hyland has a stark reminder on his office wall. “We have the article from that loss framed above my...
Franklin Regional’s Sydney Lindeman commits to Towson soccer
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....
Campus clippings: Belle Vernon graduate makes 1st start for Pitt
Blake Zubovic has watched and learned. He has put in the time while learning the nuances of Division I college football. On Saturday, the Pitt offensive lineman earned his chance to make an impact with the first-teamers. Zubovic (6-foot-4, 320 pounds), a Belle Vernon graduate who redshirted in 2018 and...
Moe Rosensteel award goes to North Allegheny star Sarah SchupanskyVideo
After leading North Allegheny to back-to-back WPIAL championships and a PIAA runner-up finish, senior forward Sarah Schupansky claimed a unique postseason honor Sunday. Schupansky, a Pitt recruit, is the 2020 recipient of the Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year Award, which recognizes the most outstanding girls soccer player in the...
H.S. notebook: Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin receives offer from Pitt
Major Division I college football schools are expected to take interest in Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin over the next few years. Pitt is the first in line. The Panthers offered Martin, a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder who played running back, receiver and defensive back for the Leopards this season. Belle Vernon...
Norwin Star high school notebook: Athletes in wide array of sports sign letters of intent
At the start of the NCAA signing period, Norwin had an abundance of college signees who will further their athletic careers in various sports and at various college levels. Twenty-seven athletes made their commitments official in 12 sports. In soccer, Anna Durmis (William & Mary), Maddy Rose (Duquesne), Kennedy Soliday...
Murrysville Star high school notebook: Franklin Regional baseball standouts pick colleges
National Letter of Intent Day often brings out the best in high school sports programs. That was the case at Franklin Regional last week, when some of the Panthers’ top baseball players made official commitments to college programs with a simple signature. Four senior baseball players inked with college programs,...
Pitt extends offer to Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin
Major Division I college football schools are expected to take interest in Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin over the next few years. Pitt is the first in line. The Panthers offered Martin, a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder who played running back, receiver and defensive back for the Leopards this season. Belle Vernon...
