Bill Beckner stories, Page 18
Latrobe’s Chris Fite part of 1st University Athletic Association Hall of Fame class
Latrobe alum Chris Fite played professional basketball for more than a decade in Europe. Before that, he was a dominant post player at Rochester and won an NCAA Division III championship in 1990. His college exploits are getting recognized over three decades later. Fite, the men’s basketball coach at Shippensburg,...
Hempfield softball player Claire Mitchell flips college commitment
Hempfield rising senior softball player Claire Mitchell has flipped her college commitment following a coaching change. Mitchell, a standout outfielder, announced she is no longer committed to Maryland Baltimore County and instead will play at Marist of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. She decided to leave UMBC after the resignation...
Greensburg C.C. seeking new basketball coach after Christian Hyland resigns
Christian Hyland is stepping down as boys basketball coach at Greensburg Central Catholic after six successful seasons. Hyland, a former GCC point guard who took the job at age 23 after three years as an assistant to Greg Bisignani, said his decision was multifaceted but did not want to get...
As game grows on him, Latrobe senior becomes top lineman
Football wasn’t for Lucas Kolenc in the beginning. It was hard. A chore. About as fun as roofing or pouring concrete in extreme heat. He tried the game as a middle schooler and, by all accounts and with no sugar coating, he hated it. “I didn’t feel like I belonged,”...
Coaching change, player movement do not deter Southmoreland from playoff goal
Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Aug. 22. Due to production schedule conflicts, the Elizabeth Forward preview will be published later this month. There is a new car smell to the Southmoreland football program....
Former Clairton star Kam Gissendanner takes over Saint Vincent women’s basketball program
Two years? Three years? No, new Saint Vincent women’s basketball coach Kam Gissendanner doesn’t want a grace period for the Bearcats. She wants to win immediately. “We’re going to hit the ground running, quickly,” Gissendanner said Wednesday from Carey Center on SVC’s campus. “Like, we want it right now.” SVC...
After breakout season, Jeannette receiver Jayce Powell ready for encore
Jayce Powell has been stealing scenes in Jeannette football games since he broke into the starting lineup as a freshman. Deep routes, posts, seam shots, catch-and-runs. He’s done it all. Last year, he broke through. He grabbed 57 receptions for 1,023 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging a brow-raising 17.9 yards...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Latrobe football team has ‘big’ surprise for opponents
There’s been a big addition to the Latrobe football team. Emphasis on “big.” Rob Young is a sight to see. The senior is every bit of 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, a man-among-boys newcomer who could be a gamechanger for the Wildcats. So how did a former City League kid end...
After breakout season, Hempfield’s Jack Kopas chasing school receiving record
Jack Kopas was elected a team captain this year at Hempfield, a reflection of his breakout junior season and, perhaps more over, his noticeable growth as a player and teammate. “There’s no way the coaches would have seen me as a (future) captain when I was a sophomore,” the senior...
Westmoreland County’s newest football coaches tackle 1st day of official workouts
Dustin Shoaf made sure his team didn’t leave hungry on the final day of football heat acclimatization workouts. The new Southmoreland football coach cut the last practice short Friday and surprised his players with a post-practice meal of brisket and macaroni and cheese for what he called a “well done”...
Girls soccer stars grace Moe Rosensteel award watch list
The watch list is out for the 2025 Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player award in WPIAL girls soccer. Finalists — traditionally three, but four last year — will be named during the WPIAL playoffs, and the winner will be announced after the PIAA championships. Molly Kubistek of Peters Township, a...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Latrobe grad Sofia DeCerb earns preseason honor
James Madison redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Sofia DeCerb (Latrobe) was named the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. DeCerb started 21 games last season and made the Sun Belt all-tournament team. She produced a conference-best seven shutouts for the conference champion Dukes. She finished 12-4-4 in 21 starts with...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Southmoreland getting new turf in time for fall sports
Southmoreland plans to have new turf installed and ready for a girls soccer game Aug. 27 and the home football opener two nights later. Athletic director Brian Pritts said the old turf will be torn out and replaced at Russ Grimm Field beginning Saturday. The project was supposed to start...
‘Play like an animal every play’: Bobby Smithnosky vies for QB position at Greensburg C.C.
Becoming the starting quarterback at Greensburg Central Catholic motivates sophomore Bobby Smithnosky. Especially with last year’s starter, all-everything senior Samir Crosby, also in the competition. There has been a buzz around GCC that Crosby is going to move to wide receiver, the position he is likely to play in college...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Yough baseball coach Palm steps away
Calling it more of a retirement than a resignation, Dan Palm is leaving the Yough baseball program. He was with the Cougars for 10 years, including the last three as head coach. Palm was Craig Spisak’s assistant for seven seasons and took over when Spisak left to coach at Norwin....
Norwin coach spends summer racking up air miles, helping wrestlers to new heights
When he finally walked in the door to his house in late July, Kyle Martin realized he’d only been home for 10 days since the end of May. Norwin’s wrestling coach took a rock band-like road trip to coach and train youth wrestlers. It is what he does. What he...
Love of the game helps Franklin Regional volleyball standout make instant impact
He gets asked the same question all the time. “Do you play basketball?” But Jason Buczynski, at a towering 6-foot-7, lets down inquisitors gently. Not anymore. The rising junior at Franklin Regional played from age 6-13 but set aside the sport for another with nets. “I did not have passion...
Self-described ‘Yough guy’ takes over school’s boys basketball program
As Yough football’s defensive coordinator, Devin Owens knows his way around Cougar Mountain. And while he graduated from Carrick and lives in Donora, he considers himself a “Yough guy.” “There are great kids and really good people here,” Owens said. “(Football) coach Benny (Hoffer) welcomed me with open arms. They...
Mt. Pleasant soccer star changes college plans, picks Robert Morris
Her first shot at the recruiting game hit the post. The second one, however, she slotted home. Mt. Pleasant rising senior soccer standout Morgan Gesinski announced a verbal commitment to Robert Morris on Thursday, about six months after she decommitted from Mercyhurst because of a coaching change. Gesinski, an all-state...
Norwin punter snags 1st Division I offer
Norwin punter Evan Pfeifer has his first NCAA Division I football opportunity. And he didn’t exactly see it coming. Air Force, an FBS program, extended an offer to the strong-legged senior, who is primed to pin opponents deep this season. Air Force does not offer athletic scholarships, so Pfeifer would...
Despite personnel changes, Latrobe holds bar high
Latrobe football fans know the narrative by now. Three consecutive WPIAL playoff appearances have turned around a once downtrodden program and created a fresh wave of interest. The Wildcats are no longer at the back of the line. Now new coach Tom McIntyre wants to make it four in a...
Hempfield, Jeannette, Penn-Trafford honoring late coach T.J Detruf with jersey number, fundraisers, decals
The number 18 — and the man who wore it — will hold significant meaning for three local football programs who are carrying on the memory of T.J. Detruf and providing support for his family. Hempfield senior quarterback Dom Detruf will switch to jersey No. 18 to honor his late...
WPIAL girls golf preview: Defending champs Peters Township, Shady Side Academy still brimming with talent
The WPIAL golf season begins Thursday. Here is a breakdown of the top teams and individuals to watch this fall. Class 3A Team 2024 WPIAL champion: Peters Township (317) 2024 PIAA champion: Peters Township (227) Favorite: North Allegheny will chase its 11th WPIAL title, first since 2018, with its full...
WPIAL boys golf preview: North Allegheny, North Catholic set to defend titles
WPIAL boys golf season begins Thursday. Here is a breakdown of the top teams and individuals to watch this fall. Class 3A Team 2024 WPIAL champion: North Allegheny (386) 2024 PIAA champion: North Allegheny (286) Favorite: North Allegheny, which won its first WPIAL title since 1971 and doubled down with...
Healthier Norwin boasts size, depth, confidence
To appreciate the level of excitement at Norwin heading into a new season, one must first understand what the team endured last year. Injuries gnawed the Knights to the bone. It was painful and grueling. “We only had one game where everybody was healthy,” third-year coach Mike Brown said. “And...
