Bill Beckner stories, Page 6
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Belle Vernon grad Devin Whitlock shines at receiver at IUP
When he played at Belle Vernon, Devin Whitlock was a big-play quarterback who could change the game with his arm, his legs or both. He was the focal point of opposing defenses each week. These days, he is making plays with his arms and hands. A redshirt sophomore at IUP,...
Franklin Regional soccer maintains standard through coaching roller coaster
Coaching turnover, while necessary at times and inevitable at others, can be damaging to an athletic program at any level. Even the good ones. It can cause rifts, distractions and impatience as a new leader fosters change and buys time to implement a system. Franklin Regional, though, hasn’t had issues...
Norwin will be without lineman Lucas Altier for playoffs after blood clot diagnosis
Norwin will go into the WPIAL Class 6A football playoffs without one of its top linemen. The Knights (7-3) are rallying around Lucas Altier as they prepare to face North Allegheny (7-3) on Friday in the semifinals. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound senior tackle will not be able to play. He is...
West Allegheny rallies past Franklin Regional to capture WPIAL boys soccer championship
Sophomore Michael Johnson is a lightweight wrestler at West Allegheny and competes at 106 pounds. He spends the fall season playing midfielder and defender for the soccer team where, oftentimes, he is the smallest player on the field. On Saturday afternoon, the diminutive speedster played a gigantic role as he...
Norwin notebook: 3 soccer players earn all-WPIAL honors
Norwin had three soccer players selected to the 2025 all-WPIAL teams. For the girls, who won a section title and made the WPIAL semifinals for the first time in six years, seniors Nicole Bown and Cameryn Reed made the 4A list. Senior Ryan Schoemer was a pick for boys 4A....
Hopewell leaves Southmoreland frustrated with rout in WPIAL Class 3A 1st round
A hand-drawn sign taped to the bleachers at Russ Grimm Field flapped in the wind below the student section. “Nightmare on Hopewell Street,” it read, playing on a Halloween theme for the playoff opener. The sign was on point. Southmoreland’s latest bid at a postseason victory was another bad dream...
Rosters set for WCCA all-star volleyball
Rosters are finalized for the fourth annual Westmoreland County Coaches Association Girls Volleyball All-Star Match, set for 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at Ligonier Valley. The teams are as follows: West Cierra Alexander, Valley Ashlyn Black, Norwin Paige Chitester, Norwin Cianna Culgan, Penn-Trafford Hailey DeFazio, Yough Gianna Devito, Kiski Area Harper...
WPIAL 3A boys soccer championship preview for Nov. 1, 2025
WPIAL Class 3A boys soccer championship 3-Franklin Regional (18-3) vs. 8-West Allegheny (13-6) Noon Saturday, Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh Coaches: Nick White, Franklin Regional; Scott Zemba, West Allegheny Players to watch: Fabrizzio Costa, Franklin Regional; Aaron Bouch, West Allegheny Road to Highmark: Franklin Regional defeated Montour, 2-1, Chartiers Valley, 2-1 (OT),...
Quaker Valley girls soccer grabs PIAA spot, beats Mt. Pleasant
Quaker Valley was building toward something in the waning minutes of overtime. The players felt it, the coaches could sense it and the fans hidden under umbrellas perked up. Ari Bosh clanged a shot off the crossbar and then sent the rebound just wide off a defender to set up...
Franklin Regional, West Allegheny expect goals won’t come easy in Class 3A soccer final
Franklin Regional and West Allegheny are a combined 29-0 this season when they score two or more goals. No. 3 seed Franklin Regional (18-3) is 17-0, and No. 8 West Allegheny (13-6) is perfect on 12 occasions. Both teams won 1-0 games in the semifinals, so scoring could be at...
Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Scotties staying focused
Southmoreland football coaches repeatedly preach for the team to “go 1-0 every week.” The players hear it multiple times a day, dozens of times per week, hundreds per month. If the Scotties follow orders this week, they’ll make history. Southmoreland (9-1) will try to capture its first playoff victory, which...
Franklin Regional boys soccer teams hopes to ride defense to WPIAL title
WPIAL Class 3A boys soccer championship 3-Franklin Regional (18-3) vs. 8-West Allegheny (13-6) Noon Saturday, Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh … Franklin Regional is a firm believer in a centuries-old sports adage: Defense wins championships. The Panthers’ back line has been one of the WPIAL’s best, and it could be what brings...
Westmoreland County high school soccer notebook: Mt. Pleasant coach honored
Floyd Snyder is a humble coach who often deflects attention to his assistants and players. But Snyder couldn’t hide from an unexpected and distinguished honor. The 18th-year Mt. Pleasant boys soccer coach was named WPIAL Class 2A co-Coach of the Year by the Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association. He was...
Westmoreland County high school soccer playoff preview capsules for Oct. 30, 2025
Girls Class 2A Third-place game Mt. Pleasant (14-5-1) vs. Quaker Valley (14-3-1) 6 p.m. Thursday, Chuck Knox Stadium, Leetsdale Players to watch: Cam Kapr, Mt. Pleasant; Ari Bosh, Quaker Valley What’s at stake: The winner gets third in the WPIAL and advances to the PIAA playoffs, and the loser’s season...
Finalists announced for Moe Rosensteel girls soccer award
Three finalists were announced Wednesday for the sixth Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player award, which highlights the WPIAL’s top girls soccer player. A 31-player watch list released in August was narrowed to three: • Natalia DiSora of Upper St. Clair • Morgan Gesinski of Mt. Pleasant • Emily McKee of...
Burrell girls continue mastery of Mt. Pleasant, advance to WPIAL Class 2A title game
A blinding sun greeted teams and spectators before kickoff Tuesday night at Gateway. It was tough to see the left side of the field until sunset. Mt. Pleasant didn’t see the first goal coming, either. Burrell’s Allie McMahon scored on a cross from Makiah Buchak just 43 seconds into a...
All-WPIAL girls soccer lists announced
The WPIAL girls soccer playoffs are in full swing as tournaments race toward championships later this week. The WPIAL Soccer Coaches Association recognized the league’s top players Tuesday with the unveiling of the All-WPIAL lists. South Fayette had the most selections with six, while Seneca Valley and Peters Township had...
Seneca Valley perfect from penalty spot in Class 4A shootout win over Norwin
Seneca Valley hadn’t attempted a penalty kick in a game all season. The Raiders didn’t miss on five PKs Monday night in a semifinal shootout to return to the WPIAL girls soccer finals. Madeline Marcotte, who hit the crossbar in last year’s WPIAL title match against Peters Township, redeemed herself...
Greensburg Central Catholic grad Rice picked to lead Carlow’s inaugural baseball team
Carlow will have baseball for the first time, with a side of Rice. The university announced it has hired James Rice to lead the program. It will be the first head-coaching job for the Greensburg Central Catholic graduate, who brings five years of coaching experience to the Celtics. Rice, who...
Westmoreland County high school soccer playoff preview capsules for Oct. 28, 2025
WPIAL soccer playoffs Class 3A Semifinals 3-Franklin Regional (17-3) vs. 2-Bethel Park (14-2-3) 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dormont Stadium, Dormont Coaches: Nick White, Franklin Regional; Doug Fink, Bethel Park Winner plays: Winner of 8-West Allegheny (12-6)/5-Thomas Jefferson (17-2-1) in championship (time, date TBD) at Highmark Stadium Players to watch: Aidan Alexander,...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Saint Vincent’s Daniel Maddock makes fast impact
Saint Vincent men’s soccer is on the upswing and a lot of the team’s success has to do with the play of freshman forward Daniel Maddock. Looking polished and prepared for NCAA Division III soccer, Maddock has surged to the team’s points lead. He has nine goals and five assists...
WPSCA announces All-WPIAL players, coaches, players of year for boys soccer
The Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association announced its All-WPIAL lists and players and coaches of the year on the eve of the WPIAL semifinals. All-WPIAL Class 4A Owen Ali, Seneca Valley Samuel Beuse, Pine-Richland Ryan Cashman, Pine-Richland Jake Ceklosky, Canon-McMillan Braden Crowe, Hempfield Jordan Crutchfield, Pine-Richland Rocco DiDomenico, Fox Chapel...
WPIAL adds extra day for soccer finals at Highmark Stadium
Highmark Stadium will be a happening place Saturday as playoff fever rolls into Station Square. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will host a USL first-round game Saturday night at 6:30, a development that has caused the WPIAL to alter its schedule for this weekend’s soccer championship games at the stadium. Instead of...
Franklin Regional shows comeback ability ahead of semifinal matchup
Franklin Regional righted two wrongs in the WPIAL boys soccer quarterfinals. First, the Panthers (17-3) won their first overtime game in three tries this season. Secondly, they overcame a 1-0 deficit after two previous opportunities in that situation resulted in losses. A 2-1, double-overtime thriller against No. 6 Chartiers Valley...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Volleyball all-star game up next on WCCA calendar
The next event on the Westmoreland County Coaches Association calendar is the girls volleyball all-star game. The match will be played Nov. 19 at Ligonier Valley High School. After that, the boys basketball showcase will be Dec. 20 at Jeannette and Greensburg Salem. The WCCA wrestling tournaments will be Jan....
