Bill Beckner stories, Page 61
Riverview’s Lola Abraham wins Moe Rosensteel Award as top WPIAL girls soccer player
One of the most prolific goal scorers in the state, Lola Abraham of Riverview, was named the recipient of the fifth Moe Rosensteel Award, given to the WPIAL’s best girls soccer player. Abraham, a Pitt commit, led the Raiders to their first WPIAL championship appearance and a runner-up finish in...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Greensburg Salem grad up for national college football award
Greensburg Salem alum Brennan Marion, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UNLV, is one of 57 finalists for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the top assistant coach in college football. A journeyman who has found success at most of his coaching stops, including Pitt and Texas, Marion joined the...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Franklin Regional’s Bunker lauded
A college freshman now, Aiden Bunker still is reaping the rewards of a terrific career as a student-athlete at Franklin Regional. The 2023 graduate who currently is a swimmer at Villanova, Bunker was named to the USA Swimming Scholastic All-American list, a notable accomplishment for the former WPIAL standout. The...
Norwin notebook: Senior earns all-star volleyball invitation
Senior outside hitter Jillian Pensenstadler was set to represent Norwin at an all-star volleyball event. The inaugural Westmoreland County Coaches Association girls volleyball match was a rousing success last fall, so it was a no-brainer for organizers to bring the event back. This year’s match was scheduled for Nov. 21...
Hempfield girls basketball wants to push pace this season
Bob Madison has been coaching girls athletics long enough to have reached a universal truth, at least one that rings true in his mind. “Girls work harder than boys,” the first-year Hempfield girls basketball coach said. “They have this innate nature to want to learn and listen. The boys like...
Hempfield boys ready to reap rewards from growing pains
Last season was a series of gradual improvements interrupted by teaching moments for the Hempfield boys basketball team. The Spartans lost their first two section games by a combined 90 points but won two of their final three to settle at 8-14 overall and 3-7 in Section 2-6A. Section coaches...
Local pro Mark Goetz advances to final stage of Korn Ferry Q-school
Mark Goetz secured future starts on the Korn Ferry Tour, but he wants more. The 25-year-old Greensburg native and Hannastown Golf Club member tied for first in the second stage of tour Q-School with a 19-under-par total of 269 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Highland Oaks —...
Belle Vernon football turns attention toward WPIAL repeat
Friday was the first official practice date for WPIAL basketball season, but Quinton Martin and some of his teammates are not ready to take the court yet — if at all. Martin, who currently doesn’t plan to play basketball this year, was busy Friday night rushing for 152 yards and...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Coach returns to Ligonier Valley girls basketball
Ligonier Valley named a new girls basketball coach four days before the official start of practice. The coach not only is an alum but the all-time leading scorer for the program (1,606 points) and a Rams Hall of Famer. Christy (Clark) Hajjar, a 1991 graduate, was hired Monday to replace...
Belle Vernon rushes back to WPIAL final with dominant win over East Allegheny
When it comes time to choose a ball carrier for each running play, Belle Vernon has options. Penn State commit Quinton Martin and speedsters Jake Gedekoh and Kole Doppelheuer give the Leopards a nice interplay of gears. “I can’t say enough about our skills guys,” coach Matt Humbert said. “It’s...
6 WPIAL linemen named finalists for 5th annual Bill Fralic Award
A scratched Atlanta Falcons helmet. A Pitt helmet dotted with reward stickers. A shiny national player of the year trophy. A Penn Hills No. 79 jersey that casts a shadow like the man who wore it. Those items and more will be part of a special exhibit honoring local football...
With loaded roster, long playoff run could await Greensburg Central Catholic girls
When Greensburg Central Catholic’s girls run their continuation sets on the basketball court, the offense is constantly resetting, coach Chris Skatell said. There is passing and cutting, rotating to new spots and a constant refresh to create shots. This season will be one big reset for the Centurions, who could...
With top scorers back, Greensburg Central Catholic boys in position to contend again
With its top two scorers back and four more players who spot-started at times last season joining them, Greensburg Central Catholic is a contender again in WPIAL Class 2A boys basketball. “I like that this team has guys that are ready to step up,” senior guard Tyree Turner said. “A...
PIAA: Central Bucks South won’t receive penalty after wearing wrong jerseys vs. Norwin
The PIAA said there is no penalty for a team that does not bring the proper colored uniform to a playoff event. Philadelphia-area school Central Bucks South and Norwin wore white uniforms in a PIAA Class 4A boys soccer semifinal Tuesday night at Chambersburg, causing a stir among Norwin fans,...
For Norwin boys, wild, dramatic playoff ride came to a halt one stop short
CHAMBERSBURG — Unable to produce the tying goal like they had done so many times before, and unable to push for overtime and penalty kicks to fit their calling card, Norwin fell to Central Bucks South on Tuesday night, 1-0, in the PIAA Class 4A semifinals to bring a historic...
Central Bucks South ends improbably playoff run for Norwin boys soccer team
CHAMBERSBURG — Both soccer teams brought their white uniforms Tuesday night, so Central Bucks South wore fluorescent green mesh pinnies over their jerseys. Norwin coach Scott Schuchert would have given his team the shirt off his back if it meant moving on to the state finals. But it wasn’t meant...
Rosters set for 2023 Western Pa. Soccer Coaches Association boys all-star games
The Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association boys all-star games will be Nov. 25 at Pine-Richland. The first game features Class A vs Class 2A at noon, followed by Class 3A vs. 4A at 2 p.m. Coaches are Nick Malabri of Bentworth (Class A), Marc Bellora of South Park (2A), Matt...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Seton Hill football finishes on winning streak
Seton Hill went out on a winning note. Junior receiver Mark Bails had three touchdown catches and junior quarterback Jake Cruz threw for three scores as the Griffins secured their first winning season since 2008 with a 30-10 victory over Millersville in the regular-season finale. Bails finished with four receptions...
PIHL announces October players of the month
With 10 goals and six assists in four games last month, Norwin’s Alex Thomas surged to the top spot in the PIHL scoring leaders. He’s developed a reputation as one of the most league’s most prolific scorers. Thomas was selected as the PIHL Class 2A Player of the Month, joining...
Westmoreland PIAA boys soccer playoff capsule: Games for Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023
PIAA boys soccer playoffs Class 4A semifinals Norwin (17-5-1) vs. Central Bucks South (18-5-2) 6 p.m. Tuesday, Chambersburg High School, Chambersburg Winner plays: Winner of Council Rock North (19-3-1)/Conestoga (22-0-1) in championship, 7 p.m. Friday at Eagle View Middle School, Mechanicsburg Coaches: Scott Schuchert, Norwin; Kyle Pettican, Central Bucks South...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Franklin Regional grads earn AMCC honors
Penn State Behrend senior defender Justin LeDonne (Franklin Regional) was selected as the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference co-defensive soccer player of the year, sharing the honor with Jack Leahy of Alfred State. LeDonne, a glue player on the Lions’ back line, also earned All-AMCC first team honors as he helped...
PKs are OK for Norwin boys soccer team as it marches on in PIAA tournament
CHAMBERSBURG — These days, when regulation ends and two overtimes conclude with no result, the Norwin boys soccer team doesn’t clock out and go home. No, when it is time for penalty kicks, Norwin calls in the Knight Shift. The team’s penalty-shooting unit is 3-0 this postseason and has the...
Westmoreland high school notes: Area players selected to All-WPIAL volleyball lists
The area was well represented on the All-WPIAL lists for girls volleyball. WPIAL semifinalist Greensburg Central Catholic had two Class A first-team selections: sophomore right-side hitter Ashlyn Black and junior outside hitter Eva Denis, who held her own quite well at 5-foot-4. Senior setter Ella Dindak and senior outside hitter...
Norwin boys get another thrilling penalty-kick win in PIAA quarters
CHAMBERSBURG — As the pink sky faded into darkness and one overtime gave way to another, Norwin’s confidence grew. As time melted off the clock in the second overtime, the Knights began to feel it. Another shootout was imminent. It was their time to shine. Again. “We’ve been to PKs...
Norwin notebook: Irwin resident wins World Series ring
For the second year in a row, a man with ties to North Huntingdon is bringing home a World Series ring. Last year, former Norwin star JJ Matijevic earned a ring with the Houston Astros’ taxi squad. This fall, Jon George is getting one as a scout for the Texas...
