Bill Beckner stories, Page 62
Kiski Area grinds out section win over Penn-Trafford
Nail files and sandpaper serve a similar purpose to what Kiski Area’s 3-2 zone can do to teams. And, how the Cavaliers win sometimes. But their latest game took it to another level. Or, maybe down one. “Grind it out,” Cavaliers’ coach Corey Smith said. “That’s what you have to...
Greensburg Central Catholic girls weather storm without senior leader Morgan
When a player the caliber of Mya Morgan goes out with an injury, some teams might go into a five-alarm panic. The sky is falling. The season is over. We can’t win without her. But Greensburg Central Catholic isn’t some teams. Morgan, the team’s second-leading scorer and a Cal (Pa.)...
Westmoreland County girls basketball notebook: Greensburg Salem to honor Rick Klimchock’s milestone
A blend of basketball knowledge and open-mindedness in an always-changing game, along with dependable people around him and sustained longevity, carried Rick Klimchock to a milestone victory. “I’ve been in a constant love affair with hoops,” the Greensburg Salem girls basketball coach said. “It has lasted since 1978. No one...
Latrobe shocks No. 1 Gateway for program’s ‘biggest (win) in years’
Gateway calls its home gymnasium “The Swamp.” Latrobe walked onto the floor Tuesday night and sank the Gators and their No. 1 ranking. The Wildcats used an impressive start and some clutch defense down the stretch to stun the top-rated Gators, 63-60, in the upset of the year in Class...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Former Norwin QB Jack Salopek picks new school
Quarterback Jack Salopek found a new home for his final two years of college football. The Norwin graduate who entered the NCAA transfer portal in November announced he will sign with Elon (N.C.), an FCS program that plays in the Colonial Athletic Association. Salopek (6-foot-3, 186 pounds) said he felt...
With big 4th quarter, Olivia Pepple hits 1,000 points, leads Penn-Trafford past Latrobe
With a steal and a left-handed finish with 1 minute, 30 seconds remaining, Olivia Pepple reached a personal milestone. When the final buzzer sounded, the senior guard from Penn-Trafford was happier to get a team win. Pepple scored her 1,000th career point as the Warriors pulled past visiting Latrobe, 51-40,...
Seton Hill assistant coach Connor Laverty dies at 25
Seton Hill is mourning the loss of men’s basketball coach Connor Laverty. The 25-year-old second-year assistant died Friday after a battle with lymphoma. Griffins head coach Ben Wilkins said Laverty combated the illness through five rounds of chemotherapy, but contracted hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a systematic inflammatory syndrome. The rare immune deficiency,...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: GCC grad Melina Maietta surpasses milestone
With a reputation for scoring points in bunches, big things were expected of Melina Maietta at Pitt-Greensburg when the guard transferred from Coastal Carolina. The Greensburg Central Catholic alum has not disappointed. Maietta joined the UPG women’s basketball 1,000-point club in the team’s 98-53 loss to AMCC leader La Roche....
Westmoreland HS notebook: Ligonier Valley graduate Haden Sierocky returning to gridiron with Washington & Jefferson
The itch to return to the gridiron was too strong for one of the better two-sport athletes to come out of Ligonier Valley in recent years. Haden Sierocky, a 2023 graduate, is shifting gears with not only the college he will attend but also the sport he will play. Initially...
Westmoreland high school athletes of the week: Latrobe’s Lauren Bell and Penn-Trafford’s Tyler Funk
Lauren Bell School: Latrobe Class: Junior Sport: Swimming Claim to fame: Bell won the 50- and 100-yard freestyles and swam a leg for the winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays as Latrobe edged past Derry, 94-90. In a 92-86 victory against Hempfield, she won the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Franklin Regional honors teammate with leukemia
During a brief pregame observance, senior players Cam Rowell and Cooper Rankin held a corner of the No. 44 Franklin Regional basketball jersey Tuesday night at midcourt as public address announcer Dean Berardinelli briefed fans about Caden Brush. A junior basketball player at Franklin Regional, Brush is battling leukemia, and...
Norwin notebook: Girls wrestling wins 1st dual meet; girls basketball faces tough schedule
With an electric atmosphere to usher in a new era, the Norwin girls wrestling team won its inaugural dual match as WPIAL program by toppling visiting Southmoreland, 45-18, on Jan. 3. Addison Elyes (112 pounds), Camden Reese (136), Avalin Barry (142), Jo Dollman (148), and Kavsyn Champion (155) all posted...
Transfer reunites Bilinsky brothers at Pitt-Johnstown
It wasn’t exactly a brotherly shove, but Adam Bilinsky admits having a chance to play basketball with his older sibling again played a key role in his decision on where to transfer. Bilinsky, who decided to exit Mercyhurst after playing in just nine games as a freshman, will join his...
‘R&R’ duo fills highlight reels, leads Franklin Regional to strong start
Franklin Regional caught the attention of local boys basketball fans with its 10-1 start. The Panthers’ run has a lot to do with the play of a formidable tandem made up of seniors Cam Rowell and Cooper Rankin. The “R&R” duo has been fun to watch and helped elevate the...
Gateway boys use defense to get past Franklin Regional in section showdown
This Gateway boys basketball team is inherently defensive and plays a halfcourt style with goals steeped in fundamentals and a touch of grit. The idea is to grind opponents down and make them work, then run lengthy sets and take care of the ball on the other end of the...
Greensburg Central Catholic girls right ship vs. Clairton
Down one of their best players and facing the top scorer in the WPIAL, Greensburg Central Catholic was sure not to ignore the signs when Clairton came to town in a 1 vs. 2 girls basketball matchup. Watch out for tired legs. Trap game ahead. Beware of Wade. Junior point...
Westmoreland County boys basketball notebook: Franklin Regional rises in rankings
Surging Franklin Regional found its way into the TribLive HSSN Class 5A rankings this week. The Panthers (11-1, 3-0), who have won six straight following a two-point loss to Class 6A Butler, took over the No. 4 spot. They are tied for first place in Section 3 with No. 1...
Belle Vernon scoring sensation Zion Moore looking to add more elements to his game
Zion Moore doesn’t consider himself one of the best basketball players in WPIAL Class 4A. “I’m the best player,” Belle Vernon’s leading man said with a stern look on his face that grew into a grin. With his high-tops tied tight, Moore clearly plays with confidence and carries a swagger...
Drake D’Angelo set to take reins of Greensburg Salem athletic programs
A family man with a positive attitude, familiarity of the area and high expectations is primed to oversee athletics at Greensburg Salem. Drake D’Angelo, the current athletic director at Burrell, was hired Wednesday night and will stay closer to home to lead Golden Lions’ sports. He takes over for Dave...
3 Jeannette legends to be inducted into National High School Football Hall of Fame
With 10 WPIAL championships and two PIAA titles, Jeannette is renowned as one of the top football programs in Pennsylvania. But the Jayhawks’ reputation has made its way to the game’s promised land — Canton, Ohio. Three Jeannette legends who made their mark in the program and beyond will be...
Behind ‘defense first and team ball’ mantra, Monessen girls among Class A’s top squads
From Dec. 2-15, Monessen’s girls basketball team scrimmaged each other so much they started to reach low levels of apathy. Three teams canceled games against them. The thumb-twiddling commenced. Stale practices needed creativity. “We were getting bored only having practices,” coach Janine Vertacnik said. “I tried some fun challenge things...
Westmoreland County girls basketball notebook: Greensburg Central Catholic awaits word on injured star Mya Morgan
Greensburg Central Catholic is awaiting word on the playing status of senior leader Mya Morgan. The shooting guard and Cal (Pa.) commit injured her knee during the second quarter of Saturday’s 58-42 nonsection loss at North Catholic. She is expected to miss Wednesday’s game at Oakland Catholic and Thursday’s Section...
Colin Masten breaks out of slump, leads Franklin Regional past Latrobe
Colin Masten said he had been in a mini-slump of late. In basketball terms, that means he wasn’t making shots or producing much on the offensive end. “I didn’t play great,” he said. The Franklin Regional senior swingman, who was the team’s sixth man last year, picked a good time...
Greensburg Salem set to hire Drake D’Angelo as athletic director
Greensburg Salem will vote to hire Drake D’Angelo as its athletic director, according to board agenda for Wednesday night’s meeting. D’Angelo is the current athletic director at Burrell and would take over at Greensburg Salem upon his release from the other Westmoreland County school. Dave Zilli, the retiring principal at...
Battle-tested Norwin girls roll past Hempfield
Norwin has yet to lose to a WPIAL team this girls basketball season. Eight up, eight down. But no matter how much potential the Knights have, this collection of talent is a work in progress. A nonsection schedule that is as thorny as it is taxing has kept them sharp...
