Bill Beckner stories, Page 71
Norwin girls soccer driven to return to playoffs
Norwin girls soccer coach Diane Metzger does not like to get too specific with preseason details about her team. That is because the unexpected can show up, well, unexpectedly. Injuries derailed the Lady Knights the last two seasons, leaving a scar in 2022 when the team missed the WPIAL playoffs...
Franklin Regional boys look to reload, climb WPIAL soccer ladder
Lukas Petersen remembers the empty feeling in his body as he watched Montour celebrate a 2-1 upset of his Franklin Regional Panthers in the WPIAL Class 3A first round late last October. He doesn’t want to feel that again. He doesn’t want his players to experience it, either. But nothing...
Latrobe gets all phases clicking in convincing opening-night win over Derry
A few weeks ago, Latrobe Memorial Stadium hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers’ annual “Friday Night Lights” practice. About 14,000 people showed up to catch a glimpse of the team. While the crowd wasn’t quite as large this time, Latrobe fans filled the bleachers and looked on with similar interest as their...
Yough athletic director resigns
Yough is looking for an athletic director after the resignation of Bill Flow. Flow, who was hired last June, is leaving to teach English at Highlands High School in Harrison Township, Allegheny County. A Norwin graduate, Flow oversaw the replacement of Yough’s basketball court and made other updates aimed at...
Westmoreland high school football notebook: Craggette gets comfortable at Southmoreland
Da’sjon Craggette looked comfortable during a few training camp drills, making plays and laughing with his new teammates at Southmoreland. “It’s gone better than I could have imagined,” said Craggette, a senior running back and safety who transferred from Greensburg Central Catholic — by way of Geibel, which does not...
Westmoreland County girls soccer preview: Mt. Pleasant primed for more playoff success
After a WPIAL runner-up season that included a trip to the PIAA Class 2A girls soccer semifinals, Mt. Pleasant is primed for another postseason push. The Vikings, who went 21-3, could have the best lineup their soccer program has seen, and with it, speed, technique and a sense of belonging...
Westmoreland County boys soccer preview: Trevor Kovatch back to lead young Belle Vernon
Fifteen players accounted for points, and 11 scored goals last season for Belle Vernon’s boys soccer team. The balanced production led the Leopards to a section title and a WPIAL Class 3A playoff spot. While they will be young this season, the Leopards still could bounce the ball around and...
Former Jeannette teammates Robert Kennedy, Marcus Barnes suiting up for major college programs
Robert Kennedy and Marcus Barnes were football teammates at Jeannette and won WPIAL and PIAA championships together. They shared the same defensive secondary, ball-hawking with the best in Class A. On offense, Kennedy carried the football and Barnes caught it out wide. Who knew five years later they both would...
Seton Hill promotes assistant Gallagher to head women’s basketball coach after Katarski accepts new role
A promotion, a new role and a change in command. The wheels are in motion with the Seton Hill women’s basketball program. The university announced assistant Maeve Gallagher has been promoted to head coach, while Mark Katarski, who has guided the Griffins for nine seasons and has the program record...
Moe Rosensteel Award watch list for WPIAL’s top girls soccer player announced
The 2023 Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year watch list is here, just a few days before the start of the high school season. This is the fifth year for the award, which is named for the late Katelyn “Moe” Rosensteel and goes to the top girls soccer player in...
Ligonier Valley grad Maddy Grimm helps Texas Smoke win 1st championship
After two years away from high-level softball, Maddy Grimm returned to the game she loves and won a championship. The Ligonier Valley alum helped lead the Texas Smoke to the first championship in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league. The power-hitting shortstop out of Kent State stretched out her career a...
Senior Kadin Keefer flourishes in Southmoreland’s QB-friendly offense
When Tim Bukowski joined the staff as the offensive coordinator at Southmoreland in 2018, he didn’t just put in a new offense. He made it a priority to develop quarterbacks who could run it. Now the second-year head coach of the Scotties, Bukowski appreciates what he sees in the development...
2023 WPIAL girls soccer preview: Rankings, contenders, players to watch
WPIAL girls soccer preview Class 4A Defending champion: North Allegheny Runner-up: Peters Township Team to beat: North Allegheny brings back eight all-section players and should have some offensive pop as the Tigers chase their fourth title in five years. Others to watch: Look for experienced Peters Township to chase down...
Norwin’s Bursick verbally commits to play soccer at Duquesne
Junior Julia Bursick is done playing soccer at Norwin. For now. In a couple of years, she hopes to be playing for Duquesne. In between, she will train and continue to prepare for a post-high school career in soccer and academics. Bursick announced Monday she has verbally committed to play...
After playing QB out of necessity last season, Norwin’s Denny moves to receiver to take advantage of speed
Quarterback was not Luke Denny’s bag. When he played the position last season out of necessity, he did his best to limit mistakes and did what he could to manage the offense and move the sticks. But the role came with a measure of tolerance. “Didn’t like it much,” the...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Penn-Trafford grad Horvat named Student-Athlete of the Year
Recent Washington & Jefferson graduate Tyler Horvat (Penn-Trafford), known for being one of the top utility baseball players in NCAA Division III, was named the Division III Commissioner’s Association Region VII Student-Athlete of the Year. He is now eligible for the national DIIICA Athlete of the Year award, which will...
2023 WPIAL boys soccer preview: Rankings, contenders, players to watch
WPIAL boys soccer preview Class 4A Defending champion: Pine-Richland Runner-up: Seneca Valley Team to beat: For now, it’s the team at the top. But 4A could be wide open. While the offense will need an infusion of new scorers, Pine-Richland returns several starters from a 15-5-1 team that stunned two-time...
Jeannette program beginning to regain footing
Asked if he was satisfied after a three-win season that saw Jeannette finish fourth in the Eastern Conference and make the WPIAL Class A football playoffs, second-year coach Tommy Paulone paused. “Pleased? Disappointed? I’d say I’m in the middle — slightly miserable,” Paulone said. “We gave away two games. I...
New coach to rely on playmakers at Greensburg Central Catholic
As a former defensive coordinator at Sacred Heart, Mercyhurst and Gannon, and a defensive backs and linebackers coach at St. Francis (Pa.) and Marist, it is clear where JT Thompson’s passion lies in football. “I am all about defense,” said Thompson, the first-year coach at Greensburg Central Catholic. “It’s what...
New coaches, who share connections, set to lead prolific Westmoreland County programs
When Mike Brown was coming out of Penn-Trafford, a Division II college program took a particular liking to his skills as a defensive back. The school was Mercyhurst, and Brown went on to play four years in Erie for the Lakers. The man who recruited him was assistant coach JT...
Westmoreland high school notebook: Latrobe girls soccer coaches take on 1st season as husband and wife
Jamie Morrison and Ross Campbell will begin their eighth season together as coaches of the Latrobe girls soccer team. This will be their first season, however, as wife and husband. The couple got married in June, nearly a decade after they met during a pick-up soccer game at Hempfield Park....
With typically strong defense, Franklin Regional girls soccer prepares to contend again
Each game it is the same. Invade the opponents’ space and be disruptive. Contest shots and clear the ball. Make them work until their formation rips just slightly enough to allow for a goal or two — enough offense to put a nice shine on a shutout. It’s Franklin Regional’s...
Norwin notebook: Former Knights baseball standout wins Palomino World Series
Summer baseball is more fun when it comes with some hardware. Just ask Norwin graduate Justin Weaver. While you were on vacation, he was on the fast track to a world series ring. A member of the Youngstown, Ohio, Palomino team, Weaver celebrated a Palomino World Series title with 13...
Expect excitement from loaded Norwin boys soccer team
Scott Schuchert is looking at this boys soccer season with eager eyes. “Exciting times,” the veteran Norwin coach said. The Knights always seem to be in the hunt in Class 4A, and it doesn’t appear this season will be any different. Despite falling to eventual champion Pine-Richland in the WPIAL...
Deep backfield gives Latrobe options in running game
When teams prepared to play Latrobe last season, their focus was on stopping bruising running back Robert Fulton. No. 3 was a big problem. With Fulton gone, though, the Wildcats’ rushing attack will branch out like a spider vein. “That’s the nature of high school sports,” Latrobe coach Ron Prady...
