Bill Beckner stories, Page 78
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...
With new coach in charge, top playmaker graduated, change comes to Greensburg Salem
Change is a good thing. So believes Ty George, the rookie head football coach at Greensburg Salem. “It’s good in all forms of life,” he said. George took over for Dave Keefer, who guided the Golden Lions for the last decade. He was a member of Keefer’s staff for the...
Senior quarterback takes pride in wearing Jeannette uniform
A family vacation to the Outer Banks in North Carolina included some beach football. Because of course it did. Payton Molter was there. “You know it,” the Jeannette senior quarterback said. “I love spending time with my family. There was like 20 of us in a beach house. It was...
Westmoreland County high school notes: Latrobe’s Ella Bulava out with torn ACL
Ella Bulava, a senior soccer standout at Latrobe and a Maryland commit, will miss the high school season after having surgery for a torn ACL. The injury happened about a month ago while she was playing for her Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy club team. It follows another setback: She broke her...
Franklin Regional goalkeeper climbs ranks in Olympic Development program
Aris Lamanna has been on a three-month, practically nonstop speed and strength training mission to be the best goalkeeper in the WPIAL, the state and … the country? The Franklin Regional senior hit a benchmark goal Monday as she was named to the United States Youth Soccer East Region Olympic...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Yough grad Dustin Shoaf among PSAC’s top returning players
Back for his graduate season, Dustin Shoaf is primed to be the focal point of the running game this season at Mercyhurst. The running back from Yough is coming off a career season where he rushed for 635 yards and seven touchdowns for the Lakers, who are trying to flip...
Greensburg Salem’s Julian Stevens mixes personality with athletic ability to lead Golden Lions
A mauler with a mean streak, Julian Stevens has a reputation that precedes him. But there is more to the bruising Greensburg Salem senior tight end and linebacker than meets the eye. Last month, when Golden Lions superfan Jean Rowe died, Stevens led the team into the funeral home and...
Latrobe sees uptick in wins, numbers, expectations
Growth in roster numbers is a good gauge of a football program’s stability. Latrobe looks like it’s on firm ground. With 77 players — up from 62 last year and 44 the previous season — the Wildcats are bursting with interest and improvement. “We had some kids who had played...
Speedy, versatile Samir Crosby puts team first for Greensburg Central Catholic
As he is preparing for a quick photo shoot in the bleachers at Centurions Stadium, Samir Crosby flashes a smile, then shifts to a mean mug, turning to face the camera each time with delight and gravitas. “Want me to flex?” Crosby says, playfully clutching a football. The sophomore from...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Official start of football camp right around corner
After weeks of noncontact workouts and five days of heat acclimatization, WPIAL football teams finally will open training camp Monday. The thought of donning full equipment and going full force against teammates gets players’ interest way up. It’s football season again. “Just the excitement of the team and coaches,” Greensburg...
