Bill Beckner stories, Page 70
With talent, experience, Norwin girls aim to be among WPIAL’s top contenders in Class 6A
With four starters and a number of key reserves back from a WPIAL and PIAA semifinal team, Norwin girls basketball is aging well. Aging like a fine … well, let the coach tell you. “You have different collections every year,” coach Brian Brozeski said. “The feels are always different. It’s...
Despite heavy graduation loss, Norwin boys basketball reloads to compete in Section 2-6A
With only one player back who saw varsity playing time and a roster scrubbed clean by graduation, the Norwin boys are rebuilding but not panicking. “Teams and players are a lot different in February than they are in November,” third-year coach Lance Maha said. “This doesn’t freak me out. “There...
Replacing Tiffany Zelmore won’t be easy, but cupboard’s not bare for Mt. Pleasant girls
It’s not every season a coach has to replace an all-time talent, but Mt. Pleasant girls basketball’s Scott Giacobbi has that challenge in front of him this winter. Tiffany Zelmore, the second-leading scorer in program history, graduated last season after piling up 1,629 points over her four-year career. “You’re not...
With ground broken, new Mt. Pleasant boys coach turns focus to future
What has happened with Annie Malkowiak is a history-making achievement. But for now, she will file it under past history. Malkowiak is ready to live in the present as the groundbreaking new boys basketball coach at Mt. Pleasant. “I started watching film of last year’s team, and I turned it...
Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Linebackers lead Leopards
Matt Humbert describes his inside linebackers as having “nonstop motors.” “Relentless speed,” the coach from Belle Vernon said. “So damn quick.” But that is not the impressive part of the middle two players — and a reserve — who play on the back level of the Leopards’ 4-4 defense. It...
In WPIAL championship rematch, Avonworth poses threat to Belle Vernon repeat bid
Avonworth and Belle Vernon were having spells of déjà vu, even a little total recall, as they prepared to meet for the second year in a row for the WPIAL Class 3A football championship. Many of the same players suited up for the title at Acrisure Stadium a year ago...
Latrobe soccer player Ava Yurko chooses Youngstown State
Add another Division I college soccer commit to the list at Latrobe. On the same day she was named to the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All-State list, junior defender Ava Yurko announced Tuesday a verbal commitment to Youngstown State, bringing the Latrobe girls’ total of D-I commits in the last...
Dozen from WPIAL named to girls’ soccer all-state list
The Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association announced its girls all-state list Tuesday. Twelve from the WPIAL were selected, including three of the four goalkeepers, in seniors Aris Lamanna of Franklin Regional, Serayah Leech of Moon and Kate McEnroe of Mars. The list also included this year’s Moe Rosensteel Award winner, midfielder...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Norwin grad Kurtis Phipps wins at Navy Classic
Bucknell senior wrestler Kurtis Phipps (Norwin) went 4-0 and won an individual title at the Navy Classic. Phipps defeated No. 31 Jake Va Dee of Nebraska in the 133-pound finals. He also had a technical fall and a major decision on the way to the championship. Army: Sophomore 125-pounder Ethan...
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...
