Bill Beckner stories, Page 132
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Big-school soccer standouts honored
A number of area soccer players were recognized by the Big 5/6 Conference, which follows the top classifications in WPIAL sports. The website’s all-section teams were announced for boys and girls soccer. Girls’ first-team selections for Section 3-4A include senior Paloma Swankler, junior Reagan Casper and freshman Julia Bursick of...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Hempfield grad Tara Zollinger guides Shippensburg to 5th national title
Tara Zollinger is a national champion — again. The Hempfield alum guided Shippensburg to its fifth national title, the third since she took over the program in 2017, as the Raiders topped West Chester, 3-0, on Sunday in the title match. Shippensburg (20-0) was the No. 1 seed in the...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Derry grad Justin Huss earns All-PAC honors
Justin Huss did some things on the football field at Derry you might call “special.” A tightrope-run down the far sideline for a huge gain. A defense-defying cutback for a touchdown. A breakaway run up the middle for six. His field vision was one of his best attributes and it...
Westmoreland notebook: Greensburg Salem’s McChesney ideal Fralic Award candidate
Greensburg Salem senior Billy McChesney is a standout football player and heavyweight wrestler. So was the great Bill Fralic. Which makes McChesney a perfect fit as a candidate for the 3rd annual Bill Fralic Award, which recognizes the top senior interior lineman in the WPIAL. McChesney is the Class 4A...
Kelsey Salopek of Steel Valley wins Moe Rosensteel Award
Kelsey Salopek led Steel Valley to its first WPIAL girls soccer championship this season. The Ironmen midfielder was one of the league’s top goal scorers. Now, the senior has distinguished herself even more as one of the premier players in District 7 and the PIAA. Salopek on Sunday was named...
Baseball, girls soccer players among Norwin standouts making college commitments
Signing day once again was good to Norwin. Or was it the other way around? Prospective student-athletes for all college sports except football could make their commitments official Nov. 10, and Norwin had 19 signees. Baseball had the most with seven, while girls soccer was next with five. The baseball players...
Norwin Star notebook: Hockey team gets back on track
The Norwin hockey team rebounded nicely from its first loss of the 2021-22 season. After a 5-4 setback against North Hills, the Knights scored a 6-3 win over Westmont Hilltop to move to 4-1 on the season. Joey Vecchio scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period and Jake Meier...
Oliver Daboo nets winner in overtime to give Winchester Thurston 1st PIAA boys soccer title
HERSHEY — A choice more related to superstition than diet, Winchester Thurston junior defender Oliver Daboo stopped eating chocolate a few weeks ago with the playoffs approaching. The fast was worth it as he held a soon-to-be devoured five-pound Hershey’s chocolate bar under his arm Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium. “Since...
Southern Columbia tops Greensburg C.C. in PIAA Class A final for 2nd straight year
HERSHEY — Disarmed early and down two goals before it even took a shot, Greensburg Central Catholic could not recover from a coarse start and lost the state girls soccer championship for the second year in a row to Southern Columbia. GCC (18-3), looking for its third PIAA title, was...
Franklin Regional boys soccer remains among elite with another superb season
It’s the time of year when postseason games and accolades pile up for the Franklin Regional boys soccer program. Another season stretched into mid-November for the program, which learned a new scheme and overcame some adversity to stay among the WPIAL powers. The Panthers reached the WPIAL semifinals before falling...
Greensburg C.C.-Southern Columbia PIAA soccer championship capsule for Nov. 20, 2021
PIAA Class A girls soccer championship Greensburg Central Catholic (18-2) vs. Southern Columbia (18-7) 11 a.m. Saturday, Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey Coaches: Olivia Kruger, GCC; Derek Stine, Southern Columbia Players to watch: Sara Felder, Jr., F, GCC; Loren Gehret, Jr., F, Southern Columbia Road to Hershey: GCC — Defeated Mercer, 3-2;...
Era ending for Ward family dynasty in Greensburg Central Catholic soccer
The Ward family name has long been a part of Greensburg Central Catholic soccer. It holds pride and championship clout. Three sisters and a brother have continued the family legacy up the program ladder — Sarah, Sydney, Natalie and Nate. They know a little about playing for championships, WPIAL and...
All-WPIAL boys soccer teams, players, coaches of year announced
The Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association has rounded up its All-WPIAL lists for the season, just in time for the PIAA finals in Hershey. Here are the teams by classification: Class 4A Sean Ahia, Sr., Fox Chapel Evan Anderson, Sr., North Allegheny Ben Beale, Sr., Allderdice Aidan Dyga, Jr., North...
Baldwin girls soccer coach Chiodo chosen for 30-under-30 program
Christine Chiodo has come a long way from her days as a ball girl for the West Allegheny football team. Chiodo, who just completed her first season as the head girls soccer coach at Baldwin, is part of a national mentoring program for on-the-rise coaches. She was named to United...
Westmoreland County football notebook: Central Catholic QB set for Norwin homecoming
Payton Wehner hoped he could pilot Central Catholic back to the WPIAL finals so the Vikings could chase down a third straight Class 6A championship. But the sophomore quarterback was hoping to play at Heinz Field. “You know, when I heard it wasn’t going to be at Heinz, I was...
6 finalists announced for 3rd Bill Fralic Award
Finalists were announced this week for the third annual Bill Fralic Memorial Award, which recognizes the top senior football lineman in the WPIAL. There are six finalists — one from each classification — and the winner will be announced Dec. 4 at a pancake breakfast at Longue Vue Club in...
GCC soccer coach gives birth, coaches team to PIAA final 11 days later
Olivia Kruger watched the WPIAL Class A girls soccer championship game Nov. 5 at Highmark Stadium from a hospital bed, shortly after delivering her 8-pound, 4-ounce bundle of joy, James Thomas Kruger. The baby was born minutes after kickoff. Just 11 days later, she had a much better view of...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Search begins for next Jeannette football coach
The search has begun for Jeannette’s next football coach. With the resignation of longtime coach Roy Hall official, the district is taking applications through Nov. 19. Superintendent Matt Jones said interviews will begin after that time, but there is no hard deadline to get a coach in place. The district...
Belle Vernon receivers don hard hats for matchup with Thomas Jefferson
Belle Vernon players wear practice jerseys with three words emblazoned on the back of them. The words are big and bold, deliberate and gold — like the turf at James Weir Stadium. “Do Your Job.” There is more to the job of the team’s wide receivers than meets the eye....
GCC girls soccer avenges WPIAL title loss to Steel Valley
It’s back to Hershey for Greensburg Central Catholic. But it didn’t look promising for a while Tuesday night when standout junior Sara Felder left in the first half with a knee injury during a PIAA girls soccer semifinal against Steel Valley. Felder returned after halftime and needed some time to...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Westminster’s Brooke Horvath earns PAC Soccer Newcomer of the Year
Presidents’ Athletic Conference women’s soccer teams, get used to the name. Brooke Horvath didn’t waste any time making an impact at the NCAA Division III level, adding leverage to the lineup at Westminster. The Franklin Regional graduate was lauded for her instantly impressive performance, earning PAC Newcomer of the Year....
Westmoreland campus clippings: Siblings excel for college teams
Sibling rivalries are a thing of the past for a number of Westmoreland area brothers and sisters who are rooting for one another to succeed at the college level. At Grove City this season, the men’s soccer team had the Kimmich brothers, Matt and Luke, from Franklin Regional. Both defenders...
4 PAC football teams earn bowl bids
Four football teams from the Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference will continue their seasons Saturday with bowl games. The Eastern College Athletic Conference announced its eight-game lineup Monday. The schedule is as follows (some times to be announced): • Asa S. Bushnell Bowl Hobart (8-2) at Westminster (8-2), 1 p.m....
PIAA girls soccer preview capsule: Steel Valley vs. Greensburg Central Catholic, Tuesday, Nov. 16
PIAA soccer preview Girls Class A Semifinals Greensburg Central Catholic (17-2) vs. Steel Valley (20-3) 7 p.m. Tuesday, Warrior Stadium, Elizabeth Forward, Elizabeth Road to the semis: GCC — Defeated Mercer, 3-2; and Freedom, 1-0. Steel Valley — Defeated Northern Bedford, 6-1; and West Branch, 5-0. Winner plays: Winner of...
High-scoring Greensburg Central Catholic takes defensive approach in PIAA playoffs
Greensburg Central Catholic went into the WPIAL championship with energy and bravado. The Lady Centurions left Highmark Stadium 10 days ago humbled and heartbroken. Senior Tatum Gretz thinks a good way to erase the bad memories of a 2-1 overtime loss to Steel Valley is to play for a PIAA...
