Bill Beckner stories, Page 139
Westmoreland high school football notebook: Norwin, Derry on opposite sides of forfeit/no-contest rule
Call it a WPIAL dichotomy, the concept of forfeits and no-contests in covid-19 times. Two area teams are on separate sides of the issue after they had to cancel games because of covid protocols. Norwin was dealt a loss without playing, and Derry was not penalized for sitting out. Norwin...
Devin Whitlock’s thrilling last-second TD ‘most meaningful run he’s ever made’ for Belle Vernon
It needs a nickname, that dazzling touchdown run by Devin Whitlock. That 40-yard mad dash with 4.5 seconds remaining Friday night that lifted No. 2 Belle Vernon past No. 1 Thomas Jefferson, 28-21, at James Weir Stadium. That viral scoring play lit up social media and sent the Jaguars packing....
Norwin tennis team off to strong start behind ‘seasoned’ lineup
With the largest and most experienced team she has since taking over at Norwin in 2018, girls tennis coach Diane Pesarsick has even larger expectations for the Knights this fall. Norwin, which has 23 girls in its program — 11 varsity, six of whom are seniors — is looking to...
Norwin notebook: Knights girls soccer rebounds after early loss
Norwin girls soccer coach Diane Metzger isn’t panicking. After all, it’s only one game. The first-year coach knew Latrobe was talented and could be the team to beat in Section 3-4A when her Knights visited the Wildcats for the section opener. Latrobe scored two first-half goals and held off Norwin...
Franklin Regional notebook: Panthers golfers advance to semifinals
Three Franklin Regional golfers advanced through the first level of WPIAL boys qualifying on the road to the district championship. Zach Abdallah (71), Nolan Shilling (75) and Jeff Anderchak (76) all achieved the designated target score of 79 in the Section 4-AAA tournament at Murrysville Golf Club to advance to...
Labuda, Reese return to lineup, fuel Mt. Pleasant victory over Southmoreland
Teams that won’t give one another the pleasure of using their real names, “Alverton” met “Norvelt” on Friday night in a throwback game that first put down roots in 1964. The advantage went to Norvelt … ahem … Mt. Pleasant, in the latest chapter of the longtime rivalry. Big-time advantage....
Norwin tops rival Penn-Trafford for 6th straight victory as Yuricha nets pair
Since a loss to Seneca Valley two games into the season, Norwin has been a brick wall. The Knights boys soccer team is keeping the net sealed on the defensive end and winning games with a gritty approach that has allowed offense to come in the flow of games, rather...
Westmoreland County football notebook: Monessen making major strides
There were people who didn’t think Monessen, with its small roster and overall lack of experience, would score 50 points all season, let alone in one game. But the Greyhounds cruised by Bentworth, 50-7, last week for their second straight win. Monessen scored 33 total points in seven games last...
First-year quarterbacks learning the ropes, making plays in Westmoreland County
Playing quarterback at the varsity level always intrigued Anthony Govern, but the senior at Southmoreland is finding out for himself just how the position works, how important it is and how enjoyable it can be — especially when the Scotties are winning. “I love it. This is the most fun...
Westmoreland County girls soccer notes: Southmoreland star sidelined
It is unclear how long Southmoreland standout Olivia Cernuto will be sidelined with a right leg injury. Cernuto was hurt at the start of the second half of last week’s game at Yough and did not return. She received ice treatment on the area of her knee during and after...
Westmoreland County boys soccer notes: Belle Vernon, TJ to square off on pitch, too
Thomas Jefferson at Belle Vernon is the football game with all the sizzle this week in the WPIAL. But the same teams will play in a key boys soccer game Thursday night at Belle Vernon. The game features two of the top teams in Section 3-3A. Heading into Wednesday, Thomas...
Westmoreland County don’t miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 4
Class 6A Hempfield (2-2, 0-1) at 2-Mt. Lebanon (4-0, 1-0) 7 p.m. Friday, Mt. Lebanon Stadium Mt. Lebanon continued its sound defensive play as it held back Canon-McMillan for a 37-7 victory. The Blue Devils have three shutouts — also against Bethel Park and Peters Township — and have allowed...
Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer too much for Jeannette
A confident expression turned to one of wounded surprise as Jeannette watched Greensburg Central Catholic fire goal after goal into the back of the net. After a while, the surprise wore off and reality set in. As injuries mounted and a thin bench emptied to nothing, the Jayhawks realized what...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Western Michigan’s Jack Salopek plays at Pitt
Western Michigan freshman quarterback Jack Salopek (Norwin) saw his first college action, and it came in his return to the Pittsburgh area. In backup duty, Salopek completed 3 of 3 passes for 20 yards as the Broncos defeated Pitt, 44-41. Some forget that Salopek had an offer from Pitt early...
Latrobe girls soccer in position for breakout season
It’s just about fall, so it’s pumpkin spice season. The Latrobe girls soccer team prefers a different flavor: nutmeg. Or, at least they prefer the act by that name used in soccer where a player dribbles and kicks a ball through an opponent’s legs — a gotcha move that leaves...
Hempfield’s Daniel Sierk commits to Bucknell
If you have seen Hempfield play this season, then you’ve watched No. 50 blow up opposing plays for the Spartans. You can’t miss Daniel Sierk. The senior just continuously shows up at defensive end. He has been one of the top pass-rushers in Class 6A. More colleges are showing interest...
Westmoreland campus clippings: FR grad Brooke Horvath fuels fast start for Westminster women’s soccer
Freshman forward Brooke Horvath has played a key role for the Westminster women’s soccer team, which is off to a fast start. The Franklin Regional graduate has pumped in six goals and dealt out four assists for the Titans, who were 5-0-1 heading into the week. Horvath had two-goal games...
Westmoreland County senior spotlight: Southmoreland’s Taylor Klingensmith
Southmoreland has blossomed into one of the more potent offensive girls soccer teams in the WPIAL. The Scotties’ Big 3 of Taylor Klingensmith, Kendall Fabery and Olivia Cernuto have combined for 24 of the team’s 31 goals. Maybe they should have a catchy nickname like, “TKO.” Klingensmith would prefer another...
Westmoreland H.S. notebook: Norwin girls tennis living up to expectations
With the largest and most experienced team she has had since taking over at Norwin in 2018, girls tennis coach Diane Pesarsick has even larger expectations for the Knights this fall. Norwin, which has 23 girls in its program — 11 varsity, six of whom are seniors — is looking...
Season-opening loss sharpens focus for Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer
The first game of the season in any sport is important. But, just the same, it can seem quite meaningless. Even when a No. 1-ranked team gets sideswiped right out of the gates? The Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer team, fresh off back-to-back WPIAL Class A titles and PIAA runner-up...
Trib HSSN soccer rankings for week of Sept. 19, 2021
Girls Class 4A Rank Team Record Last rank 1. North Allegheny (5-0) 2 2. Seneca Valley (4-1-1) 3 3. Peters Township (2-1-1) 1 4. Moon (3-0) 5 5. Butler (5-0) 4 Class 3A 1. Mars (4-0-1) 1 2. Plum (5-0) 2 3. Montour (4-1) 3 4. Hampton (4-2) NR 5....
Westmoreland high school football notebook: Southmoreland opens it up
Southmoreland is developing a reputation for having an exciting offense. The fourth-ranked Scotties were at it again Friday night as they improved to 3-1 with a 33-19 win over South Allegheny in the Class 3A Interstate Conference opener. They are averaging 38.3 points across their three wins, using a spread...
Runners of varying experience levels mix together on Norwin cross country teams
As experienced and trail tested as the girls cross country team is at Norwin, the boys team is just as inexperienced. But this could have the makings of a nice yin and yang situation for coach Brian Fleckenstein and the Knights. Fleckenstein doesn’t just see the boys blending into the...
Norwin notebook: Former Knight leads Pitt’s women’s soccer to record scoring surge
Redshirt junior Emily Harrigan helped the Pitt women’s soccer team to its largest margin of victory in program history. Harrigan, a former Norwin star who has rediscovered her roots in Pittsburgh since transferring from Rutgers, scored two goals — the first two of the game — in a 7-0 victory...
Senior quarterback leads Jeannette to feel-good win over Riverview
Moral victories mean very little to the Jeannette football program. But in this out-of-the-norm season for a program that has fallen on hard times, the little things matter. A first down here. A pass completion there. A touchdown is like finding gold. Things that used to be so natural and...
