Bill Beckner stories, Page 166
Girls basketball preview: Hempfield expects fluid lineup
Over the last two seasons, Tom Brush had a firm rotation for the Hempfield girls basketball team. Unless there was foul trouble or an injury, the lineup didn’t change much. But this season, the Spartans could look different from game to game. “We’ve had a pretty set rotation here,” Brush...
Boys basketball preview: Hempfield ready to pick up pace
Hempfield is in somewhat of a unique situation. While its boys basketball team lost six seniors, it returns two of its top three scorers. Seniors Christian Zilli (12 points per game) and Michael Hosni (10.8 ppg) are back to lead the Spartans (12-11), who finished second in Section 3-6A and...
Franklin Regional’s DiFalco named Tribune-Review Westmoreland Boys Soccer Player of the YearVideo
Player of the Year Anthony DiFalco Jr., F, Franklin Regional Rand Hudson has seen a number of dynamic players over the course of his 28-year coaching career at the college, club and high school levels. He has an eye for talent. But one such player seems to stand out among...
Southmoreland’s Cernuto chosen Tribune-Review Westmoreland Girls Soccer Player of the YearVideo
Player of the Year Olivia Cernuto So., MF, Southmoreland Olivia Cernuto moved to forward this season for the Southmoreland girls soccer team, and the Scotties went forward with her. The Scotties were one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 season as they won their first section title since 2011...
With college choice made, Norwin lefty Jayden Walker itching to pitch
Jayden Walker was finally ready to pitch again last spring, nearly a year after shoulder surgery to fix a damaged labrum. The hard-throwing lefthander was chomping at the bit and pounding his glove in anticipation of taking the mound again. But that was when the covid-19 pandemic had just begun...
Franklin Regional athletes have unprecedented run of success in fall season
Franklin Regional decided the best way to navigate a pandemic during a sports season was to keep playing — and keep winning. The fall sports season, which lived in the shadow of covid-19, turned out to be one for the mantle at Franklin Regional. A number of teams celebrated lengthy...
Young, tall team returns for Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball
Perspective is a trigger word this season around the Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball program. Third-year coach Sam Salih, who works as a behavior specialist, has used Zoom meetings and team gatherings to help guide his players through the country’s turbulent times. With uncertainty surrounding this season, the coach has...
Loss in 1st round of playoffs last season motivates Greensburg C.C. boys
The final score is all but burned into their collective mind. Eden Christian 66, Greensburg Central Catholic 56. And just in case it isn’t, Greensburg Central Catholic boys basketball coach Christian Hyland has a stark reminder on his office wall. “We have the article from that loss framed above my...
Franklin Regional’s Sydney Lindeman commits to Towson soccer
Franklin Regional girls soccer coach Scott Arnold calls Sydney Lindeman a leader by example. The junior midfielder does not have to say much to inspire her teammates. Her skilled game does most of the talking. They often follow the pace she sets. “Syd’s teammates love and respect her,” Arnold said....
Campus clippings: Belle Vernon graduate makes 1st start for Pitt
Blake Zubovic has watched and learned. He has put in the time while learning the nuances of Division I college football. On Saturday, the Pitt offensive lineman earned his chance to make an impact with the first-teamers. Zubovic (6-foot-4, 320 pounds), a Belle Vernon graduate who redshirted in 2018 and...
Moe Rosensteel award goes to North Allegheny star Sarah SchupanskyVideo
After leading North Allegheny to back-to-back WPIAL championships and a PIAA runner-up finish, senior forward Sarah Schupansky claimed a unique postseason honor Sunday. Schupansky, a Pitt recruit, is the 2020 recipient of the Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year Award, which recognizes the most outstanding girls soccer player in the...
H.S. notebook: Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin receives offer from Pitt
Major Division I college football schools are expected to take interest in Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin over the next few years. Pitt is the first in line. The Panthers offered Martin, a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder who played running back, receiver and defensive back for the Leopards this season. Belle Vernon...
Norwin Star high school notebook: Athletes in wide array of sports sign letters of intent
At the start of the NCAA signing period, Norwin had an abundance of college signees who will further their athletic careers in various sports and at various college levels. Twenty-seven athletes made their commitments official in 12 sports. In soccer, Anna Durmis (William & Mary), Maddy Rose (Duquesne), Kennedy Soliday...
Murrysville Star high school notebook: Franklin Regional baseball standouts pick colleges
National Letter of Intent Day often brings out the best in high school sports programs. That was the case at Franklin Regional last week, when some of the Panthers’ top baseball players made official commitments to college programs with a simple signature. Four senior baseball players inked with college programs,...
Pitt extends offer to Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin
Major Division I college football schools are expected to take interest in Belle Vernon freshman Quinton Martin over the next few years. Pitt is the first in line. The Panthers offered Martin, a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder who played running back, receiver and defensive back for the Leopards this season. Belle Vernon...
Faith Christian stops state title bid for Greensburg Central Catholic boys
HERSHEY — Seth Skowronek took a vicious soccer-ball-to-the-face hit early in the game, and blood began to run from his nose. He was woozy and shaken. The Greensburg Central Catholic senior defender, though, refused to leave the final soccer game of his career. “I had to push through it,” Skowronek...
Greensburg Central Catholic girls fall short in PIAA Class A championship game
HERSHEY — Southern Columbia is known for being a state football power. The school’s girls soccer team can play physical too. With a hounding defense that limited scoring chances for high-scoring Greensburg Central Catholic, forcing the Centurions to play at an uneasy pace, the Tigers ground out a 2-1 victory...
Greensburg Central Catholic soccer teams set for PIAA finals
PIAA soccer championships Boys Class A Championship Greensburg Central Catholic (17-1) vs. Faith Christian Academy (15-1) 1:30 p.m. Friday, Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey Coaches: Tyler Solis, GCC; Ryan Clymer, Faith Christian State titles: GCC 0 (first appearance); Faith Christian 0 (first appearance) How they got here: GCC — Defeated Rockwood, 3-2,...
Family ties make trip to Hershey a special occasion for Greensburg C.C. soccer teams
Greensburg Central Catholic’s trip to Hershey for the girls and boys PIAA Class A soccer championships will be a family affair. The girls team has two sets of sisters in senior Sam Felder and sophomore Sara Felder, and junior Bethany Winnor and sophomore Ashley Winnor. The Felders have combined for...
Defenders play unsung hero role for high-scoring GCC girls soccer team
Players and coaches agree, the scoring machine that is the Greensburg Central Catholic girls soccer team could not do what it does without its defensive sidecar. Offense might be its defining characteristic with so many weapons and scoring threats. Coach Olivia Kruger is glad to see that her team has...
Defense perks up for Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer in state playoffs
Max House hopes this season is good to the last drop. The Greensburg Central Catholic junior goalkeeper, and the defense that plays in front of him, are ready for one last challenge in a season of many, as District 1 champion Faith Christian (15-1) awaits the Centurions (17-1) in the...
Carlo Denis, Greensburg Central Catholic boys leap semifinal hurdle into state title game
Ryan Reitler’s curling corner kick made its way to Greensburg Central Catholic teammate Mason Fabean, who put a firm header on frame. But the ball was deflected by Brockway keeper Lewis Painter, who had played a spirited game to that point. The problem for Brockway was Carlo Denis was waiting....
GCC girls soccer advances to state finals with another avalanche of goals
Still undefeated. Still brimming with talent. Still focused on bringing home a state title. Greensburg Central Catholic continued its offensive charge, jumping on Cambridge Springs early and pushing past the District 10 champions, 7-0, on Tuesday night in North Huntingdon to claim a PIAA Class A girls soccer semifinal victory...
All-WPIAL boys soccer teams released
All four of the All-WPIAL boys soccer teams are out, and they include a number of players who are still competing in the PIAA playoffs. Seneca Valley, Mars, Deer Lakes and Greensburg Central Catholic, all in action Tuesday night in the state semifinals, had multiple selections. George Williams of Seneca...
Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer chasing elusive PIAA title
Greensburg Central Catholic has a perennially strong boys soccer program. Tell you something you don’t know, right? Well, despite the Centurions competing for WPIAL titles every year, the team never has advanced to the PIAA finals, which means it has not had the privilege of raising a trophy in Hershey....
