Bill Beckner stories, Page 167
Westmoreland campus clippings: WCCC’s Jumper earns All-America honors
It had been a decade since Westmoreland County Community College had an All-American in cross country, but sophomore Olivia Jumper joined elite company when she earned those accolades at the NJCAA Championships at Iowa Central. Jumper, a Greensburg native, crossed the finish line in 22 minutes, 47.75 seconds to finish...
Westmoreland PIAA soccer playoffs capsules for Nov. 17, 2020
Tuesday’s games Boys Class A Semifinals Greensburg Central Catholic (16-1) vs. Brockway (15-2) 7 p.m., Norwin Knights Stadium, North Huntingdon Coaches: Tyler Solis, GCC; Andy Daugherty, Brockway Winner plays: Winner of Faith Christian (8-2)/Tulpehocken (15-3-1) in PIAA championship, 1:30 p.m. Friday at HersheyPark Stadium Free kicks: GCC is back in...
WPIAL field hockey all-stars announced
The WPIAL announced field hockey all-stars and honorable mentions for the 2020 season, which concluded last week with Pine-Richland (Class AAA), Penn-Trafford (Class AA) and Shady Side Academy (Class A) winning district championships. Pine-Richland and Shady Side Academy play in the PIAA semifinals Tuesday. Here are the selections: Class AAA...
Greensburg CC girls soccer hopes to keep rolling toward state title game
Greensburg Central Catholic is 17-0 and sits a victory away from the girls state soccer championship game in Hershey. But first-year coach Olivia Kruger said her team still might have its best game ahead. Or, at least one of its best games. Kruger looks for improvements each time GCC plays,...
GCC boys soccer barely brushes off Rockwood in PIAA Class A quarterfinalsVideo
As he answered questions in a postgame interview, Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer coach Tyler Solis was innocently interrupted by his pint-sized son, Bastian. “Did we win daddy?” the big-eyed 4-year-old asked. “Yes, we did, buddy,” dad replied. “Where’s the trophy?” Bastian added, before giggling and running off. The trophy...
Westmoreland notebook: Belle Vernon’s Henderson has a sport for all seasons
Grace Henderson is one of those rare, multisport athletes who can impact more than one sport in the same season. She also has been known to affect the outcome of multiple sporting events over a few days time. She might win a cross country meet one day and contribute to...
Gretz guides GCC girls soccer to early lead, into PIAA Class A semifinals
Some day in the near future, Tatum Gretz hopes to be scoring goals in the Big East for Villanova. She has been committed since she was a freshman. Until then, she will continue to fill up the net in big playoff games for Greensburg Central Catholic. The standout junior midfielder...
Norwin Star notebook: Payton Wehner on mend from broken leg
Central Catholic freshman quarterback Payton Wehner was wheeled off the field on a stretcher in the first quarter of the Vikings’ 38-24 victory over North Allegheny in the WPIAL Class 6A football championship. But the North Huntingdon native has begun his recovery. His mother, Joan, a former girls basketball coach...
New coach has Norwin hockey team focusing on defense
Vinnie Scalamogna has been coaching hockey at various levels in Western Pennsylvania since 1980, most recently serving as the head coach at Greensburg Central Catholic. But he will embark on a new challenge this season as he takes over the varsity program at Norwin. His longterm insight could go a...
PIAA soccer playoff preview: Greensburg Central Catholic boys, girls set for quarterfinals
Boys Class A Quarterfinals Greensburg Central Catholic (15-1) vs. Rockwood (18-0) 2 p.m. Saturday, Norwin Knights Stadium, North Huntingdon Coaches: Tyler Solis, GCC; Dan Weaver, Rockwood Winner plays: Winner of Brockway (15-2)/Belleville Mennonite (10-8-1) on Tuesday in semifinals (time, site TBD) Free kicks: GCC is coming off winning its second...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: GCC coach hopes for homecoming
The road to Hershey could lead to a homecoming for Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer coach Tyler Solis. The WPIAL Class A champion Centurions (15-1) open the PIAA playoffs at 2 p.m. Saturday against Rockwood (19-0) at Norwin. If GCC can win two more games, it will play for a...
WPIAL Class 5A football championship breakdown: Pine-Richland vs. Peters Township
Peters Township (8-0) vs. Pine-Richland (8-0) 7 p.m. Saturday, North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium On the air: Audio stream at TribHSSN.triblive.com Winner plays: Governor Mifflin (7-0) in PIAA semifinals Nov. 20-21. WPIAL titles: Peters Township 0; Pine-Richland 4 (2003, ‘14, ‘17, ‘18) Peters Township (8-0) Player to watch: Donovan McMillon Senior,...
Finalists announced for Bill Fralic Memorial Award
Six finalists, one from each classification, have been selected for the second Bill Fralic Memorial Award, which honors the best senior football lineman in the WPIAL. They are: 6A: Dorien Ford, Baldwin 5A: Miguel Jackson, Pine-Richland 4A: Colin Lyons, McKeesport 3A: Eli Podgorski, South Park 2A: Mitch Miles, Laurel A:...
Belle Vernon’s Grace Henderson commits to Akron
Grace Henderson is one of those rare, multi-sport athletes who can impact more than one sport in the same season. She also has been known to affect the outcome of multiple sporting events over a few days’ time. She might win a cross country meet one day and contribute to...
Potent Pine-Richland offense, star-studded Peters Township secondary meet in Class 5A finals
A prolific passing game. A dynamic defensive secondary. Put them together and you have Pine-Richland vs. Peters Township in the WPIAL Class 5A football championship. The teams’ strengths will be tested when they clash at 7 p.m. Saturday at North Allegheny. It’s no secret that the top-seeded Rams (8-0) love...
Norwin’s Lacey Bernick, Katelyn Kauffman among those to sign with Pitt soccer
Lacey Bernick and Katelyn Kauffman were a dynamic one-two punch for the Norwin girls soccer team. Fast on the outside, nimble on possessions and often marked, the forward/midfielders drew college attention early in their careers as they helped the Knights remain a top-end team in WPIAL Class AAAA. The All-WPIAL...
Mars girls soccer team rockets to No. 1 in national rankings
Fresh off its second consecutive WPIAL championship, the Mars girls soccer team blasted off in the national rankings. Mars is the new No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Fall Top 20 rankings. The Fighting Planets (16-0), who haven’t lost in the regular season in two years, moved up a...
GCC girls soccer in great shape heading into state playoffs
When Olivia Kruger took over the girls soccer team at Greensburg Central Catholic, she wanted to “change the shape” of the Lady Centurions’ attack. Stylistically, they went to a 4-5-1 set. “A lot of things were already in place,” Kruger said. “I have been very lucky that way, and we...
After winning WPIAL title, GCC boys soccer turns focus to condensed state tournament
Only district champions make the PIAA soccer playoffs this year, so rematches against other WPIAL teams, practically a staple in the state postseason, is out of the question. That not only makes for a new look to the state tournaments, but it also condenses the brackets to the point where...
Westmoreland Campus Clippings: Hempfield’s Burns solid in opener
Michelle Burns had a double-figure scoring debut for Point Park, which opened the women’s basketball season with a 92-83 loss to Bryant & Stratton-Buffalo. Burns, a senior point guard from Hempfield who was tabbed a preseason all-conference player in the River States Athletic Conference, had 17 points, all in the...
Girls soccer standouts named finalists for Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year Award
Three finalists have been selected by a panel of media members and coaches for the second Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year Award, given to the top girls soccer player in Western Pennsylvania. The finalists are last year’s recipient, Mars senior midfielder Ellie Coffield, North Allegheny senior forward Sarah Schupansky...
Westmoreland notebook: Franklin Regional teams have fall season to remember
It has been quite a fall sports season for Franklin Regional, which has found success while also working together as a district to combat covid-19 challenges. Talk about FR Strong. The boys golf team and girls volleyball teams won their first WPIAL championships, and the boys soccer team was a...
Greensburg Central Catholic repeats, wins 5th WPIAL boys soccer championshipVideo
It wasn’t that Greensburg Central Catholic became complacent after a high-speed start against rival Winchester Thurston. The Centurions sprinted to a three-goal lead, but with 61 minutes of soccer remaining and the Bears more than capable of making that lead disappear, it was time to get serious. “Naturally, when you’re...
Westmoreland football notebook: Jeannette-Clairton meet again for WPIAL Class A title
For the third time in six years, Class A heavyweights Clairton and Jeannette will meet for a WPIAL championship. Clairton wiped out Shenango, 55-16, and Jeannette handled Rochester, 40-13, in Friday night’s semifinals. It will be a rivalry renewed — a rematch many anticipated, including the coaches, after Clairton defeated...
Norwin AD trying to maintain normalcy during covid crisis
Norwin has encountered covid-19 like a lot of other school districts in Westmoreland County. In fact, it was one of the first to announce cases among its student body. But unlike the others, the majority of the school’s athletic programs have marched forward, almost without pause, through the WPIAL fall...
