Bill Beckner stories, Page 129

It’s picture day at Latrobe. Someone says they should snap a photo of the “twin towers.” The photographer aims the lens upward to capture the Wildcats’ dynamic duo. “It’s pretty cool they call us that,” said Wildcats junior forward Anna Rafferty, one-half of the long post pair that also consists...

Penn-Trafford will try to do something it hasn’t done in six years — sweep Norwin — when the teams play for the second time this season Thursday night in North Huntingdon. The rivals reunited in section play after two years apart when Penn-Trafford played up in Class 6A. Penn-Trafford (9-2,...

Every time Penn-Trafford picked at Hempfield’s double-digit lead and began to close the gap, the Spartans had an answer. When asked about his team’s ability to fend off the visiting Warriors, senior guard Christian Zilli had an answer. “We talked in the locker room, and we said, ‘If we get...

One game can carry a lot of clout in the covid-19 era. Just ask Shemar Bennett. The senior forward from Saint Vincent was named to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week, an honor roll released weekly during the season that recognizes strong performances at each position. Saint Vincent has played...

Latrobe girls basketball gives out “paws” to its players for big performances, a custom akin to helmet stickers in football. At the end of the season, the player with the most paws makes the Wildcats’ “Paw of Fame.” It’s not Canton, but freshman Elle Snyder could be on her way...

Seton Hill will take the lacrosse field this season with five All-Americans in the lineup. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association/Warrior/New Balance Division II Preseason All-American team features a handful of honorable mention selections from Seton Hills. They are grad student Logan Maloni at attack, senior Zack Estabrooks at midfield,...

While in the process of deciding whether to apply for the football coach opening at Greensburg Central Catholic, Marko Thomas sat down to watch some film. Lots of film. “I watched every one of (GCC’s) games from last year on YouTube and started researching everything I could,” said Thomas, who...

Bridget Guy works as an assistant track and field coach at Virginia, her alma mater where she literally soared to new heights as an All-American pole vaulter. Don’t let her role fool you. She is far from finished when it comes to competing. In fact, she might just be getting...

For two of Westmoreland County’s most prominent basketball families, the game goes on. Somehow, it goes on. Even in a global pandemic, when hundreds of college programs are shut down and the fortunate programs that are playing are not allowing fans, it’s still hoop season for the Butlers and Gribbles....

They were called Team Bounce, and that’s just what they did to teams that took them lightly — bounced ‘em straight out of the gym. A one-hit wonder that swept through the AAU basketball circuit in 2014, locally operated Bounce had a plethora of talent and found cohesion over a...

The Centurions became the Contrarians when Jeannette went ahead by 12 points late in the third quarter Friday night. This game was far from over. “We said to ourselves, if we play hard, we can come back,” Greensburg Central Catholic senior guard Christian McGowan said. “We didn’t want to to...

Adrian Batts wonders what his Jeannette boys basketball team could look like in a couple of weeks. He tries not to get too used to what it has looked like in recent games — particularly his thin bench. Even still, he bristles when he thinks what the Class 2A No....

Franklin Regional had just ripped off three straight Section 3-5A boys basketball wins — a thrilling, double-overtime victory at McKeesport, a tough-fought home win against Gateway and a blowout over Kiski Area, also at home. The Panthers rose to first place and had begun to build serious momentum. Then it...

Marko Thomas does not think he has a coaching identity yet. No schematic traits or positions that have given him a reputation. With just four years of head coaching experience, he thinks that might be an organic thing that happens as his career moves forward. It could be a sidenote...

Bailey Kuhns and Christian McGowan did not experience the WPIAL basketball playoffs last season because of the timing of their transfers to Greensburg Central Catholic. They were ruled ineligible for the postseason because they changed schools after the start of 10th grade. Kuhns left Southmoreland about midseason, and McGowan came...

Finally, the day of promise arrived for Anthony Giansante. Fading in his rear-view mirror was what could have been. But resting squarely in front of him, in crystal-clear view, was what will be for the burly senior lineman from Norwin. National signing day allowed Giansante to finally make his dream...

Norwin plans to be in the thick of the WPIAL Class 6A chase when the playoffs begin later this month. Based on program tradition, it would be unusual if the Lady Knights were not. But coach Brian Brozeski thinks some fine-tuning needs done to get his girls ready for March...

Penn-Trafford sent a message to visiting Greensburg Salem early in Tuesday night’s boys basketball game. The message: If you’re going to cross midcourt, be prepared to feel some heat. The Warriors trapped constantly and forced Greensburg Salem into mistakes in the open court, creating turnovers and building a commanding lead...

When Carlow says, “jump,” Olivia Miller asks, “how high?” The senior, who competes in a multiple events for the Celtics track and field team, garnered River States Athletic Conference Field Athlete of the Week honors after a strong start to the indoor season. A Ligonier Valley graduate, Miller has competed...

Penn-Trafford’s Cade Yacamelli does not play basketball at his school, yet he has a photo of himself dunking one handed on an outdoor rim as his Twitter background. It’s that kind of athleticism college football programs are starting to notice in Yacamelli. The junior running back and defensive back added...

That Latrobe has twin towers in Anna Rafferty and Emma Blair is not a secret anymore. The secret to stopping them, that’s another story. Blair and Rafferty, who both average a double-double, piloted an impressive scoring run as first-place Latrobe pitched a shutout in the second quarter and cruised to...

Not that it comes as much of a surprise, but Spencer Lee is holding down his No. 1 national ranking at Iowa. The senior 125-pound wrestler from Franklin Regional recorded another pin for the top-ranked Hawkeyes flattened No. 9 Illinois, 36-6. The victory improved his winning streak to 26 matches,...

Pitt fan Matt Metrosky says he has the “traditional stuff” around the house to show his allegiance to Panthers football. “I have hats and clothes,” the Greensburg Central Catholic senior lineman said. “But I also have a Pitt version of the Terrible Towel, which is kind of unique, along with...

When Hunter Schmidt walks into a room, people take notice. Sometimes he has to duck to get through a doorway. But he doesn’t mind because life is good for the 6-foot-9, 290-pound Jeannette Jayhawk. Schmidt has a happy-go-lucky demeanor — even though he could step on most point guards with...