Bill Beckner stories, Page 32

Greensburg’s Mark Goetz is through to the next stage of qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour, a minor-league type feeder to the PGA Tour. Goetz, 25, finished tied for 10th at a first-stage tournament last week at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove-Crossings in Semmes, Ala. with...

When it comes to Conlan Greene, Temple can keep its redshirt. The former Penn-Trafford standout, who played quarterback and defensive end last season in the WPIAL, is suddenly starting for the Owls at defensive tackle. Injuries to teammates turned Greene into the next man up. According to 24/7 Sports, defensive...

Franklin Regional found something, and at just the right time. The proof is a pair of playoff upsets for the 11th-seeded Panthers (12-7), who knocked off No. 6 Mars (4-0) before a 2-1, double-overtime win over No. 3 Moon, a team many considered a title contender. Now, a semifinal matchup...

WPIAL soccer playoffs Boys Class 3A Semifinals 11-Franklin Regional (12-7) vs. 2-Hampton (18-2-1) 6 p.m. Monday at North Allegheny Winner plays: Winner of 8-South Fayette (11-4-3)/5-Montour (14-4) TBA in championship at Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh Players to watch: Tyler Pipon, Franklin Regional; Luke Fiscus, Hampton Throw-ins: Franklin Regional has back-to-back upsets...

Jeannette soccer player Jordan Taylor had a senior season to remember, as he netted a school-record 54 goals to lead the WPIAL. The forward finished with 162 goals, third-most in WPIAL boys soccer history. Taylor’s exploits impressed coaches across Class 2A as he was named the classification’s player of the...

Alex Tatsch now has scholarship offers from the region’s Big 3. Penn State offered the Latrobe junior linebacker Saturday during the Nittany Lions’ game against Indiana at Beaver Stadium. It’s another Power 5 offer on a growing list that includes Pitt and West Virginia. The latest offer came a day...

Amarah McCutcheon School: Southmoreland Class: Senior Sport: Volleyball Claim to fame: McCutcheon, an outsider hitter, delivered a team-high 12 kills to power the unbeaten Scotties (19-0) past Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 3-2, in the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals. Southmoreland, which had an undefeated regular season for the first...

With about 10 minutes to play in regulation, Burrell girls soccer coach Frank Nesko had a message for freshman midfielder Mikaya Buchak. He also had a feeling. “I told her, ‘You’re a warrior,’ ” Nesko said. “ ‘You’re going to win it for us.’ ” Those words were prophetic in...

Norwin finished in a flourish. A record-setting, big-play flourish for its third win of the season. Sophomore quarterback Tristyn Tavares and senior Luke Denny formed one of the area’s top pass-and-catch combinations, and the pair saved their best for last in a 47-21 win over Hempfield on Friday. Tavares threw...

One of the top forwards in WPIAL Class 6A basketball has decided on a college destination. Norwin 6-foot-2 senior Lauren Palangio will play at Holy Family, an NCAA Division II school in Philadelphia. Palangio played a key role in Norwin’s run to the WPIAL and PIAA semifinals last season. She...

Asked if he expected to find his name among the top passers in the WPIAL, Tristyn Tavares didn’t hesitate, like how he doesn’t hesitate when he runs the Norwin offense. Same assurance. Same confidence. Move the sticks, next question. “Yeah, I did,” the sophomore quarterback said. Tavares was the second-leading...

Franklin Regional quarterback Chase Lemke and receiver Ayden Hudock were in a rhythm at just the right time as the Panthers pursued a playoff spot. Franklin Regional (6-2, 3-1) was primed for a Week 9 matchup against Penn-Trafford (4-4, 3-1) in the Class 5A Big East Conference finale. Lemke and...

Drahcir Jones said Clairton had no intentions of sharing the Eastern Conference title with anyone. Well, he and his teammates might pass the championship plaque around when they receive it — if that counts. A WPIAL trophy is of greater concern now to the Bears, who showed they are back...

Derry hired Nick Raymond as athletic director Thursday. An Indiana resident and the current AD at Johnstown’s Forest Hills High School in District 6, Raymond replaces Brett Miller, who resigned to take a position at Seton Hill. Raymond, 32, said he is expecting to start around Thanksgiving. He has been...

Boys Class 4A Quarterfinals 8-Norwin (12-5-1) at 1-Seneca Valley (13-0-3) 1 p.m. Saturday Winner plays: Winner of 5-Fox Chapel (10-4-2)/4-Upper St. Clair (14-1-2) Tuesday in semifinals Players to watch: Daniel Maddock, Norwin; Cole Kamarec, Seneca Valley Throw-ins: Norwin is trying to solve a team it has been challenged to defeat...

Avonworth didn’t man mark Belle Vernon’s Trevor Kovatch, the second-leading goal scorer in WPIAL boys soccer. Instead, the Antelopes had five players shadow the junior forward. Yes, five. “He’s a special player,” Avonworth coach Tom Angell said. “There are no secrets anymore when you get to the playoffs. We did...

Cal (Pa.) is the top vote-getter in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division women’s basketball poll. Gannon and IUP also received first-place votes. Cal (21-11) captured back-to-back PSAC titles, defeating nationally ranked Gannon in the tournament final. PSAC Tournament MVP and double-double producer Allycia Harris returns for the Vulcans...

IUP and Cal (Pa.) could have some close games on the court when they face each other this season. The teams also are tight in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division preseason men’s basketball poll. IUP is the favorite, but by only one vote over the Vulcans. IUP, which...

Players ran the hill next to the bleachers at McKee Stadium to end a practice earlier this week, and coach Tom Paulone joined them on the steep and somewhat muddy ascent. Jeannette has been on a steady climb all season. The Jayhawks (7-2, 4-1) have more wins than they had...

WPIAL soccer playoffs Boys Class 3A Quarterfinals 5-Belle Vernon (15-2) at 4-Avonworth (15-2-1) 7 p.m. Thursday Winner plays: Winner of 8-Keystone Oaks (12-5)/1-South Park (19-0) Monday in semifinals Players to watch: Bryce Burkhart, Belle Vernon; Rowan Carmichael, Avonworth Throw-ins: After regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, Belle Vernon needed penalty...

Here are the 2023 boys soccer All-WPIAL lists for each classification, as selected by the Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association: Class 4A Dante Acamanado, Sr., GK, North Allegheny Nathan Bang, Sr., MF, Pine-Richland Caden Bennett, Sr., GK, Pine-Richland Liam Burlovic, Jr, MF, Upper St. Clair Owen Christopher, Sr., MF, Norwin...

Laila Chervon’s top priority was to crash the net. In that moment, as South Allegheny set up a corner kick late in overtime, nothing else mattered. “I just wanted to put my body on the ball any way I could,” the senior from South Allegheny said. “Nobody was really on...

A pair of Penn-Trafford grads continue to power No. 22 Grove City’s defense. Senior cornerback Gabe Dunlap and sophomore linebacker Jack Jollie tied a team high with seven tackles in a 49-0 win over Saint Vincent. Dunlap added an interception and a 40-yard punt return touchdown, and Jollie picked up...

Boys Class 3A Quarterfinals 11-Franklin Regional (11-7) at 3-Moon (15-3-1) 7 p.m. Wednesday Winner plays: Winner of 7-Thomas Jefferson (16-2-1)/2-Hampton (15-2-1) Monday in semifinals Players to watch: Joey Bayne, Franklin Regional; Davi Jansson, Moon Throw-ins: Both teams opened with 4-0 wins Saturday. Bayne scored twice for Franklin Regional, once on...

Latrobe gives out a hard hat for its player of the game, and, new this year for the playoffs, a dog tag for the toughest player of that match. The piece of hardware the Wildcats really want, though, is one less win away. Sixth-seeded Latrobe opened the WPIAL Class 3A...