Paul Schofield stories, Page 58

Nick Beitel Ligonier Valley, Sr., RB/DB The 5-foot-8, 185-pound speedster rushed for 642 yards, second on the team, and three touchdowns last year. He also caught a team-high 14 passes for 147 yards. He’s a four-year starter as a defensive back. He also is an outstanding baseball player. Gavin Roebuck...

When Declan Ochendowski looked at the 2021 football schedule, he didn’t just circle one game that he was looking forward to. He circled them all. “I’m excited about all the games,” said the 6-foot-3, 245-pound senior tackle/defensive end. “If I had to choose, the Norwin game is a big rivalry,...

Last season, Central Valley outclassed everyone in Class 3A. The Warriors breezed through the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs and capped it off by winning the school’s first state title. Central Valley averaged 50.1 points and allowed 9.8. While those numbers might be hard to duplicate, the Warriors remain the team...

It was an easy choice when Mt. Pleasant football coach Jason Fazekas was asked to name a player who was having a good camp. Aaron Alakson. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior will be counted on to be a leader for the Vikings. Alakson led the team in rushing with 630 yards...

It was an unusual season for the Penn-Trafford girls’ golf season in 2020. Not only did the Warriors, like all high school athletic teams, endure the challenges of the coronavirus, the team failed to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs for only the second time in the last 16 seasons. “I...

Ligonier Valley’s return to the WPIAL was a learning experience for football coach Roger Beitel in 2020. Not only did the Rams discover what type of styles and athleticism opponents had, they also got a geography lesson. Ligonier Valley played in six counties — Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Fayette, Greene and...

Before the 2020 season, Ligonier Valley football coach Roger Beitel talked to a few college coaches about their opinions about offensive linemen. The Rams were returning a two-year starter at center in Jude Grzywinski and Beitel was considering moving him to another position. The coaches advised Beitel to be strong...

The highlight of the 2020 Greensburg Salem football season was reaching the 700-win milestone. Other than that, the season didn’t play out as coach Dave Keefer and his Golden Lions had hoped. Greensburg Salem finished 1-6 in the WPIAL Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference in a covid-19 shortened season. But...

There hasn’t been a more consistent Class AA girls golf team in the WPIAL or state than Greensburg Central Catholic. The Centurions have won six consecutive WPIAL titles and have finished first or second in the PIAA for six consecutive seasons, winning in 2018 and ’19. North East, from District...

Rebuilding is a word that isn’t used around the Penn-Trafford football program. They just retool or restock. There is always a group of players ready to step in and take their turn. Some coaches use the team “tradition never graduates,” and what John Ruane has built at Penn-Trafford is a...

It’s a fresh start for the Franklin Regional football team. New is the popular word around the program. Lance Getsy replaced legendary coach Greg Botta, who retired after 27 years. Getsy brought in seven new assistant coaches. A new defensive scheme is being implemented, and there are numerous new players...

It was catch-up day for the 121st U.S. Amateur. Mother Nature final gave the tournament and Oakmont Country Club a break. After delays and suspensions of play the past three days, all the golfers faced Friday during the finish of the Rounds of 32 and 16 and the quarterfinals were...

Even though Greensburg native Mark Goetz lost in the Round of 64 at the U.S. Amateur on Thursday at Oakmont Country Club, hundreds followed him around the course. Goetz was carrying the flag not only for Greensburg and Westmoreland County, he was doing it for Western Pennsylvania. He teed off...

If Mark Goetz was nervous teeing off No. 1 during the 121st United States Golf Association’s Amateur on Wednesday at Oakmont Country Club, he sure didn’t look like it. With more than 30 friends and family, the majority from Hannastown Golf Club in his hometown of Greensburg cheering, watching Goetz...

All Mark Goetz wanted to do this summer was to qualify for the 121st United States Golf Association’s Amateur championship and make it to match play. Goetz achieved his goal and surprised many by winning medalist honors in stroke play. He entered match play as the No. 1 seed. The...

Western Pennsylvania golf fans will have plenty of chances to see some of the world’s top golfers. The USGA named Oakmont Country Club its second “anchor site” for future USGA championships Wednesday, and the famed course will host the U.S. Open in 2025, 2034, 2042 and 2049, as well as...

Jacob Bridgeman didn’t know who Bob Ford was when asked. But the Inman, S.C., native was impressed when he heard the credentials of the former Oakmont Country Club and Seminole Golf Club (Florida) head professional. Bridgeman shot a 7-under-par 63 on Monday during Day 1 of stroke play competition at...

Mark Goetz could not have drawn up a better first round at the 121st United States Golf Association’s Amateur Championship. It was nearly flawless. The Greensburg native and West Virginia University senior shot a 6-under-par 64 on Monday at Longue Vue Club. His round consisted of four birdies and an...

The United States Golf Association’a 121st U.S. Amateur Championship will be hosted by Oakmont Country Club and Longue Vue Club this week. Here are some facts and figures for the event: Stroke play (both courses): Monday and Tuesday Match play (Oakmont Country Club): Wednesday through Sunday Field: 312 cut to...

There is no better golfer in Southwestern Pennsylvania than Sean Knapp to talk about what players will face at the 121st United States Golf Association’s Amateur Championship this week. The second oldest player in the field at 59, the Oakmont resident knows how to attack Oakmont Country Club, which is...

If Sean Knapp wanted to, he could walk to Oakmont Country Club to play in the 121st United States Golf Association’s Amateur tournament. The wily veteran is playing in his 19th U.S. Amateur which begins Monday with stroke play competition at Oakmont Country Club and Longue Vue Club in Verona....

The 121st U.S. Amateur Championship starts Monday at Oakmont Country Club and Longue Vue Club. Here’s a look at the 11 players with Pittsburgh-area ties who qualified for the event. Local qualifiers Ian Bangor Residence: Pittsburgh Age: 29 High school: Sewickley Academy (2010) College: Carnegie Mellon (2014) Notable: This is...

Westminster captured the Presidents’ Athletic Conference spring football season. Senior linebacker Ian Barr said the goal is to win two titles in the same calendar year. If preseason polls mean anything, Westminster is the early favorite of the conference coaches and athletic directors, along with media outlets, to do so....

Weston Warden did something that happened only five times previously: win both the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Junior Championship and the C.R. Miller Match Play in the same season. The rising senior at Shady Side Academy achieved that second part of the accomplishment Tuesday at Hannastown Golf Club near Greensburg...