Bill Beckner stories, Page 203

Former Seton Hill quarterback Christian Strong used to extend plays for the Griffins. Now, he is extending his playing career overseas. Strong has signed with the resurgent Dusseldorf Panther of the German Football League. The team returns to the league after a three-year absence. The Canadian-born Strong (6-foot-4, 214 pounds),...

While it would be hard-pressed to match the offseason drama of its NFL counterpart, the Pittsburgh Steelers Footballers basketball team is gearing up for another season — and looking for games. The team, consisting of current and former Steelers, plays games at high schools and colleges around western Pennsylvania as...

Saint Vincent senior swimmer Jacob Davis earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Championships set for March 20-23 in Greensboro, N.C. Davis qualified in three events: the 100- and 50-yard freestyles, and the 100-yard breaststroke. His time of 44.16 seconds in the 100 freestyle ranks sixth in Division III....

Catch Anna Shields if you can. The Point Park senior enthralled onlookers yet again with another record-breaking performance at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships Saturday in Brookings, S.D. Shields defended her titles in the mile and 1,000-meter runs — within two hours of each other — while...

High-scoring Peters Township was lulled into playing North Allegheny’s game in the WPIAL Class 6A championship, which meant a defense-first approach, and that the final score probably was going to resemble a men’s pants size or a recent high-low temperature on the local weather report. The Indians looked quite comfortable...

Monessen did not make the PIAA Class A boys basketball playoffs last season and had a coaching change in the offseason when longtime coach Joe Salvino left to take the Belle Vernon job. Dan Bosnic came aboard and didn’t need to do much homework on the program. He knew about...

With his team up by 17 late in the fourth quarter, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’s Mike Rodriguez, still coaching up his players with the comfortable advantage, yelled at a reserve to “Take the charge.” The Chargers took charge, all right. And it led to WPIAL glory. Denied a...

The IUP men’s basketball team did not let a wardrobe malfunction deter it from victory. The Crimson Hawks forgot their road uniforms for a PSAC game at Edinboro, so the host team obliged, lending IUP their road jerseys at McComb Fieldhouse in Erie. Edinboro wore the awkward and probably itchy...

After placing fifth last year at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships, pole vaulter Courtney McQuaide will get another shot to raise the bar. A redshirt senior from Slippery Rock and a former outdoor national champion in her event, McQuaide is one of 16 athletes from the PSAC...

Another strong run in Presidents’ Athletic Conference men’s basketball earned Saint Vincent plenty of respect at postseason awards time. The Bearcats swept player and coach of the year awards after a 22-5 season and a conference regular-season title. Senior forward Tom Kromka was named player of the year after leading...

PIHL Penguins Cup playoff preview Class A first round Norwin (9-9) vs. Meadville (15-3) 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Meadville Area Recreation Complex, Meadville Winner plays: Winner of Thomas Jefferson/Freeport at 9:15 p.m. Monday at RMU Island Sports Center Goals for/against: Norwin, 100/94; Meadville, 137/41 About Norwin: The Knights, the sixth...

Justine Appolonia has plenty of goals — on and off the soccer field. Big goals. The Yough junior standout has known for quite some time she wanted to play at the Division I level in college. “Of course, it was always my dream growing up,” she said. “What kid who...

It was an all-Greensburg final in the 149-pound weight class Saturday night in Erie. Pitt-Johnstown junior Chris Eddins met Seton Hill redshirt junior Austin Shaw for the title at the NCAA Division I Super Region I Tournament at Mercyhurst. Both graduated from Greensburg Salem, where they were teammates. Eddins, a...

La Roche forward Jenna Cole had an exceptional junior season on the basketball court. The Redhawks could depend on her scoring and post play every game, without fail. Coaches in the conference had no qualms about voting for the former Norwin star as the conference’s best player. As a result,...

Another strong run in the Presidents Athletic Conference earned Saint Vincent men’s basketball plenty of respect at postseason awards time. The Bearcats swept player and coach of the year awards after a 22-5 season and a conference regular-season title. Senior forward Tom Kromka was named player of the year after...

Vincentian is going from Peters to the Pete. The top-seeded and defending WPIAL Class A champion Royals took care of business in the semifinals Monday night to punch their ticket to the title game with a 61-49 victory over No. 4 Monessen at Peters Township. Vincentian Academy (16-7), coached by...

Derek Berberick is headed to nationals for the first time in his collegiate wrestling career. Berberick, a junior heavyweight at Shippensburg and a Greensburg Salem graduate, qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament after placing second at the Super Region I Championships over the weekend at Mercyhurst. Berberick (14-7) had...

PIHL Penguins Cup Class AA play-in round Hempfield (11-7) vs. Quaker Valley (5-13) 7 p.m. Tuesday at Alpha Ice Complex, Pittsburgh Winner plays: Pine-Richland (18-0) on March 4 at Baierl Ice Complex, Warrendale Goals for/against: Hempfield, 113/73; Quaker Valley, 60/96 About Hempfield: The Spartans finished fourth in the Southeast, a...

The newly crowned Presidents’ Athletic Conference champion Saint Vincent women’s basketball team learned Monday its opening opponent for the NCAA Division III Tournament. Gathered to watch the online selection show following a campus pep rally inside the school’s Carey Lounge, the Bearcats (23-4) found out they’ll play traditional power and...

Girls WPIAL Class 6A Semifinals No. 3 Norwin (21-1) vs. No. 2 North Allegheny (22-1) 6 p.m. Tuesday at Fox Chapel Winner plays: Winner of No. 1 Peters Township (23-0)/No. 4 Bethel Park (21-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday in the championship at Petersen Events Center. Coaches: Brian Brozeski, Norwin; Spencer...

Greensburg Central Catholic senior Bryce Kurpiel is a unique case in the recruiting game. He had no scholarship offers for football, yet could end up on a Division I Football Championship Subdivision roster next season. Here’s his story: Kurpiel, who is from Ligonier, wanted to attend a college that offered...

Boys District 6 Class 3A Semifinals No. 1 Ligonier Valley (21-2) vs. No. 5 Bellwood-Antis (16-7) 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Central Cambria Winner plays: Winner of No. 2 Richland (18-6)/No. 3 Forest Hills (14-8) in championship 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mt. Aloysius College, Cresson Coaches: John Berger, Ligonier Valley; Kevin...

MONDAY Boys basketball: Led by first-year coach Dan Bosnic, Monessen (15-8) makes its return to the WPIAL Class A semifinals as it takes on top-seeded Vincentian (15-7) at 8 p.m. at Peters Township. Vincentian coach Tim Tyree Jr. is a Monessen alum. The winner goes to the WPIAL title game...

Class A First round Greensburg Salem (5-13) vs. Montour (17-1) 7:15 p.m. Monday at Robert Morris Island Sports Complex, Neville Island Winner plays: Winner of South Park (11-6)/Sewickley Academy (9-9) on March 4 at Mt. Lebanon Ice Center. Goals for/against: Greensburg Salem, 65/139; Montour 181/47 About Greensburg Salem: The No....