By: Bill Beckner Jr.

Saturday, May 20, 2023 | 11:01 AM

The third annual Tre Cunningham Memorial Basketball Tournament will return to Jeannette on June 22-24.

But this year’s event, presented by the Jeannette Educational Foundation, will feature much more than the usual boys high school varsity games.

Organizers plan to add 3-point and slam dunk contests. The slam dunk contest is contingent on participants (i.e. enough dunkers). Each team can enter two players for each contest.

“It should be fun,” key organizer Tim Carney said. “I’m hoping it will bring more spectators out to stay for the championship.”

The team champion receive the Tre Cunningham Championship Chain, and the MVP receives a $1,000 scholarship.

Carney said Jeannette, Greensburg Central Catholic and Norwin have signed up already. The event hopes to get eight to 12 teams, as in past years.

Seeding games will be Thursday and Friday, with a playoff tournament Saturday.

Cunningham was a terrific three-sport athlete who won WPIAL titles in football and baseball. He also won a PIAA championship in football. He was killed in a motorcycle accident in July of 2020.

Cost for each team in the tournament is $150. For more information, call 724-989-6793.

Beitel to coach East-West

Coaches, organizers and program directors take part in the selection process for football all-star games such as the Big 33 and East-West games.

They pick the standout senior players.

But many don’t realize the same type of people also vote on the men who will coach in those games.

That makes Roger Beitel’s selection to next year’s East-West small school Game that much more meaningful.

Beitel will be the head coach for the West team against the East next spring when the game is played in Harrisburg. A big school game will follow.

The event is set for May 19, 2024 at a site to be announced.

The Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association holds a state-level meeting to accept nominations for coaches and select the head coaches and staffs from there.

Beitel was informed last month that he will lead the West.

“I got the call on a Friday night when both of my sons were home on spring break, so to being able to share the message with them and my wife was really special,” Beitel said. “I am extremely honored to be selected especially coming from my peers at the state level. The number of highly quality coaches across the state that I was selected from is very humbling.”

Beitel said his selection is an extension of many coaches who have contributed to the Rams’ success.

“This award is one that is a representation of what all of the coaches at Ligonier Valley have been able to do over a long period of time — not just me,” he said. “I would have never been selected without Corey Turcheck, Dave Shannon, Brandon Rensko, Brian Schreyer, John Vida, Adam Foust, Greg Lonas and Hayden Light.”

Beitel was a defensive assistant for the West in 2017. That was an extension of his 2016 PSFCA District 6 Coach of the Year honor.

“I had the great privilege of coaching Jaquan Brisker,” he said.

He also was an assistant in the Ken Lanty All-Star Game four times.

Beitel (148-63) has been the Rams’ coach for 19 seasons and has made the playoffs 15 times.

Recruiting

• Latrobe sophomore football player Alex Tatsch added a second Division I scholarship offer. Marshall joined Connecticut in schools interested in the linebacker.

• Greensburg Central Catholic freshman basketball player Erica Gribble added a third Division I offer, this one from Villanova. The standout guard also has offers from St. Joseph’s and Buffalo.

• Belle Vernon junior football player Braden Laux received another Division I offer, from Marshall. He is a quarterback and defensive end.

• Several Norwin athletes signed to play at the next level. Kate Botti will play basketball at Bethany, while Tim McCabe is headed to Chatham for volleyball, and Collin Gunzberger will play basketball at Penn State Behrend.

• Greensburg Salem wrestler Christian McChesney signed with Washington & Jefferson.

• Billy Sugden, a senior at Ligonier Valley, will continue his football career at Waynesburg.

• Three Westmoreland County athletes are headed to Saint Vincent to further their athletic careers: Yough wrestler Ashton Briggs, Nate Loughner of Penn-Trafford (hockey) and Sean Cain of Mt. Pleasant (wrestling, track and field).

• Yough’s Bobby Etze and Milan Aujay and Greensburg Salem’s Ethan Wilson will play baseball at Westmoreland County Community College.

• Aubrie Loughner of Greensburg Salem will compete in rodeo at Clarendon (Texas).

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Bill by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .

Tags: Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Yough