LeBron sets important example

January 1, 2019

A video made its way around YouTube and various media outlets in recent weeks of a young basketball player getting a pep talk from his Dad after a game. The 11-year-old (named Bryce) looked dejected, presumably disappointed for not scoring more points or making more shots in his youth basketball game. His father pulls him aside and sets him straight — recounting a series of plays that Bryce made that were key to his team’s win — a rebound here, an assist there — but most importantly, this Dad told his son he was proud of him. Of course the kicker to this story is that the ...

An ode to the elves of local sports

December 18, 2018

This year’s poem is a shout-out to those who make high school sports happen ‘Twas some time before tip-off, and all through the land, Many creatures were stirring, and lending a hand. With uniforms hung in the lockers with care, They knew student-athletes soon would be there. The coaches were nestled all snug in their room, Working together, their athletes to groom. Building camaraderie, teaching the skills Needed for victory … climbing the hills. And just down the hall referees were preparing Themselves for the contest they soon would be sharing. With teams ...

Presidential connections in sports

December 4, 2018

News of the passing of George H.W. Bush at the age of 94 has filled the newspapers and airwaves in recent days, with political pundits and world leaders remembering the 41stPresident of the United States for his admirable character and incredible accomplishments throughout a lifetime of service. Among the many loves in his life was the sport of baseball. He captained the Yale University team to an appearance in the first College World Series in 1947. And according to Baseball Almanac threw out the first pitch at a major league game eight times during his presidency, including the ...

Bisons girls soccer has come a long way since 1990

November 20, 2018

When the Bedford girls’ soccer team captured the state championship in Hershey Saturday, they made history: the first team in the county to bring home a PIAA title. The epic accomplishment was deserving of an epic celebration: one that spanned not only miles, but also decades. Back on his sheep farm in Dutch Corner, Bedford County, Jack Monsour quietly smiled, having started the county’s youth soccer program in the early 1990s. “I was ecstatic,” said Monsour, the first head coach of the Bedford girls’ varsity soccer team. “I just kept thinking back as to where they ...

Tributes to fallen highlight fall season

November 6, 2018

As the vibrant October foliage hangs around into November, the World Series champions have been crowned, the clocks have been turned back, and fall sports kick into playoff mode. While Friday night lights still shine on the high school football postseason, the Penn State women’s soccer team is set for an important end-of-the-week matchup of their own. The nationally ranked Nittany Lions have earned a 24th-straight NCAA playoff berth after just missing out on the Big Ten tournament title over the weekend. The Lions fell to underdog Minnesota on penalty kicks, but Penn State still ...

Connecting through soccer, art

October 16, 2018

At first glance her jobs may seem vastly different: Pam Snyder Etters is head coach of the Penn State Altoona women’s soccer team and the executive director of the Altoona Symphony. She’s also the team leader and lead artist for “Murals Talk,” an initiative designed to foster acceptance, understanding and peace through art. And when Etters’ worlds collide, the result is magic. “Soccer is a universal sport,” she says, “anywhere in the world people love it, and art is another universal language.” Etters uses murals to make connections between communities; the ...