WCN

Men's Soccer: Titans Release 2013 Schedule

The Westminster College Sports Information Office — Sat, 25 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College men's soccer team announced its 19-game schedule for the 2013 season. The slate features 11 non-conference matches and 10 home matches, including four games that will be played at Harold Burry Stadium on Memorial Field.

The Titans start off the season with two games at the Defiance Tournament, where Westminster will play Rockford (Ill.) and Defiance on Aug. 31 (1 p.m.) and Sept. 1 (1 p.m.), respectively.

Westminster will then come home for its home opener as it plays D'Youville at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 4. After an away match at Salem International (Sept. 7; 4 p.m.), the Titans will play a four-game homestand that includes Penn State-Altoona (Sept. 11; 5 pm.), Lycoming (Sept. 13; 7:30 p.m.), Penn State-Behrend (Sept. 14; 3 p.m.), and La Roche (Sept. 17; 7:30 p.m.).

The Titans will then play three more non-conference matches (at Franciscan; Sept. 19; 5 p.m./at Medaille; Sept. 24; 7 p.m./vs. Point Park; Sept. 26; 5 p.m.) before their Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opener on Oct. 5 at Wash. &' Jeff. at 3:30 p.m. Westminster will continue its PAC-slate starting with its conference-home-opener versus Bethany on Oct. 9 at 5 p.m., followed by a home-match versus Saint Vincent (Oct. 12; 8 p.m.) during Homecoming festivities.

Westminster will finish the regular season at Thiel (Oct. 16; 7 p.m.), vs. Geneva (Oct. 19; 1 p.m.), at Waynesburg (Oct. 23; 8 p.m.), vs. Grove City (Oct. 26; 12 p.m.) for Senior Day, and at Thomas More (Oct. 30; 1:30 p.m.).

Westminster posted an 11-6-2 overall record in 2012 and a fourth-place PAC record of 5-2-1. Westminster's 11 wins were the most in a season since 2008 when the Titans won 17 games along with a PAC Championship.

Date	Time	Opponent
08/31/2013	1:00 PM	at Rockford College (Ill.) (Defiance Tournament)
09/01/2013	1:00 PM	at Defiance (Defiance Tournament)
09/04/2013	7:30 PM	D’YOUVILLE
09/07/2013	4:00 PM	at Salem International
09/11/2013	5:00 PM	PENN STATE ALTOONA
09/13/2013	7:30 PM	LYCOMING
09/14/2013	3:00 PM	PENN STATE BEHREND
09/17/2013	7:30 PM	LA ROCHE
09/19/2013	5:00 PM	at Franciscan
09/24/2013	7:00 PM	at Medaille
09/26/2013	5:00 PM	POINT PARK
10/05/2013	3:30 PM	at Wash. &' Jeff.*
10/09/2013	5:00 PM	BETHANY*
10/12/2013	8:00 PM	*SAINT VINCENT (HOMECOMING)**
10/16/2013	7:00 PM	at Thiel*
10/19/2013	1:00 PM	GENEVA*
10/23/2013	8:00 PM	at Waynesburg *
10/26/2013	12:00 PM	GROVE CITY*
10/30/2013	1:30 PM	at Thomas More*
11/06/2013	TBA	at PAC Semi-Finals
11/09/2013	TBA	at PAC Finals

Women's Soccer: Westminster Announce 2013 Schedule

The Westminster College Sports Information Office — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College women's soccer team announced its 19-game schedule for the 2013 season. The slate features 10 non-conference matches and 10 home matches, including five games that will be played at Harold Burry Stadium on Memorial Field.

The Titans start off the season with two games at the Defiance Tournament, where Westminster will play Marietta and Defiance on Aug. 31 (3 p.m.) and Sept. 1 (3 p.m.), respectively.

Westminster will then travel to Salem International (Sept. 7; 2 p.m.) before its home-opener versus Penn State-Altoona (Sept. 11; 7:30 p.m.). The Titans will then host Penn State-Behrend (Sept. 14; 1 p.m.) and play at Franciscan (Sept. 16; 5 p.m.) before a four-game homestand. The stretch includes La Roche (Sept. 18; 7:30 p.m.), Buffalo State (Sept. 21; 2 p.m.), Point Park (Sept. 26; 7:30 p.m.), and Juniata (Oct. 1; 4:30 p.m.).

The Titan will hit the road on Oct. 5 and face Wash. &' Jeff. at 1 p.m. for their Presidents' Athletic Conference opener. Westminster will continue its PAC-slate starting with its conference-home-opener versus Bethany on Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a home-match versus Saint Vincent (Oct. 12; 6 p.m.) during Homecoming festivities.

Westminster will finish the regular season at Thiel (Oct. 15; 7 p.m.), vs. Geneva (Oct. 19; 3:30 p.m.), at Waynesburg (Oct. 23; 6 p.m.), vs. Grove City (Oct. 26; 2:30 p.m.) for Senior Day, at Thomas More (Oct. 30; 3:30 p.m.), and at Chatham (Nov. 2; 1 p.m.).

Westminster posted a 7-8-5 overall record in 2012 and a seventh-place record of 2-4-3 in the PAC.

Date	Time	Opponent
08/31/2013	3:00 PM	at Marietta (Defiance Tournament)
09/01/2013	3:00 PM	at Defiance (Defiance Tournament)
09/07/2013	2:00 PM	at Salem International
09/11/2013	7:30 PM	PENN STATE ALTOONA
09/14/2013	1:00 PM	PENN STATE BEHREND
09/16/2013	5:00 PM	at Franciscan
09/18/2013	7:30 PM	LA ROCHE
09/21/2013	2:00 PM	BUFFALO STATE
09/26/2013	7:30 PM	POINT PARK
10/01/2013	4:30 PM	JUNIATA
10/05/2013	1:00 PM	at Wash. &' Jeff. *
10/09/2013	7:30 PM	BETHANY *
10/12/2013	6:00 PM	*ST VINCENT (HOMECOMING)**
10/15/2013	7:00 PM	at Thiel *
10/19/2013	3:30 PM	GENEVA*
10/23/2013	6:00 PM	at Waynesburg *
10/26/2013	2:30 PM	GROVE CITY*
10/30/2013	3:30 PM	at Thomas More*
11/02/2013	1:00 PM	at Chatham *
11/05/2013	TBA	at PAC Semi-Finals
11/09/2013	TBA	at PAC Finals

Track and Field: Kalsey Becomes First Female Two-Time All-American

The Westminster College Sports Information Office — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

LA CROSSE, Wis. - Westminster College freshman pole vaulter Marissa Kalsey (Waynesburg, PA / Waynesburg) finished in fifth-place at the 2013 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, earning the distinction of All-American in the process.

Kalsey cleared 3.75 meters to become the first female two-time All-American in Westminster track &' field history. "I was surprised when I heard that," Kalsey said. "I didn't realize that if I earned another All-American that I would accomplish that, so that's cool and exciting."

Kalsey, who broke the school's indoor pole vault record with a 3.95 meters mark at Indoor Nationals where she earned the distinction of All-American, ranked fourth in the country in outdoor pole vault with a school-record mark of 3.97 meters coming into today's competition.

"I think [pole vault coach] Bradi Rhoades has done an awesome job and has made me better since I got here, added Kalsey. "Overall, it was an awesome year and I'm glad I came to Westminster because I have improved a lot. Hopefully, I place first at nationals in the future."

2013 Buzz Ridl Towering Titan Golf Outing and Dinner Date Announced

The Westminster College Sports Information Office — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.--The Towering Titan Organization (TTO) will hold its annual golf outing and dinner Monday, July 29, 2013, at New Castle Country Club in New Castle.

Tee time will be a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. All TTO members are invited for a day of relaxation and fun. This is also a good opportunity to introduce new people to the organization.

Make up a foursome and TTO will provide prizes, refreshments, and an enjoyable day. The format for play will be a four-person scramble. There is a discount available for early registration. Players may purchase mulligans (limit one per player) for $5, and a team "Skins Game" will also be available for interested teams.

Once again TTO is promoting hole sponsorships and the cost is $50. If you or your company are interested, please note that on the registration form and return with a check and correct sign information. All hole sponsorship proceeds benefit the athletic training room.

Click here for the registration form.

Brother-in-law to trial in Mercer Co. man's murder

Associated Press — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

COCHRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A Franklin man has been ordered to stand trial in Mercer County in the fatal shooting of his brother-in-law, a killing the victim's widow says stemmed from a family property dispute.

That woman, Alice Dignall, is the sister of the suspect, 45-year-old Ralph Leroy Young, and was married to the victim, 58-year-old David Dignall, of Carlton.

She testified at a preliminary hearing Thursday that Young disagreed with the Dignalls and other siblings about whether to sell their mother's property to provide a nest egg for the woman.

State police in Mercer say Young shot Dignall in the back before setting Dignall's van on fire on Dec. 20 in French Creek Township, about 75 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Young's attorney says the case is circumstantial and has too many holes in it.

Track & Field: Carswell, Sutton Set School-Records in Final Qualifier

The Westminster College Sports Information Office — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Selected members of the Westminster College men's and women's track and field teams competed in the North Central College Final Qualifier Thursday and Friday. Senior Adam Carswell (Painesville, OH / Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) and junior Aaron Sutton (Warren, OH / Howland) paced the Titans as they broke school-records in the 400-meter dash and the 3,000-meter steeplechase, respectively.

Carswell broke his own record that he set twice last year as he placed third with a time of 48.84, breaking his time of 48.87. Sutton finished 22nd out of 42 runners with a time of 9:45.54, breaking an 11-year-old record held by Jacob Gleason (9:47.0).

For the women, junior Haley Gabor (New Kensington, PA / Ford City) paced three top-10 Titan finishes as she placed fourth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.42. Freshman Angela Colella (West Middlesex, PA / West Middlesex) finished eighth in the long jump with a leap of 4.76 meters. Rounding out the top-10 finishes was the 4x100 meter relay team who clocked in at 49.75 for fourth-place.

Westminster will find out who has qualified for NCAA Nationals early next week, which will begin on May 23 in Lacrosse, Wis.

Track and Field: Kalsey Qualifies for Outdoor Nationals

The Westminster College Sports Information Office — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee announced the participants in the 2013 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday. Westminster College freshman Marissa Kalsey (Waynesburg, PA / Waynesburg) qualified in the pole vault. The Championships start this Thursday at Wisconsin-LaCrosse.

Kalsey, who broke the school's indoor pole vault record with a 3.95 meters mark at Indoor Nationals where she earned the distinction of All-American, ranks fourth in the country in outdoor pole vault with a school-record mark of 3.97 meters. Kalsey set the mark at the Slippery Rock Last Chance Qualifier on May 3.

For each women's individual event contested, including the heptathlon, the top 22 declared student-athletes were accepted into the competition.

Kalsey, who will compete at 3:40 p.m. EST on Thursday, can become the first two-time All-American female Titan in school-history with an eighth-place or better finish.

Corbett seeks to clarify new academic standards

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)-- Gov. Tom Corbett is asking state education officials to clarify that a set of proposed academic achievement standards for Pennsylvania public school students are not uniform national standards.

A spokesman for Corbett's Department of Education said Tuesday that Corbett's request won't affect the substance of the proposed math and English standards called the Pennsylvania Common Core.

The State Board of Education approved them in March and approval from a government regulations board is necessary before they can take effect.

Corbett's request comes after lawmakers heard a groundswell of criticism last week over the effectiveness of the new standards and his move to tie them to course-specific student graduation tests.

The proposed standards are built partly on national uniform standards developed by non-government associations of governors and state education officials.

College Relay for Life Raised More Than $19,000

The Westminster College Communications Office and WCN Staff — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College's annual Relay for Life raised more than $19,000 at the May 4 event.

Westminster's Relay is organized each year by the Alpha Nu chapter of national fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi. There were 16 teams and 167 participants registered before the event and a number who arrived and signed up onsite.

When not walking on the track at Burry Stadium, participants could take advantage of other activities, including a corn hole tournament, a "Minute to Win it!" game, and a local band performance. Cancer survivors and those still fighting participated in the Survivor Lap, followed by the Survivor Dinner. Luminaria in honor of survivors or in memory of those lost to cancer ringed the track for the closing ceremony.

WCN reporter and Alpha Sigma Phi brother Anthony Humes shows how the day went for Relay for Life.

"The success of this year's relay was more than I even expected. The amount of money we raised truly shows how much our hard work pays off in the end. I am so happy I had the opportunity of a lifetime to lead this year's Relay for Life here at Westminster College, and would be even happier to help out those in need next year," said overall chair Vincent Vecchio. "We really could not have done this without the help of the Westminster community as well as the New Wilmington community."

Vecchio, a senior history major, is a son of Peter and Patricia Matessi of Pittsburgh, and a graduate of South Park High School.

Alpha Sigma Phi, founded at Yale University in 1845, established the Westminster chapter in 1939. The fraternity aims to be the co-curricular organization of choice for discerning undergraduate men through the provision of an enriching brotherhood experience and a full range of character and leadership development opportunities.

First Book-Westminster Raised Funds, Distributed Free Books

The Westminster College Communications Office — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – First Book-Westminster will distribute 900 new, free books to three literacy programs that serve children in need in Lawrence and Mercer counties.

Programs include Royal Family Kids Camp (RFKC), Union Elementary and Farrell Elementary. Each child will receive two new books which enables the children to start their own home libraries they can share with their siblings and families. They will also receive a bookplate on which to place their names celebrating the importance of book ownership.

“The book grant we received from First Book-Westminster will enable our program to help many young people have, not only a book, but also a library of new books to call their very own,” said Colleen Hannon, volunteer for RFKC. “The children’s faces light up when they discover they can keep these books and take them home to read over and over again with their siblings and families.”

RFKC, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is the nation’s leading network of camps for abused, neglected and abandoned children. By mobilizing local churches to sponsor a one week camp for abused and neglected children, ages 7-11 in their local community, the organization gets caring adults involved in the lives of children who need them most.

Additional programs in Lawrence and Mercer counties that have received book grants from First Book include: Head Start, Walker’s Neighborhood House/Gussie M. Walker Foundation, West Middlesex Elementary School, and George Junior Republic.

First Book-Westminster is part of First Book’s national network of volunteer-led advisory boards that provide new books to children in need in communities across the country. First Book has distributed more than 80 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities.

First Book-Westminster already provided free books to 250 children who attended the Celebrity Series for Kids showing of The Velveteen Rabbit. The Westminster Drinko Center for Experiential Learning and First Book-Westminster hosted a pre-show dinner, partially funded by the Caroline Knox Foundation, for 216 children and their families from the following organizations: Bair Foundation, Cray Family Services, Crisis Shelter, Lawrence County Community Action Program, Walker House, and a group from Farrell Elementary School. The event was also partially funded by Sodexo Dining Services.

First Book-Westminster has distributed more than $10,000 worth of books since its start in 2007. Its advisory board is comprised of Westminster students, faculty, staff, and members of the New Wilmington Rotary. Funding for the books was raised in collaboration with the New Wilmington Rotary Club, Westminster’s Drinko Center for Experiential Learning, Celebrity Series, the Caroline Knox Foundation, and co-advisers Dr. Mandy Medvin, professor and chair of Westminster’s department of psychology, and Dr. Eileen Morelli, associate professor of education.

Disbarred Pa. attorney charged with theft again

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. (AP) - A disbarred Lawrence County attorney already serving seven to 14 months in jail for swindling clients is now accused of spending more than $1,100 earmarked for restitution in a criminal case.

Online court records don't list an attorney for 35-year-old Michael Frisk, of Ellwood City.

Frisk is already serving time in Lawrence County for failing to pay $225 in fines to settle a client's case and otherwise misspending other client's funds on personal items, including spa visits and sports tickets.

Now Ellwood City police say they've learned Frisk has bilked another client whose relative paid the attorney $1,143 last year. The money was supposed to pay off restitution so the client's theft arrest would be expunged. Instead, the money was never paid and the client wound up paying $4,000 in court costs and restitution.

Rescue at McConnell's Mill State Park

WCN Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

SLIPPERY ROCK TOWNSHIP, Pa.-- Lawrence County first responders rushed to McConnell's Mill State Park in Slippery Rock Township to rescue a 26-year old Ohil man who fell down a steep hillside on Monday afternoon.

Crews had to rescue the man after he fell 15 to 20 feet while taking photographs near Kildoo Falls in McConnells Mill State Park.

Assistant park manager Jake Weiland says the man left an area designated for visitors and was standing on a rock ledge when he fell into the water below on Monday afternoon.

The man has been flown to an unspecified Pittsburgh hospital for a head injury, but is expected to recover. The man was able to get up and walk around, but needed assistance in getting up from the area where he fell.

Man injured in Lawrence Co. domestic shooting dies

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

HILLSVILLE, Pa. - State police say a Lawrence County man injured in a shooting stemming from a domestic dispute has died of his injuries.

Troopers from the New Castle barracks said 50-year-old Joseph Lupo died early Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio.

Lupo had earlier been reported killed in the Sunday night gunfire in a home in Mahoning Township, but police later said he was critically injured.

Fifty-year-old Caroline Lupo was listed in serious condition after she was shot three times. Police said she called 911 to say that her husband had shot her during a domestic dispute and then turned the weapon on himself. Troopers said evidence at the scene corroborated her account, and she is reportedly recovering from her injuries.

Lawrence Co. man charged with 4th DUI after crash with police car

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

SHENANGO TOWNSHIP, Pa.-- Police say Lawrence County man charged with his fourth drunken driving offense was fleeing police when he smashed into a police cruiser belong to a township where another officer was killed in a similar crash earlier this month.

Online court records don't list an attorney for 40-year-old Eric Jones, of Scott Township, Lawrence County, who faces a preliminary hearing Thursday in the crash on Friday night.

Jones faces aggravated assault, fleeing police, and drunken driving among 21 charges.

Police say they were chasing Jones when he crashed into the cruiser from neighboring Shenango Township. Nobody was hurt.

But on May 2, Shenango Township Officer William "Jerry" McCarthy IV was killed when a driver with a suspended license was also being chased by New Castle police. That woman allegedly rammed McCarthy's cruiser.

Man faces assault charges for allegedly breaking man's jaw at frat house

WCN Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- A graduating senior from Westminster faces aggravated assault charges for allegedly breaking another man's jaw at a fraternity party in New Wilmington earlier this month.

New Wilmington police say 22-year old Matthew Vincent Wagner faces the charges after an incident at the Alpha Sigma Phi house on Waugh Avenue on May 5.

The victim tells police he had watched Wagner and another male arguing. He claims Wagner pushed the other male and appeared to be ready to punch him. The victim says he then wrapped his arms around Wagner from behind to keep him from hitting the other person. Wagner allegedly broke free from the hold and punched the victim in the face, breaking his jaw.

Police say Wagner also faces charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and harassment. He was released on $5,000 bond. Wagner’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 23.