APB, Where are they Now?

Blogger's note: With the increased traffic from people in the Ringgold School District, The Varsity Letters thought the time to find the following athlete was once again appropriate.

Robert "Bean" Heller last played sports at Ringgold High School in 2005-06. Following one year at the Kiski School, Heller surfaced at Waynesburg University in 2007.

It was a fall to remember.

Heller ran all over the Presidents' Athletic Conference in his first year with the Yellow Jackets. His 2,176 rushing yards established an all-divisions freshman record. The man whose nickname was a tribute to Beano Cook was even the subject of a Facebook page titled, "Robert Heller Was Heaven Sent."

A year later, the relationship between Heller and the Waynesburg coaching staff soured. Shortly after a story published in the Observer-Reporter, the four-sport standout (football, basketball, baseball, track) from Ringgold was nowhere to be found. Various rumors had Heller attempting a boxing career or playing football for Marietta College. None were ever confirmed.

Heller is once again the target of the latest All Points Bulletin.

Anyone with legitimate information regarding Heller's whereabouts is urged to contact The Varsity Letters.

Keeping up with ...

Amanda Kennedy
Referring to Amanda Kennedy as the top female athlete in the history of Bentworth High School isn't conjecture, the three-sport star left quite a legacy.

She became the first female from Bentworth to land a Division I scholarship when she chose to throw the javelin at Marshall University over a host of offers, including some Division II schools who were interested in Kennedy as a volleyball player and track athlete.

While at Bentworth, Kennedy was All-WPIAL in volleyball, All-Section in basketball and Bentworth's career rebounding leader and she holds several track and field records in addition to a pair of PIAA Class AA medals for the javelin.

Kennedy was the 2009 Observer-Reporter's Girls Athlete of the Year.

These days, Kennedy is setting records at Marshall.

At the Duke Invitationals on April 2, Kennedy's best throw of 40.04 meters broke the previous Thundering Hurd record of 39.37. The following weekend, Kennedy won the javelin (38.60) at the Ohio University Invitational.

Monessen Invitational

As the track and field season progresses, invitationals dot the schedule. Monessen will host its second track invitation Saturday starting at 10:30 p.m.

The Washington boys and girls won the meet last year and should be strong contenders to repeat against participating schools Beth-Center, Frazier, West Greene, Jefferson-Morgan, Clairton, Neighborhood Academy and the host Greyhounds.

Trenton Coles, a sophomore from Clairton and member of the Bears' PIAA Class A championship football team, will be one of the featured athletes. As a freshman, Coles was the WPIAL Class AA 400-meter dash champion (49.47). He placed fourth at the state meet with a time of 49.70.

The invitational season continues Friday, April 16 when Peters Township hosts the annual Washington-Greene County Coaches Meet, which is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

No baseball for Hull?

Canon-McMillan senior Mike Hull, who is currently in San Antonio, Texas, for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, is leaning toward not playing varsity baseball this spring.

The first practice for spring sports is scheduled for March 8 – the PIAA baseball and softball championships are scheduled for Friday, June 18 – and Hull is expected to arrive at Penn State early this summer to join the football team.

"I don't think I'll play baseball because it's so close to when I leave for Penn State," Hull said Wednesday from San Antonio. "I might do track or something to do with running."

Hull batted leadoff for Canon-McMillan when it won the 2008 PIAA Class AAAA championship and also started in the outfield as a junior. He earned baseball all-district honors both years.

Remembering Alex Loos

Five years ago today, Alexzandra Loos was killed when she was struck by a car while walking home from soccer practice. Her impact at Bentworth High School and beyond is felt to this day.

As a freshman, Loos was one of the WPIAL's premier distance runners, winning the Class AA 1,600 run and placing second in the 800. At states, she placed third and sixth in those respective events and became the first Bentworth athlete to medal at the PIAA Track and Field Championships.

Loos never made it to her sophomore year. The 15-year-old died near Bentworth High School.

An ace student, Loos played on the boys soccer team at Bentworth and was involved with a long list of extracirricular activities. On top of that, she was a humble, polite person.

Loos' legacy lives on with the From Alex With Love Foundation.

To find out more about Loos, click the following link:
http://www.fromalexwithlove.com/

Another track legend dies

Anyone who followed track at the WPIAL or PIAA level knew this man:

http://postgazette.com/pg/09218/988930-122.stm

WPIAL track legend dies

In 1989, Thomas Jefferson High School's Marla Puryear ran the 100-meter dash in a scorching 11.2 seconds. No female runner from the district has even done it faster at the high school level, before or since.

Puryear died Monday after a lengthy illness.

In addition to her 100 mark, Puryear owns the sixth-fastest WPIAL time in the 200 (24.3). Trenton Coles, her son and a sophomore at Clairton High School, won the WPIAL Class AA 400 as a freshman.