Franklin Regional notebook: Panthers pay tribute to late teammate at opener

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, September 2, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Franklin Regional will never forget Joe Purdue.

The Panthers are wearing helmet decals with the initials “J.P.” this season to remember their late and beloved teammate.

A somber moment of silence was held in the Week Zero opener at Panthers Stadium for Purdue, who died in March from pediatric brain cancer at age 19.

A tribute video was tweeted out earlier in the day.

The Panthers played close with Class 4A No. 2 Thomas Jefferson early before the Jaguars took command of the nonconference matchup and won, 42-7.

Ayden Hudock caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from first-year starting quarterback Chase Lemke in the first quarter.

The Panthers could not stop the run, though, and watched Thomas Jefferson put up 28 unanswered points.

On a roll

The Franklin Regional girls golf team is carrying on momentum from last season.

With a 168-172 victory over previously unbeaten Hempfield, the Panthers moved to 4-0 on the season and also stretched their section winning streak to 35.

Cam Alexander led with a 39, Ali Boyle followed with a 41, Gianna Johnson shot 45, and Mia Snyder checked in with a 47.

Helping hand

Aris Lamanna is one of the WPIAL’s top goalkeepers, so she doesn’t get many opportunities to make assists.

Off the field is a different story.

Lamanna and her teammates recently donated some of their old soccer apparel and cleats to Open Field, a non-profit youth-development organization that works with underprivileged children in Pittsburgh, using soccer as its core vehicle.

Lamanna met with a representative from Open Field at Franklin Regional and presented the gear.

“This experience allowed me to share the sport I love with those who are less fortunate,” Lamanna said.

Tennis, anyone?

With three straight-set wins in singles, the Franklin Regional girls tennis team won its section opener, 5-0, over Kiski Area on an 80-degree day in Murrysville.

Ellen Liu, Michelle Yan and Rachel Poltinnikov were singles winner, while doubles went 2-0 with wins by Makinzie Marcus and Lucy Zheng, and Anika Jadia and Anna Beadle.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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