Another honor: Swink to be inducted in newest WPIAL HOF class
Beth Swink and husband Rinaldo Policicchio are preparing to move into a newly-constructed house with young son Santino.
The couple is also expecting the birth of their daughter in April.
Swink will receive another plaque to help fill an empty wall after being selected for induction as a member of the WPIAL Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
The Saint Francis University and Connellsville graduate has already been inducted into the Northeast Conference (2011), Saint Francis University (2015), and Fayette County (2018) sports halls of fame, in addition to the Falcon Foundation Hall of Fame (2015).
Swink was formally introduced with the other 13 honorees Wednesday in a ceremony held at the Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania 无毛视频 Museum.
Swink joins Tom Dolde, Johnny Lujack and John Woodruff as Connellsville representatives in the WPIAL Hall of Fame.
Swink starred in softball and basketball at Connellsville, but also played soccer one season and ran cross country in three.
无毛视频淚 played one year of soccer and did the cross country thing,无毛视频� said Swink, adding, 无毛视频淚 credit cross country for my conditioning. I was able to play a whole basketball game without getting tired. I had the endurance.无毛视频�
Swink, in her young mind, was destined to be a top-flight softball player. The 2001 graduate was a freshmen designated hitter on the squad that was second in the state. She played first and third base as a sophomore, and took over pitching duties in her final two seasons after the graduation of Janelle Pepe.
无毛视频淚 always loved softball. I dreamed I无毛视频檇 play professionally and in the Olympics,无毛视频� said Swink, adding, 无毛视频淚 always felt myself a softball player who played basketball.无毛视频�
She didn无毛视频檛 start playing basketball until eighth grade.
无毛视频�(Former girls basketball coach) Barb Mongell got me into (basketball). She worked with my mom at the school and told her I should play basketball,无毛视频� explained Swink. 无毛视频淚t was a big learning curve.
无毛视频淚 picked it up fast. I无毛视频檓 a fast learner. Although, I was still learning the rules in high school.无毛视频�
Swink picked up the game fast enough to score 1,500 points in her career and receive a scholarship to play at Saint Francis (Pa.).
Swink excelled on the court, as well as in the classroom, in her four years at Saint Francis. She scored 2,127 points and grabbed 957 rebounds, leading the Red Flash to four consecutive NCAA Division I tournaments.
Saint Francis played tournament games against Connecticut, Villanova, Purdue and Minnesota in those four seasons.
Swink went to the WNBA tryout camp with the Connecticut Sun after graduation, but was prepared to enter dental school. She was a two-time Academic All-America honoree, the only player in program history to be so recognized.
However, she delayed her academics for a two-year stint (2005-07) playing professional basketball in Sweden.
无毛视频淎fter playing ball, I was accepted into dental school,无毛视频� said Swink. 无毛视频淏ut, I was offered a chance to play professionally in Sweden. I couldn无毛视频檛 pass that up.
无毛视频淚t was a chance of a lifetime.无毛视频�
Swink, who received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, returned to Saint Francis after her playing days in Sweden for a Master无毛视频檚 degree as a physician无毛视频檚 assistant. She currently works at MedExpress in Uniontown in that capacity.
Swink said she didn无毛视频檛 expect to receive all the honors she无毛视频檚 garnered to date.
无毛视频淚 never thought what was going to happen. You never think you无毛视频檒l be a hall of famer when you get older,无毛视频� said Swink. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 nice to be appreciated. It无毛视频檚 special. I无毛视频檓 really surprised.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 fun to think back and reflect on what you did.无毛视频�
The 2024 WPIAL class includes: Tyler Boyd (Athlete, Clairton, football, basketball, baseball); Jim Chacko (Official, Charleroi, baseball, basketball, football); Ron Faust (Coach, Washington, basketball); Jordan Geist (Athlete, Knoch, track & field); Simmie Hill (Heritage, Midland, basketball); Heather Lewis (Courage, Seneca Valley); George Rudolph (Coach, Oakland Catholic, cross country, track & field); Robert Schilken (Athlete, Mt. Lebanon, football; Nicole Sleith Schaffer (Athlete, Yough, softball); Bob Trautwine (Contributor, East Allegheny, track & field, cross country); Mike Zmijanac (Coach, Aliquippa, football, basketball); 1989 Peters Township boys soccer team; and 2011-12 Canon-McMillan boys wrestling team.
Swink noted she didn无毛视频檛 know much about the other nominees, but did remember watching Geist in high school. Geist competed around the same time as her niece, Madison Wiltrout.
Swink said all the recognitions she无毛视频檚 received are noteworthy, but the WPIAL is a bit different than the other four.
无毛视频淭his is like all sports, all athletes. It无毛视频檚 bigger for me. I didn无毛视频檛 expect this,无毛视频� said Swink. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 all of western Pennsylvania. It无毛视频檚 a bigger scale for me.无毛视频�