RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Morrison gets 500th victory at Farrell

Whew! That's a lot of wins.
Harriett Morrison, long-time coach of the Farrell High School girls' volleyball team, registered her 500th coaching victory recently with an impressive triumph at Union.
Included in her 30-year tenure as Steelers coach are seven state championships, the same amount collected by Eddie McCluskey, the late basketball coaching legend at Farrell.
Reaching the 500-win plateau is a tremendous coaching accomplishment. During her tenure, she has had outstanding athletes, including one of this season's standouts in Kelly Davis, one of the top players in the Keystone State this year.
Each year its been a new challenge for Morrison, and each year she responds with another top-notch team, including last year's unit that won the last state crown at Farrell.
It's a little early to predict whether Morrison's 2002 unit can go all the way. Don't count them out, especially with Morrison at the helm. No. 8 would be nice.
Washabaugh lauded
He passed away in 1973 but the contributions he made at Westminster College will be remembered for life.
Grover Washabaugh, who headed up the Westminster basketball and football programs over nearly a quarter of a century of coaching. He led the Titan basketball teams for 19 seasons and the football team for six.
Last weekend, Westminster held a dedication ceremony for the Grover C. Washabaugh Memorial Lobby in Memorial Field House. The ceremony was presided over by Leonard Carroll, chair of the Board of Trustees.
Also involved in the dedication was R. Thomas Williamson, college president, who unveiled a plaque honoring Washabaugh. Speakers were Jim Dafler, director of athletes and men's basketball coach of the Titans, and Chet Claire, who played basketball for Washabaugh.
Don Bennett, president of the Mercer County Hall of Fame who also played for Washabaugh, holds the late Titan mentor in high esteem and he related stories of the coaching legend.
Washabaugh was one of the architects of the "Titan Tradition" of athletic excellence, serving as an athletic department administrator and coach for nearly 25 years. He joined the college in 1937 and retired in 1961.
He led the Titans basketball program from 1937-55, compiling a record of 289-118 and earning induction into the Helms Basketball Hall of Fame. His 1940-41 team won the Pennsylvania State Championship and was selected to the National Invitation Tournament in New York City where the Titans lost 48-36 to eventual champion Long Island University. His teams in 1950 (25-4) and 1951 (22-6) earned bids to the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City.
Washabaugh led the basketball program to 77 consecutive home victories over several seasons at the old varsity gymnasium, which resulted in the gym being named "Old 77" following completion of the Field House in 1950.
In addition to his basketball laurels, Washabaugh was inducted into the Titan Sports Hall of Fame as a coach in 1994.
Fishing time
It's time to get out the rod and reel once again. The hot weather has ceased and the cool weather has taken command. October marks the best time for steelhead and other Lake Erie fish to make their move. Guys, go get 'em!