PENNSYLVANIA PREPS Shipley: All roads lead to Penn St.

The Moon Area High senior defensive tackle was highly recruited.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A.Q. Shipley always has been a Penn State football fan. In 2004, he expects to be a Penn State football player.
Shipley, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound two-way lineman and a senior-to-be at Moon Area High School, has committed verbally to Penn State. One of the most highly recruited players in western Pennsylvania, he picked the Nittany Lions over Michigan, Pitt and Virginia.
A starter since he was a freshman, Shipley had more than 30 scholarship offers.
"Every place I went kept leading me back to Penn State," Shipley said. "I just didn't find any place that I liked as much as Penn State.
"It was a tough decision, but I felt comfortable with the coaches and the players I met at Penn State. Plus, it's close enough that my family and friends will get a chance to see me play," he said.
To play nose tackle
The fact that Penn State had three defensive linemen taken in the first two rounds of the NFL draft wasn't lost on Shipley. He was recruited to play nose tackle.
"That's the position I want to play. I've always liked defense more. I was a big fan of Penn State's defense when it had LaVar Arrington and Courtney Brown," he said.
Playing in the Big Ten also was a factor in Shipley's decision.
"That was huge," Shipley said. "And I wanted to make my decision before my senior year (at Moon) so I can concentrate on what we have to do as a team."
Other commitments
Penn State landed Shipley, but the Nittany Lions and Pitt lost out on North Allegheny defensive end Chris Rogers, who has verbally committed to Michigan.
Rogers (6-3, 242) also had scholarship offers from Penn State, Pitt, Kentucky, South Carolina, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Mike Marvis, a 6-2, 230-pound linebacker from Hempfield (Dist. 7) verbally committed to Maryland. He selected the Terps over West Virginia and said the uncertain status of the Big East was a factor in his decision.
Hopewell lineman Craig Bokor also may be wavering because of the uncertainty surrounding the Big East. He gave Pitt a commitment in May, but is having second thoughts and will visit Michigan.
Coaches resign
Nick Conjar has resigned as Steelton-Highspire's girls basketball coach after his teams had a 45-15 record in two seasons.
Steelton-Highspire played in the District 3 Class A championship game last season and finished 26-5.
At Canon-McMillan, Dan Pallante has resigned as football coach and athletic director. He is going to Marlington (Ohio) High School as a teacher and assistant football coach. Canon-McMillan qualified for the District 7 Class AAAA playoffs the past three seasons.
East-West game
The Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association East-West all-star game will be played Saturday, June 28 at Altoona's Mansion Park Stadium.
He's staying
Bruno Schwarz is one of the most successful boys soccer coaches in the state with 516 victories. He announced his retirement, but changed his mind and will stay at North Allegheny for at least one more season.
Schwarz's teams have a 516-170-45 record in his 35 seasons.
All-state volleyball
The Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association selected its all-state boys team.
Named to the first team were: Andrew Altman, Sr., middle hitter, Upper St. Clair; Jeremy Barndt, Sr., middle hitter, Souderton; Travis Bluemling, Sr., setter, Mount Lebanon; Andrew Elmore, Sr., middle hitter, North Allegheny; Luke Murray, Jr., setter, Hempfield (Dist. 3); Zach Nanni, Sr., outside hitter, North Allegheny; Jay Stauffer, Jr., middle hitter, Hempfield (Dist. 3); Gary Vogel, Jr., outside hitter, Hempfield (Dist. 3); Eric Vosefski, Sr., setter, Latrobe; Stephen Yeager, Sr., outside hitter, Hempfield (Dist. 3).
Named to the second team are: Jesse Beam, Jr., outside hitter, Pennsbury; Ryan Hart, Jr., outside-middle hitter, Cochranton; Sean Hopper, Sr., outside hitter, Montour; Jason Knaub, Sr., outside hitter, West York; John Kofmehl, Jr., setter, North Allegheny; Dave Lindemann, Sr., outside hitter, Pennsbury; Ryne Murray, Sr., outside hitter, Upper St. Clair; Carl Radke, Sr., setter, Upper St. Clair; Cory Spencer, Jr., middle hitter, Lake-Lehman; and Alex Swatsky, Sr., outside hitter, Christopher Dock.