RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Former football coach Dick Bestwick struggles to recover

For the past six weeks, Dick Bestwick has been dealing with a very serious sickness called transverse myelitis. Unfortunately, the TM has not disappeared in two or three months as it does with about one third of the people who are afflicted.
In Dick's case, the TM has become more widespread and far more intense. He said that the sickness has gone from a numbness and muscle weakness in his left leg to the point that he is now dealing with it from the upper abdomen to the toes on both sides. Walking has become much more of a problem for him now.
Since his doctors have nothing to recommend in dealing with TM, Dick has turned to Eastern medicine for possible help. He's tried various types of herbs and about 15-16 sessions of acupuncture. He prays a lot.
There are numerous other symptoms that accompany TM, however, we will not get into that now. It does, however, effect the spinal area.
Football experience
Dick, formerly from Grove City and Sharon and one-time football coach at the University of Virginia, an assistant at Georgia Tech and athletic director at the University of Georgia, now lives in Atlanta.
Said Bestwick, "As I'm sure you know, I don't plan to give into this [sickness]. I've spent a lifetime trying to make young people aware that things don't always go as we'd like and one must learn to 'suck it up' and persevere. It is about keeping a positive attitude. I'm trying to do that every day. We are dealt hands in life and given the choice to play them or fold them. I never knew anyone who won when they folded, so I plan to keep playing."
Just want you to know, Dick, that you've been in our prayers and will be until you beat this thing.
State champs
Richie Antol, the bowler from Hermitage who now lives in Traverse City, Mich., was recently inducted into the Mercer County Bowling Hall of Fame in ceremonies conducted at the Radisson in West Middlesex.
Richie called the induction, "One of the greatest nights of my life."
He returned to Traverse City and several days later the boys team he coaches at a Traverse City bowling establishment captured the Class D state championship. Richie is retired but works several days a week at the lanes.
"These kids rolled their hearts out," Antol said. "One kid even rolled a 300 game."
Hoop tournament
A somewhat slimmed-down version of the W.U. Hoyle basketball tournament has been going on at the E.J. McCluskey Gymnasium in Farrell. Action wound up Friday evening.
The tournament is now known as the F.H. Buhl-W.U. Hoyle underclassman tournament. The former Hoyle Tournament, which was being sponsored by the Sharon Lions Club, folded last year due to what appeared to be lack of interest. Maybe that interest can be reinstalled.
The first Hoyle Tournament was held in Sharon in 1937. It was held at different sites including the Buhl Club at one time, later being staged at Sharon High. It was one of the top-notch tournaments in western Pennsylvania year after year. Some of the top names in the NBA performed in the Hoyle event which was a haven for both college and pro scouts.