When
it comes to ranking the best football players to have ever come out
of Western Beaver High School or Indiana University of Pennsylvania,
Steve Girting’s name is high on the list. He was a record setting
running back at each stop. A 1984 grad of Western Beaver, Steve
showed his versatility with a diverse background in track and field,
where he lettered for four years. He competed in the 100 meter dash,
the 800 meter run, and took part in the javelin, shot put and long
jump. He was good enough to make it to the WPIAL qualifiers in both
the shot put and javelin. But it was on the football field where he
really excelled. Steve led the county in scoring as a junior when he
also rushed for 1196 yards. As a senior, he bettered those marks,
running for 2156 yards and again leading in scoring. Steve became
just the third player to lead the Beaver County in scoring for two
consecutive years. He was the catalyst in Western Beaver’s unbeaten
season, which culminated in a WPIAL Championship. He also finished
his scholastic career holding the school records in rushing and
scoring. For his performance, the awards were many. Along with All
State honors, Steve was named the conference’s Most Outstanding
Player, and was also chosen as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and East
Liverpool Review’s Player of the Year. He also received Dapper Dan
and Golden Helmet awards. Steve matriculated at Indiana University
of Pennsylvania, where he continued his all star play. He promptly
made First Team All Western Division as a freshman, and was second
team selection as a sophomore. In his junior year, Steve was an
integral part of the IUP’s best ever campaign. The team finished
10-2, with Steve leading the team in rushing. He was named First
Team All Conference and won the Most Inspirational Player Award.
Steve’s senior season was terrific. He again led the team in rushing
and scored 14 touchdowns as IUP finished with an 8-2 record. Steve
was named the team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player, and again
made All Conference, becoming the first ever player to be named all
four years. He received Division II All American Honorable Mention
honors, and was nominated for Division II Player of the Year. He
tied the school record with 32 career rushing touchdowns. Steve, the
middle school principal at Riverside, resides in Midland with his
wife Suzanne and their children, Nickolas, Matthew, and Hannah.
When
it comes to ranking the best football players to have ever come out
of Western Beaver High School or Indiana University of Pennsylvania,
Steve Girting’s name is high on the list. He was a record setting
running back at each stop. A 1984 grad of Western Beaver, Steve
showed his versatility with a diverse background in track and field,
where he lettered for four years. He competed in the 100 meter dash,
the 800 meter run, and took part in the javelin, shot put and long
jump. He was good enough to make it to the WPIAL qualifiers in both
the shot put and javelin. But it was on the football field where he
really excelled. Steve led the county in scoring as a junior when he
also rushed for 1196 yards. As a senior, he bettered those marks,
running for 2156 yards and again leading in scoring. Steve became
just the third player to lead the Beaver County in scoring for two
consecutive years. He was the catalyst in Western Beaver’s unbeaten
season, which culminated in a WPIAL Championship. He also finished
his scholastic career holding the school records in rushing and
scoring. For his performance, the awards were many. Along with All
State honors, Steve was named the conference’s Most Outstanding
Player, and was also chosen as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and East
Liverpool Review’s Player of the Year. He also received Dapper Dan
and Golden Helmet awards. Steve matriculated at Indiana University
of Pennsylvania, where he continued his all star play. He promptly
made First Team All Western Division as a freshman, and was second
team selection as a sophomore. In his junior year, Steve was an
integral part of the IUP’s best ever campaign. The team finished
10-2, with Steve leading the team in rushing. He was named First
Team All Conference and won the Most Inspirational Player Award.
Steve’s senior season was terrific. He again led the team in rushing
and scored 14 touchdowns as IUP finished with an 8-2 record. Steve
was named the team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player, and again
made All Conference, becoming the first ever player to be named all
four years. He received Division II All American Honorable Mention
honors, and was nominated for Division II Player of the Year. He
tied the school record with 32 career rushing touchdowns. Steve, the
middle school principal at Riverside, resides in Midland with his
wife Suzanne and their children, Nickolas, Matthew, and Hannah.