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 Sports 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.
“I played one year of soccer and did the cross country thing,” said Swink, adding, “I credit cross country for my conditioning. I was able to play a whole basketball game without getting tired. I had the endurance.”
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.
“I always loved softball. I dreamed I’d play professionally and in the Olympics,” said Swink, adding, “I always felt myself a softball player who played basketball.”
She didn’t start playing basketball until eighth grade.
“(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,” explained Swink. “It was a big learning curve.
“I picked it up fast. I’m a fast learner. Although, I was still learning the rules in high school.”
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.
“After playing ball, I was accepted into dental school,” said Swink. “But, I was offered a chance to play professionally in Sweden. I couldn’t pass that up.
“It was a chance of a lifetime.”
Swink, who received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, returned to Saint Francis after her playing days in Sweden for a Master’s degree as a physician’s assistant. She currently works at MedExpress in Uniontown in that capacity.
Swink said she didn’t expect to receive all the honors she’s garnered to date.
“I never thought what was going to happen. You never think you’ll be a hall of famer when you get older,” said Swink. “It’s nice to be appreciated. It’s special. I’m really surprised.
“It’s fun to think back and reflect on what you did.”
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’t 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’s received are noteworthy, but the WPIAL is a bit different than the other four.
“This is like all sports, all athletes. It’s bigger for me. I didn’t expect this,” said Swink. “It’s all of western Pennsylvania. It’s a bigger scale for me.”