ST. LOUIS - Dick Weber, one of bowling's first national stars and a three-time bowler of the year, died. He was 75.

Weber died Sunday night in his sleep at his home in the St. Louis area, said Steve James, retired executive director of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame. A cause of death was not immediately known.

Weber had just returned from the opening of the congress' championships in Baton Rouge, La. James said he spent Sunday morning with Weber, who gave no indication he was ill.

In an e-mail to the Bowlers Journal, Weber's wife, Juanita, said Weber began having breathing problems Sunday night. Paramedics were unable to revive him.

"He was a lot bigger than the tour," James said Monday. "He was probably the best-known bowler worldwide."

Weber was one of bowling's first national TV stars, at a time when ABC broadcast bowling events on Saturday afternoons.

In 1958, he was a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association, and he went on to win 26 PBA Tour events and six Senior Tour events. He was national bowler of the year three times, in 1961, 1963 and 1965.

University of Pittsburgh sophomore Krystal Epps broke the school's women's indoor track record in the 600 meter run with a time of 1 minute, 33.12 seconds at the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup last weekend in State College.The performance helped the Panthers take third place at the event.Epps, a graduate of Butler High School, will be competing in the Big East Championships this weekend at Syracuse University.

California (Pa.) freshman forward Kim Nowakowski was named PSAC West rookie of the week for the second straight week and fourth time this season.The Butler High grad averaged 11 points and 6.7 rebounds in the Vulcans' three wins last week. The Cal (20-4, 8-1) currently is ranked 11th in the Division II national rankings.

The Knights of Columbus District 82 held its annual hoop shoot Saturday at St. Joseph's in Verona.Winners were 10-year-old Sam Montgomery of Butler, 11-year-olds Nick Pfieffer and Anna Christy of Sarver, 12-year-olds Ryan Schultheis and Hannan Nototny of Cabot, 13-year-old Nick Gentile of Sarver and 14-year-olds Michael Gallagher of Saxonburg and Rachel Doutt of Butler.The winners advance to the regional championship Saturday at Mars High School.

Slippery Rock University men's basketball players Mason Glick and Brandon Thompson were both rewarded for their efforts last week.Glick, a senior guard for The Rock (7-17, 5-4), was named the PSAC West player of the week after averaging 12.3 points, nine assists, 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals in wins over California (Pa.), Edinboro and Lock Haven.Thompson, a freshman swingman, was named the PSAC West rookie of the week after scoring 30 combined points in the team's three wins.