District College category, Page 69

Nick McRandal spent most of his sophomore year at Mercyhurst rehabbing a minor arm injury before returning just in time to pitch in the Division II World Series. Getting in a few innings at Mercyhurst was the first step back. But McRandal, a Fox Chapel graduate, wanted a test in...

A familiar name to the area will take over the softball program at Westmoreland County Community College. Barely finished with her college playing career, former Hempfield all-section player Taylor Bartlow was named coach of the Wolfpack. She wrapped up her time with the Robert Morris team in the spring. What...

Westmoreland County Community College had not experienced a win in men’s soccer since 2015 and was tangled in a frustrating streak. But the Wolfpack reversed course Thursday in their season opener, snapping a 40-game winless streak with a 5-4 victory over Allegany (Md.) in overtime in Youngwood. Freshman Ethan Turnbull,...

After spending the offseason locked in a battle at quarterback, Pine-Richland product Ben DiNucci was named as the starter for James Madison, the second-ranked team in the FCS. The redshirt senior threw for 2,275 and 16 touchdowns and ranked third nationally by completing 68.3% of his passes. He also rushed...

Pitt-Greensburg has added a wealth of playing experience and depth to its men’s soccer coaching staff. Former standouts Matt Bisceglia and Nick Piccirilli have joined coach Marc Bucci’s staff this season. Bisceglia played goalkeeper at Kiski Area and Robert Morris. Piccirilli, a Center graduate, was an attacking forward at Seton...

A look at five players to watch in Division II this season: Jake Chapla, Sr., K, Slippery Rock Plum graduate hit 66 of 67 extra points and made 17 of 26 field goals last season. … First-team All-PSAC West as kicker and second-team all-conference as punter. ••• Justice Evans, Jr.,...

The Slippery Rock football team isn’t sneaking up on anyone this year. Not after reaching the NCAA Division II quarterfinals last season, and not with 6-foot-3, 235-pound quarterback Roland Rivers III. “Going into this season, we know we have targets on our back,” said Rivers, whose team is ranked No....

Longtime Geneva coach Geno DeMarco tried the newfangled system. He spread out his offense and ran as many plays as quickly as possible, often throwing. Not to his liking. When Andrew DiDonato was hired to resurrect Grove City’s program three years ago, he easily could have used a passing system....

A look at five players to watch in NCAA Division III football this season: Chas Blango, Sr., DL, Bethany (Mt. Lebanon): Tied for second in PAC with eight sacks, forced two fumbles and had 54 total tackles. … Helped Bison yield fewest points per game (17.3) and give up fewest...

Longtime Geneva coach Geno DeMarco tried spreading out his offense and running as many plays as quickly as possible, often throwing. Not to his liking. When Andrew DiDonato was hired to resurrect Grove City’s program three years ago, he easily could have used a passing system. Wide-open offenses had become...

It could be another lengthy women’s volleyball season at Seton Hill. The Griffins, who won their first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title last year, are the favorites to finish first in the PSAC Southwest Division, according to a preseason coaches poll. Seton Hill made its fifth straight trip to the...

Eight individuals and one team will be inducted into the Saint Vincent Athletic Hall of Fame. The inductions are Sept. 28 at the Fred M. Rogers Center in campus. The new hall class will be recognized during halftime of the Bearcats’ game against Carnegie Mellon that afternoon at Chuck Noll...

Kurt Aumer was viewed as one of the good guys when he played football at Mt. Pleasant. His knack for community involvement and attention to those around him were traits he took with him to college. Now the junior defensive lineman at Monmouth could receive an award because of it....

Eight individuals and one team will be inducted into the Saint Vincent College Athletic Hall of Fame. The inductions will happen during a reception banquet Sept. 28 at the Fred M. Rogers Center in campus. The new hall class will be recognized during halftime of the Bearcats’ game against Carnegie...

Chatham named Seton Hill pitching coach D.J. Cannon as its baseball coach. Cannon replaces Tim Banner, who resigned after the season. “D.J. comes with a great record of success, both academically and athletically,” Chatham athletic director Leonard Trevino said in a release. “We’re excited to name D.J. as our next...

Washington & Jefferson will open the season ranked No. 21 in the D3football.com preseason Top 25. In addition, Presidents junior Andrew Wolf was selected as a Preseason All-America First Team as a wide receiver by the same outlet. W&J finished 9-2 last season and reached the NCAA Division III playoffs....

If the IUP football team takes it to the house, somebody might have enough money to buy one. IUP is offering $50,000 to a randomly picked fan if the Crimson Hawks return the opening kickoff for a touchdown to open the first or second half of any of its five...

When football practice begins at Saint Vincent on Thursday, first-year coach Aaron Smetanka will welcome two interesting transfers. Former Gateway quarterback Brady Walker and former Greensburg Central Catholic running back Alvin Ross are on the 2019 roster, according to the team website. Walker is transferring from NCAA Division II West...

Brothers Frank and Mark Bozicevic traveled beyond the borders of the U.S. once as kids, but the trip to Canada, they said, didn’t register as they were too young to remember much of the details of the journey. The Gateway graduates and members of the Waynesburg men’s basketball team hope...

If Dan Day, one of the first people to play football at Seton Hill, becomes a successful coach at his alma mater — something along the lines of what he did as a senior offensive lineman in 2008, captaining the Griffins during a march to their only postseason appearance —...

All quarterback Drew Saxton wanted when he chose Case Western Reserve to play college football was a chance to start. The 2018 South Fayette grad did something only he expected: start and have a record freshman season. “He exceeded our expectations,” Case Western Reserve coach Greg Debeljak said Tuesday at...

Seton Hill announced its newest athletic hall of fame inductees. The four-member class features lacrosse player Matt Delmonico (Class of 2014), men’s basketball player Chris Giles (2012), football player Antwarn Jones (’10) and women’s soccer player Nicky Pergar (’08). • Delmonico, a three-time All-American, holds career school records for points...

Preparations for basketball season are beginning a little earlier this year for a pair of area programs. The St. Francis (Pa.) women and Waynesburg men are taking international trips that are a blend of team-bonding, competition and culture. St. Francis will leave Tuesday for Australia, while Waynesburg will spend more...

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference released its 2019 preseason football poll Monday afternoon, and Slippery Rock is favored to repeat as PSAC West champion. The Rock, which suffered a 33-10 loss to West Chester in last year’s PSAC title game, went on to finish 11-3 overall and win a pair...

The phrase “Big Man on Campus” could have applied to Eric Fairman at Cal (Pa.) this year. Also, possibly, the “Big E.” Fairman, a former three-sport standout at Thomas Jefferson, recently wrapped up an outstanding four-year career with the Vulcans baseball program. And he elevated it to sensational level this...