Jeff Vella stories, Page 2

Justin Huss used his sprinter’s speed to score 32 touchdowns as a senior at Derry, so it should come as no surprise that he went untouched on his first collegiate score. Huss, a sophomore at Washington & Jefferson, returned a kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown in a victory over...

Chad Kuhn spent four seasons dissecting defenses as Kiski Area’s starting quarterback from 2012-15. Six years, 2 inches, 40 pounds and a position change later, and it’s safe to say Kuhn has a different perspective. Now 24 and working toward his MBA, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Kuhn ranks among the best...

MacKenzie Leeder isn’t acting her age. And that’s a great thing for the Duquesne women’s soccer team. Leeder, a freshman defender from Mt. Pleasant, has started four of five games for the Dukes (2-2-1) and has played all 90 minutes in the past two matches. “She’s earned every minute she’s...

Jocelyn Gillette vividly recalls the conversation. The Highlands graduate, an accomplished forward in high school, was preparing for her first preseason game at Westminster in August 2017. “Coach said, ‘We need a right back. Jocelyn, you’re going in.’ I was like, ‘OK.’ He said, ‘It’s just for today.’ And ever...

The coronavirus pandemic can challenge even the most optimistic people. Count Robert Morris women’s basketball coach Charlie Buscaglia among them. His players are in their second 14-day quarantine within the last month, stuck in their rooms per Allegheny County rules and unable to enter a gym. Buscaglia said one of...

The Duquesne women’s basketball team possesses numerous characteristics of a contender: talent, experience, depth. And the Dukes have something else that could help them during an unprecedented season that’s at the mercy of covid-19. “We have eight health/science majors,” coach Dan Burt said. “When you have that much veteran experience...

Roland Rivers III saw no reason to ease into his pro day last month. The former Slippery Rock quarterback’s first throw in front of representatives from 21 NFL teams was a deep post — 65 to 70 yards — off a play-action. The pass connected, and it set the tone...

If things were normal, Serra Catholic catcher Mark Black would be about two weeks into his senior season, wowing scouts, fans and teammates with his daily power displays as he tried to boost his stock for the MLB Draft. If things were normal, Pitt outfielder Nico Popa would be in...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. IUP men roll to 2nd straight PSAC title Tournament MVP Shawndale Jones finished with a career-high 24 points as the No. 7 Crimson Hawks routed Shippensburg, 77-59, in the conference title game Sunday. PSAC CHAMPS!!!...

Two free throws with 35 seconds remaining. The game, the conference championship and an NCAA Tournament bid were on the line. So what was going through the mind of La Roche senior guard Darius Lawrence? “Nothing, honestly,” said the Ambridge product, whose team trailed by one. “I shoot free throws...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. Grove City men punch NCAA ticket Tournament MVP Nate Peters scored a season-best 28 points on 12-for-18 shooting as top-seeded Grove City downed fifth-seeded Geneva, 86-70, in the PAC title game Saturday. Here's our @MrDebtBuster...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. La Roche women tie AMCC record for wins Danajah Sanders scored 22 points, and the Redhawks recorded a season high in points en route to a 93-56 rout of Alfred State in the Allegheny Mountain...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. Allegheny’s Rawls breaks school’s scoring record Senior Jordan Rawls (Allderdice) scored 18 points Saturday and became the program’s all-time leader with 1,701 points during a 90-63 victory over Denison. AND THERE IT IS!!! Jordan Rawls...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. Pitt-Johnstown wrestling coach makes NCAA history Pat Pecora became college wrestling’s all-time leader in wins with 617 as the fourth-ranked Mountain Cats defeated 11th-ranked Mercyhurst, 22-12, on Friday. Pitt-Johnstown wrestling beats Mercyhurst, 22-13. Mountain Cats'...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. Cal (Pa.) men end PSAC Tournament drought Jermaine Hall Jr. scored a career-best 23 points, and the Vulcans clinched their first conference tournament berth since 2013-14 with a 98-70 victory over Slippery Rock on Saturday....

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. Miller helps No. 7 IUP men improve to 17-1 Malik Miller scored a career-best 27 points, and the Crimson Hawks held off Clarion, 82-71, in a PSAC game Saturday. IUP (12-1 conference) trailed three times...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. No. 8 IUP women outlast No. 20 Cal (Pa.) in PSAC showdown Lexi Griggs (Vincentian) recorded a season-high 22 points as the Crimson Hawks downed the Vulcans, 76-61, on Saturday in a rematch of last...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. Gilbert ties W&J record with 40 points Junior Lauren Gilbert (Baldwin) made 13 of 24 shots and 7 of 10 3-pointers, leading the Presidents past Waynesburg, 95-84, in a PAC game Saturday. Her career-best 40...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. RMU women’s hockey wins in final seconds Wisconsin transfer Kyleigh Hanzlik, playing in her second game for Robert Morris, scored with seven seconds left as the Colonials edged Colgate, 6-5, in the third-place game of...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. La Roche men down Pitt-Greensburg in key AMCC matchup Tyler Frederick (Butler) scored 25 of his career-high 34 points in the second half, and the Redhawks won 89-73 on Saturday in a meeting of conference...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. Sole’s big day carries Dukes to 9th straight victory Junior Laia Solé scored 38 points — the most by a Duquesne in more than 20 years — in a 72-69 overtime victory over St. Francis...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. Slippery Rock football bound for semifinals Roland Rivers III accounted for eight touchdowns — six passing and two rushing — as the eighth-ranked Rock outlasted 13th-ranked Notre Dame (Ohio), 65-59, in the NCAA Division II...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. WR Wynn, No. 8 Slippery Rock dominate in playoff opener Jermaine Wynn Jr. (Woodland Hills) equaled the NCAA Division II playoff mark with 18 catches as The Rock ousted Shepherd, 51-30, in a second-round game...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: 1. Carnegie Mellon women’s soccer reaches D-III Final Four The No. 25 Tartans defeated No. 19 St. Thomas (Minn.) on penalty kicks Saturday, becoming the first women’s team to reach the NCAA Tournament semifinals. Next up...

Every Monday, the Tribune-Review will highlight 10 top area college performances from the weekend: ••• 1. Slippery Rock rallies in PSAC championship Charles Snorweah’s 8-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left lifted the No. 8 Rock past No. 13 Kutztown, 37-35, on Saturday. FB: A quick look at The Rock's...