Westmoreland County campus clippings: Belle Vernon grad earns football all-American honors

Belle Vernon alum Devin Hannan said this season has been “nothing short of a blessing.”

The grad student offensive lineman at Valdosta State capped a terrific final year of college football by being named to the Associated Press All-America second team.

The honor follows Hannan’s selection to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America first team.

Valdosta State has a 12-2 record and earned a share of the Gulf South Conference title. The Blazers reached the NCAA FCS quarterfinals.

Hannan, who has started every game this season, was nominated for the Gene Upshaw Award and was a D2CCA All-Region Second Team pick.

He transferred from Kutztown and also played at Old Dominion.

The Blazers is averaging 433.1 yards per game, including 312.1 passing.

Football

Duquesne: The Phil Steele All-Northeast Conference second team included junior linebacker Gianni Rizzo (Norwin), who had double-figure tackles in his final three games for the conference-champion Dukes.

Wrestling

Bucknell: Senior Kurt Phipps (Norwin) earned a 9-4 win at 133 pounds for the Bison in a win over Buffalo. Bucknell won on criteria (total points, 64-63) after the teams tied 17-17.

Pitt-Johnstown: Junior 285-pounder Isaiah Vance (Hempfield) won a championship at the Midwest Wrestling Classic in Indianapolis. The No. 3 seed, Vance had a 6-0 record with two pins and used four-plus minutes of riding time in the final to claim the title.

Washington & Jefferson: Freshman Christian McChesney (Greensburg Salem) won a 7-2 decision at 197 pounds as the Presidents fell to Olivet, 43-9.

Men’s basketball

Chatham: Senior Geoff Helm (Greensburg Central Catholic) was averaging 8.3 points and 16.7 minutes in 10 games for the Cougars. The Blairsville native transferred from Shippensburg.

Pitt-Greensburg: Sophomore Matthew Marinchak (Ligonier Valley) made 7 of 15 shots from the 3-point line and finished with 26 points but the Bobcats fell to Hood, 89-66, to move to 3-7. Marinchak was named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Player of the Week.

Seton Hill: Five scored in double figures as the Griffins evened their PSAC West record at 1-1 with a 69-57 victory over Glenville State. Senior Ryan Meis finished with 15 points, Dimitrios Sklavenitis and sophomore Gabe Gillespie had 11 apiece, and senior Caleb Whitaker and grad student Drew Green chipped in 10 each for the Griffins (6-2), who won five of their last six games.

Women’s basketball

Bethany: Freshman forward Kate Botti (Norwin) had seven points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks to help the Bison over Saint Vincent, 70-58.

Cedarville: Sophomore guard Brianna Zajicek (Norwin) is averaging 2.8 points and 3.6 rebounds across nine games, five of which she has started.

Edinboro: Sophomore guard Maura Suman (Penn-Trafford) logged season highs for minutes (27) and points (7) in a 95-94 victory over Charleston.

Grove City: Junior guard Mara Polczynski (Norwin) had 12 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 72-56 victory over Bethany to move to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the PAC.

Marietta: Senior guard Olivia Gribble (Norwin) scored in double figures in three of her last four games and is leading the team with a 12-point scoring average.

Mercyhurst: Sophomore forward Bailey Kuhns (Greensburg Central Catholic) is having a career season for the Lakers. She has scored in double figures in seven of eight games and is leading the team in scoring at 15.9 points per game. The 5-foot-11 forward also is shooting 51% from the field over 26.6 minutes.

Pitt-Johnstown: Freshman guard Camille Dominick (Latrobe) has come off the bench in seven games and has matching averages in points and rebounds (3.1), while playing 9.6 minutes.

Seton Hill: The Griffins moved to 5-3 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC West with their third straight win, 87-61 over Frostburg State. Sophomore Helene Cowan had a team-high 20 points, senior Christiane Frye added 17, sophomore Abby Mankins (Greensburg Salem) 13 and sophomore Hallie Cowan 12.

Men’s soccer

Penn State Behrend: Senior defender Justin LeDonne (Franklin Regional) was selected to the All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference first team, while junior teammate and midfielder Blake Cooper (Franklin Regional) made the second team. LeDonne helped the Lions post 12 shutouts, including six in conference play. He also had three goals and an assist. Cooper led the team with 32 points and 12 goals.

Pitt-Greensburg: Freshman Matt Armenio was named the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Division III Rookie of the Year, while junior Adam Yoder was picked for the All-ECAC second team. Armenio had a team-leading 11 goals and 25 points. Yoder helped the Bobcats hold 12 opponents to one or zero goals.

Women’s soccer

Pitt-Greensburg: Sophomore Megan Hickey and senior Nylah Pannebacker were selected to the All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Division III second team. Hickey had 12 goals and 11 assists, while Pannebacker, the AMCC Defensive Player of the Year, played every minute for the Bobcats. The team posted a conference-best 12 shutouts.

Saint Vincent: Sophomore defender Olivia Toomey was named to the All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Division III second team. With Toomey at outside back, the Bearcats (10-4-4) held opponents to just 12 goals in 18 games.