Westmoreland County campus clippings: Southmoreland's Brandon Stone turning pro

Former Southmoreland standout Brandon Stone has left the men’s basketball team at Delaware State and has set a course for the professional level.

The 6-foot-11 forward hired an agent and will pursue potential opportunities overseas. He graduated in December.

Stone played two seasons at Delaware State after transferring from Robert Morris. This year, he played in eight games and averaged 5.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 15.1 minutes a game. He had double-digit scoring games against Texas (14 points) and East Carolina (11).

That followed a career year in 2022-23 when he put up 11.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 22 games.

“I definitely feel like I’m ready to make the jump,” he said. “This has been my dream and goal since I started playing. I’ve learned a lot about the game since my college career started and I know there’s plenty more to learn.

“College basketball also taught me that you get out what you put into it.”

Stone averaged 6.5 points and 3.5 rebounds at RMU in 2021-22.

His college career began at La Salle after he reclassified and finished his prep time at The Christ School in Arden, N.C.

Men’s basketball

Pitt-Greensburg: The Bobcats (10-12, 9-5) made it three straight wins as they won at Wells (N.Y.), 69-57.

Freshman Trent Rozich scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and 6-8 sophomore Ryan Greggerson, back from an injury, had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Sophomore Matt Marinchak (Ligonier Valley) added 10 points.

Women’s basketball

Cedarville: Sophomore Brianna Zajicek (Norwin) scored a season-high 18 points, including three 3-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds, in an 87-68 loss to Thomas More.

Zajicek has started 15 of 19 games and is averaging 4.2 points and 4.2 rebounds.

Chatham: Sophomore Alyssa Laukus (Norwin) contributed 10 points, four rebounds and three blocks as the Cougars (19-3, 15-2 PAC) defeated Westminster, 71-61, to set a program single-season record with their 15th conference win.

Florida Tech: Junior guard Sarah Liberatore (Hempfield) has 10 points and three assists across 29 minutes as the Panthers defeated Rollins, 58-53.

Gannon: Freshman Olivia Cernuto (Southmoreland) scored eight points and added five assists and three steals in a 79-56 victory over Seton Hill.

Gannon moved to 22-1 overall and 14-0 in the PSAC West.

Grove City: Junior guard Mara Polczynski (Norwin) scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds in a 69-67 loss to Bethany in PAC action.

Mercyhurst: Sophomore forward Bailey Kuhns (Greensburg Central Catholic) scored a game-high 21 points, on 7-for-10 shooting, in a 66-41 victory over Slippery Rock.

That game came on the heels of a 15-point, 13-rebound effort in a 63-55 victory over Clarion.

Pitt-Greensburg: Junior Melina Maietta (Greensburg Central Catholic) scored 16 points, sophomore Anna Durbin added 14 off the bench, and freshman Malina Boord chipped in 11 in a 78-34 victory ovr Wells (N.Y.).

The Bobcats (10-11, 8-6) held winless Wells to four points in the third quarter.

Seton Hill: The Griffins (12-9. 9-6) dumped Slippery Rock, 72-52, for a PSAC West victory as sophomore Helene Cowan scored 14 points, seniors Christiane Frye and Sakeria Haralson added 13 apiece, and sophomore Corinne Eisner and freshman Mia Kalich had 10 each.

Sophomore Abby Mankins (Greensburg Salem) had five rebounds and five assists in 31 minutes.

Wrestling

Bucknell: Senior 133-pounder Kurtis Phipps (Norwin) bounced back after having his 17-match winning streak stopped by posting an 8-2 win against Columbia.

Ohio State: Freshman Vinny Kilkeary (Latrobe) nearly pulled an upset against top-ranked Penn State but dropped a 4-3 decision to No. 3 Braeden Davis at 125 pounds.

Kilkeary appeared to get a late takedown, but he was not awarded the points after a review.

Kilkeary is 12-5 this season with a pin and four major decisions.

Pitt: Redshirt freshman Finn Solomon (Franklin Regional), ranked No. 28 in his weight class, collected his third win of the season with a pin at 149 pounds as No. 19 Pitt downed Duke 36-9.

Saint Vincent: Freshman 157-pounder Charlie Mesich (Hempfield), freshman 125-pounder Sean Cain (Mt. Pleasant), freshman 184-pounder Logan Bechtold (Kiski Area), and freshman Ryan Yocum (133) registered pins as the Bearcats (5-7, 2-1) defeated Fairmont State, 33-20.

Mesich was named the PAC Newcomer of the Week, while sophomore Kyle McCollum (133), who went 2-0 last week, was named PAC Wrestler of the Week.

Thiel: Freshman Dominic Hartman (Penn-Trafford) finished eighth at 165 pounds at the 37th John Summa Invitational at Baldwin Wallace. He wrestled back with a 2-2 mark in the consolation bracket to place.

Washington & Jefferson: Freshman Christian McChesney (Greensburg Salem) picked up a pin at 197 pounds as the Presidents defeated Hiram, 43-10. He is 15-14 this season.

Men’s swimming

Clarion: Senior Austin Prokopec (Penn-Trafford) helped the 200-yard freestyle relay team to a win during a tri-meet against St. Bonaventure and Duquesne in Pittsburgh. The team finished in 1 minutes, 25.12 seconds.

Grove City: Freshman Charlie Cratty (Latrobe) swam the anchor leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:14.55) as the Wolverines defeated Westminster, 193-95.

Women’s swimming

Clarion: Junior Jordan Kutchak (Norwin) finished sixth in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing in a time of 5:44.34, in a tri-meet against Duquesne and St. Bonaventure.

She also took ninth in the 50 free (25.64).

Pro beat

Men’s basketball

Charleroi (Belgium): First-year guard Austin Butler (Latrobe) decided to leave the team for personal reasons.

He played in 13 games this season, averaging 11.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 29.2 minutes in the BNXT League.

Butler played his college basketball at Holy Cross and Charlotte.