Westmoreland campus clippings: Eddins, Austin lead No. 1 Pitt-Johnstown wrestling

Two area wrestlers who were All-Americans at Pitt-Johnstown last year will open this season ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II Super Region I.

Senior Chris Eddins, a Greensburg Salem graduate and two-time national champion, is No. 1 at 149 pounds, and redshirt senior Devin Austin (Penn-Trafford) has the top spot at 165 in the preseason poll.

Eddins is ranked No. 1 in the country in his weight class, and Austin is No. 2.

Eddins won his second NCAA title last year after moving from 141 to 149. He finished 14-0 and was named Super Region I Wrestler of the Year.

Two years ago, Eddins upset four of the top five-ranked wrestlers in his weight class on the way to a national title. He went 24-2 as a sophomore.

Austin, meanwhile, finished 17-9 last season and reached the NCAA semifinals before finishing third at 165.

UPJ is ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Coach’s Association Preseason Poll.

Gannon: Junior Jacob Dunlap (Belle Vernon) is ranked No. 11 at 125 pounds in the National Wrestling Coaches Association preseason poll.

Dunlop finished 18-10 last season and reached the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Pitt: Redshirt sophomore Micky Phillippi (Derry), an ACC champion and conference MVP, returns to lead the Panthers at 133 pounds. Phillippi finished 2-2 at the NCAA Tournament and was 21-4 overall.

He begins the season ranked No. 4 in the country in his weight class.

Another Panther to watch is redshirt freshman Luke Kemerer (Hempfield), who is competing at 149 pounds.

Phillippi opened the season with a first-place showing at the Michigan State Open. Kemerer was a runner-up.

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Football

IUP: Senior linebacker Nick Amendola (Norwin) had nine tackles, a half sack and a pass breakup as the Crimson Hawks toppled Seton Hill, 50-23, on Saturday.

John Carroll: Sophomore defensive back Nate Leopold (Franklin Regional) had an interception, three pass breakups and five tackles in a 42-0 victory over Wilmington.

Mercyhurst: Senior wide receiver Clay Waldron (Yough) caught a game-high six passes for 182 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown in a 28-7 win over Gannon.

He has 23 catches for 468 yards to lead the Lakers (4-5, 2-4 PSAC).

Redshirt junior defensive back Jon Lochiatto (Norwin) has 22 tackles and two interceptions.

Monmouth: Junior defensive lineman Kurt Aumer (Mt. Pleasant) had a season-high six tackles in a 45-21 win over Kennesaw State.

Seton Hill: Senior quarterback Ryan Barabe completed 32 of 58 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns, and redshirt senior wideout Kinan Humphrey caught 12 receptions for 142 yards and three scores in a 50-23 loss to No. 19 IUP. Senior Michael Elardo added eight catches for 108 yards for the Griffins.

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Men’s basketball

Holy Cross: Junior guard Austin Butler (Latrobe) showed no ill effects from offseason surgery on a torn labrum. He had 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Crusaders to an 88-77 exhibition victory over Assumption. The 6-foot-5 Butler started all 33 games last season and produced 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

Saint Vincent: The Bearcats are the favorite to win the Presidents’ Athletic Conference as they were voted No. 1 in a coaches’ preseason poll.

SVC, under first-year coach Terrance Smith, reached the PAC semifinals last season. The team features junior guard David Stephen, junior guard Kyle Pope and sophomore guard Andrew Reed.

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Women’s basketball

Saint Vincent: Defending champion SVC is favored to again win the PAC title in the annual preseason coaches’ poll. Top-seeded SVC defeated Washington & Jefferson, 70-48, to win the its first PAC title last season.

The Bearcats return key players in junior forward Madison Kollar (Latrobe), junior guard Jenna Lafko and senior forward Paige Montrose.