College
Related Photos
-
Forest Hills’ David Fogle shoots on Philip Elias of Shady Side Academy during their 119-pound bout in the Southwest Class AA Regional Wrestling Tournament on Feb. 27 at Cambria County War Memorial Arena. Fogle is one of 19 wrestlers who has committed to attend Pitt-Johnstown. John Rucosky
Discussion
10 placewinners to wrestle for UPJ
JOHNSTOWN — Pat Pecora knows that it takes four years, at least, to evaluate a recruiting class.
But the longtime Pitt-Johnstown wrestling coach also realizes that any time he can land a PIAA champion, two runners-up and 10 placewinners in the same class that he’s off to a good start. That’s what the Mountain Cats have in the class announced by the Division II school on Monday.
“I’m excited about it. I think it was a good year,” Pecora said. “Every year you look to bring in people for the future. If you can land immediate help (it’s a bonus). Ithink we did that, too.”
As usual, UPJ’s success will depend heavily on wrestlers from districts 5, 6 and 7, including local standouts David Fogle (Forest Hills), Chad Miller (Richland), Kyle Pucci (Somerset), Josh Krupa (Bedford) and Cody Shippey (Bedford).
“The local kids have always been our bread and butter of the program,” Pecora said.
Fogle is the top local finisher to join the Mountain Cats this season. He was a four-time state placewinner, finishing third at 119 pounds as a senior.
“I think he’s a real good kid,” Pecora said. “He can be an All-American.”
The Mountain Cats also got Hempfield Area’s Jack Bachman, who lost to Central Mountain’s Andrew Alton in the 140-pound Class AAA final. Bachman won a WPIAL title, and Pecora expects him to do well at the collegiate level.
“Bachman from Hempfield was a big one for us,” Pecora said. “He’s a good kid, good student. And he’s one of these kids that he’s just starting to grow. I think he’ll end up being a little bit bigger than that. He could have been a state champ in another weight class.”
Joe Harper of Susquenita was a runner-up at 152 pounds, as he lost to Dirk Cowburn of Coudersport in the Class AA championship.
“He kind of got lost in the shuffle,” Pecora said. “He’s a good one. He was Southeast Regional champion. He lost to Cowburn, who is one of the better AA kids in the state.”
Northern Bedford’s Tyler Chesney, who placed third at 125 pounds, has also committed to UPJ, as have fourth-place finishers Mitch Spencer of Avella and Logan Shirey of Redbank Valley.
Donnie Ament is the only recruit in the class to have won a PIAA title, but he did it in the 2005. The Mount Pleasant graduate, who finished third in the state as a sophomore and a senior, went to Lock Haven after high school. He was a starter as a freshman but suffered a season-ending injury during his sophomore year. He sat out this past season before contacting Pecora about joining the Mountain Cats.
“I really wasn’t looking for it,” Pecora said. “It happened almost by accident. There was another kid from Lock Haven writing to me about transferring. I emailed him and told him we couldn’t talk until he got released. That’s when Donnie Ament heard about it and contacted me.”
It didn’t take long for the two to come to an agreement.
“The first time I talked to him, I knew,” Pecora said. “His sister went here and graduated from here.”
David Cawley (North Allegheny) placed sixth at 140 pounds while a pair of 189-pounders – Tim DeFrances of Commodore Perry and Petros Georgilas of Montour – each finished eighth. DeFrances was in Class AAA& while Georgilas was in AA.
Krupa placed sixth in Class AA, but Pecora said the Bedford heavyweight could have done much better.
“I think he’s going to do a great job for us,” Pecora said. “He was ranked No. 1 most of the season. He could have won states. He’s not a sixth-placer to me.”
- College
-
-
St. Francis will induct 12 into sports hall of fame
Jess Zinobile became the most productive women’s basketball player in St. Francis University history during her four years at the Loretto school (1996-2000).
However, as she reflected on the Tuesday announcement that she was one of 12 athletes elected to the St. Francis University Sports Hall of Fame, she said that she never envisioned that she would experience that kind of success. -
Notre Dame and Miami to renew football rivalry
Miami and Notre Dame have agreed to renew a football rivalry that during the 1980s helped define each program and decide several national championships.
-
UPJ coach switches to Greensburg
The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s loss is University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg’s gain.
Erin Eaton, the assistant basketball coach at UPJ for the past two years under Sasha Palmer, has been hired as the new women’s head basketball coach and assistant athletic director at Pitt-Greensburg. -
Penn State looking for next generation of linebackers
The front-runner to be Penn State’s next top linebacker had a pensive look as he watched his teammates go through a grueling workout.
Michael Mauti’s brown hair crept out from beneath the cap turned backward on his head, and his arms were crossed in front of his heavily muscled chest. A bystander remarked that Mauti looked a lot like one of Linebacker U’s most famous graduates, the stoic Paul Posluszny. -
Penn State's Brackett no charity case at WR
Senior receiver Brett Brackett’s top accomplishment at Penn State hasn’t come on the football field.
After spending the past three years raising record amounts of money while leading a player-organized charity dedicated to fighting kidney cancer, the converted quarterback has one season left to leave a mark while in uniform. -
Penn State still deciding on a quarterback
Penn State quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno was checking in by phone with his vacationing mother when his father wanted to chat.
Joe Paterno wanted to run ideas by him about the Nittany Lions, but Jay said he quickly begged off the phone. The Nittany Lions’ boss might have had a long list of suggestions for getting the candidates ready for what should be an interesting preseason competition for the quarterback job. -
Moot honored for his work on course, in classroom
Matt Moot of Campbell University has been named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
The junior from Johnstown is one of 119 Division I golfers to earn the award. -
PSU-’Bama matchup creating excitement
Penn State and Alabama have combined to win 1,624 college football games and 15 national championships.
But two of the most successful and storied programs in the game haven’t met in two decades.
That will change on Sept. 11, when the Nittany Lions visit the defending BCS national champion Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. -
Syracuse, PSU to play in 2012 at Meadowlands
Syracuse and Penn State are renewing their long football rivalry with a game at New Meadowlands Stadium.
-
Mazey’s guidance helps TCU get shot at title
Randy Mazey is coaching in his third College World Series this week in Omaha, Neb., but the former area baseball star certainly doesn’t find the experience routine.
- More College Headlines
-
