Indiana football assistant Mike Shanahan (Norwin) was named the FootballScoop Offensive Coordinator of the Year after helping the Hoosiers (11-2) reach the College Football Playoff, where they lost to Notre Dame, 27-17, in the first round.
Shanahan, who played at Pitt and served as a two-year captain for the Panthers, came to Indiana after coaching stints at Pitt (grad assistant), IUP, Elon and James Madison.
Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti promoted Shanahan from receivers coach to OC in 2021.
Indiana averaged 426.4 yards a game, a marked improvement from last season’s mark of 332.8. Scoring also went up as the Hoosiers scored 41.3 points compared to 22.2 in 2023.
The team was 14th in the nation in third-down conversions at 47.2%.
Football
Pitt: After two years in the program, redshirt sophomore Devin Whitlock (Belle Vernon) announced he is entering the NCAA transfer portal. Whitlock joined the Panthers as a walk-on after a stellar prep career at Belle Vernon, where he played quarterback.
The Monessen native did not see playing time at Pitt, which has seen more than a dozen players go by way of the portal in recent days.
— Devin Whitlock (@DevinWhitlock3) January 2, 2025
Wrestling
Edinboro: Fifth-year wrestler Colton Camacho (Franklin Regional) finished sixth at the Midlands Championships. The 133-pounder reached the quarterfinals and fell 7-3 to Ben Davino of Ohio State.
He scored a reverse on Bucknell senior Kurt Phipps (Norwin) en route to an 8-5 decision in the consolation round.
Phipps placed seventh with a 4-2 record.
Pitt: Redshirt sophomore Finn Solomon (Franklin Regional) was on pace for a strong finish at the Midlands Championships but was forced to default because of an injury and placed sixth at 149 pounds.
Another redshirt sophomore, Briar Priest (Hempfield), reached the consolation round at 141 but did not place.
Priest, redshirt sophomore 157-pounder Jack Pletcher (Latrobe) and redshirt sophomore 184-pounder Chase Kranitz (Norwin) recorded major decisions as Pitt took down Pitt-Johnstown, 32-8, at Fitzgerald Field House.
Pitt is ranked No. 18 in Division I, and UPJ is No. 18 in Division II.
A bright spot for UPJ was a decision by redshirt junior Isaiah Vance (Hempfield) at 285.
Men’s basketball
Pitt-Greensburg: Junior Matthew Marinchak (Ligonier Valley) scored a game-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and added nine rebounds and three steals in a 77-66 win over Adrian.
Sophomore Trent Rozich added 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Bobcats.
A 93-85 victory over Baldwin Wallace followed for UPG (6-6), as junior Jackson Byer poured in a career-high 31 points, and Rozich added 20.
Saint Vincent: The Bearcats moved to 6-0 at home with a 92-72 victory over Waynesburg in PAC action as senior guard Mike Iuzzolino scored 32 points, including seven 3-pointers.
Iuzzolino made 10 of 19 shots and grabbed four steals.
Grad student Osyon Jones added 17 points and six rebounds.
Freshman Terek Crosby (Yough) had a highlight-reel slam dunk in the win.
Huge dunk for @SVCHoops guard Terek Crosby in the Bearcats home win against Waynesburg earlier today!
Video courtesy of the @PACSports Network broadcast of today’s game.#SCtop10#SVC#GoBearcatspic.twitter.com/vWzRz5bkdV
— SVC Bearcats (@SVC_Bearcats) January 5, 2025
Women’s basketball
Chatham: Junior Alyssa Laukus (Norwin) had 10 points and nine rebounds as the Cougars defeated Bethany, 75-50.
Florida Tech: Senior guard Sarah Liberatore (Hempfield) had a team-high 14 points in a 62-48 loss to Barry. She played 38 minutes.
Mercyhurst: Junior Bailey Kuhns (Greensburg Central Catholic) scored 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting as the Lakers defeated Allegheny, 71-52.
Freshman Ava Kobus (Norwin) had nine points for the Gators.
Pitt-Greensburg: Junior Tiana Moracco (Derry) scored 20 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and added five assists and five steals for one of her best games as a Bobcat, as UPG edged past Thiel, 74-72.
The win ended a six-game losing streak for UPG (2-10).
Freshman Autumn Matthews (Yough) also reached a career high with 17 points, and freshman Jocelyn Bielak added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
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Saint Vincent: Junior Makenna Maier delivered a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Bearcats (5-5) defeated SUNY Canton, 81-54, in Las Vegas.
Seton Hill: The Griffins moved to 13-1 (7-0 PSAC) with an 82-57 victory over Slippery Rock in the PSAC West Division opener. Junior Hallie Cowan scored a season-high 23 points and her sister, Helene, added 12.