http://www.tribune-democrat.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:38:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_230233918.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_230233918.html The newest member of the Pitt-Johnstown coaching staff is excited for the opportunity to forward her career, despite the fact that the job will require a foray into unfamiliar territory.Working with the guards as an assistant women’s basketball coach shouldn’t be a problem for Erin Eaton, who held a similar position for three years at Bethany (W.Va.) College. But, adding the responsibilities of leading the women’s cross country and golf programs will present new challenges, because she has no background in either. Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:23:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_230002355.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_230002355.html It’s becoming a rite of passage at Pitt football camp: The older guys from Johnstown show around a younger teammate from the Flood City.This season, it’s tripled in size.Senior LaRod Stephens-Howling, redshirt sophomore Scott Corson and redshirt freshman Wayne Jones can provide some comfort and stability for Bishop McCort graduate Mike Cruz, Greater Johnstown alumnus Antwuan Reed and Richland grad Marco Pecora as each goes through his first season with the Panthers, who are ranked 25th in The Associated Press preseason poll released Saturday. Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:19:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_230001938.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_230001938.html St. Francis football has come a long way in the past four years. The former Pine Bowl has been transformed into a beautiful venue for a Saturday football game with an all-weather surface and seating for 3,450 people at DeGol Field.In addition, the football team has taken some significant steps under coach Dave Opfar, who is entering his seventh season at the helm of the Red Flash. However, the won-loss record does not reflect all of this improvement. Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:11:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_230001258.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_230001258.html Facilities make a difference for every college athletic program, and a project in the final stages at St. Francis University will improve a number of sports for the Red Flash.A new field house has been constructed and is located at the end of DeGol Field, the multi-sport facility that is home to the football, track and field, lacrosse, and field hockey teams. Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:14:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_222001454.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_222001454.html Daryll Clark isn’t intimidated by comparisons to one of the greatest quarterbacks in Penn State history.Clark, a senior who is battling redshirt-sophomore Pat Devlin for the starting quarterback position, relishes the constant comparisons to Michael Robinson, who led the Nittany Lions to an 11-1 record in 2005. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:58:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_219235859.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_219235859.html LaRod Stephens-Howling saw the optimism that surrounded the Pitt football program when Dave Wannstedt took over four years ago, but it doesn’t compare to what the Greater Johns-town graduate sees as he prepares for his senior season.Stephens-Howling was on three teams that disappointed, going 5-6, 6-6 and 5-7, respectively, since 2005. But he also is proud of the fact he has helped Pitt progress to the point that the Panthers are 19th in Sports Illustrated’s preseason rankings, which were released Wednesday. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:39:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_217234042.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_217234042.html Scott Corson and Wayne Jones are using the Buddy system to lose weight.The Pitt Panthers might be opposites – Corson is a defensive lineman from Greater Johnstown while Jones is an offensive lineman who went to Bishop McCort – but they took the same route to shedding pounds in the offseason: Working out with strength coach Buddy Morris. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:38:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_217233918.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_217233918.html Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt expects the quarterback situation to be much less muddled this season than a year ago, even if the starter is the same.The Panthers, who open camp today, expect junior Bill Stull to start the opener against Bowling Green on Aug. 30.“It will be Billy’s job to lose,” Wannstedt said Monday during the team’s media day. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:53:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_212235421.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_212235421.html Both Kurt Hoffman and Randy Spaid realize that they will have a great opportunity, along with a great challenge, next season as members of the St. Francis men’s basketball team.Hoffman, a Greater Johnstown High School graduate who is a 6-foot-6 forward, started 11 of 27 games last year and averaged 2.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He will be a junior next season for first-year coach Don Friday. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:44:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_199233515.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_199233515.html Joe Paterno will be enshrined in the National Football Foundation’s College Hall of Fame on Saturday in South Bend, Ind.On Thursday, the legendary Penn State coach credited a few players from Cambria, Somerset and Blair counties with helping him get there. Paterno visited Johnstown as the featured speaker at a $200-a-plate fundraiser at the downtown Holiday Inn. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:29:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_199232939.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_199232939.html Johnstown’s Tom Bradley has been labeled a potential successor to Penn State coach Joe Paterno for years.Paterno, 81, believes Bradley is qualified to hold a head coaching position, whether it be at Penn State or elsewhere. But JoePa, in his 43rd season as the Nittany Lions’ head coach, has spent the summer planning for the upcoming Big Ten schedule rather than discussing retirement possibilities. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:52:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_185235241.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_185235241.html Pat Pecora has already turned the Pitt-Johnstown wrestling program into one of the nation’s best in Division II.Now he hopes to do the same with the rest of the school’s athletic teams.UPJ announced Thursday that the longtime wrestling coach has been named the interim athletic director, replacing Michael Castner, who was let go a little more than a month ago.Pecora said Thursday that while he still has the “interim” tag, the school will not be conducting a further search for an athletic director. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:49:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_185234814.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_185234814.html Pitt-Johnstown wrestling fans can rest easy. Even if his new role as interim athletic director pulls the Mountain Cats’ Hall of Fame wrestling coach away from the program at times, there’s another local legend to ready to fill the gaps.Pat Pecora has a well-earned reputation as one of the top wrestling coaches in the country, at any level. Losing his expertise and insight, even if only for an hour a day, could have done irreparable harm to program.Luckily for the Mountain Cats – and thanks in no small part to Pecora – UPJ has the perfect person on staff to make sure there is no dropoff: Assistant coach Jody Strittmatter. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:22:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_179232242.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_179232242.html Pitt-Johnstown wrestling Coach Pat Pecora has earned the fourth annual United States Marine Corps Collegiate Excellence in Leadership Award. Pecora, and Scholastic Leadership Award winner George Dlugolonski were presented with their awards at the 2008 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Convention in Las Vegas, N.V., earlier this month. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:45:00 +0000 http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_177234625.html http://www.tribune-democrat.com/collegesports/local_story_177234625.html After another record-setting performance this past weekend in Columbus, Ohio, Karlee McQuillen may contemplate taking a crash course in learning the Polish language. A two-time Nike Outdoor National champion, McQuillen set a meet record in winning the women’s javelin throw at the 2008 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Ohio State University. The event is for athletes who are age 19 and younger.The victory earns McQuillen, a Westmont Hilltop graduate, a spot on the U.S. team that will compete at the 2008 IAAF World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, from July 8-14.