Mikayla Bisignani is up for one of the top awards in women’s college sports.
The Greensburg Central Catholic graduate who had a strong combo swimming and track and field career at Johns Hopkins is one of nine finalists for the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
The award is for the female student-athlete who best “demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.”
The winner will be announced at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday during a virtual ceremony on ncaa.com.
Bisignani was a two-time College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America All-American. She also competed in the discus.
Bisignani is a molecular and cellular biology major with a minor in psychology.
Earlier this year, she was the recipient of the Dr. William Howard Award for scholarship and athletic achievement, and the Robert H. Scott Award for athletics, scholarship and extracurricular participation at Johns Hopkins. A CoSIDA Division III At-Large Academic All-America Team Member of the Year, she also received the Elite 90 Award in 2019, which is presented to the student-athlete with the highest GPA competing at a NCAA championship finals site.
Men’s basketball
Pitt-Greensburg: First-year coach Chris Klimchock (Greensburg Salem) and the Bobcats are ranked No. 3 in the preseason AMCC poll.
The Bobcats return the senior backcourt tandem of Matt Johnson and JoJo France, both of whom averaged more than 15 points last season.
Johnson was an all-conference first-teamer in 2019-20.
UPG dropped the season opener against Carlow, 84-82, as France scored 26 points, Johnson added 17, junior Jaylen Williams 14 and sophomore Reggie Priah 13.
Freshman forward Riley Comforti (Southmoreland) had 19 to lead Carlow, which is coached by Greensburg’s Tim Keefer.
Women’s basketball
Pitt-Greensburg: Senior guard/forward Nadege Durand was named the AMCC co-preseason player of the year.
The Bobcats were voted to finish third in the conference.
Durand, who shared the preseason honor with Penn State Altoona senior Alexis Cannistraci, averaged a double-double last season with 15 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Kelsey Oddis (Burrell) is in her first season as the Bobcats’ head coach after she was an assistant for two years.
Durand had 17 points and eight rebounds, junior Sidney McCully scored 11 and freshman Melina Maietta (Greensburg Central Catholic) chipped in nine in a 56-43 win over Franciscan in the season opener.
Maietta transferred from Coastal Carolina.
Other local players on the team include sophomore Qitarah Hardison (Monessen) and sophomore Gia Scala (Greensburg Central Catholic).
Point Park: Junior forward Jordan Yaniga (Franklin Regional) came off the bench to score 14 points and grab eight rebounds as the Pioneers (2-0) defeated Penn State Schuylkill, 65-42.
Saint Vincent: After winning its second conference championship last year, Saint Vincent is the favorite to repeat.
The Bearcats are No. 1 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
Saint Vincent, coached by Jimmy Petruska, now in his 12th season, finished 10-0 (7-0 PAC) in a shortened 2020 season.
The team returns sophomore guard Ella Marconi (12 points, 8.6 rebounds per game), senior guard-forward Taylor Geer (10.1 ppg) and junior forward Madison Weber (8.9 ppg).
Washington & Jefferson checks in at No. 2 after a runner-up finish a year ago, while Grove City, Bethany and Westminster round out the top five.
The regular season opens next week and PAC play starts Nov. 27.
The PAC Tournament in late February will feature eight team, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Seton Hill: The Griffins completed a three-game road trip to Billings, Mont. with a 74-59 victory over the University of Mary at the D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead. Grad forward Katie Nolan led Seton Hill (1-2) with 18 points, while Sonia Sarda had 17 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Nolan made the all-tournament team.
West Virginia Wesleyan alum Brittany Stawovy (Greensburg Central Catholic) opted out of playing a fifth season of college hoops, instead joining the coaching staff at Seton Hill as a grad assistant.
Wrestling
Waynesburg: Freshman heavyweight Trent Patrick (Greensburg Salem) scored a third-period fall in his first college match as the Yellow Jackets finished 14th out of 15 teams at the Ned McGinley Invitational in Wilkes-Barre.
Football
Clarion: Freshman Nathan Roby (Hempfield) scored his first college touchdown in a 17-10 setback against Edinboro. His score came on a 16-yard reception.
Grove City: Sophomore cornerback Gabe Dunlap (Penn-Trafford) had four tackles and an interception, but the Wolverines (6-3, 5-3 PAC) fell to Case Western Reserve, 35-21.
IUP: Junior defensive lineman Will Mayr (Penn-Trafford) made two tackles and had a sack for the Crimson Hawks in a 38-3 win over Seton Hill.
John Carroll: Senior defensive back Nate Leopold (Franklin Regional) made a team-high nine tackles as the Blue Streaks fell to Heidelberg, 27-21.
Seton Hill: Sophomore Luke Hauger (Mt. Pleasant) kicked his eighth field goal of the season, from 24 yards, but the Griffins suffered a 38-3 defeat against visiting IUP.
Villanova: Grad student tight end Todd Summers (Franklin Regional) hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass as the Wildcats handled Elon, 35-0. For the season, Summers has 18 receptions for 210 yards and two TDs.
Waynesburg: Junior tailback Justin Flack (Derry) ran for 91 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in a 31-7 win over Bethany.