Westmoreland campus clippings: Franklin Regional grad Palmer Jackson on Haskins Award watch list

If golf had a Heisman Trophy, this would be it.

The Fred Haskins Award has been given out for 52 years to the country’s most outstanding collegiate golfer.

Palmer Jackson could be the next recipient.

Jackson, a junior at Notre Dame and a Franklin Regional graduate, was one of 15 college players named to the Haskins Award watch list.

Jackson had four top-five finishes in five tournaments during the fall season, including a win at the Stephens Cup. He has finished under par in 17 of 18 rounds and helped lead Notre Dame to wins at the Stephens Cup and the Gopher Invitational.

“It is impressive but much deserved after Palmer’s stellar fall to be selected to this prestigious list representing the best golfers in the country,” Fighting Irish coach John Handrigan said. “One thing I know and love about Palmer, he’s not content with just making the watch list.”

Jackson is ranked ninth in the nation with his scoring average of 69.29.

Fred Haskins was a longtime teaching professional at the Country Club of Columbus (Ga.). Haskins Award votes are handled by a commission from writers, coaches and golfers.

Football

Allegheny: Sophomore Declan O’Brien (Norwin) had a career-high nine receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown as the Gators fell to Wittenberg, 29-19. It was his first 100-yard receiving game.

John Carroll: Senior defensive back Nate Leopold (Franklin Regional) had six tackles and a pass breakup as the Blue Streaks blew past Wilmington, 50-7.

St. Francis (Pa.): Redshirt sophomore quarterback Justin Sliwoski (Hempfield) completed 7 of 9 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown in a 17-10 win over Duquesne. He also ran for 61 yards on two carries.

Freshman offensive lineman Wylie Spiker (Ligonier Valley) made his seventh start of the season for the Red Flash.

Saint Vincent: Junior quarterback Brady Walker broke coach Aaron Smetanka’s program record for career touchdown passes as the Bearcats fell to Carnegie Mellon, 34-7. Walker threw an 18-yard score to sophomore Molayo Irefin in the second quarter for his record-breaking 32nd score.

Walker finished 23 of 36 for 208 yards, while Irefin caught 10 receptions for 112 yards.

Junior cornerback Mason Brunson (Yough) had seven tackles for SVC.

Washington & Jefferson: Sophomore Justin Huss (Derry) was named the PAC Special Teams Player of the Week. He returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, and also scored a rushing TD, in the Presidents’ 28-24 win over Grove City.

Huss, who had 162 all-purpose yards in the win, has rushed for 233 yards and six scores and has two kick-return TDs this season.

Waynesburg: Junior Justin Flack (Derry) ran for 80 yards on 28 carries in a 49-3 loss to Geneva. He has 487 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Men’s soccer

Grove City: Freshman defender Luke Kimmich (Franklin Regional) registered a career-high two assists as the Wolverines finished the regular season with a 6-1 victory over Saint Vincent.

The win secured the top seed in the PAC Tournament for GCC (9-8, 7-2).

Westminster: Senior Tyler Caterino (Monessen) offered up two assists as the third-seeded Titans defeated Geneva, 2-1, in the first round of the PAC Tournament.

Women’s soccer

Ohio: Senior soccer goalkeeper Sam Wexell (Norwin) made three big saves across 110 minutes of soccer as the Bobcats tied Kent State, 0-0, in the regular season finale. Ohio finished tied for second in the MAC with Kent State and was set to begin the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed.

Wexell is 11-4-3 in 18 starts with 55 saves and nine shutouts.

Pitt-Greensburg: The Bobcats (15-2, 7-1) clinched the No. 2 seed in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference with a 5-0 win over La Roche.

Senior Tiffany Michalek, junior Ashley Lucas and freshman Sarah Tonkovich had goals in the victory. Michalek assisted two of the scores.

Seton Hill: Junior goalkeeper Lindsey Pazdziorko made 12 saves, and junior defender Olivia Deleonibus scored a goal on an assist from freshman defender Mikayla Moyer as the Griffins (5-9-1, 4-9-1) edged IUP, 1-0, for their second win in three games.

Valparaiso: Junior forward Kiley Dugan (Penn-Trafford) has played in all 17 games this season and has two assists. She is second on the team with 29 shots.