Westmoreland Campus Clippings: Saint Vincent men's bowling returns

Men’s bowling is back at Saint Vincent.

The college announced the addition of the sport, which was part of Bearcats athletics until 1982 but has been absent for 38 years.

The club team will begin play in the fall and will be coached by Jeff Zidek, who also coaches the SVC women’s team, which formed in 2017 and competes in the NCAA Division III Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.

The NCAA does not sponsor men’s bowling.

Men’s bowling is the only sport to win a national championship at SVC, capturing a NAIA title in 1978 with late Brother Patrick Lacey, O.S.B., as coach.

Zidek hopes the Bearcats can return to prominence and popularize the sport again.

“I am excited to get started immediately recruiting for our new men’s program,” Zidek said. “There is a ton of talent in this area at the high school level, yet only one other college in Western Pennsylvania offers men’s bowling. Those bowlers will now have another outlet to continue their athletic careers at the next level.”

The new team will compete independently and play in United States Bowling Congress events.

Men’s basketball

Grove City: Junior guard Justice Rice (Monessen) scored a season-best 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Wolverines in a 76-67 win against Geneva.

Long Island Brooklyn: Senior guard Julian Batts (Jeannette) connected on 6 of 9 shots from the 3-point arc and finished with a season-high 20 points in a 90-78 victory over Central Connecticut State. He added six rebounds and three assists.

Seton Hill: Senior guard Nate Davis moved into second place on the Griffins’ all-time men’s basketball scoring list. He has 1,448 points. Davis leads the Griffins with 19.8 points a game this season.

Shippensburg: Junior guard Jake Biss (Latrobe) had 23 points, including four 3-pointers, to pace the Raiders in a 71-66 win at East Stroudsburg. Biss, his teammates and Latrobe native Chris Fite will visit Seton Hill on Saturday afternoon.

Women’s basketball

American: Sophomore guard Laura Graytok (Latrobe) made her first career start in a 73-57 victory over Army. She had five points, made a 3-pointer and blocked two shots in 25 minutes of action.

Graytok has played in 13 games this season.

Cal (Pa.): Senior guard Monica Burns (Hempfield), who is leading the Vulcans (12-3) in scoring at 16.1 points per game, will play Wednesday night at Seton Hill. Burns has a team-best 36 3-pointers. She scored 27 points, on 11-of-15 shooting and with five 3-pointers, in a 73-72 loss to Edinboro.

Grove City: Sophomore forward Allison Podkul (Hempfield) had 13 points, four steals and two assists for the Wolverines (12-1, 3-1) in a 100-39 win over Geneva.

Point Park: Junior point guard Michelle Burns moved to within 31 points of 1,000 for her career after a 16-point performance in a 73-70 win at Midway (Ky.).

Thiel: Sophomore guard Colleen Trainer (Mt. Pleasant) is averaging 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game for the Tomcats. She scored 18 points in a loss to Penn State Berks.

Westminster: Sophomore guard Magen Polczynski (Norwin) had 13 points to lead a balanced attack in a 96-59 win against Geneva.

West Virginia Wesleyan: Junior guard/forward Abi Gabauer (Norwin) scored a season-high 21 points, including four 3-pointers, as the Bobcats fell to West Virginia State, 93-84. Junior guard Brittany Stawovy made five 3-pointers in the loss and finished with 17 points.

Wrestling

Ohio State: Senior Luke Pletcher (Latrobe) is nearing a milestone for the Buckeyes. Pletcher, a 141-pounder expected to push for a national title, needs two wins to reach 100 for his career.

Pletcher defeated JoJo Aragona of Rutgers, 12-4, for his latest victory.

Pitt-Johnstown: Senior Chris Eddins (Greensburg Salem), a two-time NCAA Division II champion and the top-ranked wrestler at 149 pounds, scored a pair of major decisions as the Mountain Cats started fast with three wins at the NWCA National Duals. He added a pin as UPJ defeated Notre Dame (Ohio), 22-21, in the fifth-place match.

Men’s volleyball

Saint Vincent: The first-year program, which officially will begin conference play in 2021, will join the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The Bearcats will compete as an independent this spring.