Westmoreland County campus clippings: Local wrestlers help Pitt-Johnstown to No. 7 ranking

A number of former local standouts have helped lead the NCAA Division II No. 7-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestling team to an 8-0 start.

In the team’s most recent match, sophomore Isaiah Vance (Hempfield), ranked No. 5 at heavyweight won by fall; redshirt sophomore Dajauhn Hertzog (Greensburg Salem) won by decision at 133 pounds; and No. 9 157-pounder Nate Smith (Franklin Regional), a senior, scored a decision in a 39-0 victory over American International (Mass.).

Vance finished fourth, and Smith was sixth, at the recent Midwest Classic in Indianapolis.

Tyler Reinhart (Greensburg Salem) is an assistant coach for the Mountain Cats.

Wrestling

Iowa: The No. 2-ranked Hawkeyes routed Purdue, 37-6, as redshirt senior standout Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) ran his personal winning streak to 45 with a fall at 125 pounds.

The top-ranked Lee moved to 7-0 for the season. All of his wins have come with bonus points.

Ohio State: Redshirt senior Ethan Smith (Latrobe) won a 10-4 decision at 174 pounds as the No. 9 Buckeyes opened Big Ten competition with a 26-13 win over Indiana.

Smith wrestled at Latrobe and at Sparrows Point High School in Maryland and was a two-time state champion in Maryland, going 83-0 over his junior and senior seasons.

Pitt: A local pair are ranked nationally for the Panthers.

Redshirt senior Micky Phillippi (Derry) is No. 7 at 133 pounds, while freshman Dayton Pitzer (Mt. Pleasant) is No. 5 at heavyweight.

It is the first time in the Intermat rankings for Pitzer, a three-time PIAA champion.

Saint Vincent: After competing at Seton Hill, heavyweight Jake Beistel (Southmoreland) will continue his career with another season at Saint Vincent.

The Bearcats will begin competition in 2023-24 after previously sponsoring wrestling from 1963-75.

Dom Nania (Hempfield) will be the head coach of the team.

Virginia: Three area wrestlers have seen action on the mat this season for the Hokies.

Fifth-year Robby Patrick (Ligonier Valley), who competes at 174 and 184 pounds, is 5-3, grad student Jarod Verkleeren (Hempfield) has a 13-5 record at 149 and senior Nick Coy (Penn-Trafford), a 141-pounder, is 0-3.

Verkleeren, a Penn State transfer, leads the trio with three falls.

Women’s swimming

Shippensburg: Junior Alyssa Tomb (Penn-Trafford) finished eighth in the 200-yard freestyle with a personal-record time of 1 minute, 59.77 seconds, at the Gettysburg Invitational.

Sophomore Gracie Wetzel (Latrobe), meantime, swam a personal best 2:30.98 in the 200-yard breaststroke.