Westmoreland County campus clippings: Mt. Pleasant's Haylie Brunson makes move from Pitt to Penn State

Haylie Brunson has only played two years of college softball, but in a way, you could say her career has come full circle.

The former Mt. Pleasant standout and Trib Westmoreland player of the year announced she is leaving Pitt to play at the school where she first committed: Penn State.

Brunson, who will be a junior, entered her name into the NCAA transfer portal after Pitt made a coaching change.

Penn State was the first school to call her, joining about 20 others who were interested in her talents.

In what has become ancient history, Brunson verbally committed to Penn State when she was in eighth grade, a decision she later considered hasty. She eventually changed her tune as a high school freshman, deciding to to pledge to at Louisiana-Lafayette.

Her recruiting journey took another turn two years later, though, and she ended up at Pitt, where she appeared to be in a good situation, until the coaching shakeup.

This looks to be her final move, even if she’ll have played for both sides of an in-state rivalry.

“I was open-minded (about a new school), but I was super excited when (Penn State) reached out,” said Brunson, a utility player who has played in the infield and outfield — she is partial to the latter — while also serving as designated player several times at Pitt. “I am looking forward to playing at PSU. I have done a lot of winning on that field.”

Mt. Pleasant celebrated a PIAA championship at PSU’s Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park in 2021.

Brunson hit .294 with four home runs, 15 RBIs and 20 runs this season for Pitt. She started 36 games and played in 42 as a sophomore.

She led the team with seven doubles as a freshman.

Women’s lacrosse

Seton Hill: The Griffins are looking for a new coach after the resignation of Courtney Grove.

Grove, who led the team for 14 seasons over two stints, is leaving to become the coach at Robert Morris.

“Seton Hill will always have a special place in my heart,” said Grove, who began coaching the Griffins in 2008. “I started here, I’ve grown here and I’ve become the coach I am today because of the leadership at the school, my colleagues and all of the support around me.”

After coaching Division I Marquette for two years, she returned in 2014 and had been there since.

Seton Hill went 15-5 last season, won its third straight PSAC title and made the NCAA Division II Tournament for the fourth straight time.

Grove had 132 wins at Seton Hill and was PSAC coach of the year four times.

Wrestling

Clarion: John Meyers (Greensburg Salem), who spent most of his college wrestling career at Seton Hill, has transferred to Clarion.

Meyers, a projected 285-pounder, made the Round of 12 at the NCAA Division II Championship as a sophomore.

He was 24-11 at Seton Hill.