Westmoreland County campus clippings: Penn-Trafford grad Josh Spiegel transfers to Pitt

Going from Penn State to Pitt seems borderline taboo, but Josh Spiegel is doing the unthinkable. He is leaving one side of the in-state rivalry for the other.

The former Penn-Trafford standout will depart Penn State after three seasons to play his final year at Pitt.

A catcher, Spiegel entered the NCAA portal as a graduate transfer.

Penn State is in the process of hiring a new coach following the resignation of Rob Cooper.

“There were a lot of factors that went into the decision,” Spiegel said. “It’s definitely going to be a great experience being able to play very close to home.”

Spiegel began his college career at Oklahoma State before transferring to Penn State in 2021.

As a redshirt senior, Spiegel batted .276 in 42 games this season (41 starts) with three home runs, 28 runs and 25 RBIs.

Last season, he was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection as a designated hitter.

He slashed .282/.353/.465 for his Nittany Lions career with 139 hits, 31 doubles, 17 homers and 90 RBIs.

Pitt reportedly has indicated to Spiegel he will have an opportunity to compete for the starting job at catcher but could see time at first base or as a designated hitter.

Memories are still fresh in his mind from State College, but more could be waiting in Oakland.

“I will remember all the memories made with my teammates. We had a lot of great times together, being a part of the first team to make the Big Ten Tournament in 10 years, and earning All-Big Ten honors last season was great,” he said.

“For Pitt, I look forward to playing for a high-level ACC program and contribute to leading Pitt to an ACC championship and the NCAA Tournament.”

Gardner-Webb: Phil Fox (Hempfield) will be pitching at a new program next season.

Fox, a redshirt freshman, entered the transfer portal after one season.

An All-Big South Freshman Team pick, he went 3-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 23 appearances. Fox struck out 38, walked 21 and gave up 23 hits in 30¹⁄₃ innings.

“I just needed a change of scenery,” Fox said. “I don’t think (Gardner-Webb) and their campus and area were for me. Honestly, the next goal is to play the best of the best but continuing to be myself and the player I am, regardless of my next destination.”

Women’s soccer

Seton Hill: Riley Butler was named the Griffins’ women’s soccer coach.

Butler comes from Illinois State, where he served as an assistant last season.

Previously, he worked as an assistant at St. Francis (Pa.) for two years, also held an assistant’s job at Pitt for three years and was a four-year coach on staff at Radford.

A former player at Jacksonville University, Butler played three seasons with the Jacksonville United and won a National Premier Soccer League championship in 2010.

He spent time with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, New River United and Jacksonville FC at the club coaching level.

Westmoreland County Community College: The Wolfpack men’s and women’s programs will be under new leadership.

Martin Freese will coach the men, and Tom Dongilli takes over the women’s team.

Neither team played a full season in 2022-23, with most of their games canceled. The new coaches will attempt to get the programs back to respectability in terms of participation and sustainability.

Freese, a Florida native and Navy veteran, has coached at the club level and for Bronson High School (Fla.).

Dongilli has been coaching for more than two decades and works in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Pitt and UPMC.

He coached in the WPIAL with Aquinas Academy, Baldwin and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

Women’s basketball

Seton Hill: Bella Skatell (Greensburg Central Catholic) has one more year of college basketball left, and she will play it a lot closer to home.

Skatell, who played 60 games over three years at Mansfield, another Division II program, is transferring to Seton Hill.

Skatell, a 5-foot-5 guard, started 10 of 22 games last season, averaging 11 minutes and contributing 20 assists.

Her sister, Abby Skatell (Greensburg Central Catholic), played soccer at Seton Hill.