#PresidentsAthleticConference

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PAC Notebook - Bethany Falls in Softball Finale

Bethany gave it a spirited run in the PAC softball tournament, but in the end, the Bison succumbed to the same issue that befell all other PAC teams this season—trying to figure out Geneva pitcher Haley Smith. In two tournament games, Smith pitched 12 shutout innings, allowing two hits in a 9-0 win against Grove City, then five in a 3-0 victory against Bethany. The No. 3 seed, Bethany first had to get past No. 2 Westminster, a team the Bison failed to beat in four tries during the regular season. After the first loss to Gevena on Saturday, Bethany against had to best the Titans for another crack at the Golden Tornado. It became a pitchers’ duel between Bethany freshman Josie Wise and Westminster tandem Madison Brown and Abbegail Froehlich. Only a throwing error allowed pinch-runner Ally McCell to score in the second inning from third. She came on to run for Alex Kopec, who led off the inning with a single. McCell’s run came with two outs. That proved to be all that Bethany needed as Wise scattered four hits, adding two strikeouts and receiving a solid effort behind her to preserve the shutout. That set up a rematch with Geneva and, if Bethany wanted to win the title, it needed two wins in a row against the Tornado. Geneva saved Smith for a potential second game and opted to throw Nicole West, no slouch in her own right with a 16-2 record. The Bison elected to dance with the arm that brought them and trotted out Wise for her fourth game in three days. She battled, but allowed four runs (three earned)on six hits with four strikeouts. West, meanwhile, allowed five hits and two runs. Marina Manuppelli’s two-run double in the fourth inning proved the difference maker as Bethany cut it to 3-2 but couldn’t bring the tally even. The Tornado won their first PAC title since 2012. Smith was honored with a well-earned Most Outstanding Player for the tournament. Bethany’s Wise, along with outfielder Paige Allen and catcher Jen Oberthur were named to the all-tournament team. The loss was a disappointing end to an otherwise great season for the Bison. The last time Bethany played a full season in 2019, it finished 10-22 and just 6-9 in the PAC. It’s last game that season was a 21-1 whitewashing at the hands of eventual champion St. Vincent. Finishing runner-up and more than doubling its win total from 2019 has the program back on the upswing in head coach Cassie Moore’s third season.

Barons Place Three on First Team

Franciscan placed three players on the first team when the PAC released its call conference team for women’s lacrosse. Seniors Madeline Smith and Maureen Cain were joined by junior Grace Deegan in earning first team honors. Only conference champion Washington & Jefferson, with its six honorees found more of its players on the first unit. Barons’ senior Maria Hilkert was named second team, along with Bethany’s Rikiah Wise. The Bison’s Cassidy Mailloux was named honorable mention. BC’s Sarah Sberna and FUS’ Drane Perpepaj were named to the PAC Sportsmanship Team. Sberna is a junior and John Marshall graduate. No. 1 W&J defeated Thiel in the PAC finale after knocking off No.4 seed Franciscan in the semifinal round, 17-12.

Baseball Tournament Begins Thursday

Today’s final day of competition was cancelled across the conference, so while the regular season ends, the conference tournament is ready to kick off. It will be the final athletic events of the season for the PAC and only the top four teams in the standings are invited to the party. Top Seed and one-loss Washington & Jefferson is the odds-on favorite to repeat as champions and claim its fifth crown since 2013. The only team to beat the Presidents this season, a 4-3 loss to Chatham, won’t make the field. The main challenger is No. 2 seed is grove city, the only other PAC team with an above .500 record. Franciscan, meanwhile, will snag the third seed in its first season of PAC play, with Saint Vincent edging Bethany for the fourth and final seed. The Barons are led by junior third baseman Josh Costello, a former Steubenville Catholic Crusader and the No. 4 hitter in the PAC with a .426 average. Costello is also second in RBI with 41.

Weekly Conference Honors

The following athletes were honored last week by the PAC as the top performer and rookie in their respective sports: Players of the WeekRookies of the WeekMen’s Lacrosse Offensive/Defensive: Pat Hartnett, Thiel; Grant Evans, Grove CityMen’s Lacrosse: Tyler Britton, BethanyBaseball Hitter/Pitcher: Logan Scheider, W&J; Jacob Watson, FranciscanBaseball: Roman Sanson, W&JSoftball Hitter/Pitcher: Sarah Johnson, Geneva; Nicole West, GenevaSoftball: Mackenzie Dunn, Chatham Note: The PAC Notebook is a weekly rundown of some of the top news and notes from around the Presidents' Athletic Conference. Read the full article

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PAC Notebook

The Westminster women ran away with the PAC outdoor track and field championship trophy as the Titans 190 points as well ahead of runner-up Washington & Jefferson’s 110.75. Bethany was fifth with 65 while Franciscan came in ninth with 29. Still, the Bison and Barons both received some top-notch individual performances as both had won athlete grab two championship medals. For Bethany, those were draped around the neck of Riley Meyers. The senior from DuBois, Pa. captured both the 100-meter hurdles in 14.87 and then followed that up with a 1:04.93 clocking in her specialty, the 400 hurdles. That time in the 400 was a bit slower than her fastest posting from earlier this season, a 1:03.79 at the Grove City Invitational. That was the sixth fastest time in Division III this season and is currently the eighth best mark. The Barons’ double winner was Alison Bryant, also the team’s individual Cross Country champion from back in March. Bryant won the 5,000-meter ruin in 18:12.54 and then cruised in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase in 11:04.00. Her 17:29.92 during the 5,000 meters at the Bethany Invitational is the 17th best time nationally. On the men’s side, the Barons had two individual winners and two runners-up as Franciscan’s strong distance runners again flexed their muscles. Senior Liam Galligan, like Bryant, the reigning PAC Cross Country champion, doubled up in the 1,500 meters (4:14.50)and the 5,000 meters (15:54.70). In the 1,500, teammate Mark Borek finished in second at 4:16.50 while in the 5,000, it was fellow Baron George Kaftan on Galligan’s heals, clocking a 15:54.84. The other Barons champion came courtesy of sophomore David Capello in the 400. Capello finished in 50.55. On the men’s side, Geneva won the team championship with 157 after holding off both Grove City (139) and Westminster (128). The Barons finished fifth with 64 while Bethany was seventh at 57.

Titans, Presidents Dominate PAC Football Honors

Conference champion Westminster and runner-up Washington & Jefferson dominated the all-PAC selections, with the two snagging 15 of the 28 first-team positions. Titans’ junior linebacker Ian Barr was named the Defensive MVP while Grove City receiver Cody Gustafson was the Offensive MVP. Geneva defensive back James Clark took home Newcomer of the Year honors, with Coach of the Year going to Westminster’s Scott Benzel. Bethany sophomore defensive back was named second-team all-conference. Westminster’s Dylan Kidder earned second-team kicker honors for his efforts on special teams. Kidder is a senior from East Liverpool. A number of local products earned honorable-mention honors, including Bethany lineman Braylon Sibley, Waynesburg lineman Chase Espen (St. Clairsville), plus Bethany receivers De’Vaughn McWhorter (Wheeling Park) and Brennan Secrist (Madonna) on offense. Defensive honorable mention honorees include: Bethany defensive lineman Mohamed Elola, and Waynesburg’s Luke Menges from Union Local. Fellow former Jet Lucas Donley, also playing for Waynesburg, was named to the PAC Sportsmanship Team.

Wise Getting it Done

Bethany’s softball team is continuing its hot streak, winners of six in a row and 13 of its last 16. A big reason for that is the dominant play from freshman pitcher Josie Wise. Wise has earned PAC Rookie of the Week honors multiple times this season, but finally nudged her way in with the upperclassmen to snag Pitcher of the Week honors—and for good reason. She turned in a spotless 5-0 week, a save, as the Bison continued their run through PAC competition. She pitched 29.1 innings, surrendering only two runs on 13 hits. That gave her a 0.48 ERA for the week with 23 strikeouts. Wise began the week as the PAC leader in strikeouts with 97, but a double-header against Saint Vincent was canceled, allowing Chatahm’s Kayla Gee to overtake her with 118. Wise is first in the PAC in innings pitched and appearances, second in strikeouts, wins (15), and opponent’s batting average (.231). Her 2.52 ERA is currently sixth. She’s making a strong push, not only for newcomer of the year but also first-team all-PAC. Bethany is currently third in the PAC standings behind Westminster and Geneva. The Bison are 1-7 in games against the conference’s top two teams, owning a win against the Golden Tornado. Weekly Conference Honors The following athletes were honored last week by the PAC as the top performer and rookie in their respective sports: Players of the WeekRookies of the WeekMen’s Tennis: David Lynn, Saint VincentMen’s Tennis: Jack Booker, Grove CityMen’s Lacrosse Offensive/Defensive: Michael La Forte, Grove City; Ben Neal, ChathamMen’s Lacrosse: Griffin AgawaWomen’s Lacrosse Offensive/Defensive: Bria Braddock, Chatham; Kaitlyn Brown, W&JWomen’s Lacrosse: Aisa Uhler, W&JBaseball Hitter/Pitcher: Peter Kalinski, W&J; Tate Ostrowski, Grove CityBaseball: Mike Bell, WaynesburgSoftball Hitter/Pitcher: Haley Bedalota, Westminster; Josie Wise, BethanySoftball: Jordan Kinz, W&JMen’s Soccer: Hunter Hardin, Grove City; Jeffrey Biddle, Grove CityMen’s Soccer: Pascal Despinos, ChathamWomen’s Soccer Offensive/Defense: Hailey Weinert, Grove City; Columbia Harkrader, Grove CityWomen’s Soccer: Juliana Rubino, Franciscan Note: The PAC Notebook is a weekly rundown of some of the top news and notes from around the Presidents' Athletic Conference. Read the full article

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PAC Notebook

The Franciscan men's cross country team captured the PAC Championship this weekend. It took Franciscan less than one full year in the Presidents Athletic Conference to earn its first team PAC championship as a full member. Led by individual champion and PAC Runner of the Year Liam Galligan, the Barons took five of the top nine spots to wrestle away the team title from defending champion Saint Vincent. Galligan, a senior, was the lone runner to break the 16-minute barrier, finishing in 15:46. Saint Vincent took the next two spots, with freshmen John Hurley (16:09) and Tim Patterson (16:13) finishing second and third, respectively. Barons’ runners then finishing Nos. 4, 6, 7 and 9: Miguel Daez (So., 16:15); George Kaftan (So. 16:26); Mark Borek (Sr., 16:27) and Austen Duggan (Sr., 16:40). Franciscan head coach Dr. Dan Kuebler was voted as PAC Coach of the Year. Hurley was Rookie of the Year. The top seven finishers earn All-PAC first team status, with 8-14 are second team, 15-21 honorable mention. That means six of FUS’ seven competitors were named all-PAC. Nate Tokarsky (Fr. 17:07) finished 20th while junior Michael Sobus (17:59) was just on the outside, coming in 30th. The event was held and hosted by Bethany College. Franciscan swept the individual champion honors as junior Alison Bryant finished in 18:29, nearly a minute better than runner-up Jessica Taylor of Geneva (19:19) to win the women’s race. Senior Shannon Wieszczek’s (20:30, Read the full article

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PAC Notebook

Presidents Athletic Conference leadership recently announced it was extending the regular seasons for both men’s and women’s basketball through Wednesday, March 10. The opening round of the PAC tournament will begin Saturday, March 13, and run through Saturday, March 20. Another change is that all members of the PAC will qualify for the tournament. This was done in response to the NCAA Division III Administrative Committee's approving the recommendation from the D-III Championship Committee to cancel all winter sports championships. In a regular season, the PAC tournament champion would earn an automatic qualifier to the regional tournament. Except, this season, there’s no regional for which to qualify. The scheduling change will allow programs more time to get games in prior to the start of the PAC tourney. It wasn’t all good news coming from the conference, however. The PAC did vote to cancel both the wrestling championships and indoor track and field championships, each scheduled for later this month. Wrestling only affects three programs: Waynesburg, Thiel, and Washington & Jefferson; not that it’s any comfort to those wrestlers. The conference, which will release updated postseason schedules for fall and spring sports, is encouraging track and field teams to seek outside PAC competition to fill out their schedules for competition. Swimming/Diving Championships Still On The conference’s swimming and diving regular season ends Tuesday, Feb. Read the full article