WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 9) – With the winter seasons into their stretch runs, a pair of cold-weather Yellow Jackets shined through the snow and dreary conditions to earn this week’s Waynesburg Athlete of the Week honors.
Sophomore women’s basketball player Hannah Hunter led the Yellow Jackets to a pair of Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) victories over the last six days, while sophomore wrestler Garrett Johnston looked absolutely dominant on the mats.
Hunter scored 13 points in each of the Jackets’ contests this past week. Her two free throws with 12 seconds left in regulation clinched Waynesburg’s 58-55 victory over Westminster on Feb. 3. She also dropped nine assists in that contest, which tied for the highest total in a single game amongst PAC players this season. The Hopewell native followed that performance by pouring in a game-high 13 points during the Jackets’ 52-42 triumph over Thiel on Monday, Feb. 8.
Johnston had a week to remember for the Waynesburg mat men by not only going 3-0, but doing so in dominating fashion. His 8-1 upset win over Kevin McElhaney was the highlight of the Jackets’ loss at Gannon. McElhaney was a 2009 Division II All-American and is currently ranked eighth in Division II. Johnston showed no letdown after the big win as he rolled to the 149-pound championship at the John Summa Memorial Tournament this past Saturday. The native of Sycamore, Pa. pinned both of his opponents on his way to the title. On Tuesday, he was named PAC Wrestler of the Week.
The Jacket women return to the court on Thursday, Feb. 11, when they travel to Thomas More to face the Saints. The Waynesburg mat men are currently preparing for the PAC Championships, which will be hosted by Thiel College on Friday, Feb. 12.