EXCLUSIVE: After 43 seasons and an all-time state-best 848 wins, South Plainfield's Don Panzarella is OUT as the program's HC.
He tendered his resignation on May 30 amid what he said was a lack of admin support on several key issues.
More here:
Also I don’t care that Houston won. I stand by UTSA being the best FBS team in Texas. Or at least the most exciting, bar none. Frank Harris is special, man. Must-see QB play every time out.
🚨Some personal news: Humbled and honored to announce I won 1st Place from the New Jersey Press Association for my Scholastic Sports Writing Portfolio.
Thanks to all who've stuck w/ and read my work this year, and to all the coaches/athletes who let us tell their stories. (1/2)
🚨 Personal News: 🚨
I'm thrilled to announce that starting Aug. 16, I’ll be kicking off my postgrad journalism career and joining the team over at
@sportingnews
as an editorial intern. I’m pumped to get to work, learn from some great people and tell some great stories.
My turn for a bit of Personal News ™️:
Starting Monday, I’ll be going back to my roots and one of the places where it all started for me — the
@HSSportsNJ
team over at
@njdotcom
, one of the country’s best HS sports departments. Couldn’t be more excited to get started.
Beyond humbled to have officially received my First Place in Scholastic Sports Writing Portfolio from the New Jersey Press Association (NJPA) tonight.
Congrats to all my fellow
@njdotcom
colleagues who won and to my
@HSSportsNJ
coworkers who supported me.
Here’s to Year 2!
🚨Personal News: 🚨
I’ll be the
@DailyCollegian
’s Sports Editor this fall — a position I’ve long aspired to. I’ve been inspired and mentored by some great people along the way and hope to make them proud and help create engaging, important sports content in these new times.
I learned early in my career as a sports writer that it’s about the people.
The truth is that’s a lesson that transcends journalism and the truth is I’ve had some truly great people in my life.
My parting shot for
@DailyCollegian
:
I've been spoiled covering
@pennstateWREST
these last four years and have never had to cover a program in limbo.
Unfortunately that's not the case for other programs around the country.
@KeepStanfordWRE
needs everyone's support no matter who you root for
Some personal news: I’m truly humbled to announce that I’ll be one of two people heading the sports dept for the
@DailyCollegian
this fall, serving as Assistant Sports Editor alongside Editor
@DylJacob
. The Collegian has a top notch sports staff and I’m hoping we raise the bar.
Sources: Sean Spencer is expected to be the next defensive line coach at Florida. He’d recently been hired by Duke, spent the last two years with the Giants and has experience at Penn State and Vanderbilt.
"We want to get to a point where we don't need a
@BWAssociation_
."
The BWA wants to empower Black wrestlers in one of the whitest sports.
I spoke w/
@kmac120
,
@natejacksonii
and
@BaybeeMarky_PSU
about the BWA and how society + the sport need to change.
"So as not to compromise the investigation" and presumably SDSU's season and Araiza's draft stock. Reminder, we don't have to take cops at their words.
This incident happened last October and San Diego State has said SDPD told the school for months to not take any action, as to not compromise their investigation. This civil lawsuit is the first time players have been named. Very ugly situation.
Thanks to the coaches of
@GMCWrestling
for giving me my first piece of professional journalism hardware. Immensely honored and humbled to get recognized after just my first year on the beat for .
Thanks to all who read and followed along during the season.
Cael Sanderson has led
@pennstateWREST
to NCAA titles in eight of the last nine years. I spoke with his former coaches, teammates and wrestlers to get a feel for the man behind one of the most prolific dynasties in college sports and what makes him special
I’ve never stepped foot on a wrestling and I didn’t grow up around wrestling.
But I’m so happy and grateful to have found this sport when I did and been able to report on it. It’s opened so many doors for me, challenged me in new ways and is a big reason for my success.
Australian punters are all the rage in CFB because of
@ProkickAus
.
I spoke w/ ProKick's founder, Nathan Chapman and some former ProKickers like
@_JamesSmith37
and
@tomhutton25
to understand what PKA does well and what being an Aussie in CFB is like.
🚨🚨 Personal News: I’m humbled and thrilled to announce that I’ll be reprising my role as Assistant Sports Editor at the
@DailyCollegian
this fall alongside
@ShaneTConnelly
and Sports Editor
@linger_man
as we try to take the Collegian sports department to new heights.
Yesterday was my last day at
@sportingnews
. It was a great six months and a great way to kick off my professional career in the industry. Set out to tell some cool stories and I think I did just that. Thanks to
@bgschlager
and
@KarisaMaxwell
for taking a flier on me.
Penn State fans here give quite an ovation for Shakur Rasheed as he upsets No. 3 seed Jacob Warner of Iowa here at the quarterfinals of the 2020 Big Ten Tournament.
Some personal news: Thrilled to announce I’ll be serving as the
@DailyCollegian
’s Features and Investigations editor for this semester. Super excited to use the Collegian’s platform to amplify voices and communities that need it while also being able to hold people accountable
Some (relatively minor) news: With fall opening day just about a month from now, I'm not going anywhere but I am changing beats.
After cutting my teeth on girls soccer last fall, I'll be moving over to the boys' side this fall for
@HSSportsNJ
/
@njdotcom
.
Excited to get after it.
"It means we've won."
@DeionSanders
has been wildly embraced for leading
@jacksonstatefb
back to prominence the last two years.
I spoke w/ Sanders for
@sportingnews
on how the wins are far more than on-field and are part of something more:
.
@pennstateWREST
now has seven Black national champions in program history dating back to 1994 when
@kmac120
became the program’s first Black national champ.
Also marks the first time in program history that more than one Black wrestler has won a title in the same year.
The season ended yesterday for
@SoftballBecton
.
But for one player — Ava Romano — it was never supposed to start.
My story on how Romano battled a bilateral pulmonary embolism, vascular repair surgery, and nearly died only to return five months later:
Long and earnest 🧵inbound (apologies in advance):
Today officially marks 1 year for me at
@HSSportsNJ
/
@njdotcom
.
After not knowing where my first full-time job would come from, to have it be at the paper of record in my home state has been immensely gratifying. 1/x
Few jobs in CFB compare to being an interim head coach, trying to right a sinking ship midseason.
Yet, plenty answer the call w/ no guarantee of what's next or that they'll ever be a HC again, regardless of results.
For
@underdogdynasty
, I explore why:
Here’s to 25 years around the sun ft. some of my favorite venues I’ve covered games at this year and some of my favorite people. On my birthday, I reflect on the gratitude for having a cool job and cool folks in my life.
Let’s see what the next year has in store.
10 years ago today, Cael Sanderson became the new coach of
@pennstateWREST
. Since then, the 39-year old has led the Nittany Lions to 8 of the last 9 NCAA titles and has been the driving force behind one of the most prolific dynasties in all of sports:
It is every Garden Stater’s sworn duty and divine right to become even more obnoxious and quintessentially New Jersey in the lead up to and aftermath of the Elite 8.
🚨Personal News 🚨
Happy to announce I’ll be running it back one more time for
@TDC_Wrestling
. Thrilled to be able to cover
@pennstateWREST
and tell the stories of one of the most prolific teams in the country once again. Also stoked to welcome my guy
@BenSerfass
to the beat.
🚨🚨🚨
After much conversation, some math and some bracket digging, good news for Penn State fans. The Nittany Lions will have a representative at 125 pounds at the NCAA championships for the first time since 2017 as Robbie Howard punched his ticket with his last win.
People critiquing the teachers at PV for supposedly “pushing an agenda” need to get a grip. 1.) there simply aren’t two sides to every issue — there are objective truths. 2.) we shouldn’t give equal weight to positions that aren’t on equal moral planes.
The
@GoJSUTigersFB
community has embraced
@DeionSanders
for winning both on and off the field.
In his first full season as head coach, Jackson State went 11-1 and won their first SWAC title since 2007.
📰 -
“At the beginning, no one cared.”
.
@PennStateVBALL
coach Russ Rose is in his 40th season at the helm of one of college sports’ longest lasting dynasties. He has 7 national and 17 Big Ten titles, but it wasn’t always an easy road for him.
My feature:
ICYMI: By simply criticizing American culture and Barstool’s ability to tap into it,
@mariehardinpsu
showed the organization’s and
@stoolpresidente
’s true colors when he shamelessly called her out and then tried to bribe her to debate him.
The scene here for No. 9
@ihasoftballnj
as the Blue Eagles down No. 6 Donovan Catholic 4-3 for IHA HC Diana Fasano’s 200th career win. Game ended in a rundown between third and home with IHA getting the tag down to end it.
BREAKING: After a 275-0 vote with 11 abstentions by the body's membership, girls ice hockey is now officially the 34th sanctioned sport by the
@NJSIAA
.
It had been a pilot program since Oct. 2021.
More here:
After a year away,
@HunterSeubert1
is back on a wrestling mat for
@CoachHuff1
and
@WHillsWrestling
and he hasn't missed a beat.
Seubert's a state qualifier for the second time in his career as he looks to become a top two-sport athlete:
"Nobody thinks a school from Newark is going to do anything in wrestling because it hasn't been done."
Newark East Side's wrestling program is having its best two-year stretch ever and people are starting to take notice.
Here's how it came to be:
As
@WeehawkenTSD
softball etched its place in history w/ the school's first county title in any sport since 1980, it's fitting that an overlooked player — Eva Shevlin — helped win it for an oft-overlooked program.
My story from Jersey City:
You could pay however much for a subscription to watch a “documentary” with minimal interviews and reporting across 3 parts
Or you could click this link, which is free and about the same topic and hear from Cael, Kerry McCoy, Kevin Jackson and others.
Like every good NJ’an tonight, hopping on the St. Peter’s bandwagon and partaking in the Strut of Destiny. Thanks to
@HomefieldApparl
for making it possible.
Only 42 players across the whole state get chose for an All-State spot.
Of those 42, only 14 get a First Team spot.
Here are the 14 First Team All-State 🥎 players for 2024.
Wrestling is one of the NCAA’s whitest sports. From 2008-18 the median percentage of white coaches was 92% and median percentage of white athletes was 79%. If you’re a fan of the sport and care about its growth, it’s imperative to watch this, listen and be supportive.
The man is an institution at Penn State and one of the nicest people I’ve ever come across. Even if you didn’t have him or only had him for a big lecture, you could feel that he radiated kindness and warmth. What a monumental blow for Penn State and the College of Comm. Wow.
I can confidently say that few teachers or people have molded me and treated me, and everyone else, with such class, dignity and respect the way
@pvkosch
has. A once in a generation educator and even better person. Honored to have been a part of the journey.
After 33 years of teaching, PV history teacher
@pvkosch
is retiring this school year. Read about Kosch’s experiences and memories that she has gained from her colleagues and students, and also look and listen to the interactive timeline with her stories!
Another day, another 2024🥎 preview from
@bybillevans
and I.
This one is one the 30 pitchers around the state you don't want to face as an opposing hitter.
🗞️ here:
ICYMI: If there were any doubters left about whether
@NoBickal
could succeed at 197 and if he’d still relish being in the spotlight, he silenced them last night.
My story from Columbus on how the
@pennstateWREST
star is shaping up to be an all-time great:
I asked Deion Sanders last week about his comments saying JSU can recruit w/ the likes of Bama, Georgia, etc.:
"I mean ... why not me? Why not us? And I'm foolish enough to believe in everything we do and understanding that we're doing things for the right reasons.”
It’s fitting that
@RaritanWrestlin
competes in a gym known as the “Launch Pad,” because last night, it served as a launching pad for the career of backup Riyan Bhutto.
My story on the epic Raritan-
@DVRWrestling
rivalry and Bhutto’s place in it:
Hey, this guy looks familiar. Give this a listen if you wanna hear the dulcet tones of my voice and my advice on navigating this industry or hear me talk about my favorite pen. Had a great time here and hopefully you take something away from it.
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨
@katenorum
chats with
@Jake_Aferiat
on his journey in sports journalism 👀
Listen to him highlight his recent internship
@sportingnews
, understanding self-worth after graduating, being confident in your work and MORE!💯
FULL EPISODE ➡️ 🎧
The
@DailyCollegian
has been the start of many careers of the industry’s top sports journalists and
@JTuman21
illustrates that perfectly.
What a shame it would be for
@PSUBellisario
to lose such an important pipeline if the Collegian’s funding gets cut.
The odds of wrestling at the Div. I level are slim and
@KyjorRL
knows that.
Now competing for
@pennstateWREST
, Conel isn't taking his opportunity for granted.
My story on Conel and how he just wants to be himself in his year in Happy Valley:
No YOU just wrote a currently* 4,372 word story all about the experiences of interim coaches in CFB and digging into the futility of it and the existential questions interim gigs lead to, among many other topics.
*this is just a first draft, subject to change
Despite announcing he’d be seeking a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, and despite sounding optimistic about his prospects, Anthony Cassar gets honored on Senior Day for Penn State.
“It was more of a wishlist type thing.”
@Jason_Borrelli
knew he wanted
@pennstateWREST
legend
@kmac120
to take over the
@California_RTC
but he thought that was a long shot.
My story on a decade long friendship and the unified vision that made it happen:
They might not have left the 2022 Sam Cali Invitational with a team title, but there's no doubt —
@WHillsWrestling
and
@CoachHuff1
left knowing they have a stud lightweight on their hands in Anthony DiAndrea
What a game in the Alamodome. And y’know what? I know moral victories don’t count in the win/loss column, but UTSA did basically everything well and Frank Harris was simply sensational. Hard to be disappointed or take issue with anything the Roadrunners did.
Because I still can't believe there are people coming to Joe Paterno's defense and claiming that ESPN piece is a hatchet job and that we're still having this debate, here, get a taste for yourself of the man in question.
And read the ESPN story, too:
No better school and group of guys to have it happen to. From Gallione and Saraj to all the wrestlers. Proud to be an alum and have gotten to know the team. Great job and congrats
@PVHS_Wrestling
"Penn State wins big duals, Penn State wins big matches and Penn State wins big tournaments. That's going to be plan going into college."
By committing to
@pennstateWREST
, it's clear what
@Robbie__Howard
is after: a continued pursuit of excellence.
Coach Mike Carbone has built
@SJMetWrestling
from the ground up w/ some signature wins and a top-20 ranking along the way. He's also had help from guys like Gio Alejandro.
Ahead of their tilt with
@OBKWrestling
tonight, I look at St. Joe's rise:
At MetLife Stadium tonight for the first time since my high school played its state title game here over four years ago. Same colors, different team.
#JetsCamp
Australian punters are now a staple in CFB thanks to
@ProkickAus
.
PKA founder Nathan Chapman, former PKA'ers like
@torytaylor09
and
@_JamesSmith37
, and special teams coaches share why Aussie punters are so sought after, what PKA does well + more:
The scene at HWT where
@CordobaJosue55
becomes Plainfield’s first region champ since 2011. Wild bout. Cordoba surrendered an escape with 4 or 5 second left and then got the winning takedown right at the buzzer.
Congrats to one of the finest and most gracious people I’ve met in a long, long time. I’m always better for having talked to
@kmac120
, who’s always been far too generous with his time, especially for a young reporter. Not a bad wrestler either.
Based on my research, that now gives
@pennstateWREST
the second most individual Black national champs of any current Division I program, behind Iowa State, which has crowned nine individual Black NCAA champions.
Thrilled to announce I’ll be back on the
@TDC_Wrestling
beat for the third straight year leading the Collegian’s top-notch coverage of
@pennstateWREST
. Also psyched to welcome
@linger_man
and
@giannagalli84
to the beat where we’ll churn out some great stories along the way.
That’s a wrap on the 2023 volleyball season. Thanks to everyone for following along.
Your state champions:
Group 1: Verona
Group 2: Demarest
Group 3: Princeton
Group 4: Southern
Non-Public A: IHA
Non-Public B: Rutgers Prep
🏆🏐
@VHSGVball
@DemarestNv
@DonohueJr
@IHAvolleyball
New from me via
@MattBrownEP
: I spoke w/ Division III ADs to understand why schools like RPI, Clarkson and others field Division I teams while being full-time D-III members and the institutional — and sometimes even existential — challenges this presents.