A busy weekend of Apprentice School athletics starts this afternoon as the men's basketball team opens its season at the Penn State Greater Allegheny Tip-off. Previews of the men's basketball, wrestling and Senior Day football games follow.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
The Apprentice School men's basketball team opens its 2014-15 season this afternoon when they face Pitt-Titusville in the opening round of the Penn State Greater Allegheny Tipoff at 4 pm.
This will mark the first-ever meeting between the Builders and Panthers as University of Pittsburgh-Titusville enters with an 0-1 record after losing 86-62 to Jamestown CC last week.
Apprentice School returns three starters off a 16-10 team of 2013-14 that advanced to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Semifinals. Junior Jay Melendez was the leading scorer last year at 18.1 points and second in rebounds at 9.4 per game. Senior Johnnie Ferebee, who was an All-Tournament selection at this event last year, averaged 13.3 points and almost six assists per game last year. Fellow senior Jamal Curry averaged 10.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and two blocked shots per game last year for the Builders.
The nightcap tonight will pit the host Penn State Greater Allegheny (1-0) against Kent State Tuscarawas (1-1) at 8 pm. The winners will meet at 5 pm Saturday, while the losers will play for third place at 1 pm.
You can follow scores of the tournament by checking out the tournament webpage here
WRESTLING
After a strong 4-0 showing last week in the Mont Alto Duals hosted by Penn State Mont Alto, the Builders head to Scranton, PA. this weekend to participate in the Electric City Duals.
They will face United States Collegiate Athletic Association members Penn College and Penn State DuBois, National Collegiate Wrestling Association member University of Maryland-Baltimore County and the host University of Scranton Royals starting at 10 am on Saturday.
The Builders have had a good history in this event winning it in four of the last five years. In 2013, the Builders went 5-0 to win the title including a win over NCAA Division III 19th-ranked Wilkes University which snapped a 26-match win streak for the Colonels.
In the Mont Alto Duals, five Builders went undefeated with three of those winning all four matches that day. Jacob Michael (125 lbs), Thomas Payne (133) and Michael Holcomb (141) all went 4-0, while Ian Jones (285/3-0) and Tyrell Watkins (149/2-0) also were undefeated.
You can follow the event by clicking here
FOOTBALL
The football team will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday as they host Webber International University at 1 pm. This is the seventh all-time meeting with Webber winning the previous six.
The Builders enter after winning their first game of 2014 knocking off Alfred State 39-34 on a dreary November 1 afternoon. Freshman quarterback Deon Lavender threw for 110 yards and three touchdowns, while sophomore Joseph Hodge ran for 105 and one touchdown while catching a touchdown pass.
Webber International, members of the National Association Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), is currently 6-3 and on a six-game winning streak. They are on the edge of being ranked in the NAIA Top 25 and defeated Southeastern University 28-21 to clinch at least a share of the Sun Conference championship.
You can follow live stats by clicking here