Things aren't great for Pittsburgh basketball when it comes to the major college programs in the city. The Panthers' mens team has sunk to the bottom of the ACC under Jeff Capel. 

Now the women's program sees its third-year head coach, Tory Verdi, facing off against a lawsuit. TribLive reported that six women who previously played for the program are suing Verdi for creating a hostile environment and abusing players psychologically.  

The plaintiffs in the case including Favor Ayodele, Raeven Boswell, Makayla Elmore, Brooklynn Miles, Isabella Perkins and Jasmine Timmerson. Timmerson played for North Allegheny High School.

Verdi's tenure at Pitt hasn't seen much success. The Panthers are 29-60 overall and has a 8-40 record in ACC play. Pitt is 8-17 this season and 1-11 in conference. Pitt hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 2015. 

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be sent to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

Sometimes the assignments that don't seem to have much promise more than live up to the billing. Deer Lakes boys basketball team pushed North Catholic to the limit Friday night. The Trojans came from 13 points down to trip up the Lancers.

North Catholic is one of the favorites to be the top seed in Class 4A. The WPIAL will release the playoff brackets on Monday.

PENN HILLS - The progress McKeesport wrestling coach Adam Alfer is chasing isn't anything complicated. With a lineup full of inexperienced wrestlers, Alfer wants to see the Tigers learn from their mistakes.

McKeesport picked up its first dual meet win of the season when it beat Penn Hills, 48-24, Monday night on the road. The Tigers (1-10) received seven forfeits. Tigers freshman Jamal Hafiz picked up McKeesport's lone win on the mat when he pinned Jayden Fuqua at 121 pounds.

"We're just trying to build some confidence in all the moves that they're working on in practice and the repetition their taking," Alfer said. "We want the kids to understand the way the moves work when you hit them out here, not just in the wrestling room, we want the kids to advance into some of the moves they've been working on. Hopefully, it carries into the postseason. We're a young team and hopefully the program continues to grow the sport."

Hafiz improved to 6-8 on the season with five of his wins coming via fall. With the win over Fuqua, Hafiz snapped a two-match slide and won after not wrestling for 10 days.

"He's had an up-an-down season," Alfer said. "He understood coming in that he's been building confidence over the past couple matches and has been working hard in the mat room. He finally put it together against a good kid from Penn Hills."

Penn Hills (0-4) has struggled to keep its numbers up with injuries and eligibility issues. The Indians won four of the five contested matches against McKeesport.

Penn Hills senior Daemon Phipps, who improved to 21-5 with a pinfall win over Isaiah Johnson at 121 pounds, improved to 85-36 in his career on the Indians' Senior Night. Indians coach Jeremy Packer said his team has done the most with what they have available.

The most competitive bout of the night was the 133-pound match between Xavier Nicholas and Evan Morgan. Morgan picked up the first takedown before Nicholas rallied to score a pin. Tony Gay-Scott (172 pounds) and Zakariyaa Lahujjiddin (285) also won for the Indians, winning by pin and injury default, respectively.

"It would be nice if we had a deeper lineup and then we could be a senior-led team and then they could be leading us to wins," Packer said. "It is what it is this year. We're just kind of learning and growing in every match and trying to get better."

McKeesport 48, Penn Hills 24
107: No match
114: Brady Helfrich (M) win by forfeit
121: Jamal Hafiz (M) pin Jayden Fuqua
127: Daemon Phipps (P) p. Isaiah Johnson
133: Xavier Nicholas (P) p. Evan Morgan
139: Jayden Cotton (M) wbf
145: Tyler Faulk (M) wbf
152: Tory Anderson-Pearson (M) wbf
172: Tony Gay-Scott (P) p. Evan Leone
189: Naragana Roka (M) wbf
215: Mahiya Brown (M) wbf
285: Zakariyaa Lahujjiddin (P) injury default Alex Winowitch

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

NORTH VERSAILLES TWP -- Sticking on a college campus wasn’t going to work for Xavier Rodela. The Texas native moved to live with his family in Mount Washington in June of 2024 with the idea he would go to West Liberty (W.Va.) University to wrestle, pursue a degree and add some traditional structure to burgeoning ambitions of being a barber.

Rodela, 20, went 8-9 during his freshman season and chose to leave college to pursue his mixed martial career. 

“I didn’t want to go into debt,” Rodela said. “I wasn’t with school. I wanted to set my own schedule. I didn’t like school, but I knew I wanted to be a barber. I was just putting it off to wrestle.”

Rodela’s amateur MMA career got off to an electric start during the 247 Fighting Championships MMA Saturday night at the Venue 4 at Sunny Days Arena.

He knocked out 30-year-old Jacob Kennedy 26 seconds into the second round of a 140-pound novice amateur catchweight bout.

“I’ve been doing jiujitsu for about 14 years," Rodela said. “I’ve been doing kickboxing, all of that kind of stuff. There were no ifs, ands or buts about it, I was ready for this since I started. This wasn’t a three-month long camp like it was for him. It was a 14-year camp.”

A Familiar Feeling

Rodela had his dad, Randy Villarreal, in his corner for his fight. Villarreal, 39, fought 24 times professionally. He compiled an 11-13 career record and last fought in Fury FC 60 on April 24, 2022.

Villarreal didn’t come into fighting as a decorated wrestler like his son. Rodela was a two-time state champion wrestling in Texas. Villarreal’s background was in jiu jitsu.

“I think the hardest part for me, being a fighter myself, is reliving everything,” Villarreal said. “Everything he’s going through, I went through. In a sense, it kind of brings me relief.”

Rodela showed off his wrestling chops by earning a clean takedown toward the end of the first round. In the second round, Rodela ended a combo with a looping right that sat Kennedy down in the center of the cage.

“The combo that he hit, we worked at the whole camp and that was part of the game plan,” Villarreal said. “Showing the knee, faking the knee and following through with the check hook. He’s going to be dangerous.”

Rodela, who trains with Stout Pittsburgh, said having his dad in the corner is a bonus. His coach, Mike Wilkins, was also there to coach him.

​“That’s my support right there,” Rodela said. “Him, my mom and then coach Mike were in my corner today. That’s just something extra, I’m not going to lose in front of my dad.”

Back to work

Rodela promised during his in-cage interview after his fight to take over the Pittsburgh MMA scene. Villarreal said he feels like his son is a natural 125-pounder and his power will carry to a lighter weight class. Rodela didn’t have to cut any weight for the fight.

Until Rodela’s next fight, he is glad to have work to keep him busy while he trains. Rodela is the founder of Ascension Cutz.

“I love doing fades, taper fades and all that stuff,” Rodela said. “I’m good with that if you want to come and see me.”

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or X @J_oshRizzo.​

Springdale picked up an important win over Riverview Tuesday night. Read my story about the game in the Valley News Dispatch.

The Kiski girls and boys wrestling teams swept Fox Chapel Wednesday night.

The 2025 NFL season has become known for the year of unlikely comebacks. Philip Rivers came out of retirement to try and help the Indianapolis Colts make the playoffs after being out of the league for five years. Pine-Richland graduate Ben DiNucci doesn't have quite as high of a profile, but was signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad ahead of the AFC Championship game next Sunday.

DiNucci was brought on board after it was announced Broncos' quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle in Denver's overtime win over Buffalo Saturday. Jarrett Stidham will start in Nix's place in the AFC Championship game against the Patriots.

DiNucci, who played collegiately at Pitt and James Madison, made three appearances for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. DiNucci's best season as a pro came in the XFL in 2023. He led the Seattle Sea Dragons to a 7-3 record and led the league with 2,671 passing yards. He also threw 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

In Seattle's playoff game that season, DiNucci threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, but the Sea Dragons lost 37-21 to the D.C. Defenders. DiNucci hasn't made an NFL squad in the years since he left Dallas. He has had a number of opportunities to try and earn a job. DiNucci was on the practice squad with the Broncos in 2023 and also had tryouts with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 and the Atlanta Falcons in 2025.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo

Trevor George battled through the challenges, and finding enough players, to lead a Class A football program during his time at Riverview. The Raiders coach will take on a new challenge next season. George was chosen as the next head coach at Blackhawk, according to Beaver County Radio. Riverview finished this past season 4-6.

George, a Carlynton graduate, was previously an assistant coach with the Cougars. Blackhawk finished last season 3-7. George was 17-38 during his time with the Raiders. George's best season came when Riverview finished 5-5 in 2023.

Riverview opened this past season by wining four of its first six games and was in position to a postseason appearance for the first time since 2016 after a win over Greensburg Central Catholic. The Raiders, however, couldn't steal a win on the road against Brentwood or Frazier. Closing the season with matchups against eventual state champion Clairton and playoff qualifier Jeannette didn't provide the Raiders with an opportunity to escape from the Eastern Conference.

Here is George's record with Riverview.

2025       4-6
2024       3-6
2023       5-5
2022.      4-6
2021       1-8
2020       0-8

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected].