HUNTINGDON — Wrestling will return to Juniata College as preparations to reestablish its men’s program and launch a new women’s team are underway.

The search for a head coach will begin immediately with an anticipated start date of August 2026. After a year of recruitment, both programs will begin competition with other Landmark Conference institutions in the fall of 2027. Each wrestling team is projected to have 25-40 wrestlers.

“This moment represents both a return to tradition and an exciting step forward for our athletic program,” Juniata College President James A. Troha said. “By bringing back men’s wrestling and introducing women’s wrestling, one of the fastest growing sports in America, we are expanding access and continuing to invest in opportunities that strengthen our community and support sustainable enrollment growth.”

A gift from alumni Carl and Nancy Glaeser will help the programs get established, including an investment to construct the Glaeser Training Center at the Isett property where wrestling will practice.

The addition of men’s and women’s wrestling as varsity sports will give Juniata 26 varsity sports and reflects the culture of local regional excellence exhibited among high school athletes.

Within the Landmark Conference, competitors in men’s wrestling will be University of Scranton, Elizabethtown College and Lycoming College, with Wilkes University competing in both men’s and women’s wrestling.

JC volleyball set

HUNTINGDON — The Continental Volleyball Conference Juniata men’s volleyball team will begin play in the NCAA Division III National Tournament at home on Friday.

Juniata is one of 21 teams in the tournament and will be the host site for a five-team regional that will determine one of the four teams that will make the Final Four.

The competition at Juniata begins Thursday with a first-round matchup between Wentworth (Mass.) (19-9) and Wittenberg (Ohio) (21-5) at 6:30 p.m.

On Friday, the Wentworth-Wittenberg winner will face Juniata (29-2) at 4 p.m., and Randolph-Macon (Va.) (30-4) meets Messiah (Pa.) (25-5) at 6:30 p.m.

The winners of Friday’s games will meet in a national quarterfinal on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

The national semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, April 23 with the final at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 25.

Juniata is one of four schools hosting this weekend with the others being Springfield (Mass.), Stevens (N.J.) and Carthage (Wisc.).

Off to the NHL

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State junior forward Aiden Fink became the 15th Nittany Lion in program history, third so far this year, to put pen to paper on a National Hockey League contract as he signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Nashville Predators.

Fink earlier signed a Minor League deal with the Milwaukee Admirals at the end of March. He played the past six games for Milwaukee, registering 10 points, all coming in his last five games, on three goals and seven assists including a four-assist game in just his second career AHL appearance.

He finishes on Penn State’s all-time scoring list with 125 points on 48 goals and 77 assists. His goal total is tied with Liam Folkes (2020) for sixth all-time while his assists are good for third alone.

Fink became the fastest Nittany Lion to 100 career points this season doing so in just his 87th career game and he is the only Nittany Lion to begin his career with three-straight 30-plus point seasons.

He joins teammates Matt DiMarsico (Colorado) and Kevin Reidler (Ottawa) who also inked their NHL contracts following the conclusion of the past 2025-26 season.