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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- Penn State freshman wrestler Jayden James impressed at the United World Wrestling U20 World Championships this Saturday and Sunday, taking the silver medal in the men's freestyle 74-kilogram weight class at Sportova Hala Mladost.
A native of Westwood, N.J., James booked his second career age-group world medal, pairing his silver medal finish at the 2026 U20 event with a gold medal result at the U17 World Championships a year ago at 71kg.
Over the course of the 2026 freestyle campaign, James additionally boasts a first-place finish at the U20 World Team Trials and a runner-up result at the Senior World Team Trials, also booking an individual championship at U20 Nationals. Over his two-day stint in Bratislava, James earned a pair of victories by technical superiority and outscored his opposition by a 53-22 differential.
Pitt tops Kentucky
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. -- No. 4 Pitt made an early-season statement, kicking off the 2026 volleyball season with a four-set victory over No. 3 Kentucky Sunday at Fiserv Forum in the Jeep AVCA First Serve.
Two-time AVCA National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock finished with 27 kills and junior transfer setter Izzy Starck dished out 41 assists for the Panthers.
Babcock's 27 kills were her most in a season opener and her career-best in five career matches against Kentucky. It was the 21st time in her career in which she has recorded at least 20 kills.
But the Pitt defense was just as strong, recording 14 blocks and holding Kentucky to a .086 hitting percentage, their lowest attack percentage since posting an .084 attack percentage in a three-set loss to Pitt on Sept. 1, 2023.
Starck was named MVP of the match. Along with her 41 assists, she had 13 digs, five blocks and a key pair of kills.
Lovelace named
PITTSBURGH -- Pitt linebacker Braylan Lovelace was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Friday.
The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the nation's top defensive player. Lovelace is one of 12 players from the ACC on the 2026 watch list.
Lovelace is Pitt's most experienced returning linebacker. The Leechburg native played in all 13 games for the Panthers last season, compiling 80 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups and one sack.
Cooper on list
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Penn State redshirt senior safety Jeremiah Cooper was named to the Bednarik Award watch list on Friday.