Paul Schofield stories, Page 30
WPIAL wrestling notebook: Frazier’s Rune Lawrence looking to make history
History could be made Saturday at the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships at Chartiers Valley. If Frazier senior Rune Lawrence captures the 215-pound weight class, it will be his fourth WPIAL title, and he would become the 32nd wrestler to achieve that feat. He also would join his brother Thayne...
Trib HSSN WPIAL wrestling rankings for Feb. 21, 2024
WEEK 10 Final team rankings Class 3A 1. Connellsville (17-4) 2. Trinity (13-3) 3. Franklin Regional (22-3) 4. Bethel Park (19-3) 5. Latrobe (13-5) 6. North Allegheny (17-4) 7. Fox Chapel (15-2) 8. Peters Township (16-6) 9. Norwin (12-7) 10. West Allegheny (9-4) Class 2A 1. Burrell (15-4) 2. Burgettstown...
No. 6 Jeannette rallies to beat Sewickley Academy, avoid 1st-round upset
It took No. 6 Jeannette more than two and a half quarters to find its groove, but once it did, the Jayhawks found their first playoff win since 2021. Jeannette used a 10-0 run to end the third quarter and then held on to defeat No. 11 Sewickley Academy, 52-47,...
Kiski Area upsets No. 5 Peters Township in WPIAL Class 5A playoffs
During halftime of Monday’s WPIAL Class 5A playoff game at Peters Township, Kiski Area athletic director John Peterman said watch out for No. 20. “If Noah (Thimons) makes his first shot of the second half, he’ll go on a run,” Peterman said. Thimons nailed that first shot and three more...
Penn-Trafford’s Valenta sisters on target at WPIAL rifle championships
When Penn-Trafford senior Carlee Valenta won the school’s first WPIAL rifle title, she did it while facing difficult obstacles. But thanks to coach Diana Cholock and assistant Dale Emerick she posted her best career score of 200-19x with nine center shots. Her previous best was 200-14x with three centers. “It...
Norwin girls wrestling boasts 2 WPIAL champs in inaugural event
It was quite a day for the Norwin girls wrestling program Saturday at the first WPIAL girls wrestling championship at North Allegheny. The Knights crowned two champions and had three others advance to the PIAA West Regional on March 2 at Canon-McMillan. Sophomore Josephine Dollman became the school’s first WPIAL...
At WPIAL girls wrestling, Plum’s Claassen sisters keep promise to grandmother
Plum’s Claassen sisters kept their promise Saturday. They vowed to their ill grandmother, Marilynn Claassen, they would bring home medals from the first WPIAL girls wrestling championship at North Allegheny. Sophomore Alaina Claassen was going to present her with a gold medal, and freshman Addison Claassen was going to give...
‘It means we belong:’ WPIAL girls celebrate inaugural wrestling tournament
It was a day of firsts at the WPIAL girls wrestling championships Saturday at North Allegheny. Not only was this the inaugural season for girls wrestling across the state, the 13 winners are part of history. Canon-McMillan senior Valarie Solorio always will be known as the first girls WPIAL champion...
Freshmen stood tall during Franklin Regional’s run to PIAA wrestling tournament
Franklin Regional wrestling ended the team portion of the season Feb. 10 on the mats at the Giant Center in Hershey. Thanks to a unique balance of seniors and some talented freshmen, the Panthers (22-3) made it to Day 3 of the PIAA Class 3A team tournament. While the Panthers...
Montour boys pull away to defeat Southmoreland in WPIAL 4A 1st round
Montour coach Bill Minear said his team works on end-of-the-quarter possessions. That extra work paid off big time Friday in his team’s WPIAL Class 4A first-round game against Southmoreland. The third-seeded Spartans (20-3) scored in the final second of every quarter and defeated the Scotties, 71-44. Montour will face Avonworth,...
Latrobe duo among wrestlers eager to hit mat for 1st WPIAL girls tournament
Latrobe junior Lili Maxwell didn’t start wrestling until two years ago. A torn labrum while swimming convinced her to try the sport. Now the 17-year-old is preparing to compete in her first WPIAL individual wrestling championship. It’s a first for all 185 girls set to compete in the inaugural tournament...
High school wrestling notes: Athletes begin individual journeys
As Burrell wrestling coach Josh Shields was addressing his team in the locker room at the PIAA team championship at Giant Center on Feb. 8 in Hershey, he talked about how one chapter of the season was closing and a new one was beginning. Almost all coaches like the team...
Trib HSSN WPIAL wrestling rankings for Feb. 13, 2024
WEEK 9 Class 3A Top 10 Team (This year’s record) Last week’s rankings 1. Connellsville (16-4) 1 2. Trinity (13-3) 2 3. Franklin Regional (22-3) 3 4. Bethel Park (18-3) 4 5. Latrobe (13-5) 5 6. North Allegheny (17-4) 6 7. Fox Chapel (15-2) 7 8. Peters Township (15-6) 8...
Penn-Trafford boys look to carry momentum into playoffs
When the Penn-Trafford boys basketball team entered the final two weeks of the regular season, its WPIAL playoff hopes were on thin ice. But wins against McKeesport and Latrobe in crunch time clinched a postseason berth for the Warriors. Penn-Trafford (5-4, 11-10) was in position to finish as high as...
Franklin Regional wrestling makes states to end dual meet season on high note
When the Franklin Regional wrestling team opened the season by winning the Hampton Dawg Duals, Panthers coach Matt Lebe wasn’t surprised. “I knew we had a chance at being pretty good,” Lebe said. “We did well in a scrimmage against Trinity before the duals. We were right with them. “We...
Trinity sets up WPIAL finals rematch with PIAA Class 3A consolation win
HERSHEY – Trinity rebounded from a tough loss to Bethlehem Catholic in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals at the team championship by trouncing District 12 champion La Salle College, 45-23. The Hillers (13-2) won the first seven bouts and built a 35-0 lead at the Giant Center. Bodie Morgan at...
Burgettstown outgunned, falls to Montoursville at PIAA tournament
HERSHEY — For the second consecutive day at the Giant Center, Burgettstown allowed too many pins and was eliminated from the PIAA Class 2A team tournament Friday. Montoursville, the District 4 runner-up, defeated WPIAL runner-up Burgettstown, 42-24, in a consolation-round bout. The Blue Devils won six bouts, but gave up...
Franklin Regional stays alive at PIAA Class 3A team wrestling tournament
HERSHEY — There must be something about the Giant Center for the Franklin Regional wrestling team. This is the fourth time the Panthers have wrestled in Hershey, and they keep finding ways to win and are having fun doing so. The 2013 team placed third in the state, and the...
Connellsville knocks off top-ranked team to stay alive in Class 3A consolation bracket
HERSHEY – Connellsville continued its comeback at the PIAA Class 3A team championship by knocking out District 1 champion and No. 1-ranked Council Rock South on Friday in Round 2 of consolations at the Giant Center. The Falcons got big wins from their top wrestlers, picked up bonus points and...
Burrell wrestling season comes to disappointing end at PIAA tournament
HERSHEY — It wasn’t the end to the dual-meet season the Burrell wrestling team was looking for Friday at the PIAA Class 2A team championship. After reaching the quarterfinals with a win Thursday, the Bucs were beaten by District 6 champion Bishop McCort, 51-15, and then fell to District 10...
Franklin Regional wrestling pushes No. 1 Council Rock South to brink before losing
HERSHEY — Three close losses proved to be the difference in Franklin Regional’s first-round loss to No. 1 Council Rock South at the PIAA Class 3A wrestling team championships Thursday at Giant Center. The Hawks won close matches at 133 pounds, 145 and 172 and defeated the Panthers, 37-24. Franklin...
Trinity bounces back from WPIAL loss, routs Selinsgrove in state tournament
HERSHEY — WPIAL Class 3A runner-up Trinity won 10 of 13 matches and had eight pins in an easy 54-14 first-round win against District 4 champion Selisngrove at the PIAA team championships Thursday at the Giant Center. The Hillers (12-1) raced out to a 21-0 lead thanks to pins by...
Wilson knocks off WPIAL champ Connellsville in PIAA Class 3A 1st round
HERSHEY — WPIAL champion Connellsville came up short during the first round of the PIAA Class 3A team championship Thusday at the Giant Center. Wilson, the third-place team from District 3, won seven of the 13 matches and got pins from Matteo Garcia at 152 and Blaise Eidle at 172...
Key pin sparks Clearfield past WPIAL runner-up Burgettstown in PIAA wrestling 1st round
HERSHEY — District 9 champion Clearfield (16-1) used six pins and a forfeit to defeat WPIAL runner-up Burgettstown, 42-27, during the first round of the PIAA Class 2A team championship Thurday at the Giant Center. Burgettstown (15-2) got pins from heavyweight Joey Baronick and Darius Simmons (107). It also got...
Burrell wrestling starts fast, buries Honesdale in 1st round of PIAA team tournament
HERSHEY — Burrell wrestling coach Josh Shields couldn’t have been happier with his team’s performance during the first round of the PIAA Class 2A team championships Thursday. The Bucs came out strong at Giant Center, won the first nine bouts and rolled to a 55-8 victory against District 2 champion...
