Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) finished the 2023-2024 fall campaign with 13 titles at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Championships, bringing home gold in boys’ cross country, boys’ golf, football, girls’ cross country, girls’ golf, girls’ soccer, and girls’ volleyball.
 
The WPIAL’s assortment of trophies consisted of eight team and five individual championships. Below is a brief recap of the league’s performance at each PIAA tournament.
 
FOOTBALL
For the fourth consecutive season, the WPIAL produced multiple state champions as Aliquippa reigned in Class 4A and Belle Vernon repeated at Class 3A at the PIAA Football Championships at Cumberland Valley High School.
 
The two victories extended a streak of 31 straight seasons with at least one PIAA champion from the WPIAL, and brought its total to 57 PIAA winners overall. Aliquippa now shares the top spot with Thomas Jefferson for PIAA titles among WPIAL schools with its fifth (1991, 2003, 2018, 2021, 2023), and Belle Vernon is now the 17th different WPIAL school with at least two PIAA championships.
 
Aliquippa and Belle Vernon both won in dominant fashion. For the Quips, they defeated District IV champion Selinsgrove, 52-32, in the semifinals and handled District II champion Dallas, 60-14, in the championship game. The Leopards were 42-16 semifinal winners against District X champion Hickory, then knocked off District XI champion Northwestern Lehigh, 38-7.
 
The WPIAL had five representatives in PIAA championship games, with three schools claiming runner-up finishes.
 
North Allegheny advanced to the Class 6A championship game with wins over District X champion McDowell (41-7) and District III champion Harrisburg (24-12), but fell to District XII champion St. Joseph’s Prep in the finale, 45-23.
 
At Class 5A, Peters Township was making its first PIAA Championships appearance and reached the title tilt with victorious against District X champion Cathedral Prep (33-14) and District III champion Cocalico (14-9), but ultimately settled for second with a 38-13 defeat to District XII champion Imhotep Charter.
 
Fort Cherry also made its PIAA debut, winning its semifinal contest against District IX champion Redbank Valley, 33-23, to qualify for the Class 1A championship game. The Rangers fell to District III winner Steelton-Highspire, 42-8, at Chapman Field.
 
Beaver Falls was the league’s representative in the PIAA Class 2A Championships, seeing its season come to an end in the semifinals with a 28-8 loss to District VIII champion Westinghouse.
 
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
North Allegheny made it 10 consecutive years with a WPIAL school winning a PIAA championship and extended its own streak to seven consecutive titles at the PIAA Girls’ Volleyball Championships at Cumberland Valley High School.
 
The WPIAL has produced at least one PIAA champion every year since 2014, with North Allegheny beginning its own run in 2017. The Tigers have won 10 championships overall (1992, 1993, 1994, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) and the WPIAL now can claim 53 PIAA winners in its history.
 
North Allegheny was one of two schools to make it to championship weekend and raised the Class 4A trophy with a 3-0 win over District I champion Unionville. The Tigers’ playoff run included wins over District X champion McDowell (3-0), District III third-place Dallastown (3-1), and District III champion Hempfield (3-2). Canon-McMillan was the other WPIAL qualifier at Class 4A and reached the quarterfinals.
 
Hampton also reached the title tilt, falling to District I champion Pope John Paul II, 3-1, for the championship. The Talbots claimed wins over WPIAL fourth-place Oakland Catholic (3-0), District VI champion Bald Eagle Area (3-0), and WPIAL runner-up North Catholic (3-0) in the first three rounds. Among the other WPIAL qualifiers, North Catholic made the semifinals with wins over District X champion Warren (3-1) and WPIAL third-place Thomas Jefferson (3-0), Thomas Jefferson reached the quarterfinals, and Oakland Catholic fell in the first round.
 
At Class 2A, Beaver was the top-finishing WPIAL team by reaching the semifinals. The Bobcats defeated District X runner-up Corry (3-1) and WPIAL third-place Quaker Valley (3-1) in the playoffs. Freeport and Quaker Valley both made the quarterfinals, while Avonworth dropped its opening-round match.
 
Serra Catholic and Bishop Canevin made the Class 1A quarterfinals, with the Eagles defeating District X runner-up Cochranton (3-1) and the Crusaders topping District V champion Berlin Brothersvalley (3-0). Frazier was the final WPIAL qualifier and lost its first-round match.
 
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Moon completed a three-peat and gave the WPIAL its fifth consecutive season with a PIAA champion at the PIAA Girls’ Soccer Championships at Eagle View Middle School.
 
Moon is the third WPIAL school to win three straight PIAA titles, joining Mars (2019, 2020, 2021) and Peters Township (2010, 2011, 2012), and now has a league-high six overall (2012, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023). The Tigers’ win at Class 3A gives the WPIAL 25 state champions in total.
 
Moon entered as the WPIAL runner-up but finished one spot higher at the PIAA level, claiming the Class 3A crown with a 3-1 win over District II champion Abington Heights. The Tigers reached the championship game with wins over District IX champion Bradford (2-0), District III champion Northern (1-0), and WPIAL third-place Mars (1-0). Mars won over District X champion Warren (4-0) and WPIAL fourth-place Montour (2-1, OT) to reach the semifinals, while Montour and South Fayette bowed out in the quarterfinals and first round, respectively.
 
Avonworth reached the PIAA championship game in Class 2A, but fell to District IV champion Central Columbia, 4-0, for the title. The Antelopes defeated District X runner-up General McLane (3-1), District IX champion Clearfield (6-0), and WPIAL runner-up Shady Side Academy (2-0) to make it to Mechanicsburg. Shady Side Academy made the semifinals with wins over District VI champion Central (2-0) and WPIAL runner-up South Park (2-1, OT). South Park made the quarterfinals as the final WPIAL qualifier.
 
Riverview also made it to the PIAA title tilt in Class 1A, dropping a 5-1 match to District I champion Dock Mennonite, 5-1. The Raiders topped District V champion Conemaugh Township (5-3), WPIAL third-place Springdale (3-1), and District VI champion Bishop Guilfoyle (4-1) in the first three rounds. Freedom Area and Springdale both reached the quarterfinals.
 
North Allegheny was the last WPIAL team remaining in Class 4A, making the semifinals with wins over District VI champion Altoona (4-2) and District III champion Central Dauphin (3-2). Fox Chapel made it to the quarterfinal round.
 
BOYS’ SOCCER
The WPIAL saw two of its teams reach championship games at the PIAA Boys’ Soccer Championships at Eagle View Middle School, with both Quaker Valley at Class 2A and Charleroi at Class 1A coming away with runner-up finishes.
 
Quaker Valley lost a heartbreaker in the Class 2A final, falling to District III runner-up Camp Hill, 2-1, in double overtime. The Quakers were victorious over District V champion Bedford (7-0), WPIAL third-place Shady Side Academy (2-1), and District IV runner-up Central Columbia (1-0) in the lead-up. Shady Side Academy made the quarterfinals, while South Park fell in the first round.
 
Charleroi dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to District I runner-up Delco Christian in the Class 1A championship game. The Cougars made the final with wins over District VI champion Richland (2-1), District III runner-up Tulpehocken (1-0, OT), and WPIAL champion Bentworth (2-1). Bentworth defeated District X champion Seneca (3-0) and WPIAL third-place Burrell (3-1) to make the semifinals. Burrell reached the quarterfinals as the final WPIAL qualifier.
 
Norwin fell a game shy of making the PIAA championship game at Class 4A, falling in the semifinals after victories against District III fourth-place Warwick (1-0) and District I runner-up Abington (1-1, 5-3 PK) in the first two rounds. North Allegheny also qualified and reached the quarterfinals.
 
At Class 3A, South Fayette and Hampton both made the quarterfinals, while Montour bowed out in the opening round.
 
FIELD HOCKEY
The WPIAL saw all three of its champions fall in the opening round of the PIAA Field Hockey Championships.
 
Pine-Richland fell to District III third-place Penn Manor, 4-1, in Class 3A, Penn-Trafford dropped a 4-0 decision to District III fourth-place Manheim Central in Class 2A, and Shady Side Academy lost 3-0 to District III fourth-place Boiling Springs in Class 1A.
 
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY
The WPIAL took home four of a possible six championships at the PIAA Boys’ Cross Country Championships at Parkview Cross Country Course, highlighted by a clean sweep of the individual titles. Butler senior Drew Griffith (Class 3A), Ringgold senior Ryan Pajak (Class 2A), and Mohawk junior Jaxon Schoedel (Class 1A) crossed the line first in their respective races, and Hampton brought home the Class 2A team title.
 
The three-race individual sweep is the first of its kind since the PIAA moved to three classifications in cross country and marks the first time since 1983 that the WPIAL has won multiple individual championships when Seneca Valley’s Gus Nicholl (Class 3A) and West Mifflin South’s Fran Berry (Class 2A) took home the gold. The WPIAL now has 38 individual champions and 51 team champions at the PIAA level, as Hampton’s win at Class 2A also extended a streak of six straight years winning at least one team title.
 
Griffith finished the course in 15:23, winning the Class 3A individual gold by 0:21 over Lower Merion sophomore Nicholas Mazzeo. North Allegheny junior Jack Bertram was the only other WPIAL student-athlete to finish inside the top 10, placing third with a time of 15:50.
 
Pajak had the best time of the day at 15:21 to win Class 2A over Lampeter-Strasburg senior Colin Whitaker by 0:16. Four other WPIAL student-athletes came home with top 10 finishes – Elizabeth Forward senior Patrick Burgos (3rd, 16:02), Hampton senior Dale Hall (4th, 16:12), Freeport junior Michael Braun (9th, 16:27), and Montour senior Julian Kletz (10th, 16:28).
 
At Class 1A, Mohawk junior Jaxon Schoedel crossed the line in 16:09 to best Eden Christian Academy senior Nathan Garrett by 0:12. Garrett finished the race in 16:21 and was one of four WPIAL student-athletes to place in the top 10 alongside Greensburg Central Catholic senior Nick Szekely (6th, 16:48) and Winchester Thurston junior Eli DeSimone (10th, 16:54).
 
Hampton brought home its first PIAA boys’ cross country team championship comfortably, as its 62 points bested runner-up Grove City for the Class 2A crown. Alongside Hall, the Talbots had junior Chris Belch (11th, 16:29), senior Jacob Bonnar (27th, 16:57), senior Layne Haught (52nd, 17:29), and junior Nathan Gardner (54th, 17:30) score points. Beaver (4th, 155), Quaker Valley (6th, 185), and Montour (11th, 287) also competed as teams among WPIAL schools.
 
Riverview was the Class 1A runner-up with 137 points, finishing behind Annville-Cleona by 46. Junior Christopher Barnes was the Raiders’ top runner with a 22nd-place finish in 17:16. Eden Christian Academy (3rd, 156), Winchester Thurston (4th, 160), and Ellwood City (7th, 195) all qualified as teams.
 
In Class 3A, North Allegheny and Butler were the two WPIAL schools to qualify as teams. The Tigers finished sixth with 185 points, and the Golden Tornado placed ninth with 226 points.
 
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY
At the PIAA Girls’ Cross Country Championships at Parkview Cross Country Course, the WPIAL extended its streaks of individual and team championships. Mt. Lebanon senior Logan St. John Kletter captured the Class 3A individual gold, marking five straight years with a WPIAL student-athlete as individual champion, while North Allegheny won its sixth consecutive Class 3A team title, giving the WPIAL seven straight years with at least one team winner.
 
St. John Kletter is Mt. Lebanon’s first individual champion and is the 21st overall from the WPIAL. North Allegheny now has nine PIAA team championships (1975, 1998, 1999, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) and gives the WPIAL its 20th overall.
 
St. John Kletter finished the Class 3A race in 18:13, besting North Allegheny senior Eva Kynaston by 0:06. The two were joined by Kiski Area senior Eliza Miller (7th, 18:46) among WPIAL student-athletes finishing in the top 10.
 
North Allegheny claimed the Class 3A team crown with 80 points, topping runner-up Abington Heights by 47. Kynaston was the Tigers’ top finisher and was joined in the scoring by junior Robin Kucler (11th, 18:54), senior Erin McGoey (18th, 19:09), junior Camille Swirsding (64th, 20:14), and junior Elizabeth Pizon (100th, 20:41). Norwin (5th, 191) and Mt. Lebanon (8th, 227) also competed as teams among WPIAL qualifiers.
 
North Catholic freshman Gracie Plastino was the Class 2A runner-up, as her time of 19:12 was behind Lewisburg sophomore Baylee Espinosa. She was one of four WPIAL student-athletes to claim a top-10 finish, joining Uniontown junior Grace Trimmer (7th, 19:28), West Allegheny sophomore Grace Fritzman (9th, 19:31), and North Catholic sophomore Madeline Meeuf (10th, 19:32).
 
Riverside senior Lexi Fluharty was the WPIAL’s top individual finisher at Class 1A, finishing third with a time of 19:28. Eden Christian Academy junior Hope Haring (5th, 15:49) and Seton LaSalle senior Danielle Tomley (10th, 20:04) also finished in the top 10.
 
At Class 2A, North Catholic was the top finishing team after placing fourth with 163 points. Montour (5th, 172) and Uniontown (12th, 312) also qualified among WPIAL schools.
 
Winchester Thurston took home third place in Class 1A with 190 points. Mohawk (8th, 261), Riverview (13th, 309), and Shady Side Academy (17th, 356) were the WPIAL’s other teams that competed.
 
GIRLS’ TENNIS
The WPIAL saw its qualifiers claim a silver, a bronze, and two fourth-place finishes at the PIAA Girls’ Tennis Championships at Hershey Racquet Club.
 
At Class 2A doubles, North Catholic junior Katie Hardy and freshman Brea Kelly made the championship match before falling to Hannah Kideckel and Rebecca Kideckel of District I champion Lower Moreland, 6-0, 6-0. The duo defeated Berks Catholic juniors Sarah Schnatz and Isabella Logozzo (6-1, 6-3), Cathedral Prep junior Sophia Glance and sophomore Finleigh Handzel (6-2, 2-6, 6-4), and Greensburg Central Catholic junior Sasha Hoffman and sophomore Stella Bossert (7-6, 0-6, 6-2). Knoch seniors Emily Greb and Lindsey Greb defeated Hoffman and Bossert in the third-place match, 6-0, 6-0.
 
Beaver senior Chloe DeSanzo fell in the Class 2A singles third-place match to Moravian Academy senior Francesca Bartolacci, 6-2, 6-2. DeSanzo made the final four with wins over Punxsutawney senior Emily McMahan (6-0, 6-1) and Hughesville junior Sarah Buck (6-3, 6-4). Belle Vernon sophomore Gabriella Dusi made the quarterfinals, and Winchester Thurston junior Cecilia Gurgel fell in the first round.
 
In Class 3A singles, the WPIAL saw Shady Side Academy freshman Meriwether McCargo and Penn-Trafford sophomore Amelia Williams reach the quarterfinals, while Pine-Richland freshman Caroline Prisk dropped her opening-round match.
 
Bethel Park freshman Cami Fisher and senior Lily Sierka and Shady Side Academy seniors Elana Sobol and Rachel Nath made the quarterfinals in Class 3A doubles. Oakland Catholic senior Abby Santora and freshman Mollie Schlichter bowed out in the first round.
 
Bethel Park was the top-finishing team at Class 3A, making the semifinals with wins over District X champion Fairview (4-1) and District I third-place Downingtown East (3-0). North Allegheny made the quarterfinals, while Mt. Lebanon fell in the opening round.
 
Knoch reached the Class 2A semifinals after tallying wins over District IX champion Elk County Catholic (5-0) and District III runner-up Berks Catholic (3-0). Sewickley Academy reached the quarterfinal round, and Hampton lost its first-round match.
 
BOYS’ GOLF
For the first time since 2019, the WPIAL swept the PIAA individual and team titles at one classification, as it claimed Class 3A gold at the PIAA Boys’ Golf Championships at Penn State Golf Courses. In individual competition, Butler senior Hunter Swidzinski won a three-way, all-WPIAL playoff to take home the championship, while Peters Township won its first PIAA team title – completing a sweep with its girls’ golf team.
 
Swidzinski is the 22nd WPIAL student-athlete to win the PIAA individual gold and the first from Butler. Peters Township is the fifth different school to capture a PIAA team title and makes it two straight Class 3A team champions from the WPIAL after Central Catholic won in 2022.
 
Thanks to a final round score of 64 (-8), Swidzinski finished the 36-hole championships at 137 (-7) and forced his way into a three-way playoff with Penn-Trafford senior Nick Turowski and Plum junior Wes Lorish. Lorish was eliminated on the first playoff hole, and Swidzinski’s birdie on the third playoff hole secured the title. The trio was joined by Peters Township junior Colton Lusk (t-4th; 138, -6) and Fox Chapel senior David Fuhrer (t-10th; 142, -2) inside the top 10.
 
Peters Township captured its first PIAA team championship with a four-player score of 284 (-4), edging La Salle College by two strokes. Lusk led the way with a 65 (-7), while junior classmates Griffin Hansberry (71, -1), Shane Williams (74, +2), and Nick Haugh (74, +2) rounded out the Indians’ scoring.
 
Quaker Valley junior Ethan Dai and Eden Christian Academy senior Luke Gronbeck were the top finishing WPIAL golfers at Class 2A, both sharing fourth with a two-round total of 144 (E). Neshannock senior Matt Morelli tied for seventh after carding a 36-hole tally of 145 (+1).
 
Belle Vernon finished as the Class 2A team runner-up with a score of 306 (+18), falling to Devon Prep by five strokes. The Leopards were led by sophomore Jordan Mocello and junior Seth Tomalski, who both registered a 74 (+2).
 
GIRLS’ GOLF
Peters Township captured the WPIAL’s first PIAA team championship since 2019, completing a sweep with its boys’ golf team at Class 3A at the PIAA Girls’ Golf Championships at Penn State Golf Courses.
 
Peters Township’s title was its first in school history and the 13th overall for the WPIAL. The Indians are the sixth different school to capture PIAA team gold.
 
Peters Township carded a 231 (+15) to win the Class 3A championship, besting Manheim Township by five strokes. Sophomore Ellie Benson posted a 73 (+1) to lead the Indians, while juniors Brooke Vowcheck (78, +6) and Sophia Severns (80, +8) also scored. Seneca Valley placed fifth on the team leaderboard with a 255 (+39), and was led by senior Lihini Ranaweera’s 72 (E).
 
At Class 2A, Greensburg Central Catholic and Central Valley finished third and fourth, respectively. The Centurions posted a 273 (+57) and saw senior Izzy Aigner (78, +6) with their low total, while the Warriors carded a 298 (+82) and had sophomore Emma Mrkonja (93, +21) with their best round.
 
Elizabeth Forward sophomore Mya Morgan was one of four WPIAL student-athletes to finish inside the top 10 at the Class 3A individual level, tying for seventh with a two-round total of 151 (+7). She was joined by Oakland Catholic senior Grace Windfelder (t-9th; 152, +8), Peters Township sophomore Ellie Benson (t-9th;, 152, +8), and Seneca Valley senior Lihini Ranaweera (t-9th; 152, +8).
 
Eden Christian Academy sophomore Pearl Lundgren was the lone WPIAL golfer to claim a top-10 finish at the Class 2A individual level, finishing ninth with a 36-hole tally of 156 (+12).

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