Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) concluded the 2023-2024 school year by capturing 19 championships at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Championships, bringing home gold in softball, boys’ volleyball, and boys and girls’ track & field.
The WPIAL’s assortment of trophies consisted of three team and 16 individual titles. Below is a brief recap of the league’s performance at each PIAA competition, beginning with the sports that had a WPIAL school or student-athlete win gold.
SOFTBALL
After being shut out from PIAA gold last season, the WPIAL returned in 2024 by producing a pair of state champions University in Neshannock (Class 2A) and Thomas Jefferson (Class 5A) on June 13-14 at Nittany Lion Softball Park on the campus of Penn State University.
The two victories mark the sixth season out of the last seven that the WPIAL has had at least two PIAA champions, with 2023 being the outlier and no season held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The WPIAL is now at 32 state champions overall in the sport of softball, with Thomas Jefferson becoming the 23rd different school to win, and Neshannock moving into sole possession of second place for PIAA titles among WPIAL schools with its third (2012, 2022, 2024).
Thomas Jefferson’s impressive run began in the WPIAL Championships when it entered as the No. 10 seed and finished as the Class 5A runner-up. The Jaguars defeated District II champion Pittston Area, 2-1, in eight innings to secure their first PIAA championship. Thomas Jefferson opened the tournament with a 17-4 win over District III runner-up Solanco, then won narrowly over District I runner-up West Chester East (3-1) and District VI champion Central Mountain (9-8) to reach the final. WPIAL champion Armstrong reached the quarterfinals with a 13-2 win over WPIAL fourth-place Greater Latrobe, with the Wildcats and Penn-Trafford falling in the first round.
Neshannock was dominant throughout the postseason, allowing just two runs in the PIAA bracket to capture its third championship with a 12-2 five-inning triumph against District IV champion South Williamsport. The Lancers blanked each of their first three opponents, winning 11-0 over District VI runner-up West Shamokin in the first round, 5-0 against District X champion Saegertown in the quarterfinals, and 1-0 versus WPIAL third-place Laurel in the semifinals. Laurel’s run to the semifinals included wins over District IX champion Cranberry (4-1) and WPIAL runner-up Bentworth (5-3), with Bentworth topping District V victor and reigning PIAA champion Everett, 4-1, in the first round.
Elizabeth Forward was the third of four WPIAL schools to reach a PIAA championship game, but it fell 4-0 to District XI champion Blue Mountain at Class 4A. The Warriors made it to Penn State with victories over District III third-place Big Spring (1-0), WPIAL third-place Chartiers Valley (11-1), and District XII third-place Archbishop Wood (8-0). Chartiers Valley made the quarterfinals after a 6-1 win over District X champion Cathedral Prep, while Hampton dropped its opening-round game.
In Class 1A, Carmichaels made the PIAA final but fell to District IX champion DuBois Central Catholic, 2-0. The Mighty Mikes topped District X champion Cambridge Springs (2-1), District VI champion Claysburg-Kimmel (8-1), and WPIAL champion Chartiers-Houston (5-4) to punch their ticket to Penn State. Chartiers-Houston’s semifinal journey included wins over District V runner-up Berlin Brothersvalley (2-1) and District VI runner-up West Branch (4-0). Union and West Greene both fell in the first round.
Seneca Valley was the WPIAL’s lone qualifier in Class 6A, and it reached the quarterfinals with an 11-0 triumph against District X champion McDowell.
At Class 3A, each of the WPIAL’s qualifying teams – Mohawk, South Park, Ligonier Valley, and Avonworth – fell in the first round.
BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
Shaler became the 10th different WPIAL school to claim gold in PIAA boys’ volleyball, winning the Class 3A crown at the PIAA Boys’ Volleyball Championships on June 15 at Rec Hall on the campus of Penn State University.
The Titans’ title is the 33rd for the WPIAL in the sport of boys’ volleyball, and they are the first PIAA District VII school not named North Allegheny since 2011 to capture state glory. Shaler is also the first new state champion from the WPIAL since Ambridge in 2009.
Shaler won its PIAA title with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-20) triumph over District XI champion Parkland in a rematch of last year’s championship match. The Titans dropped a total of one set over the PIAA bracket, earning wins over District III fourth-place Carlisle (3-0), District VI champion State College (3-1), and District III runner-up Warwick (3-0). North Allegheny and Seneca Valley also qualified from the WPIAL, both falling in the first round.
In Class 2A, Mars reached the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Meadville of District X by a 3-1 score. The Fightin’ Planets swept their first two opponents in District X runner-up Saegertown (3-0) and District VI champion West Shamokin (3-0). Armstrong and Ambridge both dropped their opening-round matches.
BOYS’ TRACK & FIELD
The WPIAL captured 10 individual gold medals at the PIAA Boys’ Track & Field Championships on May 24-25 at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University. Butler, East Allegheny, Fort Cherry, Hampton, Hempfield Area, Knoch, Mohawk, and North Catholic all produced a PIAA gold medalist.
Butler senior Drew Griffith swept the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs at Class 3A, and did so in record-breaking fashion. Griffith’s time of 8:43.72 in the 3,200-meter set a new PIAA championship meet record, while his mark of 3:57.08 in the 1,600-meter established new PIAA and National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) standards. He topped Ringgold’s Ryan Pajak in both events, finishing 7.64 seconds ahead in the 1,600 and 10.44 seconds quicker in the 3,200.
Hampton senior Dale Hall was victorious in the Class 3A 800-meter run by a narrow margin of 0.06 seconds, as his time of 1:51.29 bested North Hills’s Kayden Lightner.
Hempfield Area senior Peyton Murray defended his PIAA 3A title in the discus, hitting a mark of 186-06.00 to top runner-up Gavin Schmidt of Strath Haven by 9-05.00.
In the 3,200-meter run at Class 2A, Mohawk junior Jaxon Schoedel claimed gold with a time of 9:10.45 – 0.95 seconds quicker than Coudersport’s Kevin Sherry.
East Allegheny senior Lorenzo Fancher brought home Class 2A gold in the triple jump with a leap of 45-06.75, which was 0-07.75 longer than runner-up Luke Rullo of Greensburg Salem.
Fort Cherry’s quartet of Dylan Wudkwych, Tegan Henke, Shane Cornali, and Matt Sieg brought home the Class 2A 4x100-meter relay with a time of 42.43 seconds, edging out runner-up Mercyhurst Prep by 0.08 seconds.
Knoch sophomore Kristofer Robinson collected gold in the shot put wheelchair and 200-meter dash wheelchair events, with respective marks of 22-09.00 and 39.51 seconds.
North Catholic senior Alex Brown won the 100-meter dash wheelchair after crossing the line in 20.00 seconds.
In Class 3A, Ringgold senior Ryan Pajak earned silver in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs, and North Hills junior Kayden Lightner placed second in the 800-meter run. Hall finished third in the 1,600-meter run as the WPIAL produced the top five runners in the event – Fox Chapel senior Rowan Gwin finished fourth and North Allegheny junior Jack Bertram placed fifth – and the WPIAL also had bronze medalists in Fox Chapel senior Mason Miles (shot put) and Penn-Trafford senior Matthew Sarnowski (discus).
At Class 2A, Greensburg Salem sophomore Luke Rullo was the WPIAL’s lone silver medalist in the triple jump. Schoedel finished third in the 1,600-meter run, and Freeport junior Michael Braun won bronze in the 3,200-meter run. The WPIAL also saw two relay teams take home third-place finishes in Quaker Valley (4x800-meter relay) and Beaver Falls (4x400-meter relay).
Butler finished in a tie for second among Class 3A teams with 26 points, one point from PIAA champion Coatesville of District I. Fort Cherry was the WPIAL’s top finishing team in Class 2A with 17 points, which was good for 12th overall.
GIRLS’ TRACK & FIELD
The WPIAL brought home six individual gold medals at the PIAA Girls’ Track & Field Championships on May 24-25 at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University. Avonworth/Northgate, Derry, Laurel, Mt. Lebanon, and Shady Side Academy all had a PIAA gold medalist.
In Class 3A, the lone WPIAL student-athlete to win an event was Mt. Lebanon senior Logan St. John Kletter, who swept the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs. St. John Kletter won the 1,600-meter with a time of 4:38.54, which bested Haverford Township’s Olivia Cieslak by 6.81 seconds. In the 3,200-meter, she posted a mark of 10:21.46 – 12.02 seconds quicker than runner-up Morgan Roemer of DuBois.
Derry junior Sophia Mazzoni won the Class 2A javelin title with a toss of 161-10.00, topping runner-up Marley Croyle of West Branch by 22-10.00.
In the 3,200-meter run on the Class 2A side, Shady Side Academy senior Chelsea Hartman crossed the line first with a time of 10:37.32, winning by a margin of 20.38 seconds over Wyomissing Area’s Addie Cohen.
Avonworth/Northgate senior Hayzes Robinson led a 1-2-3 finish in the Class 2A 100-meter dash with a time of 12.11 seconds, edging out Winchester Thurston’s Monroe Law by 0.07 seconds.
Laurel junior Tori Atkins was victorious in the 400-meter dash at Class 2A, posting a time of 55.49 seconds to best Notre Dame Green Pond’s Savina Steele by 1.66 seconds.
Three WPIAL student-athletes claimed silver medals in Class 3A – Pine-Richland senior Nadia Constantakis (pole vault), Canon-McMillan senior Rose Kuchera (triple jump), and Trinity freshman Ella Sammel (high jump). Canon-McMillan senior Maggie Clair earned bronze in the shot put.
At Class 2A, Winchester Thurston sophomore Monroe Law earned silver in the 100-meter dash, Beaver Falls senior Mikayla Anderson placed second in the shot put, and Winchester Thurston’s 4x400-meter relay team was runners-up. Seven student-athletes and a relay team brought home bronze: Hartman (1,600-meter run), Quaker Valley sophomore Oumou Thiero (high jump), Shenango junior Sara Roe (long jump), Greensburg Central Catholic junior Eva Denis (100-meter dash), Mohawk junior Ellie Whippo (300-meter hurdles), Trinity Christian junior Eilidh Edgar (800-meter run), Knoch junior Kara Fennell (triple jump), and Shady Side Academy (4x800-meter relay).
Winchester Thurston scored 29 points to finish third overall in Class 2A, while Mt. Lebanon netted 24 points as the fifth-place team in Class 3A.
BASEBALL
The WPIAL saw three of its teams claim silver medals at the WPIAL Baseball Championships on June 13-14 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on the campus of Penn State University. Avonworth (Class 3A), Eden Christian Academy (Class 1A), and Indiana (Class 4A) all made it to their respective classifications’ championship game.
Indiana finished as the PIAA Class 4A runner-up after falling to District I champion Holy Ghost Prep, 6-5. The Indians made it to Penn State with victories over District VI champion Bellefonte (3-0), District III champion East Pennsboro (6-5), and District III third-place Fleetwood (10-3). Montour was a quarterfinalist following a 5-2 triumph against District X champion Cathedral Prep, while North Catholic and Thomas Jefferson lost in the first round.
Avonworth took silver in Class 3A following a 12-0 five-inning loss to District XII champion Neumann-Goretti. The Antelopes’ run to the championship game included wins over District VI runner-up Central (6-1), District X champion Fairview (5-4, 9 inn.), and District IX champion Punxsutawney (5-3). South Allegheny defeated District VI champion Central Cambria, 10-3, to reach the quarterfinals. Riverside and Burrell both dropped their opening-round game.
Eden Christian Academy settled for second in Class 1A following a 4-1 defeat to District I champion Faith Christian. The Warriors were victorious against District V champion Conemaugh Township (6-3), WPIAL third-place Avella (11-4), and District X runner-up Saegertown (7-5). Avella claimed a 12-9 win over District X champion West Middlesex in the first round, while Bishop Canevin lost its opener.
In Class 5A, Penn-Trafford and Bethel Park both reached the quarterfinals, while Franklin Regional fell in the first round. The Warriors were 3-2 winners over District III fifth-place Lower Dauphin, and the Black Hawks topped District III champion Mechanicsburg, 11-1.
At Class 2A and 6A, all the WPIAL’s qualifying teams were defeated in the first round. Burgettstown, Serra Catholic, and Seton LaSalle qualified in Class 2A, while Mt. Lebanon and North Allegheny were PIAA District VII’s qualifiers in Class 6A.
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Mars made its third consecutive PIAA championship game at Class 2A, but settled for runner-up at the PIAA Boys’ Lacrosse Championships on June 15 at Panzer Stadium on the campus of Penn State University.
The Fightin’ Planets met District I champion Marple Newtown for the third consecutive year, but fell 11-9 in an attempt to duplicate their 2022 title. Mars reached the final with wins over District III fourth-place Hershey (19-3), District XII champion Devon Prep (18-6), and WPIAL runner-up South Fayette (20-10). A historic semifinal run for South Fayette began with victories over District X champion Cathedral Prep (15-4) and District III champion Trinity (10-9). Hampton dropped its opening-round game.
In Class 3A, both Mt. Lebanon and North Allegheny reached the quarterfinals. The Blue Devils were a 21-1 winner over District X champion McDowell, while the Tigers won 9-8 in overtime against District III champion Wilson.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
The WPIAL produced three quarterfinalists at the PIAA Girls’ Lacrosse Championships across two classifications.
In Class 2A, Mars and Chartiers Valley both made the quarterfinals. The Fightin’ Planets were 11-9 winners over District III fourth-place Trinity, while the Colts topped District X champion Conneaut, 15-5. Penn-Trafford made its first PIAA appearance and fell in the first round.
Mt. Lebanon won its opening-round contest in Class 3A with an 18-2 victory over District X champion McDowell. Pine-Richland dropped its first-round game.
BOYS’ TENNIS
The WPIAL saw its qualifiers claim a bronze and fourth-place finish over the three levels of the PIAA Boys’ Tennis Championships on May 17-18 and May 24-25 at Hershey Racquet Club.
In Class 3A doubles, the Gateway team of junior Zidaan Hassan and sophomore Logan Memije earned bronze with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Liberty’s Luke Appleman and Roman Farhad. Hassan and Memije also claimed victories against Cedar Crest’s Joe Shkreli and Isaac Wolfe (6-1, 6-1) and Penncrest’s Brady Huggett and Flynn Hollinger (6-1, 7-6(4)). Upper St. Clair’s Ronan Gibbons and Ari Plutko were quarterfinalists following a 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-4 first-round win over Unionville’s Andrew Ou and Andy Ye.
At Class 3A singles, Gateway junior Adam Memije finished fourth following a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Hempfield’s Cooper Lehman. Memije claimed a pair of victories to reach the semifinals, defeating Lower Merion’s Nathan Dolgushev (6-4, 6-3) and West Chester East’s Ben Gao (6-0, 6-0). North Allegheny freshman Advaita Sircar qualified for the quarterfinals after a 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-0 victory against Dallastown’s Hayden Koons.
Aquinas Academy senior Jackson Gillespie reached the quarterfinals in Class 2A singles, defeating Bedford’s Tristen Ruffley by a 6-0, 6-0 margin in the first round. Sewickley Academy junior Severin Harmon, South Park sophomore Jonah Jasek, and Hampton senior Vitaliy Pikalo all dropped their opening matches.
In Class 2A doubles, Sewickley Academy seniors Jackson Quigley and Tejas Mitra made the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph versus Somerset’s Cornelius Grau and Josiah Antram. The other three WPIAL qualifying duos fell in the first round: Montour junior John Rohrkaste and sophomore Jonah Camardese, Quaker Valley seniors Grant Webb and Matteo Castellini, and Sewickley Academy freshmen Max Kopf and Ben Terrell.
Three WPIAL teams reached the semifinals in PIAA team competition, including two at Class 2A in Sewickley Academy and Quaker Valley. The Panthers topped District IX champion St. Mary’s (5-0) and District XI champion Moravian Academy (3-0) in their first two matches, while Quaker Valley bested District V champion Bedford and District III runner-up Conrad Weiser by identical 3-2 tallies. North Catholic and South Park both fell in the first round.
In Class 3A, North Allegheny was a semifinalist following wins over District III third-place Hempfield (5-0) and District I third-place Unionville (3-1). Gateway topped District X champion McDowell, 5-0, to qualify for the quarterfinals.
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