February 25, 2024 1:05 am
History was written Saturday at the WPIAL 2A Individual Wrestling Championships. Rune Lawrence of Frazier pinned Colin Whyte of West Greene in 53 seconds, earning his fourth individual title. Lawrence becomes the 32nd four-time WPIAL champion all-time. Two weeks from now, he’ll have the opportunity to win a fourth consecutive PIAA title, something that’s only happened 13 times previous. WPIAL/PIAA 4-Time Champions Chris Vargo, Bentworth, won a third WPIAL title, using a takedown and nearfall in the second period to take control. Rudy Brown, Burgettstown, scored a pair of takedowns in the third period of his championship match to earn his first gold medal. Derry won three titles including two by freshmen. Mason Horwat by a decision and Brady Brown pinning Bentworth’s Vitali Daniels who settles for a third-straight runner-up finish. Burrell and Central Valley each claimed two championships. The top eight finishers advance to next weekend’s PIAA Southwest AA Regional at Altoona High School. We’ll have start-to-finish coverage on the WJPA Sports Network with free audio online at wjpa.com.
2024 WPIAL 2A Individual Championships
107 Cam Baker (Burrell) DEC Bruce Anderchak (Quaker Valley), 4-2
114 Anthony Mucci (Derry) DEC Jorden Williams (Chartiers-Houston), 3-2
121 Antonio Boni (Central Valley) DEC Mason Wright (Beth Center), 8-1
127 Chris Vargo (Bentworth) DEC Nico Fanella (Indiana), 7-2
133 Jack Kazalas (Quaker Valley) DEC Parker Sentipal (Burgettstown), 8-5
139 Cooper Hornack (Burrell) DEC Gaven Suica (Burgettstown), 3-1 SV
145 Mason Horwat (Derry) DEC Rook Smith (Montour), 5-1
152 Rudy Brown (Burgettstown) DEC Damon Michaels (Elizabeth Forward), 5-2
160 Isaiah Pisano (Hopewell) DEC Ryan Celaschi (Frazier), 5-3
172 Elijah Brown (Belle Vernon) DEC Braedon Welsh (Fort Cherry), 1-0
189 Brady Brown (Derry) F Vitali Daniels (Bentworth), 3:07
215 Rune Lawrence (Frazier) F Colin Whyte (West Greene), 0:53
285 Brenan Morgan (Central Valley) DEC Dylan Pitzer (Mt. Pleasant), 8-4
Third place
107 Javeon Chambers (Highlands) DEC Tucker Main (McGuffey), 2-0 SV
114 Drake McClure (Bentworth) DEC Auston Kosanovic (Avonworth), 6-0
121 Emmett Wolfe (McGuffey) DEF Luca Rosa (Burrell)
127 Lucas Barr (McGuffey) MD Don Lindsey (Central Valley), 11-0
133 Tyler Clark (Frazier) DEC Carter Putt (Indiana), 3-0
139 Aiden Burford (Highlands) DEC Giovanni Weightman (Belle Vernon), 8-6
145 Kole Doppelheuer (Belle Vernon) DEC Owen Ivcic (Bentworth), 5-2
152 Greg Shaulis (Mt. Pleasant) DEC Kyren Veasley (Highlands), 8-4
160 Chase Frameli (Jefferson Morgan) DEC Will Turner (Indiana), 5-0
172 Charles Perkins (Valley) DEC Dominic Fanella (Indiana), 4-1
189 Jackson Angelo (Frazier) DEC Jacob Layhue (Beth Center), 6-2
215 Luke Boylan (Burrell) F Adam McAnany (Jefferson Morgan), 4:33
285 Joseph Baronick (Burgettstown) F Henry Barbisch (Carlynton), 3:21
Fifth Place
107 Victor Wagner (North Catholic) DEC Darius Simmons (Burgettstown), 8-3
114 Carter Thomas (Burrell) F Noah Collins (West Greene), 2:02
121 Giovanni Beatrice (Derry) DEC Shawn Robertson (Fort Cherry), 7-2
127 Julian Bertucci (Burrell) DEC Dylan Slovick (Burgettstown), 3-2
133 Dustin Kerr (Hampton) DEC Anthony Orlandini (Montour), 8-4
139 Lucas Boyer (Elizabeth Forward) DEF Matthew Danna (Quaker Valley)
145 Gabe Lilly (Ellwood City) DEF Jamison Poklembo (Mt. Pleasant)
152 Ben Catullo (Burrell) TF Alex Wylly (Riverview), 15-0 3:32
160 Stephen Predajna (Mt. Pleasant) F Gavyn McCray (Freedom), 1:23
172 Brayden Taggart (Bentworth) DEF Isaac Lacinski (Burrell)
189 Anthony Salvini (Fort Cherry) DEC Austin Hoffman (Belle Vernon), 5-1
215 James Standish (Albert Gallatin) DEC Kaden Shannon (Southmoreland), 5-2
285 Mason Sisler (Jefferson Morgan) DEF Joe Wilson (Washington), 0-0 0:05
Seventh Place
107 Angelo Boni (Central Valley) DEC Archer Brua (Laurel), 5-2
114 Logan Ketzel (Laurel) DEC Alex Medlen (Beth Center), 8-1
121 Anthony Esposito (Montour) DEC Daniel Smith (Burgettstown), 4-2
127 Brett Klim (Derry) DEC Jeremy Wagner (Keystone Oaks), 3-1
133 Jake Stewart (Burrell) DEC Seth Burns (West Greene), 8-1
139 Joseph Longhi (Mt. Pleasant) MD Ryder Goe (South Side), 11-2
145 Jack Diemert (Quaker Valley) DEC Calio Zanella (Burrell), 5-1
152 Alan Danner (Hampton) DEC Marcus Richey (Quaker Valley), 8-2
160 Landen Conroy (Albert Gallatin) DEC Landon Delara (Southmoreland), 8-2
172 Noah Layhue (Beth Center) DEC Jake Mundorff (Ligonier Valley), 4-2
189 Slayton Williams (South Side) DEC Kolton Carlson (Laurel), 6-3
215 Malachi Peak (Beth Center) DEC Alex Dusch (Montour), 1-0
285 Casey Wilson (Laurel) DEC Jake Govern (Southmoreland), 5-2
February 24, 2024 12:02 am
The WPIAL 2A Wrestling Championship opened Friday afternoon at Chartiers Valley and on the WJPA Sports Network. The top six finishers in the three sectional tournaments battle for eight spots in next week’s PIAA Southwest Regional. Burgettstown leads area teams with 10 qualifiers out of the Southern Sectional. McGuffey is sending 8 wrestlers, Beth-Center, Fort Cherry and Jeff-Morgan six each, Bentworth five, West Greene four and Chartiers-Houston and Wash High two each. We’ll bring you live, start-to-finish coverage on WJPA-AM (1450) and online. We’ll also partner with NFHS Network for a Championship Finals video feed. Listen/Watch Here
Meanwhile, the area’s 3A wrestlers begin their trek toward state championships Saturday with the Southern Sectional tournament at South Fayette. Canon-McMillan, Peters Township, Trinity, Waynesburg, South Fayette and West Allegheny will be among the teams in the field, looking to advance to next week’s WPIAL 3A Championships. We’ll bring you live coverage online in partnership with GreeneSports Listen/Watch Here
February 25, 2024 6:20 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Blake Hinson scored 22 points and Jaland Lowe scored 18 points and Pittsburgh took control in the second half and beat Virginia Tech 79-64. Sean Pedulla scored 26 points for Virginia Tech. The Panthers took the lead for good when Guillermo Diaz Graham’s layup ended a 42-all tie with 15:50 left. The basket started a 16-0 run that concluded with Diaz Graham burying a 3-pointer with 11:51 remaining.
February 25, 2024 6:26 am
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — It took eight years but Jen Pawol made the leap from the minors to a major league game spring training contest when she umpired the Grapefruit League opener between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches on Saturday. Pawol’s spring training debut marked the first time since 2007 that a woman umpired a major league spring training game, last done by Ria Cortesio. With a ponytail coming out of her ballcap, Pawol was stationed at third base.
February 24, 2024 12:01 am
Fort Cherry used its tenacious defense and balanced scoring to beat Bishop Canevin Friday night. Alan Tarolli had 16 points to lead the Rangers. Jack Katzmiller scored 13 while Blake Sweder added 12. Fort Cherry scored the first five points of the game and never trailed, earning a trip to Tuesday’s 2A boys semifinals against #1 Aliquippa. South Fayette took control of its 5A girls game against Trinity late in the first quarter, eventually crushing the Hillers with a 22-3 run. The defending WPIAL champion Lions cruised through the second half to clinch a state playoff berth and a date with #2 McKeesport in Tuesday’s semifinals. Trinity will play Indiana Monday in the first round of the state qualifier consolation bracket. Canon-McMillan’s season came to an end with a loss to #2 Central Catholic. Only the top three 6A boys teams reach the state playoffs.
We’ll have semifinal games for Peters Township girls Monday and Fort Cherry boys Tuesday on the WJPA Sports Network. Our audio stream is free to all. The video, when possible, will be streamed through WPIAL partner NFHS Network (subscription required, links provided). For WPIAL brackets, CLICK HERE.
Friday, Feb. 23
Quarterfinals
2A Boys #4 Fort Cherry 59, #5 Bishop Canevin 44 Listen/Watch Here
5A Girls #6 South Fayette 53, #3 Trinity 39 Listen/Watch Here
6A Boys #2 Central Catholic 53, #7 Canon-McMillan 27
Consolation Round I
2A Girls Rochester 69, Fort Cherry 39 (Fort Cherry to play Tuesday for 7th place)
1A Boys Monessen,64, West Greene 44 (Monessen to play Tuesday for 5th place, West Greene eliminated)
Saturday, Feb. 24
Consolation Round I
1A Girls Monessen 34, West Greene 30 (Monessen to play Wednesday for 5th place. West Greene eliminated)
Monday, Feb. 26
WPIAL Semifinals
6A Girls #2 Peters Township vs. #3 North Allegheny, 5:45 pm at Mt. Lebanon, WJPA-FM (95.3) Listen/Watch Here
Consolation Round I
5A Girls Trinity vs. Indiana, 6:45 pm at Trinity, WJPA-AM (1450) Listen/Watch Here (winner clinches PIAA berth)
Tuesday, Feb. 27
WPIAL 7th place
2A Girls Fort Cherry vs. Winchester-Thurston, 5:45 pm at Chartiers Valley, WJPA-AM (1450) Listen/Watch Here
WPIAL Semifinals
2A Boys #4 Fort Cherry vs. #1 Aliquippa, 7:45 pm at Chartiers Valley, WJPA-FM (95.3) Listen/Watch Here
February 24, 2024 3:44 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran center Mason Cole to create nearly $5 million in salary-cap space. Cole had one year left on the three-year, $15.75 million deal he signed in 2022. He had issues snapping in shotgun formation and clearly would have cost more than the Steelers were willing to pay him in 2024. Now they will head into free agency and the NFL draft looking for a starter at the position. Cole started all 34 regular-season games for Pittsburgh over the last two seasons. He was scheduled to count $6.27 million against the cap.
February 24, 2024 3:49 am
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL’s salary cap for 2024 will be $255.4 million, up a record $30.6 million from last year. The cap number has gone from $198.2 million in 2020 to $182.5 million in 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic. It increased to $208.2 million in 2022 and $224.8 million last year. Teams are heading into next week’s NFL combine and preparing for the free agency period to open March 13 with an opportunity to spend more freely. The increased cap total could impact how teams use the franchise tag. The 15-day window to apply the tag to impending free agents began on Feb. 20.
February 23, 2024 12:01 am
Natalie Wetzel scored 30 points, leading #2 Peters Township to its win over Pine-Richland. Gemma Walker added 13 points for the Indians who advance to the WPIAL semifinals for the first time since their 2019 state championship run. PT will take on #3 North Allegheny Monday at a site/time to be announced. The West Greene girls lost to #1 Union. The Pioneers enter the Round I consolation bracket but must win two straight to qualify for the PIAA tournament.
Friday, three more Washington County teams face quarterfinal opponents, including two that we’ll feature on the WJPA Sports Network. The Trinity girls take on South Fayette for the third time, having swept the defending champion Lions in their Section 4 series. Fort Cherry boys, the #4 seed in the 2A bracket, faces #5 Bishop Canevin. Both games are at Peters Township with pregame for the double-header starting at 5:45 pm on WJPA-FM (95.3) and online. And, as we move through the brackets, we’ll have live coverage of as many games as we can, on-air and online. Our audio stream is free to all. The video, when possible, will be streamed through WPIAL partner NFHS Network (subscription required, links provided).
Other Friday action includes the 6A boys quarterfinals with #7 Canon-McMillan traveling to Gateway to face #2 Central Catholic. The Fort Cherry girls and West Greene boys have Round I consolation games. For WPIAL brackets, CLICK HERE.
Quarterfinals
Thursday, Feb. 22
6A Girls #2 Peters Township 58, #7 Pine-Richland 46 Listen/Watch Here
1A Girls #1 Union 59, #8 West Greene 14
Friday, Feb. 23
6A Boys #7 Canon-McMillan vs. #2 Central Catholic, 7 pm at Gateway
5A Girls #3 Trinity vs. #6 South Fayette, 5:45 pm at Peters Township, WJPA-FM (95.3) Listen/Watch Here
2A Boys #4 Fort Cherry vs. #5 Bishop Canevin, 7:45 pm at Peters Township, WJPA-FM (95.3) Listen/Watch Here
Consolation Round I
Friday, Feb. 23
2A Girls Fort Cherry vs. Rochester, 6 pm at Montour (winner to 5th place game, loser to 7th place game)
1A Boys West Greene vs. Monessen, 7 pm at Monessen (winner to 5th place game, loser eliminated)
Saturday, Feb. 24
1A Girls West Greene vs. Monessen, 12 noon at Monessen (winner to 5th place game, loser eliminated)
Semifinals
Monday, Feb. 26
6A Girls #2 Peters Township vs. #3 North Allegheny 5:45 pm at Mt. Lebanon, WJPA-AM (1450) Listen/Watch Here
February 23, 2024 4:43 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bryan Rust and Drew O’Conner scored 21 seconds apart in the second period to break open a tie game and the Pittsburgh Penguins gave their flagging postseason hopes a boost with a 4-1 win over the reeling Montreal Canadiens. Pittsburgh won for just the second time in its last seven games behind 31 saves from Tristan Jarry. Kris Letang scored twice for the Penguins. Mike Matheson notched his eighth goal of the season for Montreal. The Canadiens have lost six of seven.
February 23, 2024 12:00 am
Washington & Jefferson College women’s basketball team lost to #5 Geneva, 89-75, Thursday night in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference semifinals. The Presidents struggled over the final two quarters after building a nine-point lead at the half. Wash/Jeff rallied midway from seven points down midway through the fourth to take a one-point lead only to see Geneva score the next 15 points. W&J blew out Geneva twice in the regular season but lost in the League semifinals for the second straight year. W&J falls to 23-3 and has to hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.
