BVA’s Brown wins state wrestling gold

For the first time in program history, Belle Vernon Area has a state champion wrestler. Junior Elijah Brown captured gold in the PIAA Class 3A 215-pound bracket on Saturday at the GIANT Center in Hershey. Brown edged fellow Westmoreland County grappler Cooper Roscosky of Kiski Area via a 4-3 decision in the final. The Leopards standout scored a first-period takedown, and added an escape in the second. With the triumph, Brown finished his season with a record of 48-1. Earning silver was Greater Latrobe’s Luke Willochell, who lost a 9-3 decision against Council Rock South’s Anthony Mutarelli in the 133 final. Other placewinners include Greater Latrobe’s Hunter Snyder and Leo Joseph, who finished third at 189 pounds and fourth at 121, respectively, Kiski Area’s Mario Hutcherson and Mark Gray, who placed sixth at 172 and seventh at 189, respectively, and Penn-Trafford’s Dylan Barrett, who took seventh at 114. In Class AA, Derry Area’s Mason Horwat and Brady Brown took fourth at 152 and fifth at 189, respectively.

Centurions girls pull away for PIAA win

Fueled by a 35-8 scoring advantage in the second half, Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball dispatched of Cambria Heights in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A bracket last Friday at Southmoreland High School. The Centurions (22-5), who captured the WPIAL Class 3A crown in late February, were led by Jayla Peterson, who scored 23 points. Additionally, Erica Gribble registered 21 points for GCC, which led 26-23 at the half. The Highlanders, who were the third-place representative from District 6, were paced by Sienna Kirsch, who scored 20 points. As a result, GCC will face Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Peters Township High School in a rematch of the WPIAL semifinals. GCC is the lone Westmoreland County girls team remaining in the state playoffs, as Norwin and Penn-Trafford both lost in the first round.

Wildcats oust Spartans in PIHL playoffs

Greater Latrobe hockey jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, as the Wildcats defeated Hempfield Area 7-3 in the PIHL Class AA playoffs last Monday. Playing at the Kirk Nevin Arena in Greensburg, the No. 3 Wildcats notched the first five goals of the contest, including three in the first period. Joey Crimboli opened the scoring less than five minutes into the tilt, and Bryant Dumnich and Jackson Hayburn added goals in the opening stanza. Hayburn netted his second goal just a dozen seconds into the middle period, and Preston Miller followed 1:25 later to stake GL to the five-goal edge. Hayburn paced the Wildcats with two goals and two assists, while Adam Pellis dished out three assists, and Brock Pflugh made 33 saves in net. In the loss for the sixth-seeded Spartans, Mats Martz, Nino Dipietro, and JJ Williams tallied, while Katelyn Porter made 22 stops. As a result, GL advances to the Class AA semifinals for a clash against No. 2 Cathedral Prep on Tuesday at the RMU Island Sports Center on Neville Island.

Griffins litter PSAC WBB awards

Seton Hill University women’s basketball was well-recognized in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) honors announced last Friday. Sophomore Mia Kalich was recognized as the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year, while she also garnered All-PSAC West First-Team accolades. She was joined on the First-Team by juniors Hallie and Helene Cowan, while grad student Christiane Frye was selected as a Second-Team member. Frye has been honored as an All-PSAC performer four times in her career. Additionally, SHU head coach Maeve Gallagher was tabbed as the PSAC West Coach of the Year. The Griffins have produced a mark of 23-6 this season, including 16-4 in the PSAC. The Griffins qualified for the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional, and will play against Kutztown University on Friday at Edinboro University.