Pine-Richland notebook: Rams wrestlers earn postseason win

By: Jerin Steele
Sunday, February 4, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Mac Miller and Vaughn Spencer took the final two bouts as Pine-Richland wrestling rallied to win its first playoff dual meet since 2020 with a 38-35 win over Hempfield in a WPIAL Class 3A preliminary round match Jan. 29.

It was the fourth postseason win in program history.

The Rams advanced to face No. 2 Franklin Regional in the first round and fell 42-27 on Jan. 31.

Hempfield led the Rams, 35-28, with two matches remaining. Miller (172) won a 13-4 major decision over Pierce Turner and Spencer (189) pinned Nicholas Marquis to secure a comeback victory.

Miller and Spencer both bumped up one weight class for the Hempfield dual.

Cole Wilson (215), Dom Ferraro (139) and Rocco Campanella (145) had pins. Robert Hoy (133) earned a major decision and Sam Harris received a forfeit at heavyweight.

Pine-Richland finished in a three-way tie for second with North Hills and Seneca Valley in Section 2, but won a tiebreaker over Seneca Valley to earn third place and the final spot in the playoffs.

Prior to the WPIAL team playoffs, Pine-Richland made its annual trip to the Fred Bell Tournament in Grove City. Rams coach Ian Abplanalp and former head coach Caleb Kolb, who’s now a volunteer assistant, are Grove City grads.

Spencer won the 172-pound title with a 5-4 decision over Grove City’s Hunter Holman in the championship match. Ferraro (139) and Miller (160) fell in their respective finals and finished as runners-up. Pine-Richland finished fifth out of 41 teams that participated.

Competitive spirit places

The Pine-Richland competitive spirit team advanced to the state finals and finished ninth in the Class 3A small squad division.

They received a score of 79.63 in the final.

The Rams placed third in the preliminary round to automatically qualify for the finals.

Members of the team are seniors Brynn Cassidy, Chloe Montani, Paige Baratka, Nina Didiano and Elle Balkove, juniors Macie Boyd and Kailyn Goltz, sophomores Reis Valenty, Lydia Turner, Ella Armstrong, Gracie Richardson, and Camryn Matta, and freshmen Jocelyn DeVito, Harlo Miller, Izzy Banjak and Lexi Alexander.

Pine-Richland won a state championship in 2015 and was the runner-up in 2013 and ’17.

Rams skate with stars

Four Pine-Richland hockey players competed in the PIHL Class 3A All-Star game Jan. 28 at RMU Island Sports Center.

The game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Doug Van Meter, Logan Kozak and Cullen Campbell played for Team Blue, while Zach Howard played for Team Gold. Pine-Richland coach Jordan Yoklic was on the Team Gold coaching staff.

The 3A game was one of three all-star games that ended in a tie. The Class A game also had a 2-2 final and the Class 2A game finished in a 6-6 tie.

With the all-star games in the books, the Rams will look for a strong finish to the regular season.

The Rams were second in the Class 3A standings through Jan. 31. They had won four of their last five games.

Pine-Richland was scheduled to face fifth-place Mt. Lebanon on Feb. 1, one of four regular season games remaining.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland