What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 18, 2024: Section competition heats up on mat

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 | 12:06 AM

Purchase Photo Options

While most WPIAL wrestling teams will have a section match or two in the books before the holidays, there are those schools in four-team sections that will wait until January to begin their section schedule.

That includes defending Class 3A champion Connellsville, which is in Section 8-3A this year with Albert Gallatin, Laurel Highlands and Hempfield.

However, Class 2A defending champion Burrell will open up its Section 9-2A schedule Wednesday when it hosts Neighborhood Academy.

The Bucs will be prohibitive favorites against the Bulldogs, who are in their first year of hosting a varsity wrestling team in the WPIAL.

A few key district matches to watch include:

• Thomas Jefferson (1-0) visits Belle Vernon for first place in Section 7-3A.

• Elizabeth Forward (1-0) hosts Southmoreland (1-0) for the top spot in Section 7-2A.

• Valley (1-0) travels to Highlands (1-0) with first place up for grabs in Section 9-2A.

Recent rivals collide

The last two seasons saw Aliquippa and Northgate battling in Section 1-2A, a rivalry that spilled into the postseason.

In the 2023 season, the Quips doused the Flames twice in the regular season by 11 and 18 points.

The two met again with gold at stake in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game.

Northgate jumped out to an early lead, but Aliquippa outscored the Flames in the second half by 15 points to win the district crown, 52-40.

Cameron Lindsey led the Quips with 19 points while Josh Williams had 11 for the Flames.

Last season, Aliquippa once again swept Northgate in the two section contests with wins by five and 19 points.

The Quips went on to win both WPIAL and PIAA championships.

Now the two meet Wednesday in a nonsection fray at 7:30 p.m. after Aliquippa moved up from 2A to 3A this season.

The host Quips won their season and Section 1-3A opener last week, destroying Beaver Falls by 79 points.

The Flames have yet to play a Section 2-2A game, but they are 1-3 overall with an overtime win over Penn Hills and losses to Central Catholic, North Allegheny and Beaver.

Spell Wade

Two of the top girls basketball teams and neighboring communities are set for a midweek collision with one team coming off a big win and the other in bounce-back mode.

Thomas Jefferson (1-1, 6-1) from Section 4-5A will take the short trip to Clairton (2-0, 4-1) to battle the top team from Section 2-A at 6:30 p.m.

The host Bears have back-to-back section wins over Serra Catholic and Geibel Catholic since suffering their lone loss to Allderdice last week.

The Jaguars had won their first six games of the season before losing a section showdown against Peters Township.

This matchup also features two of the top girls hoops players in the district squaring off with junior Maggie Spell of Thomas Jefferson averaging 19.2 points per game and senior Iyanna Wade of Clairton once again averaging over 40 points per game.