Swimming
South Fayette Senior Repeats as WPIAL Boys 2-A Diving Champ
February 24, 2017
With the Class AA boys diving field reduced to only six competitors, the 2017 Championship concluded in record time. Despite the brevity of the event at Moon Area High School, drama was still at the forefront, as South Fayette senior Trevor Mahoney repeated as champion, winning by a razor-thin margin. Mahoney edged Laurel Highlands' John Ek by less than one point, 427.05 to 426.15. The gold was decided in the final round, as Ek executed a spectacular dive, which yielded a score of 54.60. Mahoney, who was unaware of Ek's dive and consequently the score the needed to win, recorded a 42.0, which was just enough to take first place.Scholastic Notebook – 02/24/2017
It’s unusual for the Canon-McMillan boys basketball team to still be playing in late February. It is certainly a fun time for the Big Macs. For the Bell family, it’s twice as nice. Canon-McMillan’s coach is Rick Bell. His son, R.J., is a 6-foot-4 senior guard who has played a big role in getting the Big Macs to the WPIAL 6A quarterfinals. They play No. 1 seed Pine-Richland Saturday. The younger Bell had six 3-pointers in a first round victory against North Allegheny. R.J. is averaging in double figures. The victory against North Allegheny was only the third playoff win in school history for Canon-McMillan. The others were in 1996 and 2008. This is only the ninth time the Big Macs have been to the postseason.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 02/20/2017
February 20, 2017
The February Frenzy may feel like the springs high school sports postseason is here outside, but inside, the winter sports postseason heats up...much like outside, this week on the MSA Sports Network. Our EXCLUSIVE postseason coverage Continues with the WPIAL and District 6 boys and girls basketball playoff games, college hoops featuring Carlow University, WPIAL Individual Wrestling Class AAA Sectionals and PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional Wrestling, plus we have The WPIAL Roundball Report, The PIHL Power Play Show, Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle and Carlow Sports Talk ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, February 20th:MSA Sports Top 25 WPIAL Stories of 2016 Recap
January 4, 2017
It case you missed it, here is a look at our annual end of the year countdown of top stories or events from around the WPIAL. As we begin 2017, we look back at some of the top stories from around the WPIAL in calendar year 2016 with the entire countdown. #25 - CROSS-COUNTRY RUN ENDS
MSA Sports Top 25 WPIAL Stories of 2016 – #25 through #21
December 28, 2016
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holiday season here at the MSA Sports Network. As we close out 2016 and another great high school sports year, we look back at some of the top stories from around the WPIAL in calendar year 2016. We begin our countdown with #25 through #21. #25 - CROSS-COUNTRY RUN ENDS
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – Sewickley Kings of Single-A Again
July 12, 2016
Sewickley Academy is once again on top of the Class A standings in the chase for the MSA Sports Cup after leapfrogging defending champ Greensburg Central Catholic. In fact, the Panthers and Centurions have been tagging in for titles the last five years with GCC winning in 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 and SA claiming the Cup in 201--2011, 2013-2014 and now in 2015-2016. The championship for Sewickley Academy is the schools 9th in 13 years of the competition and was aided greatly by district and state championships in boys golf and boys tennis along with WPIAL crowns in boys cross-country and boys soccer.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – A New Champ Wins Double-A
July 9, 2016
For only the fifth time in the thirteen years of the MSA Sports Cup Class AA chase, the torch has been passed to a new champion. Greensburg Central Catholic won the first three years, followed by a five year run by Shady Side Academy and three of the last four years the AA Cup has gone to Quaker Valley with a one year run at the top by Seton-LaSalle two years ago. Now the AA crown is coming to Beaver County thanks to Beaver High School. After a couple of close calls in recent years, the Bobcats were lifted to the top spot in part because of district championships won in each season...girls tennis in the fall, ice hockey in the winter and a second straight WPIAL title in girls track & field in the spring.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – SF Three-peats in Triple-A
July 7, 2016
In the first ten years of the MSA Sports Cup, while there were a couple of dominating schools in the other three classifications, the chase for the Class AAA Cup had been up for grabs with eight different schools earning The Cup. However in the last three years of the season long competition, Triple-A has become the pride of the Lions. After finishing as the runner-up in 2012-2013, South Fayette has staked its claim on top in Class AAA as the Lions are the first school in this classification to win a third consecutive MSA Sports Cup.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – NA Remains Perfect in Quad-A
July 6, 2016
Another school year is in the books and another MSA Sports Cup in Class AAAA is headed to North Allegheny High School. NA captured the schools 13th Cup in 13 years since the MSA Sports Network started this school year long competition to determine the top sports programs in each classification. There are 20 sports in which schools can earn points in the competition and the Tigers earned points in 18 of them. While it was not the highest point total or largest margin of victory, North Allegheny still cruised to their final Quad-A Sports Cup as they will move up to 6-A starting this fall. The second place school finished 430 points behind NA.WPIAL Hall of Fame Class of 2016
April 13, 2016
A current NBA player, a former Parade All-American girls basketball player, two dominant teams and four highly successful coaches highlight the WPIAL Hall of Fame class of 2016. This is the 10th class for the WPIAL Hall of Fame, and selections were announced Wednesday at a news conference at the Heinz History Center. Inductees will be honored at a banquet at the Green Tree Doubletree June 10. A Hall of Fame committee selects inductees in five categories: athlete, coach, team, contest official and contributor. The WPIAL also inducts a Heritage Award winner and a Courage Award winner. Here is the 2016 class: ATHLETES
2016 WPIAL Boys and Girls Swimming Results From Day Two
March 4, 2016
The North Allegheny Tigers Boys and Girls remain dominant. Coming into the second day of the WPIAL swim championships at Joseph E Trees pool at the University of Pittsburgh the Girls had a 29.5 lead, and kept the lead all day despite Mount Lebanon closing to within 11 points with two events to go. The Tigers would hold on and win by 34.5 points and remain champions for the 8th straight year. The Tiger Boys had it easy. They led by 62 points at the start of the day, and just kept growing their lead. Their 5th straight title was never in question as they won easily by 147 points. Mount Lebanon in Boys just could not gain any ground on the Tigers all day.Scholastic Notebook – 03/04/2016
There is always a lot of talk at this time of year about hangovers. Not from too much imbibing. But from winning a WPIAL basketball championship. There is a belief that teams that win WPIAL championships have so much trouble getting back up and ready for state playoff games. Is the WPIAL hangover real? Is it hogwash? Well, the evidence shows there isn’t much to this hangover theory for WPIAL boys champions, except for Class AAAA. A check of the past 10 seasons shows the only class where the WPIAL champion has trouble in the PIAA playoffs is Class AAAA. And that could be because the WPIAL champ has to play tough competition. A look back at the past 10 years showed:
2016 WPIAL Boys & Girls Swimming Results From Day One
March 3, 2016
Day 1 in the AAA Girls and Boys Swimming Championships were much of the same old, same old. Once again, the North Allegheny Tigers boys and girls have jumped out to healthy leads after the first day of activity at Joseph Trees Pool at the University of Pittsburgh. Although, in surprising fashion, neither Tigers swim teams were able to capture gold in the opening team event, the 200 Yard Medley Relay. Those gold medals went to the Upper St. Clair girls (Maeve Lersch, Maddie Yoos, Ynrya Bohan and Lindsey Choate) and Upper St. Clair boys (Jack Fitzpatrick, Kevin Liu, Braedon Wong & Brandon Novak) and in the most stunning revelation, the North Allegheny boys didn’t even medal in the event, finishing fourth.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 02/29/2016
February 29, 2016
There is MORE district gold to be won on the mat and in the pool, plus the start of the state playoffs on the hardwood and the Penguins Cup playoffs on the ice this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have the tip off of the boys and girls 2016 PIAA State Basketball Playoffs along with the start of the 2016 PIHL Penguins Cup hockey postseason. We also have the 2016 WPIAL Individual Wrestling Class AAA Championships and the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regionals and the 2016 WPIAL boys and girls Swimming Championships, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle and The PIHL Power Play Show and The WPIAL Roundball Report back to its normal Wednesday night ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, February 29th:
Penn-Trafford’s Joey Ference Repeats as WPIAL AAA Diving Champ
February 28, 2016
Second verse, same as the first for Penn-Trafford’s Joey Ference, who came into Saturday’s Boys Class AAA Diving Championships as the favorite, and the senior left with his second straight gold medal posting the only score above 500, as he finished his 11-dive set with 546.90 points. Ference admitted afterwards that he was a little bit disappointed that he didn’t come close to his score of 589.40 from last year, or the WPIAL record of 610.00, but in the end, Ference realized a gold medal is a gold medal and a second consecutive first place finish in the Championship.
Bethel Park’s Maria Capozzi Wins AAA Gold on Final Dive
In a meet seemingly dominated by underclassmen, it was a senior who ended up top of the class. Bethel Park's Maria Capozzi finally broke through to the taste the gold at the Girls Class AAA Diving Championships at North Allegheny High School. Capozzi slipped past Hampton's Adrienne White in the finals, defeating her by just under ten points.
Trevor Mahoney of SF Comes Back to Win AA Boys Diving Gold
February 26, 2016
A monster penultimate dive from South Fayette junior Trevor Mahoney turned a nearly twenty point deficit of leader John Ek from Lauel Highlands into an eleven point lead for Mahoney going into the final round of dives. Mahoney wins the event after finishing in second last season. Mahoney held on to win after trailing Ek after both the preliminary and semifinal rounds. With six of the top eight finishers from last year's championships gone, the top three returnees Mahoney, Ek, and Knoch's Ben Lowery claimed the top three spots. Mahoney finished with a score 415.85, Ek claimed second with 392.00, and Lowery checked in for third with 386.40.
Mars Taylor Hockenberry Repeats as Girls AA WPIAL Diving Champ
In the WPIAL Girls AA diving championships held at Moon Area High School Taylor Hockenberry, a Junior from Mars High School won her second consecutive title, and third top two finish. She is the reigning PIAA AA girls champion and favorite for the 2016 title. She led by 52.52 after the preliminary five dives, and by 80.45 after the semi finals thru eight dives. The Mars student won easily going away and had the title sewn up before her final dive. Her winning score of 470.85 was 92.3 points ahead of second place finisher Reilly Diggins of Quaker Valley. In a post game interview Hockenberry admitted "today wasn't my best day". Even though she won she realized last years WPIAL score of 506.05 in which she set a new WPIAL diving record was better.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 02/22/2016
February 22, 2016
There is plenty of district gold to be won on the hardwood, on the mat and in the pool this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have ALL the Semifinals, Championships and Consolation boys and girls games in the 2016 WPIAL Basketball Playoffs along with the District 6 boys and girls high school hoop playoffs. We also have the 2016 WPIAL Individual Wrestling Class AA Championships and the Class AAA-4 Sectionals, the end of the regular season in PIHL high school hockey and the 2016 WPIAL boys and girls Diving Championships, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle and The PIHL Power Play Show and The WPIAL Roundball Report on a special night ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, February 22nd:WPIAL Girls Sports Realignment
February 16, 2016
We all knew it was coming. A major change to the WPIAL high school sports landscape based on the PIAA's decision to increase from four to six classifications in basketball and softball, plus the increase in other sports such as soccer, volleyball and lacrosse. The WPIAL Board of Control approved the various steering committee's re-alignment suggestions starting with the 2016-2017 school year. This alignment also will be for the 2017-2018 school year. For interactive listing, CLICK HERE. GIRLS BASKETBALL Class 6A
