Penn-Trafford notebook: Nick Turowski, Antolena Damico advance in WPIAL golf tournament

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, October 1, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Penn-Trafford senior Nick Turowski was one step closer to winning his second WPIAL Class 3A boys golf championship after shooting an even-par 72 at Latrobe Country Club on Sept. 25 to lead the tournament after the first round.

The final round was Oct. 2 at Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray. He held a one-shot lead over Upper St. Clair junior Connor McKenzie, who shot a 1-over-par 73.

Turowski won the 2021 title as a sophomore at Nemacolin Country Club. He placed second last year at Allegheny Country Club.

“I played to win,” Turowski said about his first-round performance. “I was aggressive, and I didn’t hold back.”

North Allegheny sophomore Ravi Desai and Fox Chapel junior Davis Kittsley were tied for third after shooting a 4-over par 76, followed by Butler senior Hunter Swidzinski at 5-over, and Peters Township junior Colton Lusk and Shaler junior Jacob Crissman at 6-over. Three players were tied for eighth at 7-over.

The top 36 players and ties, a total of 39 players, advanced to the final round.

Turowski birdied the four par 5 holes (Nos. 3, 6, 14 and 15) and bogeyed the four par 3s (No. 2, 4, 10 and 12).

“I used my length off the tee,” Turowski said. “I trusted my driver on Nos. 3 and 5 when other players would lay-up.

“I never played Valley Brook yet, but I asked Justin Moose what it was like. He told me it’s a bomber’s dream.”

Penn-Trafford senior Antolena Damico advanced to the WPIAL Class 3A girls golf championship Oct. 4 at Diamond Round Golf Club. Damico shot a 94 in the first round.

Williams falls in WPIAL final

Penn-Trafford sophomore Amelia Williams’ bid to win her second WPIAL Class 3A title came up short when she lost to Shady Side Academy freshman Meriwhether McCargo, 7-6(1), 6-1.

Now, Williams must wait until Nov. 3-4 for the PIAA championships in Hershey for redemption.

“I hate losing,” Williams said. “It wasn’t my day and she’s a good player. It wasn’t my best, obviously.”

Penn-Trafford coach Megan Satira said Williams had an off day.

“Her serve was off and things didn’t go her way,” Satira said. “McCargo played well and kept her off balance.”

Hohman named interim coach

Because of a job change, wrestling coaches Travis McKillop and Larry Hohman will switch positions for the upcoming season.

The Penn-Trafford school board approved the switch to make Hohman the interim head coach and McKillop his assistant. McKillop had a conflict with his job that wouldn’t allow him to be present at every practice.

Hohman, who was an assistant, will take over and handle the day-to-day responsibilities.

Athletic director Kerry Hetrick said McKillop hopes to return as head coach at some point.

Cortazzo named baseball coach

The interim title was taken away from coach Lou Cortazzo, who is now head coach of the Warriors baseball program.

Cortazzo took over for Dan Miller prior to the 2023 season and led the Warriors a 17-3 season, which included a co-Section 1-5A championship, a third-place finish in the WPIAL playoffs and a victory in the PIAA playoffs against Central Mountain.

The season ended with a loss to Shaler, 4-1, in the state quarterfinals. Penn-Trafford fell to Bethel Park, 8-5, in the WPIAL semifinals, but defeated Plum, 3-1, in the third-place game.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

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