Serra Catholic junior claims WPIBL boys singles championship

By: Triblive
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | 8:08 PM

Serra Catholic junior Preston Smith defeated Hempfield junior Braylon Johnson, 216-205, in a closely contested final to win the WPIBL boys singles championship Wednesday at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes.

Johnson was the top bowler in qualifying with a 672 series. Smith was second with a 669 series, but he had the day’s highest game with a 279 in the final game of qualifying.

Smith was WPIBL runner-up as a sophomore, falling to Franklin Regional’s Brandon Smith in the finals.

In qualifying, Johnson and Smith were followed by Greensburg Salem’s Dylan Megliorino (663), New Castle’s Josh Pitzer (642), Burrell’s Brady Colgan (621) and Shaler’s Noah Lang (621).

In the quarterfinals, Pitzer got past Colgan, 160-143, and Lang defeated Megliorino, 229-204.

In the semifinals, Johnson eliminated Pitzer, 235-178, and Smith knocked out Lang, 219-193.

Gateway’s Allon Wallace (616), Thomas Jefferson’s Xavier Lyle (614) and Freeport’s Colin Cummings (604) also had qualifying series in the 600s but did not reach the stepladder finals.

The WPIBL girls singles championship is set for Thursday at AMF Mt. Lebanon.