Signal Item notes: Chartiers Valley girls bowlers advance to state tournament

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 17, 2018 | 2:21 AM

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Two Chartiers Valley winter sports teams etched their names in school history: The girls bowling team qualified for the state tournament for the first time in the program's 18 seasons, and the wrestling team sent two competitors to states for the first time since 2007.

Bowling

Led by its senior class, the CV girls team competed in the state tournament over the weekend. This season marked the girls' third section title in four seasons and fourth consecutive season in the WPIBL and regional tournaments.

The Colts took fifth place at regionals to secure their spot at states. The fifth-place finish in the regional final was one better than the Colts' finish at the WPIBL team tournament.

“Every year, we've gotten a little better,” second-year coach Jim Rennie said. “(The seniors) have bowled together the last four years, and every year they've gotten closer together and support each other.”

Chartiers Valley was led by seniors Brianna Menegon (168.88 average), Eden Egyed (168.03), Megan McCollum (167.73), Ally Martz (158.46) and Emma Comis (128.50). Menegon finished ninth and Egyed 15th at the WPIBL singles competition.

Having his top three bowlers so close in average, Rennie said, was a key to the team's success.

“We have three girls within two pins of each other,” he said. “There are a few teams … where there's one girl who might average 190 and a couple of girls average 140 or 150.”

The challenge now will be to build for next season. Rennie said he has some good young players coming up, but there could be a transition period. He also said participation in the program has been steady, and this season's success should help even more.

“It seems like the last couple years there have been a good mix of new girls and boys on the team,” he said, “so I think the word is out.”

Wrestling

Senior Shamil Zaynullaev and junior Zach Macy represented Chartiers Valley at the PIAA wrestling tournament. Macy (132 pounds) lost his opening two matches, both by 5-2 decisions, the second to Penn-Trafford's Nick Coy, who went on to place fifth.

Zaynullaev opened with a technical fall loss to eventual 195-pound champion Luke McGonigal of Clearfield. He bounced back with a pin in his second match, then dropped an 11-9 decision in his third match and was eliminated.

While the results might not have been what coach Bill Evans or his wrestlers expected, Evans saw plenty of positives in how their seasons played out.

Zaynullaev's year, in addition to his first state berth, included a section title, an Allegheny County title and nearly reaching 100 career wins. An amazing feat, Evans said, considering Zaynullaev had only seven wins as a freshman.

“I can't say I'm not proud of him,” Evans said. “When you look at the entire quality of work, he had a pretty good season.”

Macy, despite his quick exit from states, might have had a breakthrough.

Evans said Macy always has had the talent and work ethic to be successful, but he didn't always take the right mental approach on the mat. But during the state tournament, Evans said, the proverbial light bulb came on.

“It wasn't that he isn't capable of this kind of success,” Evans said. “He had to get himself mentally prepared for this kind of success. It wasn't a fluke that he qualified. It was more of an awakening.”

Macy, Evans said, already has his sights set on July's Cadet and Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D., where he hopes to become an All-American.

Chuck Curti is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at ccurti@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CCurti_Trib.

Tags: Chartiers Valley