Sports
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Zac Lynch
March 15, 2016
Over the past several years, the PIHL has produced an array of notable alumni who have honed their craft either at the NCAA Division I level, or the professional ranks. Often, those players left the area at a young age to pursue their dreams. Zac Lynch has been able to play both his high school and college hockey in his hometown of Pittsburgh, however. Lynch, who is a top performer for the nationally-ranked Robert Morris University Colonials, is the focus of this week's WPIAL Alum Q&A.
Big Burst Helps Beaver Down Carrick to Win PIHL Division 2 Title
March 14, 2016
Things went according to plan for Carrick (15-7-1) through the first half of the 2016 PIHL Division 2 Championship at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry on Monday night. But then Beaver (21-2-0) exploded for three goals in a span of 1:17 late in the second period and rolled from there to a 5-2 victory and its first gold medal since 2001 as a member of Class AA.
PIHL Notebook – 03/14/2016
Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. Having already presented you with our annual semifinal preview team capsules, how best to preview the 2016 PIHL Finals set for Monday and Tuesday at the brand new UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry? For that, we go back to something used periodically in this space over the years when the timing has worked out. Below, in diplomatic fashion, we build the case why each of the eight finalists can emerge victorious over the next two nights. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.” PIHL DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONSHIP:This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/14/2016
The winter high school sports postseason comes to an end this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have the Semifinals and State Championship Game coverage from Hershey of the boys and girls 2016 PIAA State Basketball Playoffs along with video and audio stream coverage of the 2016 PIHL Penguins Cup Playoffs Championships, plus the season finales of both Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle and The WPIAL Roundball Report as well as The PIHL Power Play Show ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 14th: TALK SHOW - Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle at 7:00pm on MSAsports.net
2016 PIAA Wrestling Championships – Class AAA Final Results
March 13, 2016
After winning nine state championships a year ago in AAA, eight of which by seniors, a setback could have been expected. But when you are in a district as strong as the WPIAL, it never seems to happen. The WPIAL had another good showing at Hershey to cap its season, as five wrestlers came away with state gold. A pair of wrestlers were able to win their third PIAA Championship. The first was Franklin Regional’s Spencer Lee at 120 pounds. Lee, who pinned his first three opponents in the tournament in the first period, was able to rack up multiple back points on his way to a 15-0 technical fall in 3:42 to defeat Austin DeSanto of Exeter Township. For his efforts, Lee was the recipient of the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award and the Most Falls Award for the PIAA tournament.
2016 PIAA Wrestling Championships – Class AA Final Results
The WPIAL came into the medal rounds of the PIAA Championships with nine individuals wrestling for a gold medal. After action ended Saturday, the WPIAL ended the season with seven state champions. Of the seven that won gold Saturday, five have won more then one title in their career. One wrestler was able to claim his third PIAA Championship, as George Phillippi of Derry was victorious at 138 pounds. He was able to pick up a pair of takedowns in the match to defeat Cole Wetzel of Boiling Springs 6-2.2016 PIAA Wrestling Championships – Day Two Recap
March 11, 2016
After having a tough day on Thursday, the WPIAL rebounded with a strong day on Friday to set up the medal round bouts on Saturday. Out of the 24 wrestlers that came into action Friday, there will be 16 of them coming home with a medal from Hershey. 14 of those wrestlers started the day in the Quarterfinals, and 9 finished the day set to wrestle in the state finals. Those expected to make the finals did, as Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson Morgan (113), George Phillippi of Derry (138), Mike Carr of South Fayette (145), Jake Wentzel of South Park (160), Greg Bulsak of South Park (182), and Jake Beistel of Southmoreland (285) all found their way to the title match with relative easy.Scholastic Notebook – 03/11/2016
Eight WPIAL boys basketball teams are left in the PIAA playoffs. For most of those teams, there is a certain football flavor to them. It’s a neat little storyline that some of the top basketball players on those eight teams were also top football players. Of the eight quarterfinalists from the WPIAL, the two that don’t have top football players are Lincoln Park and Sewickley Academy. But that’s because they don’t have football programs. But there is a common thread among the other six, and that is this: It doesn’t matter the gridiron or the court. Players can excel. In this day and age of athletes wanting to specialize in one sport, these are athletes proving that you can still be good in two.2016 PIAA Wrestling Championships – Day One Recap
March 10, 2016
The WPIAL came into action on Thursday at Hershey with 56 wrestlers, and they did not disappoint, as 51 of those wrestlers are still alive in the tournament and will wrestle on Friday afternoon. Of those 51 wrestlers, 28 still remain in the quarterfinals. Every WPIAL Champion advanced into the quarterfinals with the exception of two. The first was at 160 pounds, where Albert Gallatin's David Wallace dropped an 8-6 overtime loss to Tyler Reber of Hempfield (District 3). The other was at 285 pounds, where Norwin's Hayden Rice came up short against Isaac Schannauer of Wilson 3-2.Penguins Cup Playoffs Recaps From Wednesday 3/9
On the final night of the Final Four in the high school hockey playoffs, both games came down to the wire in a pair of one-goal contests at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Complex on Neville Island on Wednesday. In the end, top-seed North Allegheny and 2015 Class AA champion Erie Cathedral Prep proved the Northern Lights shine brightest as they eeked out wins to move on to the finals next week. Here are summaries from both PIHL Pneguins Cup Class AAA Semifinals. A special thanks to Randy Gore and Bob Orkwis for their help on these recaps. PIHL PENGUINS CUP CLASS AAA Semifinals:Penguins Cup Playoffs Recaps From Tuesday 3/8
March 9, 2016
Like the guy in the corn said in the movie Field of Dreams, "If you bracket it, upsets will come." Well, that's not exactly what he said, but since the PIHL Penguins Cup Playoffs switched from re-seed to brackets, the chance of upsets increased. And in the case of the Class A Semifinals on Tuesday, they increased two-fold. Here are summaries from a couple of Class A Semifinals surprises at the Robert Morris University island Sports Complex on Neville Island as a second top-seed was knocked out short of the finals. A special thanks to Sean Meyers and Greg Kuntz for their help on these recaps. PIHL PENGUINS CUP CLASS A Semifinals:Penguins Cup Playoffs Recaps From Monday 3/7
March 8, 2016
Final Four Monday not only saw four teams fighting for title game spots in Class AA at the Robert Morris University Sports Complex on Neville Island, but also in the Division II Semi's at the Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale. when the smoke cleared, Bishop Canevin and Mars won a couple of Double-A dandies while Beaver and Carrick posted a pair of Semifinals shutouts. Here are recaps from all four Final Four contests that set the stage for the Class AA Penguins Cup Championship and the PIHL Division 2 Finals. A special thanks to Brandon Showers, Mike Azadian, Josh Rowntree and Matt Vandriak for their help on these recaps. PIHL PENGUINS CUP CLASS AA Semifinals:
WPIAL Alum Q&A – Heather Davis
Playing four sports in high school is a tremendous accomplishment, while playing two sports at the college level is equally, if not even more impressive. Heather Davis achieved both of these feats during her time at Ford City High School and Waynesburg University. While at the now defunct Ford City, Davis starred in basketball, as well as golf, volleyball and track. On the hardwood, she was a four-year letterwinner, and earned all-section distinction as a senior in 2011-12. That season, she helped guide the Sabers to a 16-7 mark, including a playoff bid in Class AA. Additionally, she was named the MVP of the Cager Classic All-Star Game.PIHL Notebook – 03/07/2016
March 7, 2016
Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. Over the next three days, we will find out which eight teams will complete for the 2016 Penguins Cup championships. All eight semifinal games will be heard on these airwaves, and we have you primed in the space below with our traditional team capsules. Team stats, playoff results, keys to victory – we have it call at your fingertips. So, let’s light the lamp on this special postseason edition of “PIHL Notebook.” CLASS AAA PENGUINS CUP SEMIFINALSThis Week on the MSA Sports Network – 03/06/2016
March 6, 2016
With all of the battles for district winter sports gold in the rear view mirror, we focus on the chase for state championships on the mat and on the hardwood along with the Final Four of the high school hockey postseason this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have the Second Round and Quarterfinals of the boys and girls 2016 PIAA State Basketball Playoffs, the Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals for Class AAA and Class AA of the 2016 PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships and the PIHL Penguins Cup Playoff Semifinals, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle, The WPIAL Roundball Report and a special night for The PIHL Power Play Show ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, March 7th:
2016 WPIAL Class AAA Wrestling Day Two Recap & Results
March 5, 2016
Some of the best wrestlers in the state of PA, as well as the country, were on display on Saturday at Penn Hills for the AAA WPIAL Championships and they did not disappoint. 11 out of the 14 top seeds in each weight class found themselves on the top of the podium, with the lone exceptions being at 106, 132, and 285.2016 PIAA Wrestling Class AA Southwest Regional Results
The top Class AA wrestlers around Southwestern Pennsylvania spent Friday and Saturday in Canonsburg doing battle for the top five spots in the upcoming 2016 PIAA Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships next week. Here are the results from Canon-McMillan High School.
2016 WPIAL Class AAA Wrestling Day One Recap
March 4, 2016
The AAA WPIAL Championships started Friday at Penn Hills with news of wrestlers missing. A pair of scratches to seeded wrestlers adjusted two different weight classes. The first was at 132 pounds, where number five seed Ryan Yocum of Trinity was a scratch. The other was at 152 pounds where Micah Kusturiss of Canon McMillan, who was a four seed, was a scratch due to an ankle injury.
