WPIAL girls golf preview: North Allegheny, GCC chasing 5th straight titles

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | 4:37 PM

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The usual suspects cornered the championships the last several seasons in WPIAL girls golf.

North Allegheny (Class AAA) and Greensburg Central Catholic (AA) each won four consecutive team titles — they also won PIAA championships last year — while North Allegheny’s Caroline Wrigley captured a three-peat at the WPIAL individual finals and won a state title before moving on to Furman.

The Tigers scored a championship record 298 in the finals at Cedarbrook.

Both teams are expected to be strong again, while North Catholic senior Maddie Smithco is one to watch in Class AA after winning WPIAL and PIAA championships. Smithco is a Youngstown State commit.

Mt. Lebanon’s Lindsey Powanda finished second in WPIAL Class AAA last season as a freshman. Another ninth-grader, Carolina McConnell of South Fayette, tied for third, while freshman Paige Scott of Butler also finished inside the top 10.

Teams to watch:

Class AAA — North Allegheny, Penn-Trafford, Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon

Class AA — Greensburg Central Catholic, Carmichaels.

Players to watch:

Class AAA — Lauren Barber, Jr., Penn-Trafford; Carolina McConnell, So., South Fayette; Lindsey Powanda, So., Mt. Lebanon; Sara Steve, Sr., Upper St. Clair; Isabella Walter, Sr., North Allegheny

Class AA — Remmy Lohr, Jr., Carmichaels; Lindsay Sethman, Jr., Brownsville; Maddie Smithco, Sr., North Catholic; Ella Zambruno, So., Greensburg Central Catholic; Meghan Zambruno, So., Greensburg Central Catholic

WPIAL dates to remember:

Sept. 17, 18, 19 — Section tournaments

Oct. 2 — Class AAA/AA individual championships (Diamond Run Golf Club)

Oct. 7 — Team semifinals (Pleasant Valley Golf Club)

Oct. 10 — Team finals (Cedarbrook Golf Course)

Oct. 15 — PIAA West Regional (Chestnut Ridge Resort)

Oct. 21-22 — PIAA individual championships (Heritage Hills Resort, York)

Oct. 23 — PIAA team championships (Heritage Hills Resort, York)

Recap of the 2018 season here.

Past WPIAL champions

2018 — Caroline Wrigley, North Allegheny (AAA); Maddie Smithco, North Catholic (Class AA)

2017 — Caroline Wrigley, North Allegheny (Class AAA); Tatum McKelvey, Sewickley Academy (Class AA)

2016 — Caroline Wrigley, North Allegheny (Class AAA); Kiaria Porter, Central Valley (Class AA)

2015 — Marissa Balish, Hampton (Class AAA); Olivia Zambruno, Greensburg C.C. (Class AA)

2014 — Lauren Waller, Canon-McMillan (Class AAA); Olivia Zambruno, Greensburg C.C. (Class AA)

2013 — Lauren Waller, Canon-McMillan (Class AAA); Macky Fouse, Central Valley (Class AA)

2012 — Janista Numpho-Frank, Hempfield (Class AAA); Gillian Alexander, Jefferson-Morgan (Class AA)

2011 — Marissa DeCola, Butler (Division I); Emily Rohanna, Waynesburg (Division II)

2010 — Katerina Luttner, Fox Chapel (Division I); Emily Rohanna, Waynesburg (Division II)

2009 — Nadia Luttner, Fox Chapel

2008 — Nadia Luttner, Fox Chapel

2007 — Rachel Rohanna, Waynesburg

2006 — Margaret Pentrack, Shady Side Academy

2005 — Rachel Rohanna, Waynesburg

2004 — Megan Trachok, Upper St. Clair

2003 — Katie Trachok, Upper St. Clair

2002 — Katie Miller, Hempfield

2001 — Jordyn Wells, Bethel Park

2000 — Emily Shoplik, Fox Chapel

1999 — Lauren George, Uniontown

1998 — Lauren George, Uniontown

1997 — Jen Patterson, Bethel Park

1996 — Julee Sovesky, Neshannock

1995 — Jen Patterson, Bethel Park

1994 — Shannon Ruane, Gateway

1993 — Erin Suvak, Woodland Hills

1992 — Tara Adams, Latrobe

1991 — Staci Aber, Greensburg Central Catholic

1990 — Staci Aber, Greensburg Central Catholic

1989 — Colleen Scally, Moon

1988 — Staci Aber, Greensburg Central Catholic

1987 — Kelli Weaver, Latrobe

1986 — Jodi Figley, Hopewell

1985 — Jodi Figley, Hopewell

1984 — Jodi Figley, Hopewell

1983 — Jodi Figley, Hopewell

1982 — Michelle Michanowicz, Fox Chapel

1981 — Beth Huey, Laurel Highlands

1980 — Missy Berteotti, Upper St. Clair

1979 — Missy Berteotti, Upper St. Clair

1978 — Nancy Tomich, Upper St. Clair

1977 — Nancy Tomich, Upper St. Clair

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Butler, Greensburg C.C., Mt. lebanon, North Allegheny, North Catholic, South Fayette