3 Franklin Regional athletes advance to PIAA track and field championships

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Five athletes from the Franklin Regional track and field team earned medals at the WPIAL Class 3A championship May 14 at Slippery Rock, but only three secured a trip to the PIAA championship meet Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg.

Senior Will Weaver, sophomore Sean Cartwright and sophomore Jamie Kociela will be competing at Seth Grove Stadium.

Weaver advanced with a second-place finish in the 800-meter run. He finished in 1 minute, 57.9 seconds, a personal record.

He finished behind North Hills senior Kayden Lightner but ahead of Penn-Trafford senior Jake McGhee.

Cartwright competed in three events (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and high jump), and qualified for states in the 110-hurdles. He placed sixth overall and earned a spot by hitting the qualifying time, finishing in 14.90.

In the 300 hurdles, he placed 20^th, and his twin brother Ethan finished 18^th. In the high jump he placed ninth with a jump of 6 feet, 1 inch.

Kociela finished sixth in the high jump with a jump of 5-3. She advanced by hitting the PIAA qualifying standard.

Sophomore Caroline Shirley finished fifth in the 3,200 in a time of 11:13.16, but finished just beyond the qualifying time of 11:07.

The top four finishers automatically advanced to states and those who finished in the top eight and hit the qualifying standard advanced to the state meet.

Franklin Regional junior Arden Tomley jumped 11 feet and finished sixth in the pole vault. She needed to clear 11-6 to advance.

Other FR boys who competed include junior Loch Bresnahan (100), junior Anthony Petrucci (discus), senior Elijah Bennett (long jump), senior Jack Silvas (pole vault) and Mac Bresnahan (triple jump).

Other girls competing included senior Abigail Paterline (100 and 300 hurdles), junior Maria Piraino (javelin), senior Genise Gonzales (long jump) and sophomore Jaiden Tysarczyk (long jump).

Also competing were the boys 400-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter relay teams and the girls 1,600- and 3,200-meter relay teams.

The girls’ 3,200 relay team placed ninth. Silvis also placed ninth.

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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