WPIAL girls golf preview: North Allegheny, GCC chasing 5th straight titles
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Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | 4:37 PM
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
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