WPIAL boys golf preview: Peters Township out to defend WPIAL, PIAA titles

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, August 15, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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WPIAL boys golf preview

Class 3A

Team

2023 champion: Peters Township

2023 PIAA champion: Peters Township

Teams to watch: Belle Vernon, Butler, Central Catholic, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Latrobe, North Allegheny, Peters Township, Plum, South Fayette

Individual

2023 champion: Nick Turowski, Penn-Trafford*

2023 PIAA champion: Hunter Swidzinski, Butler*

Players to watch: Parker Berk, Latrobe (Jr.); Sam Bishop, South Fayette (Jr.); Brooke Carrigan, Laurel Highlands (Jr.); Jacob Crissman, Shaler (Sr.); Ravi Desai, North Allegheny (Jr.); Will Hilton, Pine-Richland (Sr.); Carson Kittsley, Fox Chapel (So.); Davis Kittsley, Fox Chapel (Sr.); Marcos Lopez, Seneca Valley (Jr.); Wes Lorish, Plum (Sr.); Colton Lusk, Peters Township (Sr.); Connor McKenzie, Upper St. Clair (Sr.); Jordan Mocello, Belle Vernon (Jr.); Nathan Patsilevas, North Hills (Sr.);Michael Qualich, Baldwin (So.); Jason Renwick, Butler (Jr.); Jack Sacriponte, Latrobe (Jr.); Lucas Singh, Mars (Jr.); Ryan Walther, Trinity (Jr.); Ryan Watterson, Peters Township (Sr.)

Class 2A

Team

2023 champion: Belle Vernon**

2023 PIAA champion: Devon Prep

Teams to watch: Brentwood, Greensburg Central Catholic, Mt. Pleasant, Quaker Valley, South Park

Individual

2023 champion: Nixen Erdely, Frazier*

2023 PIAA champion: Nick Werner, Wyoming Seminary

Players to watch: Rocco Bautti, Neshannock (So.); Eli Bintrim, Laurel (Jr.); Jamin Brock, Bishop Canevin (So.); Gavin Bruce, Shenango (Sr.); Joe Campoli, Shenango (Sr.); Ethan Dai, Quaker Valley (Sr.); Aaron Didjunas, Elizabth Forward (So.); Seth Dolan, Geibel (Jr.); Aydan Gross, Mt. Pleasant (Sr.); Severin Harmon, Sewickley Academy (Sr.); Karan Kad, Sewickley Academy; Ryan Karfelt, Mt. Pleasant (Sr.); Jordan Keller, Ellwood City (Jr.); Jak Kratznberg, Greensburg Central Catholic (Sr.); Tyler Maddix, Bishop Canevin (Sr.); Josh Nesky, South Allegheny (Sr.); Braden Riley, Greensburg Central Catholic (Sr.); Jonah Schollaert, OLSH (Jr.); Seth Tomalski, Belle Vernon (Sr.); Nolan Wagoner, Quaker Valley (Sr.); Eli Wick, Eden Christian (Sr.); David Zaharko, Aquinas Academy (Sr.)

*Graduated

**Moved up in classification

Important dates

Aug. 5: First practice date

Aug. 8: First play date

Aug. 9: First section date

Sept. 16-19: Individual section qualifiers

Sept. 23-26: WPIAL individual first round

Oct. 2: WPIAL Class 2A individual finals, Sewickley Heights Country Club Oct. 1: WPIAL Class 3A individual finals, Oakmont Country Club

Oct. 7-8: WPIAL team semifinals

Oct. 10: WPIAL team championships, Cedarbrook Golf Course

Oct. 21-22: PIAA individual championships, Penn State Golf Course

Oct. 23: PIAA team championships, Penn State Golf Course

…

WPIAL golf individual champions

2023 — Nick Turowski, Penn-Trafford (AAA); Nick Erdely, Frazier (AA)

2022 — Rocco Salvitti, Central Catholic (AAA); Hunter Jurica, Derry (AA)

2021 — Nick Turowski, Penn-Trafford (AAA); Brian McDonnell, Eden Christian Academy (AA)

2020 — Justin Scally, Moon (AAA); Tim Fitzgerald, Sewickley Academy (AA)

2019 — Scott Bitar, Fox Chapel (AAA); JF Aber, Sewickley Academy (AA)

2018 — Jimmy Meyers, Central Catholic (AAA); Skyler Fox, Riverside (AA)

2017 — Chris Sabol, Moon (AAA); Skyler Fox, Riverside (AA)

2016 — Gregor Meyer, Fox Chapel (AAA); Skyler Fox, Riverside (AA)

2015 — Hunter Bruce, Peters Township (Class AAA); Jason Li, Sewickley Academy (Class AA)

2014 — Anthony Cordaro, Fox Chapel (Class AAA); Chris Tanabe, Quaker Valley (Class AA)

2013 — Corey Long, South Fayette (Class AAA); Matt Barto, Leechburg (Class AA)

2012 — Brent Rodgers, Central Catholic (Class AAA); Matt Barto, Leechburg (Class AA)

2011 — Zack Taylor, Baldwin (Division I); Brad Thornton, Shenango (Division II)

2010 — Bo Lustig, Belle Vernon (Division I); Max Kaminsky, Serra Catholic (Division II)

2009 — Ben Gjebre, Latrobe

2008 — Adam Stawski, Plum

2007 — Brock Pompeani, Hopewell

2006 — Adam Hofmann, Fox Chapel

2005 — Christian Goetz, Burgettstown

2004 — Mike Van Sickle, Pine-Richland

2003 — Mike Van Sickle, Pine-Richland

2002 — Tim Moynihan, Franklin Regional

2001 — David Vallina, Burgettstown

2000 — David Valllina, Burgettstown

1999 — Scott Chisholm, North Hills

1998 — Nate Speer, Burrell

1997 — Tom Barnhart, Laurel Highlands

1996 — Andy Latowski, Baldwin

1995 — Russ Manski, Central Catholic

1994 — Andy Hay, North Catholic

1993 — Brian Tutich, Greensburg Central Catholic

1992 — Jeff Dickson, Knoch

1991 — Jeff Dickson, Knoch

1990 — Jeff Diehl, Butler

1989 — Kevin Shields, Mt. Lebanon

1988 — Perry DiNardo, Trinity

1987 — George Laskey, Geibel

1986 — Kevin Reisenweaver, Latrobe

1985 — Seth Pevarnik, Greensburg Central Catholic

1984 — Tony Brovety, Bentworth

1983 — Paul Balest, Greensburg Salem

1982 — Greg Klabon, Shenango

1981 — Kurt Beck, Upper St. Clair

1980 — Jim Watterson, Upper St. Clair

1979 — Bob Bradley, Hempfield

1978 — Steve Savor, Jr., Springdale

1977 — Ray Nelson, Ligonier

1976 — Frank Fuhrer III, Fox Chapel

1975 — Frank Fuhrer III, Fox Chapel

1974 — Frank Fuhrer III, Fox Chapel

1973 — Scott Arthur, Moon

1972 — Dennis Osborne, Butler

1971 — Mike Phillips, West Allegheny

1970 — Mike Phillips, West Allegheny

1969 — Rich Foutz, Plum

1968 — Harry Hamilton, West Allegheny (fall season)

1968 — Jim Simons, Knoch (spring season)

1967 — Frank Garella, West Mifflin North

1966 — Sterret Watt, Northwestern

1965 — Rick Hrip, Butler

1964 — Charles Cullison, Baldwin

1963 — Scott Yard, Greensburg

1962 — Jim Lynch, Mt. Lebanon

1961 — Bob O’Block, Plum

1960 — Bob O’Block, Plum

1959 — George Mackanos, Penn Hills

1958 — Fred Maeder, Har-Brack

1957 — Jack Veroncy, Moon

1956 — Wally Samuels, Mt. Lebanon

1955 — Ken O’Gorman, Moon

1954 — Ron Schwarzel, Brentwood

1953 — Ron Schwarzel, Brentwood

1952 — Ron Schwarzel, Brentwood

1951 — Bill Gabel, Ambridge

1950 — Tom Cherok, Penn Hills

1949 — Rich McCarthy, West View

1948 — Bill Thompson, Sharon

1947 — Arnold Palmer, Latrobe

1946 — Arnold Palmer, Latrobe

1945 — Roger Jewette Jr. (Butler)

1944 — Tom Denny (Greensburg)

1943 — Paul Lawry (Avonworth)

1942 — Jay Ponchak (Jeannette)

1941 — John Jendrasak (Etna)

1940 — John Barkovich (Turtle Creek)

1939 — Andy Razak (Bridgeville)

1938 — John Barkovich (Turtle Creek)

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