Laurel Highlands swimmers sweep Belle Vernon
Laurel Highlands earned a sweep in Section 5-2A swimming action on Thursday at Belle Vernon Area High School.
The Mustangs earned a 73-49 victory, while the Fillies had an 81-65 advantage.
Laurel Highlands’ Lincoln Metheney won the 200 and 500-yard freestyle races in times of 1:59.86 and 5:19.84. Both times broke the WPIAL-qualifying standard for Class 2A boys, but Metheney had already qualified in both events. Teammate Drew Tupta was second in the 500 freestyle and swam a WPIAL cut of 5:25.92.
The Mustangs’ Kasey Mahoney won the 200 IM (individual medley) in 2:05.03, which hit the WPIAL qualifying mark, but Mahoney had already reached the standard. Mahoney topped the field in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.55) with a WPIAL cut, but his victory didn’t factor into the team scoring as Laurel Highlands had a sizable lead. Mahoney swam his best time this season, 59.08, in the 100 breaststroke on Dec. 15.
Aidan Swaney joined Metheney, Tupta and Mahoney to win the 400 freestyle relay in a WPIAL qualifying time of 3:41.81. The points weren’t part of the team score. The same quartet won the 200 medley relay in 1:50.67. The Mustangs hit the standard for the district meet, but they had already qualified earlier in the season.
Laurel Highlands’ William Lucente won the 50 freestyle in 30.80. He swam the opening leg on the Mustangs’ 200 freestyle relay team who won the event in 2:07.85. Mobby Malik, Michael Aubele and Joey Mohar swam the second, third and anchor legs.
The Leopards’ Brady Malekovich topped the field in the 100 butterfly in a time of 56.77 to qualify for the event at the WPIAL meet. Unlike the others on Thursday, Malekovich had not hit the WPIAL cut for his event. Teammate Derek Milkovich touched the wall first in the 100 freestyle in 56.07.
Albert Gallatin’s Aaron Moccaldi won the 100 backstroke in 1:01.29. Moccaldi’s time put him into the WPIAL meet. He has also qualified for the 500 freestyle.
Laurel Highlands’ Addie Ciez topped the field in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:47.30. Ciez hit the WPIAL cut in the event, but she had previously qualified. She was second in the 200 IM, but was under the WPIAL mark, which she accomplished earlier in the season.
Ciez swam the third leg of the 200 medley relay team that was victorious in 2:15.74. Maddy Moore led off the race, followed by Mia Fabery, Ciez and Amelia Opar.
Opar won the 200 freestyle in 2:29.73. Teammate Jillan Firestone won the 50 freestyle in 33.03.
The Lady Leopards’ Josie Nikolic swam two PRs (personal records) in high school, as the ninth grader was victorious in the 200 IM (2:17.02) and 100 breaststroke (1:08.98). Nikolic had already qualified for both events in the WPIAL meet.
Fellow ninth grader Megan Shusteric won the 100 butterfly (1:02.46) in a WPIAL-qualifying time, but she had already beat the mark. Shusteric was victorious in the 100 backstroke (1:08.93).
Nikolic and Shusteric were joined by Ali Watson and Isabella O’Wade in topping the field in the 200 freestyle relay in a time of 1:56.87. Audrey Selva teamed up with Nikolic, Shusteric and Watson to win the 400 freestyle relay (4:29.07). Belle Vernon had qualified for the district meet in both events.
Watson won the 100 freestyle in 1:09.53
HOCKEY
CONNELLSVILLE 5, RINGGOLD 4 — The Falcons rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime before defeating the Rams in a shootout in PIHL Division 2 play at CFS Bank Arena in Rostraver Township.
Connellsville leads the Gold Division with a record of 12-4-0-0-1 and 38 points. Morgantown is second with 36 points and Knoch sits third with 34. The Mohigans (1) and Knights (2) have games in hand on the Falcons.
Ringgold’s Landon Vaccaro scored his second goal with 10:39 remaining in the third for a 4-2 lead. Brady Lippert assisted on Vaccaro’s tally.
It didn’t take Connellsville long to cut into the deficit, as Mason Mazak scored an unassisted goal with 39 seconds later.
Mazak and Matty Smith set-up Sam Denny for the game-tying goal with 4:57 remaining in the third period.
The Falcons, who had a 46-22 advantage in shots on goal, outshot the Rams, 17-3, in the third period.
Connellsville had a 3-0 edge in shots on goal in overtime, but couldn’t score, and the game went into the shootout.
Ringgold wasn’t able to convert on its two penalty-shot opportunities, but Mazak and Connor Basinger buried their shots to end the back-and-forth contest.
Denny opened the scoring at 12:42 of the first period. Riley Denny assisted on Sam’s even-strength tally.
Bruce Santina pulled the Rams even at 10:53 of the opening frame with his first of two goals. Benito Pesi and Nolan Mosco had the helpers on Santina’s tally.
Falcons goalie Nick Daniels-Nimick, got on the scoresheet when he made a heads-up play to Smith, who beat Mason Ribnicky for a 2-1 advantage with 1:40 left in the period.
Vaccaro scored 17 seconds later and Santina cashed in with six seconds remaining for a 3-2 lead. Lippert assisted on Vaccaro’s goal and Anthony Bonari on Santina’s tally.
Daniels-Nimick stopped 18 shots on goal for the win in 54 minutes of ice time because of overtime. Ribnicky made 42 saves despite taking the loss.
The Rams, who play in the Blue Division, picked up a point, and are in a tie for second place with Burrell with 33 points. Neshannock leads the division with 34 points.
BOYS WRESTLING
ALBERT GALLATIN 51, YOUGH 21 — The Colonials won six bouts by fall and defeated the Cougars in non-section action at Yough High School.
Gavin Morris (107), Alex Kinsley (121), Julius Poole (139), Nick Hillyard (172), Roman Smith (189) and Colin Rockwell (285) scored 36 team points in pinning their opponents.
The Colonials’ Bryce Kelley earned a 7-4 decision over Chase Brown at 127. Yough’s Dominic Liscotti topped Kage Churby, 9-6, at 152.
Albert Gallatin’s Greyson Morris (114) and Jaymes Sutton (160) received forfeits.
The Cougars’ Chad Brown (133), Ethen Kerber (145) and Cash Smith (215) won by forfeit.
The Colonials improved to 6-6 this season.
RINGGOLD 69, BROWNSVILLE 6 — The Falcons’ Cooper Cetera won by fall, but the Rams were too much for the visitors in a non-section dual meet on Wednesday at Ringgold High School.
Cetera recorded his pin in 2:51 during action in the 285-pound weight class.
Ringgold’s Andrew Barkey (127), Evan Tolliver (133), Leif Syrko (139) and Owen Conroy (215) won by fall. Teammates Tristan Young (121), Justin Steingrabe (145) and Caden Smith (189) were victorious by technical fall.
Luke Valangevicia (107), Ben Groves (114), Eli Pierce (152), Cristian Lowther (160) and Ryder Talbott (189) won by forfeit for the Rams (13-3).
Brownsville (6-9) has the Gateway Quad and South Park remaining on its schedule before beginning the individual postseason tournaments on Feb. 14.