HS roundup: Bald Eagle Area’s unified bocce team advances to states after winning regionals
Here’s what happened in Centre County high school sports from March 1-7:
Unified bocce
BEA advances to states
Bald Eagle Area, the defending state champ, is headed back to Hershey.
The Eagles’ Blue Team, which is comprised of four students with special needs and four without, beat State College’s Maroon Team 8-2 at regionals Tuesday. BEA made it to that point by cruising in the semifinals, with a 6-5 win after battling back from a 5-4 deficit.
Unified bocce, which started in the eastern and western parts of the state several years ago, just started to gain steam in central Pennsylvania over the past two years. This is the second season for BEA, State College and Bellefonte.
The sport is co-sponsored by the PIAA and the Special Olympics.
Wrestling
BEA’s McClenahan wins state title
Bald Eagle Area’s Gage McClenahan returned home with gold Saturday, as the senior won the 145-pound championship match at the PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships.
He defeated Tunkhannock’s Gavin D’Amato 1-0. He is BEA’s first state wrestling champ since 2013.
“It’s been an awesome journey,” McClenahan told the Centre Daily Times.
Three other BEA wrestlers also took part in states, each finishing with a 2-2 record and coming up short of medaling. They included Coen Bainey (106 pounds), Cooper Gilham (120) and David Close (220).
SJCA pair earns gold at states
St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy’s Caleb Dowling (152 pounds) and Tyler Stoltzfus (170) both ended their careers on top Saturday by winning gold at the PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships.
Dowling beat Burrell’s AJ Corrado 3-2 to clinch the championship, while Stoltzfus won 1-0 to defeat Saucon Valley’s Matthew Arciuolo. It is the first time in school history that the Wolfpack have won a gold wrestling medal at states.
Other SJCA medalists included Zack Witmer (fifth, 138) and Keegan Rothrock (sixth, 160). Amonn Ohl finished 1-2 at 132 pounds and missed out on a medal.
2 medal for the Rams
Penns Valley’s Malachi DuVall (152 pounds) and Andrew Sharer (182) both finished in the top eight Saturday for the Rams during the PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships.
DuVall medaled by finishing third, while Sharer came in fourth.
Clayton Royer also competed and finished with a 1-2 record at 138 pounds.
P-O returns home with 3 medals
Philipsburg-Osceola may not have come home with a champion Saturday, but it still watched three of its wrestlers medal at the PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships.
Parker Moore was the big winner with a sixth-place finish at 195 pounds, while Chase Chapman (138 pounds) and Hunter Weitoish (160) both came in eighth.
It was the first time since 2008 that the program boasted a medalist. It was also the first time in school history that P-O had three medalists at once.
“We came in with three guys and exited with three on the podium, which is something our school hasn’t done in a very long time,” coach Brad Pataky told the Centre Daily Times. “I’m extremely proud of the fight and the effort the kids gave this week.”
Bellefonte produces 2 medalists
Bellefonte’s Lane Aikey (120 pounds) and Jude Swisher (126) both medaled Saturday during the PIAA Class 3A Wrestling Championships.
Swisher was fourth after beating Central Dauphin’s Josh Miller 4-1, while Aikey finished seventh by thumping Connellsville’s Jace Ross 9-2.
Other wrestlers who competed at states but did not medal included Aidan O’Shea (113), Ethan Richner (160) and Ethan Rossman (182). Each member of the trio finished with a 1-2 record.
State College falls short of podium
The Little Lions watched three wrestlers compete hard over the weekend at the PIAA Class 3A Wrestling Championships, but none could quite break through for a medal.
Hayden Cunningham (106 pounds) finished with a 2-2 record, Clayton Leidy (138) finished 1-2, and Lance Urbas (170) was 1-2.
“It’s not the result we wanted, but the kids wrestled really well,” coach Ryan Cummins told the Centre Daily Times. “I think they’ll continue to improve and next year hopefully have a strong result. I’m proud of everybody.”
Girls’ basketball
State College advances to PIAA 2nd round
The Lady Little Lions are moving on to the second round of the PIAA Class 6A Girls’ Basketball Championships for just the third time since 2011.
State College beat Upper Saint Clair 46-36 Friday at Bald Eagle Area’s gym in the first-round matchup. It’ll take on WPIAL champion North Allegheny (23-3) on Tuesday.
Maya Bokunewicz, a Rice commit, scored a game-high 29 points. No one else, on either team, cracked double digits.
“Not only can she handle the ball but, with that size, it’s hard to guard her,” Upper Saint Clair coach Pete Serio told the Centre Daily Times. “She can protect the ball so easily, she can throw over top of whatever defense we’re running, and she shot it really well today.”
St. Joseph’s season ends with PIAA loss
St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy’s season ended Saturday afternoon with a 44-31 loss to Berlin Brothersvalley in the first round of the PIAA Class A Girls’ Basketball Championships.
SJCA took a 10-8 lead in the first quarter but was then on the wrong end of a 16-2 run. In a span of 11:38, the Wolfpack managed just a single field goal and fell behind 24-12.
Kathleen Simander led all SJCA scorers with 12 points, while Kate Youngmark added 11 at Altoona’s gym.
SJCA ends its season with a 13-11 record.
Boys’ basketball
Rams fall in PIAA opening round
Penns Valley watched its season come to an end Saturday in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A Boys’ Basketball Championships.
The Rams fell 67-59 to Lincoln Park at Pittsburgh’s Fox Chapel Area. Logan Snyder finished his career with a game-high 28 points on a half-dozen 3-pointers.
Zach Braucht added 15 points, and John Aston had 12. For Lincoln Park, Isaiah Smith led the way with 20 points.
Penns Valley finishes its year with a 16-9 record.
This story was originally published March 8, 2020 at 10:54 AM.