Aw, so close.
The Franklin Regional boys track team almost pulled off a first at the WPIAL team semifinals April 30.
In fact, coach Bob Ralston thought his team had upset Mt. Lebanon, which would have advanced the Panthers to the WPIAL team finals for the first time.
“I had us tied 75-75 and owning the tiebreaker,” Ralston said. “But an official originally had us placing third in the shot put and it was Mt. Lebanon, which gave them a 76-74 victory.
“But despite the disappointment, I was so proud of the effort on the team. They truly did their best. They had PRs (personal records) and left it on the track.”
Will Weaver won the 1,600- and 800-meter runs. Sean Cartwright won the 110-meter hurdles and high jump. Jack Silvis jumped a personal-best 14 feet, 2 inches in the pole vault and Loch Bresnahan won the 100.
“We had freshman and sophomores have great days,” Ralston said. “It was a lot of fun to watch. It was an impressive performance.”
Franklin Regional defeated Trinity and Connellsville.
The Franklin Regional boys have won two consecutive section titles and the girls have won four in a row.
“The girls had a tougher task,” Ralston said. “Mt. Lebanon, South Fayette and Seneca Valley are powerhouses. But they had some great performances too.”
Sophomore Jamie Kociela broke the school record in the high jump of 5-5.
“She has worked hard,” Ralston said. “She puts a lot of time in perfecting her jumps.”
Caroline Shirley, a distance runner, is having a good season.
Here is a list of some of the Panthers’ top performers and how they rank on the WPIAL performance lists. Ralston said the Top 24 advance to WPIAL individual championships May 14 at Slippery Rock.
Boys
(As of May 1, with WPIAL rank)
3,200 relay: (11 WPIAL) 8:23.09 (Will Weaver, Andrew Silvis, Nico Piraino, Mason Gray). 400 relay: (18 WPIAL) 44.09 (Alex Chan, Koch Bresnahan, Mac Bresnahan, Elijah Bennett); 1,600 relay: (11 WPIAL) 3:30.28 (Will Weaver, Andrew Silvis, Khai Sheetz, Ethan Cartright).
110 hurdles: (7 WPIAL) Sean Cartwright, 15.00. 100: Loch Bresnahan, 11.11. 1,600: (29 WPIAL) Will Weaver, 4:38.92; Nico Piraino, 4:53.79. 400: (44 WPIAL) 53.04; (48 WPIAL) Khai Sheetz, 53.13. 300 hurdles: (18 WPIAL) Sean Cartwright, 41.06; (34 WPIAL) Ethan Cartwright, 43.35. 800: (11 WPIAL) Will Weaver, 1:59.26. 200: (33 WPIAL) Loch Bresnahan, 22.99.
Long jump: (10 WPIAL) Elijah Bennett, 21-7.5; (44 WPIAL) Mac Bresnahan, 20-0.5. Triple jump: (14 WPIAL) Mac Bresnahan, 42-1.5. High jump: (2 WPIAL) Sean Cartwright, 6-6. Pole vault: (10 WPIAL) Jack Silvis, 13-7; (35 WPIAL) Matthew Morcos, 12-1. Discus: (18 WPIAL) Anthony Petrucci, 133-0. Javelin: (30 WPIAL) Matthew Moore, 148-5; (37 WPIAL) Roman Colangelo, 141-10; (43 WPIAL) Jet Taylor, 137-11. Shot put: (31 WPIAL) Cole Devola, 43-4.25; (45 WPIAL) Elishua Daugherty, 41-7.
Franklin Regional Girls
3,200 relay: (15 WPIAL) 10:11.35 (Caroline Shirley, Madison Wilder, Michelle Yan, Ariyana V); 400 relay: (29 WPIAL) 52.60 (Chloe Pucka, Madeline Slotterback, Jaiden Tysarczyk, Reilly Weaver); 1,600 relay: (15 WPIAL) 4:18.25 (Madeline Slotterback, Elliana Canfield, Ariyana V, Gabriella Collier).
100 hurdles: (8 WPIAL) Abigail Paterline, 15.46. 100: (49 WPIAL) Madeline Slotterback, 13.24; Chloe Pucka, 13.69. 1,600: (8 WPIAL) Caroline Shirley, 5:14.53. 400: (45 WPIAL) Ariyana V, 1:03.25; (47 WPIAL) Elliana Canfield, 1:03.37. 300 hurdles: (11 WPIAL) Abigail Paterline, 47.19. 800: (44 WPIAL) Caroline Shirley, 2:30.13; Madison Wilder (53 WPIAL). 200: (34 WPIAL) Ariyana V, 27.09; (53 WPIAL) Elliana Canfield, 27.85; (57 WPIAL) Madeline Slotterback, 27.98. 3,200: (6 WPIAL) Caroline Shirley, 11:07.34.
Long jump: (6 WPIAL) Jaiden Tysarczyk, 17-7; (37 WPIAL) Genise Gonzales, 16-0; (47 WPIAL) Lucy Monsour, 15-7. Triple jump: (32 WPIAL) Jaiden Tysarczyk, 33-11; (34 WPIAL) Arden Tomley, 33-9.25. High jump: (4 WPIAL) Jamie Kociela, 5-5. Pole vault: (5 WPIAL) Arden Tomley, 11-3. Discus: (35 WPIAL) Maria Piraino, 90-6; (43 WPIAL) Belle Paulone, 88-3. Javelin: (26 WPIAL) Maria Piraino, 104-1; (63 WPIAL) Makinzie Marcus, 86-9. Shot put: (30 WPIAL) Maria Piraino, 31-3.75; (62 WPIAL) Belle Paulone, 28-3.