It was quite year for the Franklin Regional wrestling program.
The Panthers (22-0) won their second consecutive WPIAL 3A team title, fourth overall, and claimed their third PIAA championship.
They defeated rival Norwin in both the WPIAL and PIAA finals.
The season concluded in Hershey at the individual championship and two wrestlers – junior Michael Ruane and sophomore Beau Fennick – brought home medals.
Ruane finished second in the 152-pound weight class, falling to Northampton junior Gabriel Ballard in the finals.
Ruane, the WPIAL champion and PIAA West Regional runner-up, won three matches, including a 13-5 victory over No. 1 seed Perkiomen Valley junior Luke Knox in the quarterfinals. He defeated Boiling Springs senior Ian Longerberger, 5-4.
He was 47-5 this season and is 116-31 overall.
Fennick went 3-3 in the state tournament.
He finished 23-8 this season and is 61-17 overall.
The Panthers graduate one senior. They return four other PIAA qualifiers. They are junior Chase Smith (139), junior Ethan Cartwright (172), John Montgomery (285) and junior Titus Colangelo (121).
Also back are junior Sal Colangelo (107), junior Cohen Buccicone (145), sophomore Max Firestine (145), junior Evan McManis (189), sophomore Kaydon Ferrell (215) and junior Sal Nassif (145).
Firestine was unable to compete in the individual postseason tournaments because of a concussion.
Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe was named the state’s coach of the year, and Greg Sill was named assistant coach of the year.
Both were honored before the PIAA finals.
Keystone States
Keystone States were held at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center and three young Panthers brought home medals.
They were Beau Bothell (seventh, 48, 6 and under), Colton Writt (third, 85, 9-10) and Anika Koteski (fourth, 55, girls 6 and under).
Section play ahead
The Panthers baseball team (5-0) was scheduled to open Section 1-5A action March 23-24 against Penn Hills.
They play host to the Indians in the first game and then travel to Penn Hills in the second.
The following week (March 30-31) they play Kiski Area, opening the two-game series at home.
The team opened the season March 13 with a 10-4 win against Fox Chapel.
Slow start
The Panthers softball team will be looking for its first victory after a tough week in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
The Panthers, under first-year coach Maddie Uschock, lost to Souderton, Karns, Tenn., Indiana and Jefferson County, Tenn., at the Ripken Experience.
The team was scheduled to visit Plum on March 20 and open Section 2-5A play March 23 against McKeesport.