Unionville's bid to repeat as state team champion denied by Pittsburgh Central Catholic

   District One champion Unionville was denied a second straight PIAA Class AAA title Wednesday as Pittsburgh Central Catholic edged the Indians by five shots to win the state team title for the second time in three years.

   Pittsburgh Central Catholic, led by senior Jimmy Meyers, the PIAA Class AAA runnerup in the individual competition that concluded Tuesday at the 6,700-yard, par-71 Heritage Hills Golf Resort layout in York County, finished with a 300 team title in the five-score-four format.

   Unionville, which fired a sparkling 292 total in capturing the title a year ago, carded a 305 Wednesday.

   Neal Shipley was the low man for Pittsburgh Central Catholic with a 1-over 72. Meyers, a Penn State recruit, was right behind him with a 2-over 73. Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s other counters were a 76 by Shane Kelly and a 79 by Palmer Cuny. Pittsburgh Central Catholic was able to toss an 86 by Tyler Blake.

   Unionville, the Ches-Mont League champion, was represented by the Bennink twins, Connor and Will, Richie Kline, Chris Skean and Jack Cooley. Connor Bennink finished in a tie for sixth in the PIAA Class AAA individual competition while Will Bennink finished in a tie for 12^th.

   Pretty nice run by Unionville with back-to-back District One titles, a state crown and a runnerup finish at the PIAA Championship.

   District Three champion Manheim Township and Cathedral Prep finished in a tie for third, each posting a  318 total, 13 shots behind Unionville.

   District 12 champion La Salle, out of the Philadelphia Catholic League, finished fifth at 319, just a shot behind Manheim Township and Cathedral Prep.

   La Salle’s lineup included Steve Lorenzo, Frank Gregor, Matt Lafond, Corey Haydu and Matt Law. The Golf Association of Philadelphia announced on Twitter -- a highly recommended follow for any fan of local golf -- Wednesday that Lafond had been named its Junior Sportsperson of the Year, which recognizes accomplishments on and off the golf course.

   Dallas rounded out the Class AAA field as it finished sixth at 320, another shot behind La Salle.

North East captured the Class AA crown with a 314 total, which was 17 shots better than runnerup Scranton Prep.

   The Northeast lineup included freshman Lydia Swan, the runnerup in the girls PIAA Class AA individual competition, Carter Hassenplug, Alec Hite, Isaiah Swan and Ryan Hathaway.

Defending champion Sewickley Academy finished third with a 333 total followed by District 12 champion Devon Prep in fourth at 343.

   The Devon Prep lineup included Ryan McCabe, who finished in a tie for second in the PIAA Class AA individual competition Tuesday, Graham White, Coleman Miller, Tyler Kenneson and Charlie Hurchalla.

   St. Joseph’s Academy took fifth with a 348 total and Lancaster Mennonite was sixth at 362.

   Senior Caroline Wrigley made it a pretty good three days at Heritage Hills as she led North Allegheny to its second straight PIAA Class AAA team title and third in four years a day after she rolled to a seven-shot victory in the individual competition.

   Wrigley fired a 2-under 70 to lead the way for North Allegheny. The girls teams only score the top three from their five-player teams and Wrigley helped North Allegheny post a 243 total, four shots clear of surprising runnerup Downingtown East, which carded a 247 total.

   The other counters for North Allegheny were an 86 by Esha Vaidya and an 87 by Isabella Walter. North Allegheny was able to throw out Christina Lewis’ 88 and Christina Zhou’s 91.

   Downingtown East was led by senior Liddie McCook, who finished in a tie for 11^th in the individual competition. Rounding out the lineup for Downingtown East were Ava O’Sullivan, Anisha Sonti, Katelyn Samples and Ava Lichok.

   Downingtown East had come up one shot short of perennial District One power Mount St. Joseph in the district team competition, but turned the tables on the Mount at Heritage Hills. Mount St. Joseph finished third at 256.

   The Mount St. Joseph lineup included Olivia Wirsching, Clare Gimpel, Brianna Mahon, Nora Blatney and Caroline Gola.

   McDowell finished fourth at 263, Hershey was fifth at 269 and Hazleton Area was sixth at 280.

After finishing second three years in a row, Greensburg Central Catholic, behind its Team Zambruno, finally got over the top in capturing the girls Class AA title with a 250 total, two shots better than the 252 posted by defending champion Sewickley Academy.

   Greensburg Central Catholic was led by the 81 carded by freshman Meghan Zambruno, who finished tied for third in the individual competition. Big sister Abby Zambruno, a senior, added an 84, and Hanna Norton, another senior, checked in with the final counter, an 85, to give Greensburg Central Catholic the edge.

   Rounding out the Greensburg Central Catholic lineup were Ella Zambruno, also a freshman – Meghan’s twin perhaps – with an 86, and Angelika Dewicki, a sophomore, with a 96.

   Hickory finished third at 269, 17 shots behind runnerup Sewickley Academy, District 10’s Villa Maria was fourth at 273, Central Cambria was fifth at 288 and Elk Lake was sixth at 335.