Ciocca again leads the way as Devon Prep captures PIAA Class AA team crown

 

   Turns out when I thought I was wrapping up Nick Ciocca’s scholastic career at Devon Prep at the end of my post on the final round of the PIAA Championships at Penn State, there was one more round to play, one more gold medal to be draped around Ciocca’s neck.

   Ciocca, a product of the Aronimink Golf Club junior program, carded a 2-under-par 70 at Penn State’s White Course Wednesday to lead Devon Prep to its second PIAA Class AA team crown in three seasons.

   Ciocca’s solid round helped Devon Prep, the District 12 champion playing out of the Philadelphia Catholic League, pile up a 13-over 301 total that was five shots better than runnerup Belle Vernon.

   It was a completely different supporting cast than the one that backed up Ciocca when the Tide won the first PIAA team crown in Devon Prep’s history at the Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York County two years ago.

   The constant has been Ciocca, who captured the PIAA Class AA individual crown a year ago when the state tournament returned to Penn State for the first time in more than 20 years. Ciocca, who will join the program at Notre Dame next summer, finished in a tie for ninth place with a 2-over 146 total in defense of that title in this year’s individual competition that wrapped up Tuesday at the White Course.

   Backing up Ciocca in the five-score-four format were fellow senior Dan DiLella, who posted a solid 3-over 75, and junior John Curran, who recorded a 4-over 76. The critical final counter for Devon Prep came from freshman Andrew Carroccio, who tallied an 80.

   Sophomore Chris Pullano rounded out the Devon Prep lineup as the Tide was able to toss his 89.

   Belle Vernon was the runnerup with an 18-over 306 total. Scranton Prep was a shot behind Belle Vernon in third place with a 307 total, Clarion was fourth at 317, Grove City was fifth at 331 and Tulpehocken, out of Berks County, was sixth at 332.

   Catholic League and District 12 Class AAA champion La Salle came very close to duplicating the feat of Devon Prep as the Explorers finished two shots behind Peters Township in the Class AAA team competition at Penn State’s Blue Course.

   It was a very good day for the Peters Township golf program as it swept to PIAA Class AAA team crowns in both the boys and girls tournaments.

   Junior Colton Lusk led the way with a sizzling 7-under 65 for Peters Township, which finished with a 4-under 284 total. Lusk was coming off a tie for fourth place in the Class AAA individual competition with a 6-under 138 total.

   Backing up Lusk was Griffin Hansberry, who also finished in red figures with a solid 1-under 71, and Shane Williams and Nick Haught, both of whom signed for a 2-over 74.

   Rounding out the Peters Township lineup was Ryan Watterson, whose 3-over 75 Peters Township had the luxury of tossing.

   Leading the way for La Salle, which finished two shots behind Peters Township with a 2-under 286 total, was junior Nolan Corcoran, who carded a solid 3-under 69, and senior Sebastian Botero, who tallied a 2-under 70.

   Senior Ethan Martin added a 1-over 73 and senior John Stevenson was the final counter for the Explorers with a 2-over 74.

   Stevenson, winner of two of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s major championships for juniors, the Boys’ Junior Championship and the Christman Cup, in the summer finished in a tie for 10^th place in the individual competition, which wrapped up Tuesday at the Blue Course, with a 2-under 142 total.

   Rounding out the La Salle lineup was junior Ian Natale, whose 81 the Explorers were able to throw out.

   District One Class AAA champion and perennial Ches-Mont League power Unionville finished eight shots behind La Salle in third place with a 6-over 294 total.

   The Longhorns were led by Ches-Mont League individual champion Charlie Barrickman, who carded a 1-under 71. Barrickman finished in a tie for 20^th place in the individual competition with a 2-over 146 total.

   Jax Puskar added a 1-over 73 and Michael Keller and Nicholas Gaughan each recorded a 3-over 75 to round out the scoring for Unionville. Rounding out the lineup for the Longhorns was Rex Opdahl, whose 81 they were able to throw out.

   Unionville captured the PIAA Class AAA team crown in 2017 and was the runnerup to Pittsburgh Central Catholic in 2018.

   State College finished in third place with a 13-over 301, Abington Heights was a shot behind State College in fifth with a 302 and Hershey was sixth at 316.

   Peters Township also claimed the Class AAA girls title with a 15-over 271 total that gave it a five-shot edge over Manheim Township.

   Peters Township was led by Ellie Benson, who carded a 1-over 73 over the Penn State Blue Course layout. Benson was coming off a top-10 finish in the individual competition, which wrapped up Tuesday, as she landed in the group tied for ninth place with an 8-over 152 total.

   Backing up Benson for Peters Township were Brooke Vowcheck, who recorded a 6-over 78, and Sophia Severns, who added an 80. Only the top three scores are counted in the girls competition and teams can have as many as five competitors.

   Rounding out the Peters Township lineup were Amelia Sevens, who registered an 89, and Gabby Catalogne, who posted a 100. Peters Township was able to toss those two scores.

   District Three champion Manheim Township earned runnerup honors with a 20-over 236 total.

   District One champion Conestoga, representing the Central League, finished eight shots behind Manheim Township in third place with a 28-over 244 total.

   The Pioneers were led by freshman Jill Burks, who tallied a 7-over 79. Burks finished in a tie for 16^th place in the individual competition with a 12-over 156 total.

   Backing up Burks were Mimi Kambayashi, who recorded an 82, and Brynne Mushlin, who posted an 83. Rounding out the Conestoga lineup were Corinne McReynolds with an 87 and Suri Ahn, who tallied a 91. Those two scores were tossed in an overall pretty strong showing for Conestoga in the state team competition.

   North Pocono finished in fourth place with a 251 total, Seneca Valley was fifth with a 255 and Erie McDowell was sixth at 258.

   In Class AA at the White Course, Hickory made it three straight PIAA Class AA team crowns with a 4-over 220 total that was 25 shots clear of runnerup Fairview.

   Once again, Hickory was led by senior Sasha Petrochko, who carded a 1-under 71. Petrochko has recorded the low score for Hickory in each of its three straight state championship runs. Petrochko finished in eighth place in the individual competition, which wrapped up Tuesday, with a 9-over 153 total.

   Hickory’s other two counters came from players who, like Petrochko, have been on the roster for all three state championship teams.

   Senior Ava Liburdi backed up Petrochko with a solid 1-over 73 and junior Luciana Masters posted a 4-over 76. Masters was the Hornets’ top finisher in the individual competition as she finished in a tie for sixth place with a 7-over 151 total.

   Rounding out the Hickory lineup were Madeline Myers with an 84 and Vianna Miller with a 109. Hickory was able to throw out those two scores.

   Fairview earned runnerup honors with a 245 total. Greensburg Central Catholic took third place with a 273 total, Central Valley was fourth at 298 and Westmont Hilltop was fifth at 315.