Sunday, July 1, 2012

Top 10 teams of 2011-12

1. Canon-McMillan wrestling
When it comes to tradition, few, if any, can touch Canon-McMillan wrestling, and the highly accomplished Big Macs may have had their best season to date. Winners of the Observer-Reporter Sports Headliner, Canon-McMillan easily won section and WPIAL team championships before winning PIAA team titles at the team and individual tournaments. The Big Macs produced four WPIAL champions, one state champion and eight PIAA medalists.
2. Peters Township girls soccer
No team from the western half of Pennsylvania had won back-to-back PIAA girls soccer championships until Peters Township accomplished the difficult task last fall with a 1-0 win over Pennridge in the Class AAA final. The Indians finished the season 20-3-1, and avenged two of those losses during the state playoffs a regular season setback to State College and against Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL championship match.
3. Peters Township girls tennis
Winning PIAA titles isn’t easy, the Indians just make it look that way. Peters Township compiled a 22-0 record on its way to a third WPIAL and state team title since 2006. Peters Township boasted talent and depth. The Indians’ No. 3 singles and both doubles teams went undefeated. PT wasn’t pushed until the PIAA final, when it beat Shady Side Academy, 4-1.
4. Wash High boys track
One of the premier dual meet teams in WPIAL history, the Prexies were particularly strong in the sprints, hurdles and jumps. They rolled through the WPIAL Class AA team playoffs and are believed to be the first team to score 100 points against three opponents in the team finals. Washington went on to finish second at the PIAA championship meet.
5. Chartiers-Houston softball
The Bucs pieced together win streaks of six and 19 games en route to winning a second consecutive WPIAL Class A title and a 25-2 record, the ninth district championship in program history. C-H won the championship with a hard-fought, come-from-behind win over Carmichaels. For the second straight year, however, the Bucs lost in the PIAA semifinals.
6. Canon-McMillan softball
WPIAL championships are nothing new for C-M wrestling, but the softball team never won one before this year. The Big Macs were carried by a slew of big bats, outstanding defense nand crafty pitching. A six-game postseason win streak included a win over Hempfield in the WPIAL Class AAAA final and got C-M all the way to the PIAA semifinals, where its season ended with an 18-6 record.
7. Peters Township girls lacrosse
The Indians won their first WPIAL Division I championship since 2009 and their fourth overall by scoring a season-high 21 goals in the championship match against Pine-Richland. Peters Township finished 16-5 after a loss to Penn Manor of District 3 in the first round of the state playoffs.
8. California baseball
The Trojans accomplished a rare feat this sping when the swept through the regular season with a 17-0 record, possibly a first in program history. California advanced through the WPIAL Class A playoffs, including an epic win over Bentworth, before losing to Neshannock in the finals. A loss to Bishop McCort in the state playoffs gave California a 19-2 record.
9. Monessen boys basketball
With an enrollment barely reach triple digits, Monessen was one of the big boys of Class AA basketball. The Greyhounds reached the WPIAL championship a second consecutive year, this time losing to PIAA runner-up Beaver Falls. Monessen reached the PIAA quarterfinals and finished with a 25-4 record.
10. Peters Township boys soccer
The Indians hit a few rough patches during the regular season before another typically lengthy postseason run. All-State midfielder Matt Venazni’s goal with 1.1 seconds left against top-seeded Pittsburgh Central Catholic forced overtime in the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals and ultimately helped PT, which finished 14-7-1, reach the title game for the sixth time in seven years.

No comments: