Local Sports

Riverside Boys Relay Team Captures Gold In Day 1 Of WPIAL Championships

The Riverside Panthers boys’ swim relay team took home WPIAL gold on Thursday in Day 1 of the WPIAL swimming championships at Joe C. Trees Pool at the University of Pittsburgh. The boys’ relay team placed first in the boys’ AA 200-freestyle. In an exciting finish, the Panthers relay team secured its victory by .01 seconds to claim its championship. Belle Vernon narrowly finished second. The 1st place WPIAL champion relay team consisted of Josiah Shaffer, Graham Kralic, Sam Kline, and Alex Roth. 🚨HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO @grahamkralic @AlexanderRoth18 @josiahschaffer7 @kamsline ON TAKING HOME THE GOLD IN THE 200 FREE RELAY…


Former LHS Graduate Petrak Helps Lead Buckeyes To Big Ten Championship

Ohio State won the title at the Big Ten women’s swimming and diving championship Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa, and former Lincoln High School graduate and swimming standout Taylor Petrak was a big part of the Buckeye’s first Big Ten title since 1986. The 5’9″ junior was part of a victorious 200 freestyle relay team that set a pool record time of 1:27.57. The Buckeyes maintained a steady advantage all the way through Saturday evening and won the title by a margin of 197 points over rival Michigan. Ohio State reclaimed the title from Michigan after winning the event in…


Walley Earns WPIAL Gold, Advances to PIAA Championships

Ellwood City’s Austin Walley advanced to the PIAA Wrestling State Championships in Hershey in March by placing 1st overall in the 182-pound weight class at the Southwest Regional Championships held at IUP last weekend. Walley used a 7-4 decision victory to defeat Patrick Cutchember of Quaker Valley. The victory, his third in nine days over Cutchember earned Walley first WPIAL championship. “I’m feeling great,” said Walley in an interview with the Post-Gazette. “My training is going well.” The WPIAL ended up with four champions. In addition to Walley (182-pound), South Park junior Joey Fischer (113), Elizabeth Forward senior Ryan Michaels…


Panther Swimming Team Heading To WPIAL Championships

After a close meet on February 13th, Riverside boys varsity swimming edged out Beaver 99-83, earning their second undefeated section championship. Girls swimming also claimed a win, beating the Bobcats 89-85 for an overall a 6-2 season record. The girls swim team has its share of championships but is still in the process of rebuilding after the loss of eleven graduating seniors in 2015. “It’s hard for a small school to replace that many seniors, but we are bouncing back,” said coach Gwen Nulph. “The girl’s program has slowly evolved over the last few years, and I look for big…


VOTE: Brady’s Run Arena Named A ‘Renovate the Rink’ Finalist

Brady’s Run Ice Arena has been named a finalist for the 2020 Pittsburgh Penguins “Renovate the Rink” contest! The rink has a chance to win $100,000 in renovations but they need your vote!  Based on fan voting that is underway now and runs through March 9, one of the rinks will receive the grand prize in renovations. Voting runs through March 9th and you can vote daily.  Please use the link below to vote! www.tradablebits.com/tab_share/446940 The three finalists are: Beaver County Ice Arena, Beaver Belmont Complex, Armstrong S&T Arena, Indiana The Penguins and PittComm will team up to provide $100,000 in…


Fastpitch Softball Sign-Ups Continue For Ellwood City

Ellwood City Fastpitch Softball sign-ups are ongoing in Ellwood City. According to their informational flyer, anyone from 8u to 16u that is interested in playing Ellwood City Fastpitch this season has an opportunity to do so. The league offers 8U (coach pitch instructional), 10U (girls modified coach pitch), 12U, and 16U (both girl pitch). The league plays home games in Ellwood City and away games, dependent on location, in Lawrence County. The league will be in the high school gym every Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for open practice. Interested players are encouraged to come to watch or…


Austin Walley Collects First WPIAL Title

Ellwood City senior standout Austin Walley collected his first WPIAL Championship over the weekend at the 2020 WPIAL AA Championship in Canon-McMillan, bringing home the first-ever WPIAL title for Ellwood City wrestling. Walley used three consecutive victories via fall during his 182-pound weight class championship run.  Walley defeated Shane Smith of Fort Cherry, Collin Milko of Carlynton, and Patrick Cutchember of Quaker Valley. For the Ellwood City team, their Section 2 AA place-winners included: Matt King, 126-pound, 4th Place, Ryan Nazari, 132-pound, 4th Place, Austin Walley, 182-pound, 1st Place (Champion), and Rodney Grymes, 220-pound, 3rd Place. Walley improved to 37-1…


Balanced Scoring Attack Leads Wolverines to Riv-Ell Victory

Snowfall and icy cold conditions may have cancelled classes at Riverside and Ellwood City schools on Friday, but a heated rivalry game warmed the gymnasium court at Lincoln High School. Four Wolverine starters reached double figures in scoring to round out a balanced scoring attack that led the visiting Wolverines to its 61-55 victory Friday night at Riverside. Steve Antuono led Ellwood City with 15 points (three 3-pointers) while Nate Coonfare (14 points), Alexander Roth (13 points, three 3-pointers), and Ryan Gibbons (12 points) helped the Wolverines. Ellwood City led by seven at halftime and survived a 23-point third quarter…


PHOTOS: Chesko Pours In 25 Points, Lady Panthers Defeat Wolverines

Brielle Chesko drained four 3-pointers en route to a game-high 25 points to lead the visiting Panthers to a 51-31 Section 1-3A victory over rival Ellwood City on Thursday. Marley Wolf added 13 points for Riverside (11-11, 4-10). Chesko easily paced the victors, accounting for nearly half of the team scoring totals. Kyla Servick led the Ellwood City (3-17, 1-13) with 17 points in defeat.  The Lady Wolverines struggled offensively in the second quarter scoring only four points and allowing a four-point first-quarter deficit swell to a fourteen-point halftime deficit. The Panthers girls swept the Riv-Ell season series, having earned…


Wolverines Finish 14th In Buckeye Classic Wrestling Tournament; Walley Takes 1st

On Saturday, the Ellwood City Wolverines wrestling team traveled to Rayland, Ohio for a 26-team Buckeye Local Panther Classic Wrestling Tournament. Ellwood City finished 14th as a team with Austin Walley taking 1st place in his weight class.  Rodney Grymes narrowly missed the medal stand, finishing 4th overall in his 220-pound weight class. Walley used two victories each in under ninety seconds to advance early before battling Howard Congdon of West Mifflin Area in a nearly five-minute match. Walley earned the fall victory to advance to his 1st place match.  Walley defeated Elijah Llewellyn of Indian Creek in the 195-pound…