Despite the challenges of the most difficult year in our lifetimes, our local athletes delivered a truly historic performance. Not since Franklin Roosevelt began his third term was there even a comparable year in the annals of Greene County sports. The conclusion of the 1943 season saw four Waynesburg Raider wrestlers atop the podium at the PIAA Wrestling Tournament. James Conklin won his fourth title, and Matt Gusic won the first of his two. Earl Fuller and Keith Moore completed the foursome. In addition, Raiders Charles Patterson and Nick Osso joined Jefferson’s Charlie Barno in claiming WPIAL titles.
However, 2021 will probably never be topped for overall success. County athletes brought home five PIAA gold medals in three different sports. Mac Church and Luca Augustine brought home their first titles from Hershey, while Wyatt Henson claimed his second Pennsylvania title (plus one in Missouri). On the track, Taylor Shriver added to the Raiders’ trophy case with a state and WPIAL Pole Vaulting title. Finally, Mapletown’s Ella Menear won the 100-yard backstroke at the PIAA Meet in March. She also won bronze in the 200-yard IM. The sophomore was Mapletown’s first state champion in any sport.
The Raiders also thoroughly dominated both the WPIAL and PIAA Team Wrestling Championships to an unprecedented extent – they never had a close match. The WPIAL championship match was 67-3 against Seneca Valley, and the AAA PIAA championship match was a 42-3 thrashing of traditional power Central Dauphin. Keep in mind, Waynesburg is a AA school “wrestling up.” In addition to the three state champs, the medal parade included PIAA place winners Rocco Welsh (2nd), Cole Homet (2nd) and Colton Stoneking (5th).
Other state place winners in other sports included: Taylor Burnfield (Jefferson-Morgan / shooting for Waynesburg Central, Rifle, 9th), Gabe McConville, (WCHS, track 7th 800M and 9th 1600M), sophomore Ashlyn Basinger (WCHS, track, 12th 200M) and freshman Colin Brady (West Greene, track 12th 100M). Waynesburg Central also finished 7th as a team at the state rifle finals.
At the WPIAL level, Henson, Homet and Augustine won gold for the Raiders. Menear won two gold medals in her events, setting pool and WPIAL records in both the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard IM. McConville also won the 1600 Meter Run at the WPIAL Meet.
The West Greene girls’ softball team further ensconced this school year as the greatest in local lore. This incredible group of young women won their fifth straight WPIAL softball title and advanced to the PIAA championship game. Kiley Meek and London Whipkey were named to the Single A First Team All-State squad. Katie Lampe, Jersey Wise, and Olivia Kiger were named to the Second-Team. Carmichaels’ outfielder Sophia Zalar was named to the Second Team AA squad.
Finally, our high schools have never been known for their accomplishments on the hardwood… until recently. The Lady Pioneers reached the WPIAL title game for the fourth consecutive year and qualified for the state playoffs an unprecedented fifth time in a row.
What makes these feats even more impressive is the fact there are 10,000 fewer people in the county now than there were in 1943. For a small, rural county with limited resources, the accomplishments of our young people are nothing short of amazing and should be celebrated by everyone. The way these young people have represented our little corner of the commonwealth is even more impressive than their athletic accomplishments. They have done so with class and grace that reflects well on themselves and their parents and coaches.
