Haley Smarsh from Moon Area finished fourth at the Women of Ironman Wrestling Tournament at Walsh Jesuit High School. After winning her first two matches, she faced a quarterfinal loss but secured three consecutive consolation wins before losing in the third-place match.
The high school wrestling season features Carlynton, Montour and Moon Area competing with returning wrestlers and new hopefuls. Coverage from the West Hills Gazette will highlight each team’s progress, focusing on postseason ambitions.
Moon Area lost 61-53 to Lincoln Park after leading at halftime. Turnovers and missed shots plagued Moon in the final quarter. Jackson Bauman led Moon with 26 points, while Lincoln Park’s Josh Pratt scored 25 to secure the victory. Sto-Rox fell to Clairton in another boys game.
Damian Harrison led New Castle with 24 points in their 61-40 win over Montour, North Catholic triumphed over Bishop Canevin 96-63, while in girls play, Allderdice defeated Moon Area 61-47. Carlynton was the lone West Hills school to come up a winner, whipping New Brighton.
Moon Area claimed a 55-27 victory over Hopewell in the Moon Tip-Off girls basketball tournament, led by Maria Depner's 28 points. In boys play, Moon downed host Central Catholic. In wrestling, five Moon competitors came home with titles in their respective weight classes at the Chartiers-Houston Invitational.
Carlynton's boys defeated Cornell 47-35, powered by Maurice Segnonou's 12 points and Ishaga Barrie's 11, advancing to face East Allegheny. The Cougars girls team also won its tournament opener. Other West Hills winners Friday included Moon Area boys and OLSH boys.
This weekend, two West Hills high schools host girls basketball tournaments. Moon Area is set to compete in the Moon Girls Tip-Off Tournament, while Carlynton participates in the Carlynton Tip-Off Classic. Both teams face challenging seasons ahead with returning players and new additions on the roster.