NA captures 1st team title in 18 years

Twin sisters lead by dominating running events

For the North Allegheny girls track and field team, falling just short of winning a WPIAL team title so many times was for the birds.

“It feels like we’ve been chasing it for a long time,” coach John Neff said.

At long last, the Tigers ended an 18- year title drought Wednesday.

And wouldn’t you know, a Wren and a Robin helped the Tigers soar.

Freshman twins Wren and Robin Kucler produced outstanding performances to lead North Allegheny to its first WPIAL Class 3A title since winning four in a row from 2001-04 and its 11th all time. The Tigers defeated South Fayette (93-57), Butler (98-52) and Norwin (109-41) at West Mifflin. Butler was the fourtime defending champion.

“We’ve been close and had a ton of seconds. Second is good, but second is not first,” said Neff, who is in his 19th season and guided the Tigers to their most recent title in his first year. “I knew this was a special group of girls. I knew we had highquality girls and we had a lot of them. We were really excited about it coming in. But there’s potential and then there’s realizing the potential. The team kept coming together and kept improving and the kids became friends. It ended up coming all together today.”

North Allegheny’s big win ended a long championship dry spell, and two of the smallest girls on the track played instrumental roles. The Kuclers, both of whom are just 4 feet 9, came up huge. Wren won the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs and ran a leg on North Allegheny’s winning 4x800 relay team. Robin also ran a leg on that relay team, while finishing third in the 800, second in the 1,600 and third in the 3,200.

“I’m really grateful for my great coaches and my great teammates always pushing me along and cheering me on, and I’m very thankful for this,” Wren Kucler said.

The Kuclers are an interesting story in that they were born in China before being adopted by their American parents. The family lived in Maryland before moving to the North Allegheny school district last year.

“They were huge,” Neff said. “They have done anything we have asked all season. Their attitudes are fantastic. They are so positive. They’re tremendous kids.”

Three other North Allegheny girls earned firstplace finishes — Mia Tuman (400), Kena Shannon (300 hurdles) and Jackie DiGiacomo (discus). Tuman is an Ohio State volleyball recruit who was the Post-Gazette’s player of the year last season.

Also at West Mifflin, the Butler boys used a dominant performance on the track to win their second consecutive title and ninth overall. The Golden Tornadoes topped North Allegheny (9753), Norwin (115-35) and Mt. Lebanon (117-33).

“This is a very deep senior class,” said Butler coach Mike Seybert. “You could see that last year when they were juniors, but they weren’t satisfied last year. They wanted more.”

Butler owned the track events, producing winners in 10 of the 11 events. Guinness Brown won the 100 and 200, C.J. Singleton the 800 and 1,600, Presley Ornelas the 110 and 300 hurdles, and Sage Vavro the 3,200. Butler also won the 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 relays.

Also earning wins for the Golden Tornadoes were Tristan McGarrah ( pole vault) and Jake Pomykata (discus). All of Butler’s individual winners are seniors.

“I think this is the most talented team to come through Butler track,” Brown said.

Class 2A

The Shenango boys and Quaker Valley girls picked up WPIAL Class 2A titles at Peters Township. It was Shenango’s first title and Quaker Valley’s first since 2007. The Quakers have now won eight all time.

Shenango ended Riverside’s long reign as champion. The Panthers had won four consecutive titles. Shenango defeated Riverside (80-70), Greensburg Central Catholic (82.5-67.5) and South Park (115-35).

Shenango was particularly strong in throws and hurdles. Will Patton won the shot put and discus, while Tyler Morosky claimed wins in the 110 and 300 hurdles.

Meanwhile, the Quaker Valley girls beat Greensburg Central Catholic ( 83- 67), Riverside (85-65) and Shenango (89-61).

Ellie Cain and Cecilia Montagnese led the way for Quaker Valley. Cain won the 400 and 800, while Montagnese, a freshman, claimed wins in the 1,600 and 3,200. The Quakers also swept the three relay events.