Butler girls repeat as WPIAL champs

By Sam TallaricoEagle Staff Writer

WEST MIFFLIN — Butler coach Annessa Steele seems to have cornered the market when it comes to WPIAL championships, but it's not as easy as it seems.
The Tornado girls team needed a 1-2 finish against Hempfield to claim its second consecutive Class AAA girls track and field title.
Thanks to Christy Monnie and Danica Snyder, that's just what they got.
The duo finished third and fourth overall, respectively, in the race, but they finished ahead of the Spartans' top runner and went on to grab an 81-60 victory.
Butler also downed Norwin 84-57 and Mt. Lebanon 108-33 to win the title at West Mifflin High School.
“This means so much, being our last year and being our last memory,” said Snyder, a senior. “This is the best team. We are a family.”
Steele has won two WPIAL crowns in her two years as head coach and also won four as an athlete from 1997-2000.
“Both titles are sweet, but this one was a little more stressful,” said Steele. “We had two workhorses out (Alexis Swiergol and Jasmine Bailey, although the latter did run, but not at 100 percent).
“With Alexis, that's why the 3,200 was so big. We put all the pressure on the seniors and they responded,” Steele added.
“You never figure the meet is going to come down to the 2-mile,” said Monnie. We knew we had to go 1-2.”
“It was all about place,” said Snyder. “We knew who our biggest competition was and we had to stay ahead of them.”
Meghan Studds was a big double winner for the Tornado, pulling in victories in the long (17-1C\v) and the triple (35-7) jumps.
In fact, the Tornado swept the triple jump with Lexis Frost and Hannah Williams following Studds. Kennedy Evans also placed second behind Studds in the long jump.
“Our ultimate goal is to go into every meet and sweep the jumps,” said Studds. “All of us set these goals.”
“That's what we aim for,” said Williams, who failed to qualify for the long and triple jumps at last week's Northern Qualifier. “I felt like there was unfinished business. I'm glad to end my high school career on a high note.”

		Lexis Frost Anchors the 4x100 meter relay unit for Butler during WPIAL team finals DAVE PRELOSKY/BUTLER EAGLE

Paige Rittelmann was the Tornado's other field champion in the high jump (5-4) while Katelyn Wetzel proved to be the Tornado's lone winner in the track events, pulling off an impressive win in the 100 (12.46).
“I came out wanting to win,” said Wetzel. “She was closing in on me, but I just beat her.”
“Katelyn set the tone in the 100,” said Steele. “Paige Allen was right beside her all year and Lexis Frost beating that Hempfield girl (in the 100 hurdles, which she was second). She gutted it out to beat her.”
Hempfield would win seven events, including the 400 and 1,600 relays, but the Tornado's depth paid off in just about every event.
For example, in the discus, Hempfield took first place, but Ava Bonetti and Laura Metrick took the next two spots.
“I was not expecting to place,” said Metrick. “We were down in points at the time and (throwing coach Bill McElroy) said, ‘You need to have a great throw' and I did.”
“This is awesome,” said thrower Emily Hartung. “We've never beaten North Allegheny (in dual meet competition) until our senior year. We've had that goal since seventh grade.”
Now, with another title, the Butler girls will turn their attention to Thursday's WPIAL Championships.
First, though, they'll enjoy Thursday's accomplishment a little while longer.
“Honestly, I could not be more proud of the girls,” said Brandt. “Everyone gave their absolute best. Coming in, everybody wanted this.”
“Everyone was focused,” said Leah Domhoff. “Everyone knew what to do. It was a great meet. Everyone will remember this for the rest of their lives.”

Girls
Butler 108, Mt. Lebanon 33
Butler 84, Norwin 57
Butler 81, Hempfield 60
Hempfield 89, Mt. Lebanon 46
Hempfield 78, Norwin 63
Norwin 79, Mt. Lebanon 62
Track Events
3,200-meter relay: Norwin 9:43.09; 100 hurdles: Mt. Lebanon 15.11; 100 dash: Katelyn Wetzel (B) 12.46; 1,600 run: Norwin 5:17.73; 400 dash: Hempfield 1:01.03; 400 relay: Hempfield 49.96; 300 hurdles: Mt. Lebanon 45.35; 800 run: Norwin 2:22.08; 200 dash: Hempfield 25.50; 3,200 run: Norwin 11:43.22; 1,600 relay: Hempfield 4:09.92
Field Events
High jump: Paige Rittelmann (B) 5-4; Long jump: Meghan Studds (B) 17-1 3/4; Triple jump: Meghan Studds (B) 35-7; Shot put: Serafin (Hempfield) 43-7 1/2; Discus: Serafin (Hempfield); Javelin: Hempfield 133-3; Pole vault: Not completed