Between June 26 and July 30, D9Sports.com Sports Editor Chris Rossetti will be counting down his Top 25 favorites stories in District 9 from the 2017-18 school year starting with No. 25 June 25 and finishing with No. 1 July 30. Again these are Chris’ favorite stories and are open for debate.
No. 3 Clearfield’s McGonigal wins PIAA 3A wrestling title; Ho, Kallenborn finish second
After finishing second in the PIAA in 2017, all McGonigal could think about heading into 2018 was taking that final step.
But McGonigal finished second at the Northwest Regional falling 1-0 to State College’s Cole Urbas at 195 pounds.
McGonigal, however, got a rematch with Urbas in the PIAA Championship bout and made the most of it.
Just 15 seconds into the first period, McGonigal threw Urbas and took him to his back.
Urbas squirmed and turned for more than a minute, but McGonigal wasn’t going to let go and he pinned him in 1:37.
McGonigal is a four-time state qualifier and four-time District 9 champ. He ended his career at 135-20.
District 9 had two additional shots at state championships, but DuBois’ Kolby Ho, who didn’t even start wrestling until seventh grade, was pinned in the championship bout by Nazareth’s Nick Sasso in Class 3A and Port Allegany’s Jake Kallenborn fell 8-0 to Northwestern Lehigh’s Caleb Clymer in the 2A 160-pound title bout.
Chris Rossetti’s Top 25 Sports Stories in District 9 for the 2017-18 School Year
No. 25 – A-C Valley girls win first PIAA playoff basketball game in school history
No. 24 – Two District 9 girls finish in Top 10 at District 9 Cross Country Meet
No. 23 – Jack Krug bursts onto the scene, helps Brookville football return to the postseason
No. 22 – Brendan Zerfoss wins D9 Track MVP Award, two PIAA medals
No. 21 – Cranberry wins District 9 Class 2A softball title
No. 20 – Ridgway/Johnsonburg Co-op Flourishing
No. 19 – Coudersport shoots lights out in beating unbeaten Ridgway for boys’ 2A hoops title
No. 18 – Clarion stops Kane’s run of D9 football titles; Win PIAA Game
No. 17 – Beimel’s dash wins D9 4A baseball title for St. Marys 1st 2000
No. 16 – Led by 4×100-relay team, Brookville boys’ track & field goes back-to-back in D9
No. 15 – Brookville Wrestling Continues Dominance
No. 14 – Brookville girls’ basketball goes from 6-16 to District 9 3A title and second round of PIAA playoffs
No. 13 – Record-setting players in D9 girls’ basketball
No. 12 – Nick Stewart becomes District 9’s all-time leading rusher
No. 11 – Lingenfelter records every out by strikeout
No. 10 – North Clarion girls’ basketball perfect in D9
No. 9 – Miller, Fullem both reach 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds during the season
No. 8 – Tori Obenrader scores 2,000 points, grabs 1,500 rebounds in her career
No. 7 – Conto’s 200th win; Fahlor’s wild D9 title-winning shot highlight another banner year at Karns City
No. 6 – ECC boys’ cross country finished second in the state for second straight year
No. 5 – Clarion Volleyball: From 3rd in D9 to PIAA semifinals
No. 4 – Brockway boys’ soccer makes a rare run to PIAA semifinals
No. 3 – Clearfield’s McGonigal wins PIAA 3A wrestling title; D9 has 2 runners-up
No. 2 – Coming July 27
No. 1 – Coming July 30
Fall Sports
Rocky Grove and Lakeview Team Up for Mason
