NORTH HUNTINGDON – The baton rested on Sonny Zangaro's chest as he laid with his back on the turf, looking up at the sky. He was going to get sick.

The ensuing celebration wasn't going to stop on that account.

His Mars teammates rushed over to surround him and tapped on his chest. Zangaro's mad dash down the stretch helped the Planets win the 1,600-meter relay in 3:29.46 and win the WPIAL Class AAA team semifinal Thursday at Norwin.

“Everyone was coming up to slap him. I'm sure he didn't feel too good about it,” Mars pole vaulter Alec Battin said. “It was too hard not to slap him. It was a big, big deal.”

Sure enough, Zangaro got sick. But his effort propelled Mars to the WPIAL Class AAA finals Monday at Baldwin.

Mars beat Butler (81-69), West Allegheny (105-36) and Norwin (106-44) to win the semifinal.

Shaler swept on the girls' side, beating West Allegheny (101-49), Mars (102.5-47.5) and Norwin (80-70). The Mars girls dropped all three, also losing to Norwin (105-44) and West Allegheny (88-62).

The decision to switch Zangaro from lead to anchor was a swerve. Normally, Zangaro leads off. When Zangaro knew a win in the 1,600 would seal the win over Butler, he was locked in.

“I never anchored before in my life,” Zangaro said. “On the bus we decided I was going to lead off. It was a curveball. At first, I was like 'Oh, why am I anchoring?' But my teammates trust in me, so I didn't want to let them down.”

Battin put the finishing touch on the win for the Planets, vaulting 13-6 to win the event. The Golden Tornado needed to take the top two spots in the pole vault and win the 1,600 relay to win the meet.

“I don't have words for it, really,” Battin said. “The team stepped it up and everyone was really cheering each other on. The reason we moved on is because we have a strong team bond with each other. It's not forced.”

The Butler boys took care of Norwin (87-54) and West Allegheny (115-25), but fell just short against Mars. Golden Tornado coach Rick Schontz expected it to be close. He was pleased with Evan Knauer scoring for the first time all season in the 3,200, finishing in third place against Mars.

“When I scored this out myself two nights ago, this was the score I got for us,” Schontz said. “It means they did a little better in an event or two. It was very competitive.”

Chris Short (3,200 run), Derek Gengler (shot put), Blake Smith (discus) and Tyler Roudybush (long jump) picked up individual wins for the Golden Tornado.

Ori Rinaman helped carry the Planets, winning both the 110 (15.69 seconds) and 300 hurdles (41.15), the 100 dash (11.47) and 200 dash (22.67). Zangaro also won the high jump (6-3).

“You can't question these guys' efforts,” Mars boys track coach Aaron Rekich said. “Since Dec. 1, they've been out every day. None of these kids miss, they are here cheering on each other. This is a team. To them, this isn't an individual sport.”

That's why Zangaro was willing to push himself so hard.

“Today, I had that glare. I wasn't going to lose, I didn't care how bad I felt after it,” Zangaro said. “If I try hard and I puke, so be it.”

Boys

Mars 81, Butler 69

Butler 96, Norwin 54

Butler 124, West Allegheny 25

Mars 106, Norwin 44

Mars 112, West Allegheny 38

Norwin 97, West Allegheny 52

3,200 relay: Norwin 8:26.08; 110 hurdles: Rinaman (M) 15.69; 100 dash: Rinaman (M) 11.47; 1,600 run: West Allegheny 4:41.36; 400 run: Norwin 50.67; 400 relay: Norwin 43.75; 300 hurdles: Rinaman (M) 41.15; 800 run: Norwin 2:07.77; 200 dash: Rinaman (M) 22.67; 3,200 run: Short (B) 10:26.57; 1,600 relay: Mars (Bayuk, Kingsley, Kronnenwetter, Zangaro) 3:29.46

Shot put: Gengler (B) 49-7 1/2; Discus: Smith (B) 131-3; Javelin: West Allegheny 170-4; High jump: Zangaro (M) 6-3; Long jump: Roudybush (B) 20-5 1/4; Triple jump: Marchese (M) 43-4 1/2; Pole vault: Battin (M) 13-6

Girls

Norwin 106, Mars 44

Shaler 102.5, Mars 74.5

West Allegheny 91, Mars 59

Shaler 80, Norwin 70

Norwin 98, West Allegheny 52

Shaler 100, West Allegheny 50

3,200 relay: Norwin 10:27.81; 100 hurdles: Shaler 15.24; 100 dash: West Allegheny 12.39; 1,600 run: Shaler 5:04; 400 run: Lydia Dennis (M) 1:02.04; 400 relay: Norwin 49.66; 300 hurdles: Shaler 47.73; 800 run: Shaler 2:17.18; 200 dash: West Allegheny 25.95; 3,200 run: Shaler 11:48.85; 1,600 relay: Norwin 4:16.38

Shot put: Norwin 31-0; Discus: Norwin 95-1; Javelin: West Allegheny 105-6; High jump: Shaler 4-11; Long jump: Shaler 17-0 1/2; Triple jump: Shaler 37-5; Pole vault: Norwin 9-6