For the sixth straight year, Knoch’s girls tennis team faced off with Sewickley Academy for a WPIAL title. After bowing in the finals last year, the second-seeded Knights outlasted the Panthers, 3-2, at Washington & Jefferson College, to win their second district championship in three tries.

“We were really hyped up today,” Knoch’s Ally Bauer said. “We knew we could do it, but we knew it was going to be really hard in a super close match. And that’s exactly what happened.”

The Knights’ Emily Greb downed Ashley Close — 6-3, 6-1 — in the first singles matchup. Bauer defeated Kristen Close in the following flight. It all came down to Lindsey Greb, who won her match, 7-5, 6-4. The Knights held their breath, knowing a win would seal it.

“It was super stressful for all of us to watch,” Bauer said.

The pairings of Ava Santora and Jade Nether and Kenzie Gumto and Lara Ejzack both battled in doubles action, but fell short.

Five of this year’s starters were on Knoch’s last WPIAL championship — Bauer, Emily Greb, Lindsey Greb, Ava Santora, and Jade Nether.

“I’ve got five girls that have had the experience, that have been in the pressure points before,”Knights coach Nance Conlon said. “That kind of experience definitely helps, especially on a day like today when it was cold and it was windy.

“It was impressive to see these girls persevere.”

Girls Volleyball

Karns City 3, Oil City 2 — Rosalie Carden tallied 10 aces, six kills, 16 assists and 12 digs Wednesday night as the Gremlins rallied to win the match 22-25, 25-27, 25-15, 25-12, 15-8. Natalie Hess had nine kills, Ava Fox four aces, 11 kills, five blocks and 18 digs.

Kendall Ritzert had 16 assists and seven digs, Haley Zediker seven kills, Nicole Taylor 16 digs, Jessica Dunn five aces, three kills and 23 digs, Bethany Morrow three aces and 13 digs for Karns City.

Cross Country

Butler’s Drew Griffith turned in a record-setting performance at the TSTCA Championship Invitational at California (Pa.) as the Golden Tornado’s boys team placed fifth out of 22 teams at the meet.

Griffith claimed the individual title by completing the course in 15:32, 40 seconds faster than the nearest finisher. Junior Owen Dressler medaled, as well, with a time of 17:32.

The girls team placed 10th out of 23 squads and were paced by junior Ava Brewster, who medaled with a time of 20:14.

At the KSAC Invitational Championship meet, Karns City sophomore Griffin Booher won the boys varsity race with a time of 18:09. Junior Dillon Stroup medaled with a fifth-place finish with a time of 18:29. Noah Weiland also won the junior high race with a time of 13:03.

It was the first time in school history that a Gremlin runner won both the varsity and junior High Races.