High school sports roundup: Butler’s Eicher, Knoch’s French capture TSTCA cross country crowns

Eagle Staff Report

October 16, 2025 Last Updated: October 16, 2025 10:18 PM Sports

Knoch’s Carter French celebrates winning the Class 2A boys race with a time of 15:31.27 in the TSTCA cross country championships Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park, in McKeesport. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler cross country junior Brendan Eicher won the TSTCA Class 3A boys championship Thursday at White Oak Park with a time of 15 minutes, 31.51 seconds.

That effort helped the Golden Tornado place third out of 30 teams with 113 points.

Also placing in the top 50 for Butler were Ethan Thomas (10th, 16:08.52), Logan Rogers (12th, 16:13.75) and Alex Motonis (36th, 17:00.73).

Seneca Valley finished in fourth place with 142 points, led by Riley McGee (8th, 16:07.24) and Ian Wahl (13th, 16:19.64).

Knoch’s Carter French won the Class 2A crown in 15:31.27. Teammate Connor McCool was 21st (17:22.52) as the Knights placed fifth out of 21 teams with 164 points, 72 behind champion North Catholic.

The Trojans featured the runner-up individually in sophomore Jack Steineman (15:39.40). Tyler Carroll was sixth (16:05.56).

Freeport’s David Kristine took home ninth place at 16:46.53.

In girls competition, North Catholic dominated to win the Class 2A team title, scoring 35 points and besting runner-up Oakland Catholic by 83 points.

The Trojanettes featured five runners in the top 11 — Madeline Meeuf (second, 19:06.32), Sydney Dunn (seventh, 19:36.76), Annie Puhalla (ninth, 19:55.87), Anna Morris (10th, 20:02.58) and Caroline Sell (11th, 20:03.19).

Knoch’s Natalie Zolinas was sixth (19:29.85).

Mars’ Hailey Long paced Butler County with a fifth-place finish in Class 3A with a time of 18:32.73.

Butler was seventh in the team standings, with Zari Golojuh coming in 19th (19:22.49).

Butler’s Brendan Eicher (128) and North Allegheny’s Andrew Peigh (699) battle for first place in the Class 3A boys race in the TSTCA cross country championships Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park, in McKeesport. Eicher took first place with a time of 15:31.51. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Girls volleyball

Mars clinched the WPIAL Section 2-3A championship outright with a sweep of Freeport.

Rylee Wooldridge tallied 17 kills and 13 digs for Mars (14-4, 9-1). Cecilia Christy added 11 kills, Gabi Weidemann 36 assists and Alaina Graham 17 digs.

The Planets won by set scores of 25-16, 25-16 and 25-23.

Statistics for Freeport (11-5, 7-3) were not available.

Pine-Richland 3, Butler 0 — The Golden Tornado finished the season with a record of 9-9 thanks to this loss to the host Rams.

Julia Mason registered 25 assists in the defeat, which came by scores of 25-11, 25-14 and 25-21.

Raina Lewandowski tallied 12 kills, Brynn Cornibe eight kills, Ashlan Tosadori six kills and Taylor Simon 10 digs.

Seneca Valley 3, North Hills 0 — The Raiders (10-6, 6-4) clinched a WPIAL playoff spot with this Section 2-4A victory. No other details were available.

Boys soccer

Jesse Gahring scored a goal and Parker Wilhide tallied a clean sheet in net as Slippery Rock defeated Mercer 1-0.

Butler’s Brendan Eicher (128) and North Allegheny’s Andrew Peigh (699) battle for first place in a 3A boys race in the TSTCA cross country championships on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at White Oak Park, in McKeesport. Eicher took first place with a time of 15:31.51. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw