NATRONA HEIGHTS - It was a situation that looked awfully familiar to Freeport track and field coach Bill Dillen.

At last year's WPIAL Class AA team championships, the Freeport boys team needed to take the top two spots in the pole vault to edge Southmoreland for the district crown.

The Yellowjackets did just that, but on Wednesday, found themselves on the losing end under the same circumstances.

Freeport led New Brighton 73-68 in the WPIAL semifinals before the pole vault competition was complete.

The Lions needed to take the top two spots against the Yellowjackets, and they did to edge the two-time defending district champions 76-74 at Highlands Stadium.

"It was ironic because we were faced with the same exact thing last year," said Dillen. "But you've got to give credit to (New Brighton). They did what they had to do.

"I had all the confidence in the world in our vaulters," said Dillen. "But in that event, one slip of the hand can make all the difference."

New Brighton also defeated Center 88-62 to move on to the WPIAL Class AA finals next week.

In the girls meet, Freeport proved too much for both Center (81-69) and Mohawk (83-67). The Yellowjackets will gun for their first WPIAL girls title since 1985 next week at a site and time to be determined.

Senior Lacey Cochran earned wins in the 100-meter dash (12.84), 400 run (59.8) and 200 run (26.48).

She also teamed with Olivia Hess, Nikki Woitas and Dana Turley to take first in the 4x400 relay event with a finish of 4:17.09.

Also turning in strong performances were Hess and Melanie Lutz.

Both were on the winning 4x800 relay squad, along with Kristen Prazenica and Kirsten Knappenberger.

Hess also finished second in both the 400 and 800 runs while Lutz was second in the 1,600 run and third in the 800.

"You talk about girls who really helped the team out … both of them did one heck of a job for us," Dillen said.

Also taking home first place finishes were Emily Ferko in the javelin (100 feet, two inches) and Rachel Mattioli in the long jump (16-3½).

Despite the Freeport boys defeat, Shane Sarver did everything in his power by winning three individual events and helping a relay to a first place finish.

He took the 1,600 run (4:43), 800 run (2:07) and 3,200 (10:51).

Sarver, Matt DeLibero, Brendan Reilly and Ian Kaminski won the 4x800 relay event with a time of 8:44.4.

"The goal was to get as many points for the team as possible," said Sarver. "So I came in looking to win all four events."

"To compete in four events and win all of them, that shows what kind of competitor Shane is," said Dillen. "That's the type of kids we have."

Kiel Conjack won the 300 hurdles at 42.86, Ryan Beck took the 110 hurdles (16.03) and Brian Zimmerman won the javelin throw with a mark of 157-7.

"Coming into this season, I wasn't sure how our boys would do because we were very young," said Dillen. "We won the Section (6-AA) title and I was tickled to death with that. I'm happy with the team's performance."

BoysNew Brighton 76, Freeport 74; New Brighton 88, Center 62; Freeport 95, Center 55Track Events3,200-meter relay:1-Freeport (Shane Sarver, Matt DeLibero, Brendan Reilly, Ian Kaminski) 8:44.4110-meter high hurdles:1-Beck (F) 16.03, 2-Turner (F) 16.28, 3-Fabyanic (NB)100-meter dash:1-White (NB) 11.7, 2-Macuga (NB), 3-Carl Bowser (F) 11.721,600-meter run:1-Shane Sarver (F) 4:43, 2-Brendan Reilly (F) 4:44, 3-Devries (C)400-meter run:1-White (NB) 51.89, 2-Siccone (C), 3-Lay (NB)400-meter relay:1-New Brighton 45.35300-meter intermediate hurdles:1-Kiel Conjack (F) 42.86, 2-Turner (F) 43.57, 3-Macuga (NB)800-meter run:1-Shane Sarver (F) 2:07, 2-Ian Kaminski (F) 2:08, 3-Kruk (C)200-meter dash:1-Coleman (NB) 23.47, 2-Josh Schreckengost (F) 23.66, 3-Maldovan (NB)3,200-meter run:1(tie)-Shane Sarver (F) 10:51, Shawn Visnesky (F) 10:51, 3-Devries (C)1,600-meter relay:1-New Brighton 3:34Field EventsShot put:1-Cobb (C) 49-10½, 2-Lasky (C), 3-Richardson (NB)Discus:1-Richardson (NB) 133-1, 2-Delrusso (C), 3-Murray (NB)Javelin:1-Brian Zimmerman (F) 157-7, 2-Cobb (C), 3-Damon (NB)Pole vault:1-Poiarkoff (C) 11-6, 2-Macuga (NB), 3-Teets (NB)High jump:1-Coleman (NB) 6-0, 2-Saunders (C), 3-Johns (F) 5-8Long jump:1-Coleman (NB) 20-5¼, 2-Saunders (C), 3-Brady Sherrieb (F) 20-1Triple jump:1-Rizzo (C) 41-11½, 2-Coleman (NB), 3-Saunders (C)Track Events3,200-meter relay:1-Freeport (Melanie Lutz, Kristen Prazenica, Kirsten Knappenberger, Olivia Hess), 10:10.9100-meter hurdles:1-Dolan (C) 14.99, 2-Sackin (M), 3-Metkus (C)100-meter dash:1-Lacey Cochran (F) 12.84, 2-Gradisek (C), 3-Nesbitt (M)1,600-meter run:1-Hoffman (M) 5:26.37, 2-Melanie Lutz (F) 5:37.53, 3-Hanne (C)400-meter run:1-Lacey Cochran (F) 59.8, 2-Olivia Hess (F) 1:03.95, 3-Chapia (C)400-meter relay:1-Center 53.68300-meter low hurdles:1-Sackin (M) 46.91, 2-Dolan (C), 3-Nikki Woitas (F) 50.5800-meter run:1-Hoffman (M) 2:30.15, 2-Olivia Hess (F) 2:33.69, 3-Melanie Lutz (F) 2:34.69200-meter dash:1-Lacey Cochran (F) 26.48, 2-Sackin (M), 3-Goradick (C)3,200-meter run:1-Hoffman (M) 12:16.49, 2-Hanne (C), 3-Kirsten Knappenberger (F) 13:04.551,600-meter relay:1-Freeport (Olivia Hess, Nikki Woitas, Dana Turley, Lacey Cochran) 4:17.09Field EventsShot put:1-Laughlin (C) 37-11, 2-Jamie Shockey (F) 34-3, 3-MacFarlane (C)Discus:1-Laughlin (C) 110-2, 2-Kolehmainen (M), 3-Merchant (F) 91-7Javelin:1-Emily Ferko (F) 100-2, 2-Dockter (C), 3-Smolic (F) 94-5Pole vault:1-Nesbitt (M) 10-0, 2-Cicarch (C), 3-Malcolm (F) 7-6High jump:1-Dolan (C) 5-2, 2-Byers (M), 3-Chapla (C)Long jump:1-Rachel Mattioli (F) 16-3½, 2-Donegan (M),3-Kerrie Clark (F) 15-10Triple jump:1-Dolan (C) 33-2½, 2-Maurielle Blake (F) 32-5, 3-Donegan (M)