Mars Area High School Boys Varsity
Basketball Team ended the 2015-2016
regular season with an overall record of
17-5 and 13-1 in Section 1-AAA, earning
the section title.
The Fightin’ Planets advanced to the
final game of the 2015-2016 PIAA Class
AAA Boys Basketball Championships on
Mar. 18 (a first in the team’s history), but
were defeated 99-66 by the NeumannGoretti Saints.
The team conquered the Bishop
McDevitt Crusaders 80-62 in the PIAA
semifinals on Mar. 15, routed the
Highlands Golden Rams 77-48 in the
quarterfinals on Mar. 11, overcame the
Strong Vincent Colonels 58-56 in the
second round of the playoffs on Mar. 8 and
bested the Clearfield Area Bison 68-60 in
the first round of play on Mar. 4.
Despite a 59-58 loss to the Beaver
Falls Tigers in the semifinals of the 20152016 WPIAL Class AAA Boys Basketball
Championships on Feb. 23, the team
took third place in the competition and
qualified for the state playoffs. The team
foiled the Steel Valley Ironmen 67-44 in
the WPIAL quarterfinals on Feb. 19 and
subdued the Laurel Highlands Mustangs
83-35 in the first round of the WPIAL
playoffs on Feb. 17.
This season, senior John Castello
became the team’s all-time leading scorers
with 1,299 points. Castello also surpassed
1,000 career rebounds, which makes him
one of only two players to do so in the
team’s history.
Other outstanding players on this
year’s team include seniors Steve Castello,
Ryan Giallonardo, Aaron Gruber, Alex
Gruber, Sam Morrissey, Nate Rosswog,
Nate Sablowski, Christian Schmitt, Bailey
Trzeciak and Michael Wright; juniors
Hunter Cooper, Joe Horvat, Ben Lewis and
Ben Perdziola; and sophomores Robby
Carmody and Cade Hetzler.
For more information, call 724.625.9380
or visit piaa.org.
Divers and Swimmers
Compete at PIAA
Championships
Several members of Mars Area High
School Boys & Girls Varsity Swimming &
Diving Team competed in the 2016 PIAA
Swimming & Diving Championships, held
Mar. 16-19 at Bucknell University’s Kinney
Natatorium in Lewisburg, PA.
Overall, the girls team tied for 26th place
with 20 points and the boys team tied for
33rd place with 18 points.
On the girls team, junior Taylor
Hockenberry took first place with score of
439.85 in One-Meter Diving, earning her
second consecutive state championship
win. Hockenberry also received first place
in the preliminary and semifinal rounds of
the event.
On the boys team, senior Joseph
Folz earned eighth place with a time
of 4:49.69 in the 500-Yard Freestyle.
In the preliminary round of the event,
Folz earned seventh place (4:47.47) and
freshman Andrew Pierre took 26th place
(5:00.57). Folz earned 10th place (1:45.50)
in the 200-Yard Freestyle, improving upon
his preliminary round time of 1:46.49.
Senior Jimmy Pierre took 21st place
(2:05.24) and sophomore Andrew Ivory
received 29th place (2:06.76) in the
preliminary round of the 200-Yard IM
(Individual Medley). Jimmy Pierre received
24th place (57.05) in the preliminary round
of the 100-Yard Backstroke.
The relay team of senior Nate
Mrdjenovich, Folz, Andrew Pierre and
Jimmy Pierre received 23rd place (1:36.26)
in the preliminary round of the 200-Yard
Freestyle Relay. The relay team of Folz,
Ivory, Andrew Pierre and Jimmy Pierre
took 23rd place (3:26.53) in the preliminary
round of the 400-Yard Freestyle Relay.
For more information, call 724.625.9380
or visit piaa.org.
along with seniors John Kowalkowski and
Mike McCann were named to the 2016
PIHL Class AA All-Star Team.
Other outstanding players on this year’s
team included seniors Benjamin Heltman,
Ian Newman, Andrew Norris, Cory Riemer
and Ryan Wasylson; juniors Tyler Grau and
Evan Smicker; sophomores Patrick Roach,
Thomas Schall, William Scurci and Jared
Taylor; and freshmen Angus Elder, William
Foley, Braden Hanna and Ryan Norris.
For more information, visit pihlsite.
pointstreaksites.com/.
Bowlers Compete at
Regional Championships
Three