Butler’s boys cross country team finished second in Class 3A in the Tri-State Championships, the final meet before the WPIAL Cross Country Championships next week.

Zachary Slear finished 10th in 16 minutes, 24.34 seconds and teammate Brendan Eicher finished just three-hundreths of a second behind for 11th Thursday at White Oak Park, in White Oak, site of the WPIAL meet Oct. 24.

Seneca Valley’s Max Smith came in third in 15:52.84, the top Butler County runner.

Mars’ Kyle Kochanski (16:30.28) and the Tornado’s Logan Rogers (16:30.47) finished 15th and 16th, respectively, rounding out the local podium finishers in 3A boys.

Many WPIAL teams competed in Thursday’s meet. One of Butler’s top challengers for a team podium spot a week from now, Norwin, did not.

Butler’s Zari Golojuh finished 19th in the girls 3A race in 19:23.94, leading a sixth-place team finish. Makayla McLister came in 25th (19:56.78).

In the 2A races, Knoch’s Carter French won the boys race in 15:51.71, with North Catholic’s Tyler Carroll coming in third in 16:13.26. Trojan Jack Steineman finished 12th (17:01.90), as NC finished third overall.

With Michael Braun not running this meet, Freeport’s David Kristine was the top Yellowjacket runner (21st, 17:29.15).

North Catholic’s Anna Morris (19:29.67) finished third and Caroline Sell (19:31.48) to lead all local girls runners as the Trojans won the 2A race with 36 points. The Trojanettes’ Maggie Killian also finished top 10, coming in eighth in 20:02.56.

Knoch’s Carter French took eighth place with a time of 16:25.6 at the Red, White & Blue Cross-Country Classic held Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at White Oak Park in White Oak, Pa. Rob McGraw /Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

The District 9 soccer brackets were announced Thursday. Karns City earned a first-round bye as the No. 1 seed in Class A and will host the winner of Brookville vs. Ridgway in a semifinal 6 p.m. Oct. 24.

District 10 tournament — Slippery Rock earned the fifth seed in the Class 2A tournament and will face No. 4 General McLane in a Tuesday quarterfinal at a site and time to be announced.

Slippery Rock boys soccer earned a first-round bye in the District 10 Class 2A tournament. The fifth-seed Rockets will face No. 4 Harbor Creek in a quarterfinal Tuesday at a site and time to be announced.

No. 11 A-C Valley will visit sixth-seed Port Allegany in the first round of the District 9 Class A tournament. The match will be held 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, with the winner taking on No. 3 Clarion on Oct. 24.

Knoch 3, Valley 0 — Jess Farbacher had nine kills and 18 digs, and Karlee Buterbaugh had 16 kills in the Knights’ victory by set scores of 25-6, 26-24, 25-14.

Knoch improved to 8-8 (4-6 section).

Butler 3, Pine-Richland 1 — Audrey Lehman and Brynn Cornibe each had 10 kills in the Golden Tornado’s victory. Set scores were 17-25, 25-22, 28-26, 25-17.

Julia Mason led with 26 assists, Sarah Lucas with 14 digs. Channing Popovich had seven kills and five blocks, and Raina Lewandowski chipped in eight kills.

Seneca Valley 3, North Hills 1 — The Raiders improved to 9-8, 4-6 in section play with the win.