Penn-Trafford senior wins WPIAL rifle championship

By: Triblive
Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 5:50 PM

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Penn-Trafford senior Carlee Valenta outdueled the two-time defending champion and a Westmoreland County rival to win the WPIAL individual rifle championship Thursday at the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club in Canonsburg.

Valenta finished with a score of 200-19x (9 CT), just ahead of Hempfield’s Brooke Fanala, who finished with a 200-19x (4 CT), and two-time champ Riley Dunn of McGuffey, who was third with a 200-18x (8 CT).

Penn-Trafford’s Emily Valenta, Carlee’s sister, finished fourth with a score of 200-18x (4 CT).

It is Penn-Trafford’s first individual WPIAL rifle title, though the Warriors, led by the Valenta sisters, did win a state team championship last year.

Valenta, who started shooting with her grandfather at age 12, has signed a letter of intent to compete in college at Texas El Paso.

Dunn was attempting to become the first three-time champ in WPIAL rifle history. Instead, she ends her high school career as one of just three two-time winners. The others are Robbie Gagliana of Avella (2008-2009) and Selena Phillips of Waynesburg (2018-19).

Fanala was bidding to become Hempfield’s fourth WPIAL rifle champ, joining Jordan Miller (2017), Abbie Bache (2013) and Nicole Metz (2012).

The top 16 finishers at the WPIAL championships advance to states.

Waynesburg’s Logan Crouse and Trinity’s Bria Bruce tied for fifth place with scores of 200-18x (2 CT). West Greene’s JLin Scott (200-17x), Woodland Hills’ Anthony Nemanic (200-17x) and Butler’s Grace Seybert (200-16x) and Madison Krainbucher (200-16x) rounded out the top 10.

Butler won the WPIAL team championship Tuesday.

Also heading to states are Trinity’s Ryan Walther (200-16x), Mt. Lebanon’s Danielle Gilmore (100-15x), Armstrong’s Riley Wasson (200-15x), Trinity’s Bo Schury (200-15x), Wayneburg’s Faithlyn Vukmanic (200-15x) and Woodland Hills’ Ella Devore (200-14x).