High school state champions crowned in Pennsylvania and Delaware

After getting shut out in PIAA state finals in 2022, District 1 had a strong showing last weekend at the PIAA soccer state finals in Mechanicsburg winning both 4A and Class A finals.

Dock Mennonite girls and Delaware County Christian boys won their program’s first state titles with wins over the weekend and Conestoga boys captured their program’s sixth state title while Pennridge girls completed a dominate season to capture the school’s second title.

Conestoga won their final in dramatic fashion when Ryan Zellefrow delivered a stunning golden goal free kick in overtime to lift the Pioneers over Central Bucks South. CB South took a lead but it was erased by a Brady Costin Olimpico and Zellefrow’s free kick capped a stellar season for him – he returned from Portland Timbers Academy to play his senior season – and Conestoga.

Pennridge made sure they walked off the field champions in their second straight final with a dominate 4-1 win over Conestoga in a rematch of the District 1 final they won 1-0.

Springfield Township boys lost for the second straight year in heartbreaking fashion with a 2-1 overtime loss to Cathedral Prep. Moon Area girls made it a three-peat with their win over Abington Heights in the 3A girls final. Central Columbia girls repeated in Class 2A and Camp Hill came from behind to beat Quaker Valley in overtime in the 2A boys final.

Gianluca Marroni scored a hat trick to lead Salesianum to another state title in the Delaware Division 1 final on Saturday. The Sallies beat Cape Henlopen 4-2 in that one to capture the school’s 13th title in the last 14 years.

Sussex Academy beat St. Mark’s 2-1 in the boys final to capture the school’s first boys state title.

New Jersey held their state finals the previous weekend. Both South Jersey school’s in the finals fell with Shawnee girls falling to Chatham on penalties after a 1-1 draw and Delran falling 2-0 to Ramsey. Delran had beaten Ramsey in capturing the previous two state championships in Group 2.