Starting with Real American Freestyle 03, the organization will now have regulated sports betting markets for the first time. RAF realized a news release on Tuesday indicating the company had partner with ALT Sports Data.

According to the release, ALT Sports Data will manage and distribute real-time RAF event data to sportsbook/gaming operators. Wrestling is a sport that typically isn't offered on sports betting markets outside of the Olympic games.

RAF 03 will be held Nov. 29 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main event will featured a wrestling bout between former Bellator MMA champion Michael Chandler and UFC title challenger Chad Mendes.

Olympic silver medalist and Franklin Regional graduate Spencer Lee will be featured on the card as well.

"This is a major step forward for RAF,” said Chad Bronstein, CEO and Co-Founder of Real American Freestyle in a news release. “We’re building the next great combat sports platform, and that means delivering the kind of live experiences and second-screen engagement modern fans expect. ALT gives us the tools and reach to make that happen, and to bring pro freestyle wrestling into the global betting ecosystem in a smart, strategic way.”

According to the release, ALT Sports Data’s proprietary technology platform powers data and betting integrations for combat and emerging sports properties, providing sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365 and others with official odds and real-time pricing. ALT’s broader offering includes global distribution, integrity services, and fan demand generation via its 200M+ social reach and owned media platform, NXTbets.com.

“Real American Freestyle is exactly the kind of forward-thinking league we look to partner with – dynamic, high-impact, and built for digital audiences,” said Todd Ballard, President and Chief Growth Officer at ALT Sports Data. “We’re excited to help them scale betting engagement and connect with fans in an entirely new way.”

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or @J_oshRizzo on X.

Another Franklin Regional graduate will competing on Real American Freestyle. Former Panther Nico Megaludis competed on the card last month in State College, losing by technical fall.

Now, Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee is listed for the next card on Nov. 29 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Lee is listed as competing at bantamweight (135 pounds) against Ukraine's Andrii Yatsenko. Yatsenko was originally supposed to compete at RAF 02 against Megaludis, but the opponent was changed during fight week.

Megaludis instead faced off against Austin DeSanto, the opponent who upset Lee in the state title match his senior season of high school to prevent Lee from becoming a four-time champion. The main event is set to feature Chad Mendes and Michael Chandler, two UFC alums who have strong amateur wrestling backgrounds.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

Mia Williams spent every Friday this fall covering high school football games for the Pennsylvania Football News. The Penn-Trafford senior girls tennis standout logged many miles documenting the accomplishments of others.

Williams had everyone stop and take note by making news of her own Saturday at the Hershey Racquet Club. Williams knocked off West Chester Henderson freshman Erika Dunwoody in straight sets 6-3, 6-0 to claim the PIAA Class 3A title.

She became the first WPIAL Class AAA singles player to win the state title since North Allegheny’s Ashley Huang won in 2017. Williams, who was the WPIAL runner-up, had never made it past the state quarterfinals in her past three appearances.

“I think a lot of people didn’t have me as their favorite to win this weekend, but I definitely believed I could and so did my corner of coaches and friends, so that was enough for me,” Williams said. 

Williams burst onto the state tennis scene as a freshman when she won the WPIAL. In the three years that followed, Williams was tripped at the same hurdle.

Williams made it back to the WPIAL final each season, but lost to Shady Side Academy’s Meriwether McCargo. Dunwoody eliminated McCargo in the second round, winning 6-4, 6-3.

In this season’s WPIAL final, McCargo beat Williams 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

“The WPIAL loss was definitely not fun this year so to come out here and win like this was fantastic and a surreal experience,” Williams said. “I just had this mindset of going out there and leaving everything on the table and just enjoying it. It worked out.”

Taking out the champs
On Williams’ way to the final, she beat three district champions. Williams upended District 11 champion Parkland's Alexandria Warsing in the first round, and District 10 champion Fairview's Grace Liu in the quarterfinals.

To reach the state final, Williams beat the defending state champion, District 6 winner Central Mountain’s Addison Lindsay.

Williams won all of those matches in straight sets. She had to win a tiebreak in the semifinal before prevailing 7-6 (4), 6-4.

“They were all tough matches,” Williams said. “When you get to the state level, everyone is good. Everyone can compete, so you can’t ever really take a match off. All four girls I played this weekend were fantastic players and they all forced me to play my best tennis.”

Grabbing the crown
Williams said she felt the most nerves before the final match. She was taking on another player who found success as a youngster.
Dunwoody, who was the second seed out of District 1, wasn’t able to grab a set.

“I think the pressure was definitely the highest at the finals because of the situation, but they were all tough matches,” Williams said. 

Williams, who celebrated post match by getting a giant chocolate bar from Hershey’s Chocolate World, will play tennis at Division III Skidmore (N.Y.) College next year. Having a state title win going into next season is a major boost.

“It makes me excited for college tennis,” Williams said. “I mean I love to play tennis, win, lose, practice or a match, but it makes me excited to be in college where the level will be like this weekend at every match.”

​Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @JoshRizzo.

The Trinity football program seemed set for a dream season. The Hillers beat Thomas Jefferson for the second time in three seasons to win their first conference championship since the 1980s. Then, Trinity was presented with a matchup in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs with Aliquippa.

Usually, mentioning the Quips late in the season spells doom for the opposition. But Aliquippa wasn't supposed to have quarterback Marques Council available for the playoffs. Turns out, Council was ready to play and the Yale commit led the No. 7 Quips to a 21-14 upset win over Trinity.

Council threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Josh Lay with 20 seconds remaining to seal the win. Aliquippa's revenge tour will continue in the semifinals when it takes on New Castle, which tripped up the Quips 18-12 earlier this season. The Red Hurricane advanced with a 14-13 win over Montour.

Southmoreland's Drought Continues
Beaver County teams had a big night on the WPIAL scene. Hopewell picked up its first playoff win since 2012 by knocking off Southmoreland, 42-6.

The Scotties have never won a playoff game in their history, which dates back to 1961. Hopewell survived in the brutal Western Hills Conference to reach the postseason. Vikings quarterback James Armstrong threw two touchdown passes and ran for another.

Leechburg struggles with Neshannock
The Blue Devils have been to the playoffs for a school record five consecutive seasons. Leechburg hasn't picked up a playoff win since 2021. That stretch will continue following a 49-14 at the hands of the Lancers. Neshannock quarterback Jino Mozzocio ran for two touchdowns and threw for another.

Perkins breaks record
Burrell sophomore quarterback Antonio Perkins could lead the Buccaneers past North Catholic in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. But the Buccaneers standout was able to add a few more accolades to his strong first season with the program. Perkins finished with 220 rushing yards in the loss to bring his season total to 1,872 yards.

Perkins broke the school record set by Cole Bush in 2012. Perkins transferred in to Burrell after playing at Valley last season.

​Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo

Leechburg had a tough night against Neshannock. The Blue Devils fumbled their first punt attempt and recovered on their own 2-yard line. The Lancers scored on fourth-and-goal, on a 1-yard run by quarterback Jino Mazzocio, before rolling to a 49-14 win.

Leechburg (7-4) was in the playoffs for a school-record fifth consecutive season. Read more about the game in the Tribune Review.

PITTSBURGH - The Fox Chapel girls soccer team prevented South Fayette from three-peating as WPIAL Class 3A champions Wednesday night at Highmark Stadium. Lily McLaughlin scored off an assist from Emily McKee in double overtime to give the Foxes their first WPIAL championship since they won Class 4A in 2023.

​South Fayette knocked off Fox Chapel 4-0 in the final last season. The Foxes were unhappy with being tripped up by South Fayette last season and wanted to bounce back.

Deer Lakes holds off determined Bobcats
The sixth-seeded Lancers boys soccer team weren't exactly Cinderellas by the time they reached the WPIAL Class 2A final. Deer Lakes was playing a higher seeded team that was read hot. The Bobcats ripped apart Avonworth, beating them by six goals in the semifinals. Beaver started slow against Deer Lakes and never took a lead during a 3-2 decision Wednesday night at Highmark Stadium.

Zane Spencer scored the winning goal in the 68th minute for the Lancers. Anthony Furda and Caleb Kullen each scored for the Bobcats. 

HAMPTON TWP - Quaker Valley boys soccer coach Sean Ryan wasn't shocked with how the WPIAL Class 2A boys soccer field played out. He believed anything could happen.

Ryan, who led the Quakers to a Section 2-2A crown and the second seed, believed in the potential of every playoff team in their section. Three of those teams -- Quaker Valley, No. 4 Avonworth and No. 9 Beaver -- reached the semifinals.

 The Bobcats pounded the Antelopes 8-2 in the semifinals Monday at Hampton to reach the WPIAL Class 2A final at Highmark Stadium this week, while Deer Lakes used a pair of second half goals to topple Quaker Valley.

Beaver will have a rematch with Deer Lakes from their 2022 meeting, which the Lancers won to capture their second district crown.

Deer Lakes, which were the sixth seeded, knocked out No. 11 Central Valley and No. 3 North Catholic on its way to the final. Top-seeded South Park got knocked out in the quarterfinals by Beaver in a 2-1 decision.

The Quakers survived a 3-2 win over No. 10 Shady Side Academy in the quarterfinals.

"I said at the beginning of the season that our section is one of the strongest in 2A if not all of the WPIAL," Ryan said. "I feel pretty confident that three of our four teams made it to a semifinal. I feel Shady Side Academy was above their seeding. They weren't as low quality as a typical 10 seed, they felt like a four or five-seed. This Deer Lakes team could be a No. 2 seed in any other year as well.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be sent to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

Nico Megaludis was supposed have a matchup with a Ukrainian opponent during the Real American Freestyle 02 card. Instead, the Franklin Regional graduate was tasked with taking on former Iowa standout Austin DeSanto in a bantamweight belt.

DeSanto, who once upset future Olympic silver medalist and Franklin Regional great Spencer Lee in the PIAA finals, took care of Megaludis, 10-0.  During their battle Saturday night at Bryce Jordan Center, neither DeSanto or Megaludis could get much going in the first period.

DeSanto recorded the only point on a shot-clock point with 45 seconds left in the first round. DeSanto quickly stretched his lead out in the second period by picking up five points. He picked up a pair of takedowns in the third period to win by technical fall.

Former Penn State wrestlers went 2-2 at the event.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

The Plum Mustangs aren't guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. But the Mustangs made a good case for their inclusion following their first win over Penn Hills since 2014. 

Mustangs kicker Austin Kolankowski recovered his own kick after Penn Hills blocked his 24-yard attempt in the waning seconds. Plum, which suffered a four-game losing streak in the middle of its schedule, bounced back with an impressive 20-14 win over the Indians. The Indians (3-7, 2-3) have had a difficult system weighted down by injuries and inconsistency.

Watch the entire broadcast on the Penn Hills Football Network's YouTube page.

Strangely, this is the second time in the past five years Penn Hills has lost on a kick they blocked at the end of a game. The Indians lost in similar fashion to Central Catholic in 2022.

The Plum and Mars girls' soccer teams have been battling in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs for the past six seasons. The Mustangs got their first win over the Planets in five meetings Thursday night at Plum. Allison Porter converted the winning kick for the Mustangs.

Read my story on the event in the Tribune Review. During regulation and overtime, there weren't too many solid scoring options for either side.