On Monday, the WPIAL announced the new classifications and conference alignments for member schools by way of a 12-6 vote. This comes after the PIAA moved to expand high school athletic classifications by two classes from four to six overall in football, boys and girls basketball, as well as baseball and softball starting with the 2016-17 school year. As a result of the expanded classifications, the WPIAL announced previously, the championships for each class will not all be played at ... Read More
WPIAL well represented on All-State teams
Central Catholic and Aliquippa represented the WPIAL in the PIAA Class AAAA and AA Football State Championships this past weekend. The players who comprised those teams are well represented on the Pennsylvania Football Writers Class AAAA and AA All-State teams. The Vikings, PIAA Class AAAA Champions, are represented on the Class AAAA all-state team by running back Ronnie Jones, defensive lineman Rashad Wheeler, linebacker David Adams and defensive backs Damar Hamlin and Bricen Garner. Also ... Read More
Central Catholic captures fourth state title
Central Catholic became the first WPIAL team to win four PIAA state championships with their 21-18 victory over Parkland Saturday night. A strong Viking defense kept Parkland from establishing any momentum until it was too late. The Central Catholic offense was boosted by two Vikings running backs rushing for over 100 yards. Junior JJ Younger rushed for 184 yards on 14 carries and scoring a touchdown while senior standout Ronnie Jones added 27 carries for 119 yards and two ... Read More
PIAA Preview: Central Catholic, Aliquippa seek state titles
Immortality awaits the two remaining WPIAL teams in the 2015 PIAA State Playoffs for football. Aliquippa and Central Catholic look to bring back PIAA gold in their respective classes to go along with the WPIAL gold they won last month. Aliquippa returns to the PIAA Class AA Final for the first time since losing in 2012. Many of the seniors on the 2015 edition were on that runner-up Quips team and are looking to capture perfection with a victory on the highest stage for Pennsylvania ... Read More
PIAA semifinals preview: Only two WPIAL teams remain
Two WPIAL teams are one game away from Hershey and the PIAA State Championships. Central Catholic out of Class AAAA and Aliquippa in Class AA remain after Thomas Jefferson (Class AAA) and Clairton (Class A) saw their seasons end in the PIAA Quarterfinals. We preview the remaining match-ups: Class AAAA Central Catholic Vikings (14-1) vs. Cumberland Valley Eagles (13-2) at Altoona Area High School The Match-Up: Cumberland Valley need seven overtimes to get past Central Dauphin and ... Read More
Clairton, Thomas Jefferson get pounced in PIAA action
PIAA Class AAAA Quarterfinals Central Catholic 19, State College 3 State College - 0 - 0 - 3 - 0 - -- - 3 Central Catholic - 3 - 7 - 3 - 6 - -- - 19 CC -- Jacob Rocchi 31 FG CC -- Vinny Emanuele 4 run (Rocchi kick) SC -- Noah Schwab 35 FG CC -- Rocchi 26 FG CC -- Troy Fisher 2 run (kick failed) TEAM STATISTICS State College - - Central Catholic 6 - First Downs - 18 61 - Rushing Yards - 215 72 - Passing Yards - 76 133 - Total Yards - ... Read More
PIAA quarterfinal preview: WPIAL looks to represent
The Road to Heinz has officially ended with four teams now on the Road to Hershey for state glory. We preview the remaining four WPIAL teams' match-ups this weekend in PIAA Quarterfinal action. Class A Clairton Bears (13-0) vs. Berlin Brothersvalley Mountaineers (12-0) The Match-Up: Both teams come into their PIAA Class A match-up with unblemished records. Berlin Brothersvalley has allowed more than eight points in a single game once this season, in the opening game of the season. ... Read More
PIAA votes in favor of six-class structure
High school athletics in Pennsylvania will have a brand new look next fall as a new classification system for the 2016-17 academic year was voted upon and passed. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association board of directors voted to expand classifications in football to six from four which it is at for 2015-16 academic year. The PIAA board voted in favor of the six-class structure by way of a 26-4 vote. Football classifications were not the only classifications which changed ... Read More
Sophomores Geist, Wiltrout set to make history at PIAA Championships
Over the years, the state of Pennsylvania has produced some of the greatest track and field athletes in the history of the sport. The legendary Jim Thorpe was a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and later athletes such as Kim Gallagher, Leroy Burrell and Pittsburgh's own Lauryn Williams went on to Olympic fame. That's just a few of the names among many who have dominated the sport that have called Pennsylvania home. Now there are two more athletes who are taking the sport by storm and making ... Read More
Athlete Spotlight: Brianna Schwartz – Shaler High School
When you start to put together a list of the standout athletes to be a part of the WPIAL, its a who's who of some of the greatest to ever participate in high school athletics anywhere in the country. The names are legendary and you spend hours listing them, many who went on to greatness at the collegiate and professional levels. Some are household names, Joe Montana, Tony Dorsett, Arnold Palmer, Susie McConnell-Serio, Swin Cash, and Olympic medalist Lauryn Williams. How about Bill Fralic, Norm ... Read More