Chris Harlan stories, Page 91
WPIAL treasurer Michael Allison voted ‘no’ to starting fall sports. Here’s why.
Hopewell principal Michael Allison is a former high school athlete and coach, the treasurer of the WPIAL and president of the Pennsylvania Principals Association. He’s also one of five PIAA board members Friday who voted against starting fall sports next week. Allison understands his vote won’t be popular with many,...
PIAA ignores Gov. Wolf’s recommendation, allows fall sports to start Monday
High school football season starts Monday, along with soccer, cross country, girls volleyball and all other PIAA fall sports. The PIAA board of directors ignored Gov. Tom Wolf’s strong recommendation and voted Friday to let fall sports start as scheduled, but the PIAA left the responsibility with individual school districts...
Allegheny County schools can play football under health department’s 50-person limit
The PIAA voted to allow high school sports to proceed on schedule. Allegheny County schools got a double dose of good news. Allegheny County schools will be able to play games at home, the WPIAL and Allegheny County Health Department announced Friday in a joint statement. The county’s 50-person limit...
Sto-Rox hires Aliquippa’s Dwight Hines, all-time scorer Kerry Connolly as basketball coaches
After decades in red and black, Dwight Hines is embracing green energy at Sto-Rox. The former coach and star athlete at Aliquippa was hired Thursday night as the Sto-Rox boys basketball coach. Hines didn’t choose to leave his alma mater this summer, but said his new job already reminds him...
PIAA set to make ‘biggest announcement’ regarding fall sports
The PIAA has been around for more than a century, and Friday’s decision surely ranks among its most debated. Should high school sports be played this fall? Gov. Tom Wolf repeatedly has said no and issued a “strong recommendation” that all youth sports be delayed until at least Jan. 1...
Allegheny County Health Department offers to assist WPIAL with covid-19 restrictions
The WPIAL and Allegheny County Health Department will meet Friday to discuss plans for potentially playing high school sports this fall. Those talks will include the county’s 50-person limit on outdoor gatherings, a restriction that has school administrators concerned Allegheny County football teams won’t be able to host games. “We...
Health department restrictions could force Allegheny County football teams elsewhere
If there’s a high school football season this fall, teams from Allegheny County might play home games at stadiums in neighboring counties. That’s a possibility if the Allegheny County Health Department maintains its strict 50-person limit on outdoor gatherings, North Allegheny athletic director Bob Bozzuto said Wednesday. Bozzuto, president of...
Quaker Valley halts team workouts after off-campus exposure to covid-19
Quaker Valley suspended all workouts by its sports teams after learning several athletes were exposed to covid-19 at an off-campus gathering, the school announced Tuesday. “We are working swiftly to identify all student-athletes who were in attendance at this non-school event so that they can quarantine, and the remaining student-athletes...
PIAA wants to move forward with fall sports, executive director tells legislators
The PIAA wants to move forward with fall sports, executive director Bob Lombardi told state legislators Tuesday, citing favorable data collected by UPMC athletic trainers. His words were an early indication the governor’s wishes will be ignored. “It is worth at least attempting to pursue a fall sports program,” said...
State’s health secretary says Gov. Wolf won’t mandate cancellation of high school sports
If the PIAA ignores Gov. Tom Wolf’s advice and allows fall sports to continue, his administration won’t turn his strong recommendation into a mandate. “The governor has been very clear about that: There are no plans to do that,” state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Tuesday. Wolf’s administration wants...
State lawmakers question data used to recommend PIAA sports shutdown
Republican state lawmakers are questioning the specific data — or lack thereof — that Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration used to recommend shutting down youth sports this fall. Wolf issued a “strong recommendation” interscholastic and recreational youth sports be postponed until Jan. 1, but members of the Republican House Caucus criticized...
Freedom cancels football workouts over covid-19 concerns
Freedom administrators canceled football workouts for this week over concerns a player was possibly exposed to the coronavirus. Superintendent Jeffrey Fuller informed parents in a letter posted on the school district’s website. Fuller said the move was taken out of an abundance of caution after an athlete was potentially exposed,...
Kiski School will adopt bubble strategy to play sports
The NBA and NHL successfully used an isolation “bubble” to restart their sports, and now Kiski School will take that idea to the high school level. Athletes at the private, all-boys boarding school in Saltsburg will compete this fall under a plan that involves team-specific dorms and on-campus covid-19 testing,...
PIAA ‘disappointed’ with answers in meeting with Gov. Wolf’s staff
In a word, Friday’s meeting with Gov. Tom Wolf’s staff was “uneventful.” PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi offered that analysis after an unproductive conversation regarding Wolf’s recommended shutdown of fall sports. The governor isn’t budging from his recommendation, and his staff wasn’t receptive to concerns raised by the PIAA. “There...
Gov. Wolf stands behind fall sports shutdown but says ‘I’m just one person’Video
Gov. Tom Wolf said he’s unlikely to change his recommendation to delay youth sports, no matter what the PIAA says, but described his role as “one person that has an opinion.” Wolf, speaking Thursday at a news conference, said he hadn’t read the letter PIAA administrators sent him earlier in...
WPIAL suspends Seton LaSalle assistant baseball coach for recruiting
A Seton LaSalle assistant baseball coach is facing a yearlong suspension for violating PIAA recruiting rules. The WPIAL held a hearing Tuesday for assistant coach David Lee and levied a one-year suspension for sharing social media posts enticing students to attend Seton LaSalle for athletic purposes, WPIAL executive director Amy...
Summit Academy is 2nd WPIAL school to forgo fall sports
Summit Academy won’t play sports this fall, becoming the second WPIAL school to cancel athletics over covid-19 concerns. “This has to do with the health and safety of our students and staff members,” said athletic director Ryan Parrish, noting the school for at-risk boys faces challenges different than others. “Our...
State Rep. Mike Reese, Republican lawmakers take on governor on high school sportsVideo
A recommendation from Gov. Tom Wolf can easily turn into a mandate, said state Rep. Mike Reese, who wants the Legislature to act before that happens with youth sports. The Westmoreland County Republican announced legislation Tuesday that would leave decisions about high school sports in the hands of local school...
As high school sports debate continues, Levine stands firm, Republicans plan legislation
State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine stood firm Monday on delaying youth sports until next year, and two state legislators announced plans to join the debate over high school athletics. Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Levine defended the recommendation issued last week by Gov. Tom Wolf to delay...
WPIAL calls Gov. Wolf’s recommendation ‘uncalculated, inconsistent and unfair’Video
The WPIAL strongly supports playing high school sports this fall despite Gov. Tom Wolf’s recommendation they be postponed until January. “The WPIAL’s response to the governor’s comments … is one of frustration,” WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said Monday, “due to uncalculated, inconsistent and unfair approach to this guidance.” Scheuneman...
If PIAA shuts down, AAU teams, other private programs could flourish
Western Pa. Bruins basketball director John Tate jokes that his doctor recommends he eat fewer salt and vinegar chips. In many ways, he views Gov. Tom Wolf’s newest sports recommendation that same way. “I still eat them,” Tate said. The governor on Thursday strongly recommended that all youth sports —...
PIAA delays fall sports for 2 weeks to talk with Gov. Wolf, state legislature
The PIAA heard “thousands of voices,” so it’s trying to save fall sports. The board voted Friday to delay the start of fall sports for two weeks — until Aug. 24 — giving the PIAA executive staff time to talk further with Gov. Tom Wolf, his administration, state legislators and...
State legislator urges PIAA to keep high school sports in fall
The governor wants high school sports delayed until January, but at least one member of the state legislature disagrees. House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, sent a letter Friday to the PIAA in support of playing sports in the fall. Benninghoff’s letter stressed that Gov. Tom Wolf’s recommendation “is not...
Pittsburgh Public Schools plans to postpone fall sports in City League
Pittsburgh Public Schools announced plans Thursday to postpone fall sports in the City League, a move tied to the district’s decision to start classes exclusively online. The delay still requires school board approval. The decision was made before Gov. Tom Wolf recommended all youth sports be delayed until Jan. 1....
Gov. Wolf recommends high school sports be delayed until Jan. 1Video
With fall sports in the balance, will the PIAA treat Gov. Tom Wolf’s recommendation as a suggestion or a mandate? Wolf’s administration wants all youth sports — interscholastic and recreational — postponed until January, a request that jeopardizes football, soccer and other high school sports days before they’re scheduled to...
