Closing the book on fall sports, almost
Here we sit, on the cusp of the winter sports season.
Yep, basketball, wrestling, swimming and rifle are permitted to play in earnest on the first day of December. Basketball tournaments abound within driving distance (more on that in Friday’s paper), with a few wrestling tournaments mixed in.
But, the fall sports season is begrudgingly holding on with the Belle Vernon football team alive in the PIAA Class AAA playoffs Friday at North Allegheny. A victory sends the Leopards to the PIAA final for the second straight year.
Plus, Ringgold senior Ryan Pajak keeps the cross country season alive for another week when he runs in the Footlocker Cross Country Nationals on Dec. 9 at Balboa Park in San Diego.
Pajak won the northeast regional in a record-breaking time for his second berth into the national meet. Pajak finished 12th last year.
Pajak was recently honored by the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association as the state’s cross country Athlete of the Year and first-team honors. Elizabeth Forward’s Patrick Burgos was also recognized on the first team.
Drew Griffith (Butler), Jaxon Schoedel (Mohawk), and Jack Bertram (North Allegheny) joined Pajak and Burgos on the first team. Coaches of the Year were Hampton’s Dean Longwell and Council Rock North’s Dave Marrington.
Eva Kynaston (North Allegheny), Eliza Miller (Kiski Area), and Logan St. John Kletter (Mt. Lebanon) represented the WPIAL on the first team, with Robin Kucler (North Allegheny) on the second team. St. John Klutter was honored as the Athlete of the Year.
Danville’s Jeff Brandt and North Allegheny’s John Neff were recognized as the Coaches of the Year.
— Another loose end to close up the fall season grab bag is the omission of Carmichaels senior Mason Lapana on the 2023 H-S boys golf team.
The left-hander was unfortunately lost in the mix of all the names I compiled to be recognized with honorable mention honors.
Lapana was a key contributor to the Mikes’ run to the section title and helped Carmichaels win the small school title in the TriCADA tournament.
— The time is now for the Steelers’ penchant of underperforming against underperforming teams to be reversed.
With the Cardinals and Patriots back-to-back in a span of five days, Pittsburgh can really enhance its chances to secure one of the seven postseason berths.
Plus, life in western Pennsylvania is so much easier when the Steelers win, isn’t it?