More coaching numbers

In one other 500 Club note, Monessen’s Joe Salvino and Sewickley Academy’s Win Palmer both moved up a little on the all-time wins list this season jumping over legends Butler Hennon (Wampum-Ellwood City) and Dick Black (Mt. Lebanon). Salvino is now eighth in WPIAL history, one spot behind Central Catholic’s Chuck Crummie. Palmer is ninth, while Hennon is 10th and Black 11th.

Philly vs. WPIAL

For those from the WPIAL who have complained about the Philadelphia Cathoic League’s impact on high school football and basketball, consider this: Two of the WPIAL champions in football this season will have to play a Philadelphia Catholic League team in the PIAA playoffs earlier than ever.

Under the new PIAA brackets, if the WPIAL Class 6A and 5A champions make it to the PIAA semifinals, they will play the winner of the quarterfinal game between the champ from District 12 (Philly Catholic League) and District 11 (Allentown area). In the past, the WPIAL champs and the Philly Catholic League champs were always on the opposite side of the bracket.

If these brackets were in place this season, PineRichland would’ve played St. Joseph’s Prep in the PIAA semifinals, and not the championship.

It’s just another example of how the PIAA has ripped apart true east-west brackets in just about every sport.