Hard work pays off for Mt. Lebo’s Cain

Tri-State Sports & News Service

Mt. Lebanon’s Aidan Cain achieved success the hard way during his high school career, overcoming two ACL tears that cost him his sophomore and junior seasons to claim WPIAL and state records his senior season.

The star wide receiver plans on running a challenging route in college, too.

Cain had a couple of scholarship offers from Division II schools and was being recruited by some Ivy League schools, too. But instead of accepting a scholarship now, Cain has decided to work for one — Cain has accepted a preferred walkon spot at William & Mary.

Cain, who also was offered a preferred walk-on opportunity at Pitt, chose William & Mary a few days after visiting the school. William & Mary is an FCS program that competes in the Colonial Athletic Association.

“I liked the coaching staff and the players, and it seemed like a good opportunity to me,” Cain said. “They were not talking to any scholarship wide receivers my year. They recruited me very hard. Pitt was not an offer school. I had a better opportunity of earning a scholarship [at William & Mary].”

Cain (6 feet, 170 pounds) held scholarship offers from Seton Hill, Dayton and Morehead State, and a few other schools continued to show interest.

“I was still waiting to hear from some schools to potentially offer me, but I really didn’t want to pass up this opportunity,” Cain said.

As a senior, Cain set a WPIAL regular-season record with 93 receptions and finished the season with 101 catches for 1,749 yards and 14 touchdowns. Cain also broke a 45-year-old state record with 27 catches in a game against eventual PIAA champion Pine-Richland. Cain was picked to the Post-Gazette’s Fabulous 22 team and was named firstteam all-state in Class 6A.

Cain’s story is one of hard work and perseverance after sustaining two major knee injuries.

But while Cain’s path to college football hit some roadblocks, he said his goal never changed.

“I guess this was always my goal even after I got hurt twice. This is what I was striving for. It feels good,” Cain said.

Gateway QB makes choice

The No. 3 passer in WPIAL history has picked a college.

Gateway’s Brady Walker committed to West Virginia Wesleyan, choosing the Division II program over offers from Seton Hill, West Virginia State, Clarion, Fairmont State, Glenville State and Wheeling Jesuit.

Walker passed for 8,816 yards and 85 touchdowns in his career. As a senior, he led Gateway to its first WPIAL championship since 1986 and to its first PIAA final.

Football commitments

Imani Christian’s Charles Barley (Baldwin Wallace), Woodland Hills Mike Whiteherse (Bethany), Aliquippa’s Kiyon Fooks (California), Montour’s Kavon Morman (California), Latrobe’s Iven Etienne (Clarion), Penn Hills’ Tim Smith (Fairmont State), Quaker Valley’s Jordan Taylor (Glenville State), Hampton’s Jasen Simon (Grove City), Keystone Oaks Joe Tortorella (IUP), West Mifflin’s Howie Reid (Marietta), Upper St. Clair’s Phillip Elias (Marietta), Baldwin’s Harrison Merlo (Marietta), Armstrong’s Nate Baillie (Mercyhurst), Montour’s Brayden Jones (Robert Morris), Ringgold’s Max Maciejewski (Slippery Rock), Belle Vernon’s Logan Pfrogner (Walsh), Belle Vernon’s Derek Thomas (Walsh), Trinity’s Joey Koroly (Washington & Jefferson).

Basketball commitment

Keystone Oaks’ Gillian Piccolino (IUP).

Hockey commitment

Upper St. Clair’s Mary Katherine Gialames (Mercyhurst).