Third school drops WPIAL
Uniontown football program opts out
For the third year in a row, a non- competitive WPIAL football program is voluntarily leaving the league to participate in an independent schedule.
The WPIAL board of directors approved a request Monday by Uniontown School District to opt out of its 2021-22 football schedule, allowing Uniontown to create its own independent schedule. The board will reevaluate Uniontown’s standing with the league at the conclusion of next season.
The move followed similar decisions made by Albert Gallatin before the 2019-20 season and Butler for the 2020-21 season.
“It’s certainly unfortunate, because we want to make sure schools are able to compete in our league,” said WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman. “We don’t want to see the trend where schools are deciding to leave, because we want to have our schools included in schedules, and when you have more schools involved in schedules, it’s easier to offer them a good section and good schedule.”
The Red Raiders have lost 34 consecutive games dating to 2016, and things weren’t getting easier for them in Class 4A Big Eight Conference, which includes powerhouse teams like Thomas Jefferson, Belle Vernon and McKeesport.
Uniontown originally chose not to play football during the 2020-21 season, but eventually the school changed course and participated in an abbreviated schedule amidst COVID-19 concerns. The Red Raiders finished 0-2 last fall and are 3-57 over the past seven seasons.
Scheuneman said the WPIAL board has pondered the idea of a “developmental conference” for struggling programs like Uniontown to help them find more suitable competition, but she doesn’t believe the league will implement such a conference anytime soon
City League to start
Pittsburgh Public Schools announced that City League sports will resume practices Jan. 25. Under PIAA rules, teams need 10 practices before the first game or competition.
PPS administrators had receivedcriticism from coaches, athletes and parents because, unlike WPIAL teams, City League winter sports teams still have not practiced due to COVID-19 concerns. WPIAL teams and others around the state were cleared to start practicing Jan. 4, after a threeweek shutdown of high school and youth sports by Gov. Tom Wolf.
City League teams were hopeful of starting practice earlier than Jan. 25, but as Allderdice boys basketball coach Devin Crummie said: “At this point, it’s kind of a relief that we’ll have a season. Thanks to everybody for getting it done. I know all of this [COVID-19] is a difficult thing to deal with. I’m just glad the seniors will get a chance to play.”
Schedules are not set yet for City League teams, but they will get a chance to participate in the PIAA playoffs.
Other WPIAL news
• Woodland Hills boys basketball coach Matt Furjanic will be summoned to a hearing with the WPIAL board in the near future to discuss a recent social media post in which he appeared to criticize the officiating in a season-opening loss to Gateway. The WPIAL will meet with Furjanic and the Woodland Hills administration to determine what disciplinary action, if any, will be taken.
• Monessen and California have agreed to take on a cooperative sponsorship for their soccer programs, beginning in the 2021-22 school year. Monessen will host California students for girls soccer; California will host Monessen students for boys soccer.
• The WPIAL board announced that last year’s eighth-place qualifying time will be used as the qualifying time for this year’s WPIAL swimming championships. Any swimmer who meets the criteria for the qualifying time will automatically earn a berth to the championship meet, and the rest of the spots will be filled by the remaining swimmers with the best times.