Year’s worth of memorable moments
1. THEY DON’T LIKE MIKE
Despite being one of the most successful coaches of any sport in WPIAL history, Aliquippa football coach Mike Zmijanac is ousted by the Aliquippa school board. Zmijanac won six WPIAL titles, one PIAA title and his record in 21 seasons was 237-36. A few months later, Zmijanac accepts the Ringgold coaching job. 2. PHIL THE THRILL 3. FROM PA TO PA CHAMPS 4. ONE-OF-A-KIND THREEPEAT Hempfield Spartans become the first softball team in Pennsylvania history to win three consecutive PIAA titles. On the way to the PIAA championship, Bob Kalp wins his 400th game in the semifinals. A few weeks before the PIAA final, Hempfield becomes only the fourth team to win four consecutive WPIAL titles. 5. ONE OF THE BEST EVER?
The Pine-Richland Rams make a case for having a spot at the table with the best WPIAL football teams ever. The Rams, led by Jurkovec, finish 16-0, win WPIAL and PIAA championships and score 755 points, the most ever by any Pennsylvania team in the largest classification. Pine-Richland averages a whopping 47 points a game. 6. SEVEN UP FOR CHERPAK
Thomas Jefferson defeats Montour at Heinz Field and Bill Cherpak becomes only the third coach in WPIAL football history to win seven titles. The others are West Allegheny’s Bob Palko (eight) and New Castle’s Phil Bridenbaugh (seven). 7. FOUR FOR FOUR 8. NO ONE ECLIPSED MOON 9. THE KID FROM MARS
Not many players in WPIAL basketball history can say they had 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in their career. But Robby Carmody reaches both milestones. Carmody, a senior and a Notre Dame recruit, finishes his career with 2,390 points, seventh best in WPIAL history, and 1,126 career rebounds.