Chris Harlan stories, Page 91
Kiski School will adopt bubble strategy to play sports
The NBA and NHL successfully used an isolation “bubble” to restart their sports, and now Kiski School will take that idea to the high school level. Athletes at the private, all-boys boarding school in Saltsburg will compete this fall under a plan that involves team-specific dorms and on-campus covid-19 testing,...
PIAA ‘disappointed’ with answers in meeting with Gov. Wolf’s staff
In a word, Friday’s meeting with Gov. Tom Wolf’s staff was “uneventful.” PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi offered that analysis after an unproductive conversation regarding Wolf’s recommended shutdown of fall sports. The governor isn’t budging from his recommendation, and his staff wasn’t receptive to concerns raised by the PIAA. “There...
Gov. Wolf stands behind fall sports shutdown but says ‘I’m just one person’Video
Gov. Tom Wolf said he’s unlikely to change his recommendation to delay youth sports, no matter what the PIAA says, but described his role as “one person that has an opinion.” Wolf, speaking Thursday at a news conference, said he hadn’t read the letter PIAA administrators sent him earlier in...
WPIAL suspends Seton LaSalle assistant baseball coach for recruiting
A Seton LaSalle assistant baseball coach is facing a yearlong suspension for violating PIAA recruiting rules. The WPIAL held a hearing Tuesday for assistant coach David Lee and levied a one-year suspension for sharing social media posts enticing students to attend Seton LaSalle for athletic purposes, WPIAL executive director Amy...
Summit Academy is 2nd WPIAL school to forgo fall sports
Summit Academy won’t play sports this fall, becoming the second WPIAL school to cancel athletics over covid-19 concerns. “This has to do with the health and safety of our students and staff members,” said athletic director Ryan Parrish, noting the school for at-risk boys faces challenges different than others. “Our...
State Rep. Mike Reese, Republican lawmakers take on governor on high school sportsVideo
A recommendation from Gov. Tom Wolf can easily turn into a mandate, said state Rep. Mike Reese, who wants the Legislature to act before that happens with youth sports. The Westmoreland County Republican announced legislation Tuesday that would leave decisions about high school sports in the hands of local school...
As high school sports debate continues, Levine stands firm, Republicans plan legislation
State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine stood firm Monday on delaying youth sports until next year, and two state legislators announced plans to join the debate over high school athletics. Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Levine defended the recommendation issued last week by Gov. Tom Wolf to delay...
WPIAL calls Gov. Wolf’s recommendation ‘uncalculated, inconsistent and unfair’Video
The WPIAL strongly supports playing high school sports this fall despite Gov. Tom Wolf’s recommendation they be postponed until January. “The WPIAL’s response to the governor’s comments … is one of frustration,” WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said Monday, “due to uncalculated, inconsistent and unfair approach to this guidance.” Scheuneman...
If PIAA shuts down, AAU teams, other private programs could flourish
Western Pa. Bruins basketball director John Tate jokes that his doctor recommends he eat fewer salt and vinegar chips. In many ways, he views Gov. Tom Wolf’s newest sports recommendation that same way. “I still eat them,” Tate said. The governor on Thursday strongly recommended that all youth sports —...
PIAA delays fall sports for 2 weeks to talk with Gov. Wolf, state legislature
The PIAA heard “thousands of voices,” so it’s trying to save fall sports. The board voted Friday to delay the start of fall sports for two weeks — until Aug. 24 — giving the PIAA executive staff time to talk further with Gov. Tom Wolf, his administration, state legislators and...
State legislator urges PIAA to keep high school sports in fall
The governor wants high school sports delayed until January, but at least one member of the state legislature disagrees. House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, sent a letter Friday to the PIAA in support of playing sports in the fall. Benninghoff’s letter stressed that Gov. Tom Wolf’s recommendation “is not...
Pittsburgh Public Schools plans to postpone fall sports in City League
Pittsburgh Public Schools announced plans Thursday to postpone fall sports in the City League, a move tied to the district’s decision to start classes exclusively online. The delay still requires school board approval. The decision was made before Gov. Tom Wolf recommended all youth sports be delayed until Jan. 1....
Gov. Wolf recommends high school sports be delayed until Jan. 1Video
With fall sports in the balance, will the PIAA treat Gov. Tom Wolf’s recommendation as a suggestion or a mandate? Wolf’s administration wants all youth sports — interscholastic and recreational — postponed until January, a request that jeopardizes football, soccer and other high school sports days before they’re scheduled to...
Uncertainty remains for spectators hoping to attend high school games
New covid-19 guidelines for spectators at high school sporting events weren’t released Wednesday as many school administrators, coaches and fans had hoped. Gov. Tom Wolf and state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine raised expectations Monday when they said updated information would be coming in “two days.” However, a spokesperson...
Former WPIAL star Phil Jurkovec receives NCAA waiver, eligible at Boston College
Former WPIAL star quarterback Phil Jurkovec, who transferred from Notre Dame to Boston College in January, was granted an NCAA waiver Tuesday that makes him immediately eligible. The Pine-Richland graduate has three years of eligibility remaining. Boston College begins preseason camp Thursday. At Notre Dame, Jurkovec played in six games...
Central Valley’s Myles Walker commits to AkronVideo
Central Valley’s Myles Walker, who celebrated a WPIAL football title last fall, committed Monday to Akron. The rising senior announced his decision on Twitter. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound defensive back and wide receiver also had offers from Duquesne, Kent State and New Hampshire. Walker scored 12 touchdowns in multiple ways last...
North Allegheny’s Nate Hoke commits to ‘dream school’ BYU, where dad playedVideo
Nate Hoke doesn’t promote himself on social media like many athletes his age. A rising senior at North Allegheny and the son of a former NFL player, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker prefers to let his play on the football field speak for itself. But this summer, with college campuses closed...
Gov. Wolf: Online-only schools shouldn’t play sports this fall
Online classes await students at a number of schools this fall, but that wasn’t expected to keep their sports teams from competing. Now, they’re not so sure. Gov. Tom Wolf said schools choosing an online-only approach shouldn’t play sports in the fall, an informal announcement that left coaches, athletes and...
Penn Hills could become 2nd WPIAL school to drop ‘Indians’ nickname
Penn Hills may become the second WPIAL school to drop its Indians nickname. The school’s Athletic Advisory Committee will discuss the recommendation Wednesday night, athletic director Steph Strauss said, but declined comment until after the meeting. “The school board will ultimately decide if they want to go that direction,” Strauss...
Patriot League school Lehigh ‘checked all boxes’ for Baldwin safety Connor LavelleVideo
Two of the colleges recruiting Connor Lavelle are about 15 miles apart in Eastern Pennsylvania, so he visited both on the same road trip. He saw Lafayette, but Lehigh felt like home. “It just had that good vibe with me,” said Lavelle, a rising senior on Baldwin’s football team. “I...
WPIAL football recruits share written scholarship offers as Aug. 1 arrives
Now, it’s in writing. Aug. 1 is the date each year that college football teams are first able to give written scholarship offers to high school seniors, and many of the recruits shared them Saturday on social media. The Class of 2021 still can’t sign a National Letter of Intent...
WPIAL reveals 2 playoff formats with 8- or 4-team football brackets
The WPIAL revealed two football playoff options Friday, one if there are state playoffs this fall and another if they’re canceled in advance. Here’s the reason: If the PIAA championships are held in November as expected, the WPIAL playoffs must fit into a tight window between the regular season and...
WPIAL delays start dates for fall sports
The WPIAL delayed the start date for most fall sports, a decision executive director Amy Scheuneman compared to a two-hour delay on a winter morning. It’s better than a cancellation. The WPIAL notified school administrators Friday that football season won’t start until Sept. 10, the regular season will be reduced...
Start dates for WPIAL fall sports likely changing after board adopts ‘hybrid’ option
The start dates for WPIAL fall sports likely are changing. The board voted unanimously Thursday to trade the traditional start dates for a new “hybrid” option offered by the PIAA, meaning the WPIAL can establish later dates for each sport. The board hoped to give schools added flexibility as they...
PIAA emphasizes ban on spectators comes from Gov. Wolf — not PIAA
The PIAA released a statement Thursday emphasizing that the current ban on spectators at high school sports events was imposed by Gov. Tom Wolf — not the PIAA. The clarification came a day after the PIAA board approved new covid-19 guidelines that said, for now, spectators won’t be allowed at...
