Mark Madden's Hot Take: In Bishop Canevin-Carlynton dispute, kids are being led astray

The bad side of high school sports got unfortunate exposure when a coach sadly chose to be a manipulator instead of an adult.

A number of Bishop Canevin athletes competed as members of Carlynton’s boys track team as part of a WPIAL-sanctioned co-op. Between 10-15 of those Canevin athletes boycotted Carlynton’s final regular-season meet Wednesday, standing on top of a hill near the track while the meet took place.

Joining them was Canevin’s football coach, Rich Johnson, and a group of Canevin football players. The boycotting track athletes also play football for Canevin.

Those atop the hill had their knickers in a twist because a Carlynton football player had transferred to Canevin and got denied eligibility by the WPIAL because of athletic intent.

Carlynton had contested the transfer. Carlynton athletic director Nate Milsom also is the boys track coach.

Johnson said he got approval for the protest from Canevin’s administration on the condition it wasn’t disruptive.

Well, it was disruptive. It’s all over the media.

I’ve not seen a Canevin administrator confirm what Johnson said. (Canevin athletic director Dale Checketts did not return a phone call.)

It’s hard to imagine Johnson not being the impetus behind the boycott. Even if he wasn’t, he certainly could have stopped it and should have.

The football ineligibility case had zero to do with Carlynton’s track team.

If you’re part of a team, you respect your teammates and finish what you started.

The Canevin kids who boycotted should be ashamed. Johnson should be disciplined, especially if he didn’t have approval. If he did, whoever gave approval should be punished.

Johnson seems a big baby, one of those ego-driven high school football coaches who are all too common. Jim Render, he’s not. (The Upper St. Clair coaching legend would never be part of something so juvenile and ill-advised, even if he was angry. Render would kibosh such foolishness.)

Some Canevin athletes did participate with Carlynton in Wednesday’s meet. They’re the heroes in this pathetic drama. They chose team and commitment.

Despite the absences, Carlynton beat McGuffey, 70-69, on Wednesday to win a share of the Section 5-2A title. That’s the first time Carlynton boys track has won a section title.

The Canevin athletes who boycotted were dismissed from Carlynton’s team and will not compete in the upcoming WPIAL team and individual championships.

High school sports need to get a grip. Remove chips from shoulders. Imbue legit real-life values. Adults need to adult, not lead athletes down a path of carny horse manure. Don’t teach kids to be punks.