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Mike White's high school sports chat: 10.28.25
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Mike White
10:54
The playoffs are here - and the WPIAL brackets, seedings and pairings are out. Surely, there are plenty of opinions on the brackets, especially in 4A. So, chat is now open. Let the questions flow.
Mike Hunt
10:54
5A which of the top 4 seeds lose first?
Mike White
10:55
Well, I picked Pine-Richland to play Peters Township in the finals. So, I guess that would mean No. 3 Woodland Hills and No. 4 Penn-Trafford would lose.
WPIAL outsider
10:56
The committee being made up of principals and ADs is comical. I know CV ad is a former coach but not sure about the rest. Any idea how many of those decision makers actually know football? Seems to me that we have some great football minds sitting around that should be making these calls (Render, Novak, Matsook, etc).
Mike White
11:00
There are 10 people on the committee. Co-chairmen are Mike Burrell (Norwin AD) and Jason Olexa (Brentwood principal). WPIAL's Vince Sortino also usually has a lot to do with it. I know some of these guys work extremely hard, as far as charts, comparing things, etc. You can't have current coaches on committee and I don't know about former coaches. I know a lot of former coaches who maybe follow their old team, or one classification, but don't know much about other classes, especially small. Overall, they work hard and do pretty good job. But what they do sometimes with a few things just makes you shake your head and scream, "What?"
11:02
Continuation of former post. For example, the Class 4A field. How do 10 guys sit in a room and say, "OK, Class 4A. How about we take two teams that tied for a conference championship and play them again in first round. Everyone good with Montour and New Castle playing again?" "Sure thing," they reply. How do they get to that point. I know everyone from coaches, to ADs, to media members to fans who just are in shock. Even the coaches in 4A. I will continue in next installment.
11:07
Also in 4A, I'm not cutting down Trinity. Nice team. Excellent season. But No. 2 seed? C'mon, man. I've seen Mike Burrell say they looked at strength of Trinity schedule. But WPIAL made the schedule, except one game. And it's not like Trinity won some of those tough games against 5A team. So let's take away two Trinity losses to Peters and Bethel and give them two wins against lesser teams to make them 8-2. Head-to-head competition is supposed to matter, right? Well, Montour is 7-3 and beat Trinity. And don't you think Mars has a big beef? They were 8-2. They won road games at Montour and Class 5A Bethel Park. Trinity lost to both Montour and Bethel Park. But Trinity is seeded second Mars No. 5? How is that. I actually think Mars should be seeded ahead of TJ. It would not surprise me if TJ beats Mars and Trinity should beat Aliquippa if they are that good. But it doesn't make the seedings right to begin the playoffs.
11:08
I question Armstrong getting a wild card over South Fayette. But OK. And I'm sorry. Avella is a nice story, but not way should they have gotten a wild card over Cornell. Look at some of their comparative scores. No way.
Mr Ed
11:11
With basketball season right around the corner, who are a few boys and girls teams you are expecting to have big seasons?
Mike White
11:14
Well how about we do boys for now. 6A: New Castle, USC, Butler, Lebo. 5A: Char Valley, Peters Twp., Lincoln Park now that the Pratts have transferred in. 4A: North Catholic and Quaker Valley are two of the better ones. Looking at 3A, I have no idea who the team to beat is. 2A without a doubt Sewickley Academy. They brought in players last year, from other countries. And who knows if they have more this year from another country. Unbelievable what has gone on down there. But no one from WPIAL seems to be bothered much by it. Don't forget Jeannette and a few others in 2A. 1A Neighborhood Academy should still be good, even without Courtney Wallace. One for girls is definitely South Fayette  - and Shady Side and Oakland Catholic.
hsfan
11:15
Do you think the WPIAL using strength of schedule for seeding is fair, when teams only have the opportunity to choose one game? This logic makes more sense for hoops when teams can schedule all of their non-con game
Mike White
11:15
Agree with you totally. And if you're going to use strength of schedule, well maybe win one or two of those tough games.
Playoffs
11:15
What players can not play in playoffs because they transfered
Mike White
11:15
Many. I don't know all of them.
Mark
11:16
Hey Mike hope you’ve been well, not sure if I’ve seen it somewhere here or not but I know what your response will be lol. In 2a, Western Beaver I think has the o line to make it all the way, pair that with the speed on both sides of the ball. What’re your thoughts on the Golden Beavers chances? Thank you sir!
Mike White
11:17
I think Western Beaver is an intriguing team. Impressive what they've done. No, I haven't seen them but they could go far.
Hoop Guru
11:17
Crazy to think basketball season is fast approaching! Lots of talent around the area I’m looking forward to seeing. The 5a section with LP, CV, Moon, Mars and Montour might be one of the tops sections in the whole WPIAL. Out of that section who’s taking it home Mike?
Mike White
11:19
Chartiers Valley. Really like some of their players - Slizik, Semplice. But I especially like the sophomore Luca Federico.
SOUTH PARK FAN
11:19
I AM SAD. TOUGH WEEK.
Mike White
11:19
Tough season.
Realignment?
11:19
Hey Mike..are you hearing any rumors about the new realignment?
Mike White
11:20
They will look at few proposals. One would be to go with four classes and somehow break out 6 teams to go to state playoffs. What do I think will happen? They will stay 6 classes. Just my opinion.
Mr. Two-Thousand
11:21
Only two WPIAL players both rushed for over 1,000 yds and passed for over 1,000 yds this year -- Mt. Lebanon's Pat Smith (1,210 rush/1,179 pass/18 total TDs) and Imani Christian's Gabe Jenkins (1,027 rush/1,547 pass/32 total TDs). I believe Smith accomplished this two years in a row and Jenkins did so despite never playing QB before this year. Have you seen either play and your thoughts on each?  Although probably more frequent recently given the use of spread offenses and mobile QBs, how common is this 1000/1000 double (Trinity QB just missed it)?  Ironically, both Smith and Jenkins will be DBs in college.
Mike White
11:24
Smith did not have 1,000/1,000 2 years in a row (this is only regular season). He had 972 rushing last year. I have seen highlights and a little film of both and parts of a couple games with Jenkins. Jenkins is really good athlete. Just makes plays because he's so athletic. Smith is a strong kid. Getting 1,000/1,000 in 6A is impressive, even though team wasn't very good. Not to downgrade what 1,000/1,000 guys do, but it's not as big of a deal as it used to be. First time it was known to happen was 2013. Since then it has happened 23 other times.
Ryan
11:24
Does Kiski win on Friday Go Kiski beat Shaler
Mike White
11:25
Aren't you more concerned that Kiski Area band was upset in regionals this weekend? C'mon, man. Kenny The Horse gave me the rundown. Who could've ever thought that could happen? Incredible.
Losers
11:25
How do you think you even deserve a playoff spot if your only conference win is against Baldwin? Those coaches are delusional
Mike White
11:32
You talking South Fayette? You're right. But Armstrong had one more team in its conference than South Fayette. And Armstrong played some not-so-good teams either in Latrobe and Franklin Regional. The Big East isn't quite the Allegheny SIx overall. South Fayette did beat a 3A conference champ (Eliz. Forward). Armstrong lost to 3A Highlands. South Fayette did beat a 4A playoff team (Char Valley) and a 5A playoff team (Shaler). South Fayette wasn't an overwhelming choice, but in my opinion, I still would've taken them over Armstrong.
Wilbur
11:32
How many freshmen have made the Fabulous 22, anyone have a chance this year?
Mike White
11:33
Hopewell's Rushel Shell. I doubt any freshman this year.
Patrick Smith
11:33
Any suggestions on fun places in Cancun ? Now that I and my teammates have free time
Mike White
11:34
I hear Cancun has a lot of tomato cans.
Ridiculous
11:34
What was the WPIAL thinking selecting Chartiers Valley over West A ? The politics in this league is gross
Mike White
11:34
Ahhh, Char Valley beat West Allegheny in a game - on the field. That's not politics. That's a fact. Of course, head-to-head didn't always matter in other situations with the committee.
Richie Walsh
11:34
Which hyped team gets upset in Round 1 ? I say Plum blows out USC
Mike White
11:35
Go back to bed.
Down Beat
11:35
Who do you have in the field hockey finals tonight? Pine-Richland or North Allegheny?
Mike White
11:35
I'll take Pine-Richland. Sydneya Crosby goes wild with 14 goals.
Miniature Bob
11:35
Will 6A have more or less teams in the next realignment? Say they have 6 or 7 teams. What happens?
Mike White
11:37
No idea. Have to wait until classification cutoffs come out in few week. I really don't expect any teams from 5A to move up to 6A. Could Butler come back? Not sure.
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