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Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.18.25
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Next Year
11:31
USC is graduating a lot of talent, including the best QB in program history. They're gonna give Baldwin a run for the basement next year aren't they ?
Mike White
11:31
No.
Hoops
11:31
When are basketball previews coming out? First games are next Friday!
Mike White
11:31
Next week.
Hoop Guru
11:31
I really need to know how Sewickley Academy has not been moved up from all the talent that has been brought into that school. It would best to play up to 3A or 4A and have battles with teams like North Catholic. But that’s just me lol.
Mike White
11:34
The competitive classification formula for being bumped up a class goes on what was done over two seasons. This is the second season. You're talking basketball. So it depends on what Sewickley does this season. But Sewickley could choose to play "up" in class. All around the WPIAL I know coaches and many fans just shaking their head at what has gone on with Sewickley basketball.
TW
11:35
Heard PR parents in the stands, at Chartiers Valley griping about the transfers…..not all happy at PR.
Mike White
11:35
So I've heard.
footballfan
11:35
Not defending PR and the transfers.  I don't live there but do see it as wrong.  It's different if a kid moves their to get to a better school, or is there for the majority of their career but this transfer portal mentality is to much.  Anyway doesn't moon also have decent amount of transfers?  and now a co-op with Thomas Tull funded athletic department of Sewickely Academy.  Serious question, How will transfers into Sewickly academy factor into Moons future Success points?
Mike White
11:36
When there is a co-op between two schools, kids aren't counted as transfers. For example, any Sewickley Academy kid playing football for Moon isn't counted as a transfer.
footballfan
11:36
I saw Bob Plako's name mentioned.  With the coaching change at PSU happening, do you see him possibly coaching HS in our area again?
Mike White
11:37
I sure would love that. But I don't know. Bob had his fill of some things at high schools - and let's just leave it at that.
City League
11:37
Would the WPIAL ever consider shutting down the City League and have it be absorbed into 6a ? What classes would the schools fall into ?
Mike White
11:39
That's not the WPIAL's decision. That's Pittsburgh Public Schools. The City League teams vary in classification. Allderice is 6A. Westinghouse is 1A. Others are in between. So there would be only Allderdice in 6A.
Dougeefresh
11:39
Can 6A ever play championship game at Acrisure on a rotation at least and why aren’t these rotated around etc?
Mike White
11:42
I'll try to explain in as short as possible. First, due to the PIAA playoffs, the WPIAL champions in Class 6A and 4A plug into the playoffs a week earlier than the other four classes. So 6A and 4A championships have to be decided a week earlier. And there's no way the WPIAL is going to go into Acrisure Stadium twice -- one of the times for just two games. It's too expensive. Plus, who says the Steelers would the WPIAL in there on that field twice. Now, if the PIAA would change its bracket and have the WPIAL 6A champ go right to the semifinals, then things would change. But that's not going to happen.
Down Beat
11:42
Why didn't McKeesport give the ball to KeMAN Spell against Aliquippa in the second half? It looked like Matt Miller tried to get too cute.
Mike White
11:43
I don't disagree. Especially on the fourth-down play in the first half.
Navy Thoughts
11:43
I see a lot of people saying Heidenrich and Tezca should have gone to bigger schools...has anyone ever stopped to think that the reason they are excelling is because they are exactly where they need to be? In this modern era, people are always claiming kids will do better somewhere else. Sometimes kids make the right, informed decisions and are exactly where they should be.
Mike White
11:44
True. Point well taken. But I think if you look at their talent and ability, they are good enough to play at a power conference school. Bob Palko said it when they were playing for him at Mt. Lebanon.
PR Fan
11:44
I think it’s funny that someone from Moon has something to say about PR football recruiting… Pot calling the kettle black! Are we going to ignore all the football players currently being funneled through Sewickley Academy, into Moon’s football team through their “co-op” agreement? Give me a break
footballfan
11:44
Do you think there will be an "independent Conference". Formed this year,  Seems to be something FC and Baldwin might be behind. With Butler, and the Fayette County schools there are af ew out there already.
Mike White
11:45
An independent conference would be a good idea. But the schools would have to form it themselves. That's not something the WPAL will have any part of.
Peter
11:45
I have listened to the argument that Quip won despite losing kids to transfers.  However, the kids that transferred out also transferred in before last season.
Mike White
11:45
Yep. And they still had a couple transfers from last season still playing. Namely J.J. Work, their leading rusher from Central Valley. But others have transfers playing, too.
Moon fan
11:45
So my friend who coaches at Moon says Pine has 24 players who transferred, moved showed up at Pine Richland since 2023?  Is that true or does nobody care anymore?
Mike White
11:46
I have no idea. That seems like that's not right.
Hoops
11:46
I believe I noticed that Woodland Hills, New Castle and Central Catholic all could play at 5A for hoops the next cycle (like USC).  New Castle has chance to be really good so winning a state title at 5A easier than 6A with the east loaded at 6A.  Do you think any or all of them will play at 5A or choose to remain in 6A?
Mike White
11:48
Woodland Hills and Central Catholic have 5A enrollment. New Castle is a different situation. They were bumped up to 6A under the competitive classification formula. So, it's not sure what class New Castle will be in next year. If they have two transfers (and I don't know if they do), and they make it to second round of PIAA playoffs this year, they would stay up in 6A.
Mr Ed
11:48
Laurel could give Clairton all they can handle. Strong on both lines, several tough running backs, nice QB too. May be able to possess ball enough to keep Clairton offense off the field. That said, they don’t beat FC if Sieg could have been dual threat. What a player.
Mike White
11:50
Agree with you. But don't take away from Laurel. Brian Coopier has done a tremendous job there. They're good. Yes, Sieg couldn't throw. But to show how classy that kid is .... I talked to him Sunday night for a story. He went out of his way to ask me, "please don't use my shoulder injury as an excuse for losing to Laurel." He gave Laurel a shoutout and wanted them to get all the credit they deserve. Clairton has a passing game, though. That will mean something this week.
Moon fan
11:51
So Pine has 25 transfers, Trinity has over 30 from other schools, Westinghouse has open boundaries, Moon has Sewickly, SSA has Neighbor Hood Academy, and if you lie enough you don't have to sit for the playoffs
Mike White
11:51
Sounds like the transfer police.
Who's Next ?
11:51
Peters is gonna graduate their stars this year what team becomes the next one out of that conference to dominate would you say ?
Mike White
11:52
Tough call. Peters does lose a lot, but T.J. Plack has a "program" going there. Hard to believe they wouldn't always be competitive. USC does lose a lot. I don't know what Moon has back. I couldn't say who the team to beat would be in that conference.
JBob
11:53
Any thoughts on how the 5A football conferences may look next year?
Mike White
11:53
No idea what they will do.
PR Fan What?
11:53
Hey PR Fan, Moon did not have one starter from Sewickley Academy this year. Moon also has no control over who enrolls at Sewickley or wants to play football.
Mike White
11:53
So take that, PR fan.
Guest 2025
11:53
No question this week Mike - just a hat tip to the interim coaches who filled in under unfortunate circumstances to give their teams some semblance of normalcy.
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