News and notes from the local high school sports scene:
The public school vs. private/Catholic/charter school debate will soon heat up in the WPIAL.
Friday is the deadline for member schools to return surveys sent out via email by the WPIAL on Monday.
Basically, the WPIAL sent out the six-question survey to seek opinions on the possibility of holding separate playoffs for public and private/Catholic/charter schools.
It’s long been a controversial issue across the state, but really, I don’t think we’ll see separate playoffs any time soon.
Actually, I don’t think the PIAA will ever pass such a proposal.
The WPIAL decided to survey its memberships after nearly 30 superintendents from school districts in Lawrence, Butler and Mercer counties met and proposed that the PIAA consider separate tournaments.
From my perspective, the issue picks up steam every year right after basketball season. That’s because so many private/Catholic/charter schools — especially from the eastern part of the state — win state championships.
This year in the state basketball tournament, 13 non-boundary schools were among 24 boys and girls teams that advanced to the finals. Seven of those 13 won championships.
I think what irks those who most want change is the fact that PIAA districts in the eastern part of the state don’t enforce transfer rules. Transfers from one school to another are rampant out east.
However, there’s encouraging news on that front.
In March, right before the start of the state basketball finals, the PIAA approved a 21-day, sit-out rule for in-season transfers. It also passed the 50 percent rule. If a player plays in 50 percent of his or her team’s regular-season games, they won’t be eligible to play at another school if they transfer.
More progress could be achieved in May when the PIAA votes on a proposal. Any student who transfers after his or her junior season in a sport will be automatically ineligible for postseason games at their new school during their senior year.
MINEAR HIRED AT MONTOUR
For the fourth time in his long coaching career, Bill Minear has landed a job as a boys head coach. He’s the new coach at Montour.
Previously, he had two successful stints at Sto-Rox (1996-2004) and (2010-2013). He also coached three years at Ambridge (2007-2010).
In Minear’s 11 seasons at Sto-Rox, the Vikings went 215-81 with two WPIAL titles and a state championship.
At Montour, Minear replaces George Yokitis, whose teams won two WPIAL 1A titles during his eight seasons at Vincentian. However, Yokitis’ teams at Montour the past two years didn’t make the playoffs.
For the past two seasons, Minear has been the girls coach at Lincoln Park.
In the first two years of their existence in the 5A classification, the Leopard girls have struggled going 11-32 overall and 1-19 in section play.
Ryan Kacsur, the girls coach at Sto-Rox the past six years, will be the new girls coach at Lincoln Park.
KODJO: FROM TONGA TO PENN STATE
Gildas Kodjo only spent one season playing basketball at Lincoln Park, but during his time at the performing arts charter school in Midland, he’s done well.
Kodjo, who was born in the Kingdom of Tonga, a Polynesian sovereign state in the South Pacific, helped the Leopards win the WPIAL Class 3A title in March.
He was a 6-foot-2 guard/forward who didn’t score a whole lot but provided a physical toughness defensively and on the boards.
He’s such a physical presence that he was recruited as a linebacker by Westminster College. But instead, he’s bound for Penn State University on a full academic scholarship. His athletic career is over.
Kodjo, who’s in the National Honor Society, has a 4.0 grade-point average while taking Advanced Placement courses.
WEATHER STYMIES SPRING SPORTS
How frustrating has it been for baseball and softball teams to deal with all the rain, snow, wind and cold temperatures in recent weeks?
Well, Freedom softball coach Bill Boggs posted this lament in his Facebook page: “By far the worst spring weather in my 19 years of coaching softball!”
Going into Thursday’s Section 2-3A game at Ellwood City, the Bulldogs had only played seven games so far.
Many local baseball and softball teams are in the same predicament.
Fortunately, there isn’t much rain in the weather forecast for the next week or so. There’s a 70 percent chance of rain Saturday, but next week the forecast looks good.