WPIAL notebook: Girls basketball star Cali Konek leaving Southmoreland for Franklin Regional

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, June 18, 2018 | 3:12 PM

Girls basketball player Cali Konek, who averaged 45 points as a star freshman, has transferred schools again.

Franklin Regional submitted transfer paperwork to the WPIAL that Konek, who played last season at Southmoreland, has enrolled there for her senior year, said WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley. The WPIAL board voted Monday to schedule an eligibility hearing for her.

O'Malley said the board was concerned that Konek is headed to her fourth team in four years. A date for her hearing was not set.

Konek is one of at least three all-section basketball players transferring schools this summer. Sewickley Academy's Isaiah Smith shared on Twitter that he's headed to Lincoln Park for his junior season, and Hampton's Isaac DeGregorio is transferring to Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, where his father, Dave, recently was hired as boys basketball coach.

Smith averaged 14 points for Sewickley Academy, which won the WPIAL Class 2A title. DeGregorio was a 16-point scorer for Hampton as a sophomore.

The WPIAL has not yet received transfer paperwork for Smith or DeGregorio.

Konek, a 5-foot-7 guard, is a Division I recruit committed to UNC-Charlotte. She earned attention as a freshman when she averaged 45.4 points and scored more than 1,000 at Imani Christian. She transferred to Riverdale Baptist in Marlboro, Md. for her sophomore year before returning to Pennsylvania last school year.

Hearings for Burrell transfers

The WPIAL will require eligibility hearings for Burrell's Nicholas Salerno and Shawn Szymanski, wrestlers who transferred from Plum. The board wants to meet with the pair, O'Malley said, because of a connection to the Mat Factory wrestling club, where Burrell coach Josh Shields is an instructor. No hearing date was set.

West A's McBain joins board

The WPIAL board voted to add West Allegheny athletic director Dave McBain as a board member, replacing Bart Rocco, who is retiring as superintendent at Elizabeth Forward.

McBain previously served on the WPIAL board.

The board also voted to promote North Hills superintendent Patrick Mannarino to the vice president spot left vacant by Rocco's departure. Hopewell principal Mike Allison was named WPIAL treasurer, filling Mannarino's previous position.

Budget cuts for 2018-19

The WPIAL approved a $1.73 million budget, a total that's down about $150,000 from this past school year, O'Malley said.

“Budgetarily, we had a bad year this year,” he said. “Revenue's down in some areas, and attendance is down. Since we went to six (classes) in football, we continue to lose.”

WPIAL hires office manager

The WPIAL hired former Bethel Park athletics secretary Lynn Sivetz as its new office manager. Sivetz replaces Jackie Kramer, who retires this month after 23 years with the WPIAL.

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.