No guarantee WPIAL welcomes back Farrell, if District 10 approves school’s transfer

By: Chris Harlan
Monday, November 20, 2023 | 11:57 PM

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Farrell wants to come back to the WPIAL after almost two decades in District 10, but a potential homecoming for the Steelers is no guarantee.

First, Farrell needs approval from the District 10 committee, which denied a similar request to leave eight years ago. Even if District 10 agrees this time, the WPIAL will consider the wishes of its member schools before deciding whether to welcome Farrell back.

WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said travel to Mercer County could be a concern for some potential opponents.

“Farrell was in here once, and they asked to leave because of travel, if I remember correctly,” Seltzer said. “There’s still travel (for Farrell), and there’s a lot of travel for our schools, too.”

Farrell left the WPIAL in 2006.

The school’s potential return was a non-issue when the WPIAL board met Monday since Farrell hasn’t secured its release from District 10. The District 10 committee meets Dec. 13. The WPIAL board meets again Dec. 18.

Seltzer said the WPIAL would seek input from its athletic directors association, if Farrell were to be released. Seltzer said he’d spoken with District 10 chairman Pete Iacino but wasn’t sure what decision that district would make.

“We try not to get involved until there is a decision,” Seltzer said.

Farrell’s school board voted 8-1 on Nov. 13 to request a release from District 10 and start the process of rejoining the WPIAL. Farrell could appeal to the PIAA should District 10 or the WPIAL deny its request.

The school originally joined the WPIAL in 1944 and had tremendous success over the next six decades. The girls volleyball team won 20 WPIAL titles, which remains a league record. The boys basketball team won 13 titles, which ties Aliquippa for second-most in WPIAL history. The football team has six WPIAL titles.

The school competes now in Class 2A for football, boys volleyball and track, while its boys and girls basketball and girls volleyball teams are in Class A.

The Steelers, if they remained in 2A football, might join a WPIAL conference with teams from Lawrence and Beaver counties. Neshannock is the closest WPIAL school to Farrell at 15 miles away, but some others would be traveling almost an hour.

Seltzer said the cost for that added travel might be a hindrance for some schools with tight budgets.

“They get upset sometimes when we take them too far for a playoff game, and I understand that being a former central office person,” said Seltzer, who was an assistant superintendent at Chartiers Valley. “When you’re talking about football, you’re not just talking about your team. You’re taking your marching band, your cheerleaders and all of those groups. For some schools, you’re talking about five buses.”

He noted that other sports besides football could require more travel, including boys volleyball, a sport that has no teams in Lawrence County.

“Travel is key for our schools,” Seltzer said. “Are they willing to put that extra expense on?”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.