Sports
CTK 2013 – WPIAL Single-A Eastern Conference Preview
August 25, 2013
One record setting streak ended in the Eastern Conference last fall while another overall slide continues into this 2013 campaign.While all eyes were on Clairton’s WPIAL and PIAA record winning streak, the longest losing streak in WPIAL history came to an end last fall when West Shamokin finally put a game in the ‘W’ column. The Wolves snapped a 46-game, five year losing streak that dated back to 2007 when they knocked off the Riverview Raiders 25-6 in Week 3. West Shamokin liked the feeling so much, they won two more games before the season ended.CTK 2013 – WPIAL Single-A Tri-County South Conference Preview
August 24, 2013
Youth was served last year in the Tri-County South Conference. Of the 24 positions for first-team all-conference last year, 16 were filled by sophomores. Those players are a year older, which means the Tri-County South could be a little stronger. Last year was the first of the “new” Tri-County South. That basically meant Monessen no longer was in the conference. The Tri-County South did not fare well in the postsesaon as all four teams lost in the first round. Will the conference get to taste any postseason success this year? With so many returning all-conference players, maybe Tri-County South teams will fare better.CTK 2013 – WPIAL Single-A Big 7 Conference Preview
August 23, 2013
Every team in Class A has been chasing the Clairton Bears and their 64 game winning streak for the last five seasons. Could this be the year that the Bears are dethroned? That is still to be determined but several of the candidates to try and knock off the Bears will come from the Big Seven Conference.Sto-Rox has played at Heinz Field the last two seasons and the conference had three teams of the top four seeds(thanks to the WPIAL creative seeding process) in last year’s playoffs. The Vikings, longtime conference power Rochester and Neshannock, all tied for the Big Seven championship last season. And the spotlight will shine bright on the Lancers and Vikings on September 12th for a Thursday night Root Sports matchup which can be heard live on MSA Sports.CTK 2013 – WPIAL Single-A Black Hills Conference Preview
August 22, 2013
Any discussion of the race in the Class A Black Hills must start with Clairton. The Bears come into the season on a 63-game winning streak, the longest current streak in the country and the longest in the history of Pennsylvania. Clairton lost a number of key players to graduation. So do the Bears simply reload? Do they step a back? Is this finally the year the streak ends? Questions abound about the Bears. For sure, they are good enough to win a conference title again and maybe a sixth consecutive WPIAL and fifth consecutive PIAA. Maybe Brentwood or Monessen are ready to give a serious challenge to Clairton. Remember Char-Houston gave the Bears fits on the opening night last year.CTK 2013 – WPIAL Double-A Allegheny Conference Preview
August 21, 2013
The Allegheny Conference of Class AA has seen its share of balance recently. Over the past four seasons, four different teams have won at least a share of the conference title.While many are picking Shady Side Academy as the team to beat this year, balance seems to permeate through the section again.A number of teams seem capable of grabbing one of the WPIAL playoff spots. One thing the teams in the conference would like to do is improve their playoff fortunes. Shady Side Academy is the only Allegheny team to win a playoff game the past two seasons.Here is a look at the Allegheny Conference: BURRELL BUCCANEERS:CTK 2013 – WPIAL Double-A Century Conference Preview
2012 was another strong year for a pair of Class AA powers and South Fayette and Seton-LaSalle finished one-two in the conference and had some playoff success with the Rebels going to the Quarterfinals and the Lions to the Semifinals. But they were not the story last fall in the Century Conference.In his 4th year at South Allegheny, former Duquesne High School football coach Pat Monroe did what few people thought he could, he turned the Gladiators into a contender.The moribund program turned it around in the fall of 2012 as South Allegheny finished third in the conference and was 7-2 in the regular season before bowing out in Round One of the WPIAL playoffs.Imani Christian OUT For 2013 Football Season
August 20, 2013
Less than two weeks before the 2013 high school football season kicks off, Bishop Canevin suddenly does not have an opponent for opening weekend. In fact, eight other members of the Class A Black Hills Conference are trying to fill the void of an open week after receiving letters that Imani Christian will not field a team this fall.WPIAL Executive Director Tim O'Malley said Imani Christian school officials sent a letter to the district and the eight other teams from the Black Hills Conference that they would not be able to honor their 2013 football schedule because of a lack of players.CTK 2013 – WPIAL Double-A Interstate Conference Preview
August 19, 2013
Over the past four seasons, four different teams have won the Interstate Conference championship. It was Washington last year, Jeannette in 2011, Greensburg Central Catholic in 2010 and Mount Pleasant in 2009. The race for the 2013 conference crown looks to be among those same four teams. All four have some firepower that could lead a team to the conference title. Washington made it to the WPIAL title game last year and has super running back Shai McKenzie. But the Little Prexies still have a lot of holes to fill. Here is a look at the Interstate Conference: BROWNSVILLE FALCONS: There is nowhere to go but up for the Falcons.Fall Sports Underway
This week marks the start of section play in WPIAL boys golf, girls golf and girls tennis. Next week marks the beginning of section play in football while it's a post-Labor Day start up for section play in boys and girls soccer, girls volleyball, girls field hockey and boys and girls cross-country.You can check out ALL of the 2013 WPIAL section schedules in football, boys/girls soccer, girls volleyball, boys/girls golf, girls tennis, girls field hockey and boys/girls cross-country by clicking the high school link at the top of the page...then click on the logo of your favorite school and then the sport you wish to see.CTK 2013 – WPIAL/Pgh City League Week Two Scrimmages
One scrimmage is in the books and one more is coming up this weekend as WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League football teams continue to prepare for the kickoff of the 2013 season. Scrimmage number two will take place for most teams on Friday 8/23 with four scrimmages on Saturday 8/24 and one scrimmage taking place Thursday 8/22. Here is a rundown of ALL the second week scrimmages involving District 7 and District 8 high school football teams.All games are Friday, August 23rd unless otherwise indicated.WPIAL vs Pittsburgh City League:Perry Commodores AT Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings at 6:00pmKnoch Knights vs Brashear Bulls AT Cupples Stadium in Pittsburgh at 6:00pmCTK 2013 – WPIAL Double-A Midwestern Conference Preview
The Aliquippa Quips continued their dominance of Class AA with another WPIAL championship in 2012. The win was the fifteenth title in school history and the second of back to back gold footballs for the Quips.Aliquippa is likely the favorite once again in both the Midwestern and the classification, a huge challenge could come from their old rivals, the Beaver Falls Tigers, who are also in everyone’s top 5 to start the season. Could it be another Beaver County matchup at Heinz Field in November, stay tuned to the MSA Sports Network to see.Here is a look at the Midwestern Conference.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 08/19/2013
it is the calm before the storm as the focus for the final time this year is squarely on Frontier League baseball and auto racing as we get closer to wrapping up Countdown to Kickoff 2013 this week here on the MSA Sports Network. The Washington Wild Things are home at CONSOL Energy Park for three games hosting Gateway before hitting the road for a weekend set at River City, plus we have the latest news from the world of auto racing with Rappin on Racin ALL here ONLY at MSAsports.netMonday, August 19th:TALK SHOW - Rappin on Racin at 6:00pm on MSAsports.netTuesday, August 20th:Pro Baseball: Frontier League - Gateway Grizzlies vs Washington Wild Things at 7:05pm on WJPA-FM 95.3Wednesday, August 21st:CTK 2013 – WPIAL Triple-A Greater Allegheny Conference Preview
August 17, 2013
Will the Greater Allegheny be as defensive again? Last year was the first season of the “new” Greater Allegheny, where nine teams were in the conference, including a few that used to play in the old Keystone Conference. Although the conference featured some standout offensive players, it seemed defense was the cornerstone of a number of teams. Mars, Franklin Regional and Knoch gave up less than 100 points in conference games.No other conference in Class AAA had three teams give up less than 100 points in conference games.Points could be hard to come by again in 2013. The main reason is some teams lost some key offensive players (except Mars).CTK 2013 – WPIAL Triple-A Big Nine Conference Preview
August 16, 2013
The Big Nine Conference the past two years has been about the Big Two – Thomas Jefferson and West Mifflin. Don’t look for things to change this year. It seems just about everyone thinks Thomas Jefferson and West Mifflin will be the top teams in the conference again this season, with Thomas Jefferson holding the upper hand. Thomas Jefferson beat West Mifflin in the regular-season finale last year. Two years ago, they tied for the conference title. Thomas Jefferson has won the conference title outright nine times since 2002 and looks strong again. Elizabeth Forward made some waves last year, finishing third in the conference race. The Warriors are a team to watch again and could make some noise.CTK 2013 – WPIAL Triple-A Parkway Conference Preview
August 15, 2013
While repeats have been the story in the WPIAL in the last few years with Clairton winning five consecutive Class A titles, two straight Class AA titles for Aliquippa and three straight titles for North Allegheny in Quad A, there have been no repeat champion in Class AAA.However, a team from the Parkway Conference has claimed the last four AAA trophies, with West Allegheny as the defending champion. In fact, five of the nine coaches in the conference has won a WPIAL championship, those coaches have combined for 13 gold medals for their teams since 1991.CTK 2013 – WPIAL Quad-A Southeastern Conference Preview
August 14, 2013
Four teams finished within a game of each other at the top of the Southeastern Conference last year. It could be a great race for the title again this year.Coming into this season, many coaches inside and outside the conference are predicting strength in numbers for the Southeastern this season. Woodland Hills, Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park appear to be strong this year, and Mount Lebanon could make some waves. Peters Township could be a sleeper, while Canon-McMillan, Baldwin and Plum have new coaches who want to make a mark.A year ago, Upper St. Clair and Mount Lebanon tied for the conference title while Woodland Hills and Bethel Park were only one game back. Look for much of the same this season.Here is a look at the Southeastern Conference:CTK 2013 – WPIAL Quad-A Foothills Conference Preview
August 13, 2013
The Foothills Conference is made up of nine schools who played a lot of young players in 2012. While that led to a competitive conference and some exciting football a year ago, it also led to an 1-6 record in the postseason with only conference champion Gateway picking up a postseason victory in the 2012 WPIAL football playoffs.There is an effort up and down the conference to shed that ‘weak link’ reputation the Foothills has when compared to the other Class AAAA conferences. In the 32-year history of WPIAL Quad-A football, Foothills Conference teams have captured gold only four times: Gateway in 1986, Connellsville in 1991, McKeesport in 1994 and only once since the turn of the century, when the Tigers won it again in 2005.CTK 2013 – WPIAL Quad-A Northern Eight Conference Preview
August 12, 2013
The Northern Eight Conference has gone young – at least in terms of coaching experience. Heading into this season, maybe the most interesting storyline is who is leading the teams. Jack McCurry, the third-winningest coach in WPIAL history, retired in the offseason after 35 seasons as North Hills’ coach. Pat Carey, longtime defensive coordinator for North Hills and a former Indian player, takes over. At Pine-Richland, longtime coach Clair Altemus stepped down. Offensive coordinator Eric Kasperowicz takes over. He also is a former North Hills player. Elsewhere in the conference, there are young coaches. Eric Ravotti is in his third season at Fox Chapel. Chris Siegle is in his second season at Shaler.CTK 2013 – MSA SPORTS PRESEASON ELITE ELEVEN
The leading rusher and leading passer in the WPIAL are back this season – and also lead the MSA Sports preseason Elite 11 team. The Elite 11 is a list of the top elite players in the WPIAL heading into the 2013 season. It is picked by the MSA Sports staff and players are selected regardless of position. The leading rusher returning from last year is Washington’s Shai McKenzie. The leading passer is South Fayette quarterback Brett Brumbaugh. Brumbaugh is the only junior on the preseason Elite 11. This year’s Elite 11 also includes three players (Mike Grimm, Malik Hooker and Chase Winovich) who already have made commitments to Division I colleges, as well as other players who are being heavily recruited.CTK 2013 – WPIAL/Pgh City League Week One Scrimmages
August 11, 2013
FINALLY! High school football camps throughout Pennsylvania open for business on Monday. That means teams have less than a week of practice before they hit the field for the first of two scrimmages in preparation for the season lid-lifter on Friday, August 30th and Saturday, August 31st. Scrimmage number one takes place this Saturday, August 17th on fields around Southwestern Pennsylvania. Here is a rundown of all the first week scrimmages involving WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League high school football teams.WPIAL vs Pittsburgh City League:Perry Commodores AT North Allegheny Tigers at 9:30amBrashear Bulls AT Seton-LaSalle Rebels at 10:00amCarrick Raiders AT Shady Side Academy Indians at 10:00am
