Top 19 of ’19: Trib HSSN breaks down the top stories of the year — No. 3
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Sunday, December 29, 2019 | 4:01 PM
The 2019 high school sports season is nearly in the books.
While we anxiously look ahead to 2020, let’s reflect on the district high school sports scene over the last 12 months.
Here is a look back at the top 19 stories from around the WPIAL in 2019.
HSSN Top 19 in ’19: No. 3 — No slap on the wrist
Under first-year coach Rod Steele, the West Mifflin football team finished in fourth place in the Class 4A Big Eight Conference with a regular-season record of 5-5.
The Titans earned a playoff spot, but their stay in the postseason was short and not so sweet as they lost to defending champion South Fayette, 52-0.
That season-ending loss was nothing compared to what came a month later.
It was discovered after the season West Mifflin violated a PIAA eligibility rule by unknowingly using a player who was in his fifth year of high school during the 2019 season.
After a hearing, the WPIAL board of directors handed out one of the toughest punishments in recent history as they banned West Mifflin from participating in the 2020 district football playoffs.
Here’s a look at the rest of the top stories of the year:
No. 19 — Big Ben strikes often
No. 18 — Near perfect on the pitch
No. 17 — Five golden rings
No. 16 — Bucs title run is now a teenager
No. 15 — Worldly results lead to district and state gold
No. 14 — Black out
No. 13 — Big time ballers
No. 12 — Four decade wait is over
No. 11 — Fight for survival
No. 10 — A Crummie ending
No. 9 — Swimmer breaks national mark
No. 8 — PIAA to the rescue
No. 7 — Coaching king hangs up his whistle
No. 6 — Golden run ends
No. 5 — Top cat
No. 4 — He’s back
Tags: West Mifflin
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