WPIAL allowing Burrell, Mohawk to settle racist taunts dispute

By: Chris Harlan
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 | 8:38 PM

The WPIAL is hopeful Mohawk and Burrell can resolve allegations of racial taunts involving their football teams without the league’s intervention.

“The schools did their own investigations and are sharing information with each other,” WPIAL administrator Vince Sortino said Wednesday. “The schools are handling the situation.”

Sortino said members of the WPIAL Diversity & Inclusion Council would be available to assist the two schools, whose teams met Friday in a WPIAL playoff game marred by allegations of racial slurs.

Burrell coach Shawn Liotta said Mohawk targeted his players with “racist remarks” and that he was ejected after protesting to game officials.

However, a statement from Mohawk’s administration said “the district has not received any credible reports to corroborate the allegations of racial slurs and does not believe the conduct occurred based on its own internal investigation and the WPIAL officials’ report.”

Sortino on Wednesday declined to share details of a report submitted by officials or information shared by the schools. Liotta was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected with 11 seconds left in the first half after walking to midfield to confront the officials.

“I kept asking the officials, ‘Can we please get control of this? They keep calling our kids these words,’ ” Liotta said. “The officials kept saying they didn’t hear it.”

As punishment for his ejection, Liotta will be suspended under PIAA rules for the first two games of next season.

The Black Coaches Association of the WPIAL, in a letter provided to the Trib, offered support for Liotta.

The BCA is led by Clairton coach Wayne Wade as president and Aliquippa coach Mike Warfield as vice president.

“Head coach Shawn Liotta has shown his integrity and respect for student athletes throughout the course of his coaching career,” the BCA wrote. “His advocation for the students, athletes, coaches and fans … to be treated with respect and shown fairness is to be commended.”

Burrell superintendent Shannon Wagner provided a statement for the school district saying: “We are aware that there was an incident that occurred last Friday at the WPIAL playoff football game in which racial slurs were reportedly used toward our players. WPIAL officials and administration are aware of and investigating the incident.”

That statement added: “At Burrell School District, we believe all students deserve to be treated with respect, in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Our counselors are available for any students who may need additional support in processing the situation.”

Sortino said the WPIAL has no plans to convene a hearing or question witnesses, which was done in some similar situations in years past. Often those WPIAL investigations proved inconclusive.

“As of right now, we are letting the schools handle it,” Sortino said. “They seem to be working together through this, talking with each other and trying to resolve the situation.”

Mohawk football coach Tim McCutcheon on Sunday rejected the allegations, calling them “heinous, irresponsible and false.” Mohawk won 42-0 and will play Imani Christian in a WPIAL quarterfinal.

In its statement, Mohawk’s administration said: “The District takes allegations of racial slurs very seriously and investigates and addresses any instances of inappropriate behavior by the District’s students, staff or fans.”

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.

Tags: Burrell