WPIAL elects 2 newcomers to board of directors for 2025-26 school year

By: Chris Harlan
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | 7:22 PM

The WPIAL board of directors already has two new members for next school year.

Moon athletic director Alan Alcalde and Norwin athletic director Mike Burrell earned seats on the WPIAL board in election results announced Wednesday. They secured two of the 10 at-large seats up for election every spring for one-year terms on the 21-person board. The eight others went to incumbent candidates.

Receiving the most votes were Peters Township athletic director Brian Geyer (65 votes) and Mt. Lebanon athletic director John Grogan (61), both incumbent candidates. Geyer is finishing his first school year as the WPIAL board president. Grogan serves as vice president.

The WPIAL received 74 ballots. The league has more than 140 high schools and each gets one vote.

Also earning reelection to the board were Bethel Park athletic director Laura Grimm (60 votes), Carlynton athletic director Nate Milsom (59), Keystone Oaks athletic director Mark Elphinstone (58), Brentwood principal Jason Olexa (57), Hampton athletic director Mike Gavlik (54) and Winchester Thurston athletic director John Rosa (47).

Alcalde received 51 votes and Burrell got 50. Both are already involved in WPIAL affairs. Alcalde serves as a member of the soccer steering committee. Burrell is on the football and competitive spirit committees.

Eleven other seats on the board represent specific constituencies such as superintendents, school boards, parents or game officials. Members who hold those seats are either appointed or elected by the groups they represent.

The WPIAL year starts July 1.

Seven candidates fell short in their bid for an at-large seat: Seneca Valley athletic director Heather Lewis (42), New Castle assistant principal Ralph Blundo (33), Woodland Hills athletic director Ty Brown (29), McGuffey athletic director Ed Dalton (29), Freeport superintendent Ian Magness (25), St. Joseph athletic director Sally Ackerman (14) and Central Catholic athletic director Kyle Goldcamp (6).

Lewis was an incumbent member of the board. Magness served this year as the superintendents’ representative.

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: Bethel Park, Brentwood, Carlynton, Hampton, Keystone Oaks, Moon, Mt. lebanon, Norwin, Peters Township, Winchester Thurston