Laurels & lances: Winning, losing and history
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Laurel: To the schools of winners. Pittsburgh may have a reputation as the City of Champions, but it might have to start sharing that title with the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League after the 2021 football season. The Steelers would be lucky to have a run like area teams had this year.
Of the six Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association divisions in the sport, four have WPIAL teams on top after the recent state championships. Central Valley shut out the competition in Class 3A, Aliquippa ran away with the title in Class 4A, Penn-Trafford snatched the win in overtime for Class 5A, and Mt. Lebanon took the honors in Class 6A.
WPIAL actually came within one game of a five-class sweep with Serra Catholic making it to the big game in Class 2A.
Lance: To interference. But let’s talk about Aliquippa for a minute. The team has shown itself to be a powerhouse on the gridiron, but it seems like the PIAA is penalizing them for it.
The organization’s “competitive balance rule” is pushing the team out of its 4A division into 5A play for the 2022 season because of a combination of postseason success and transfers. PIAA Executive Director Bob Lombardi says the team has no right to complain and cited the size of the offensive line with five kids over 6 feet, 4 inches and 300 pounds.
Two problems with that. First, the different classes are supposed to be about the size of the school, not the size of the kids. What if those five players get hurt over the summer and are replaced by kids 100 pounds lighter and a foot shorter? Second, Aliquippa was already playing two classifications up from where they should be.
And if they keep winning, then what? Will the Quips eventually have to play the Philadelphia Eagles to make the PIAA happy? Even then, Aliquippa has more championships.
Laurel: To demolition and conservation. Two historic Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing houses from the 1850s are being torn down in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood. The properties were in hazardous condition, and tearing them down benefits the neighborhood — even though the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission wouldn’t give a grant for the work.
One restored house will be used as a museum by the Natrona Comes Together Association to preserve the area’s history.