District 5 AA Champs = Losing Record

[TheAnalyst]

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that the high and mighty District 6 was allowing a team with a losing record to play for a district championship. If Hollidaysburg wins in AAA, that would put D6 on the same level as D5. They have a four teams in AAA, one more than D5 in AA. Wonder how embarrassed the D6 AAA winner should be of themselves? Cancel the game and have some dignity!

[Former Wildcat]

I think maybe there should be a minimum number of teams for a district to conduct a District championship. It diminishes the value of a district championship when a team with a losing record can "win districts" without beating a team with a winning record.

[pitt75]

Old guy, I am really not trying to fight with you, but I probably "forgot" to mention the 3-7 Riverside team that beat 10-0 Old Forge because it is NOT in the WPIAL.

There is a Riverside in the WPIAL, but that isn't the one. I did look it up though, those teams are around Lackawana county---I have no idea where that is.

Ramble---I agree with you, every district comes to the table with their best interest in mind. The PIAA like any other public agency is a political animal. In terms of the playoffs I think the WPIAL gets treated unfairly; however, if they hadn't played some political cards we would be dividing by 6 instead of 4.

As far as D6 having a potential champion, Hburg win with a losing record--I agree, the same sentiment I expressed regarding D5--It is disgraceful. Hburg may not have made the AAA playoffs in the WPIAL.
If so, it would have been a quick exit.

I think at the end of the day, it is difficult for people to accept that some teams will get to call themselves "champions" and better teams end with nothing.

[Coach]

Some of the people early in this thread were upset that Bedford gets to call themselves champs...

We know that in D6 the top four teams and probably more would win D5. They aren't in D5 though. They are in D6. Should the WPIAL top four cry because D6 has some kids that get to be called champions when they could smoke them?


You play in your district and that's all you can do.

[youngbuck]

Portage has applied to become a member of district 5 for years and has been turned down.

[rainmaker]

Who turned them down? D-5 or did D-6 not allow them out? I have heard that several D-6 teams like Ferndale, CV, Portage, and Claysburg are applying again this year. I think it is every Westpac team plus CK that has applied to make the move.

[southpaw]

More than that want out. I have heard that Somerset, Lewistown, and IV also want out.

[hoganddog]

How can a team just get out of their district? I can understand Somerset coming to D5 AA because of their geographic location and AA enrollment. Not that I see it happening, but Indiana High could also come to D6AAA. Why would a team like Portage want to come to D5 and how would that be logical? Aren't districts strictly geographical unless there is a glaring enrollment differential such as Fannett Metal playing D5 rather than D3?

[Head Roadie]

Portage, Blacklick, Conemaugh Valley, and Ferndale are exactly like Fannett-Metal. They are playing a predominantly District 5 (WestPAC) schedule.

There can be two reasons to be in a district. Geography and where you predominantly play your games.

Ligonier and Laurel Valley are geographically located in the WPIAL, but play in 6.
Indiana is located in 6 but plays in WPIAL.

Lewistown and Indian Valley wanted to go to District 4 at one time. I don't know if that's still the case or not. District 6 would not let them out and it went clear to the PIAA.

Ferndale and Claysburg had asked out of D6 to go to D5 before but were also refused is my understanding.

[WPIAL~Titan]

Always great insight, HR.

I believe that Indiana seceded from D6 years ago. The impetus, as I recall, centered around a few basketball games between Indiana and Altoona that got out of hand, if I am not mistaken.

LIg and Laurel Valley are in Westmoreland County, yet geographically they are as close or closer to D6 teams like Blairsville, Homer Center, etc. as they are to WPIAL AA teams that would be in their section such as: Derry Area, Greensburg CC, East Allegheny, etc.

That said, it makes sense for Altoona to enter the WPIAL in football as the travel time will be less that to the Harrisburg area. That is, unless Toona is placed into the Quad North with Shaler, NA, NHills, etc. which would still result in 2 hour bus rides.

Altoona is on an island in terms of other sports, like basketball. Who wants to send kids on a 2 hour+ bus ride over Cresson and Penn View Mountains on a Tuesday night in the winter for a section basketball game at Gateway, McKeesport, Norwin, or Hempfield??? That is the case for Altoona, however, as there are few AAAA teams within reasonable driving distance of them.

Hollidaysburg is tough to figure...Now that they are AAA in football, the LHAC would make sense, but they're still AAAA in hoops so I am sure the LHAC wouldn't ever consider taking Hollidaysburg, unless they were AAA or lower in all sports. Thus, Hollidaysburg will be stuck playing in an eastern AAA section of the WPIAL (with Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Derry, etc.), and will be forced to go out of the area find many of their basketball games, much like Altoona has to do.

State College has the same issue, only they are somewhat closer to the Harrisburg area than Altoona or Hollidaysburg for football. I always thought it would make sense for State College to join District 3 in other sports as well (including basketball), as the jaunt down US322 isn't as long/unsafe as it is for Altoona to travel US22/322...

Indian Valley/Lewistown should be in District 3 or District 4. I am sure District 6 would not have been happy about losing teams and PIAA bids in different sports.

Same with Central Mountain (Lock Haven area), who should be in District 4 AAAA with Williamsport.