Teams to Beat in WPIAL each class next year...

[AnthonyK]

Thought I'd get the ball rolling a little. Not gonna do a top 5 cause I don't really know past a couple teams I know got some good guys back. In AAAA I'd say Woody and Gateway...AAA West A...AA Aliquippa and Wash Hi....A Clairton and Sto Rox. Once again if anybody wants to add or discount to anything I wrote please do. I'm only going by hearsay and some teams that are just common sense with superstars returning. AAA as you can see don't know much about.

[animus]

4A Gateway, Woody, Seneca Valley?
3A West A, West Mifflin, Mountour?
2A Aliquippa, South Fayette, Washington
1A Clairton, Sto Rox, Neshannock, Monessen

[YinzerKyle]

4A Gateway. If Gateway isn't at Hershey next year with all the players they're going to bring back Terry Smith is going to be under fire.

3A West A. Both their good RBs are underclassmen and Bob Palko is just a great coach.

2A Quip. I'll be SHOCKED if they're not back at Hershey with all their Juniors from this year.

1A is tough. I'd say Clairton if Mud Puppy was still on the team. Don't know his situation Joey has to fill us in. I thought Monessen would be good this year because of all their athletes but they were disappointing to say the least. I take Sto Rox with Brendan Blair emerging as a star player.

[animus]

Mudpuppy graduates this year... its very green at the skill positions w/ 3 out of 5 OLman coming back and 2 out of 5 on the DLine w/ Will Hampton having a buttload of experience on both. It'll be a different style of Clairton team until the passing game develops. If Monessen doesn't break the streak, it could last until Hershey.

[justafan017]

Monessen loses one Rawlins and the only thing they have left is the other one. I dont see Monessen as a threat. I think because of Blair and Williams, Sto Rox is the only challenge Clairton has. Now, if they have eligibility issues to begin the season like they did this year I could see Chartiers Houston knocking them off in week 1. If they get past the Bucs and then a few weeks later get past Monessen, it will set up a showdown with Sto Rox again. As I was playing out the scenarios last night, if Clairton gets past Sto Rox undefeated next season, they have a legitmate shot at getting to Hershey again. Even without the 3 T's, Davenport, Booker...they are still fast and still tough. If they start #15 at QB next year...Matthews...that kid is 6-5 and just looks like a football player...and they can develop a running back and wide out I think they'll be just fine. Even though he is a freshman, they have this kid by the last name of Wade coming up who looks to be the next big thing at running back for Clairton. We shall see...but another Clairton appearance at Hershey is not completely out of the question in 2013.

[justafan017]

And ill say this...if Clairton's streak doesnt end in 2013 I dont know when it will end. Next year they will have a team made up of almost all Freshman, Sophmores and Juniors.

[animus]

And ill say this...if Clairton's streak doesnt end in 2013 I dont know when it will end. Next year they will have a team made up of almost all Freshman, Sophmores and Juniors.

Agree with this. I will say this, if it doesn't end in 13 the only thing that may end the streak is the school closing.

[t2pyah]

AAAA - Woodland Hills could be strongest returning team - followed by Central Catholic

then (in no particular order) Bethel Park, NA, Gateway, possibly even Pine Richland

and possibly McKeesport if Terry Smith lands there



2012 was the best chance for Gateway to make noise - same for Seneca Valley

Gateway does return some top players - but they lose a number of key players (and their JV team was weak)

[animus]

AAAA - Woodland Hills could be strongest returning team - followed by Central Catholic

then (in no particular order) Bethel Park, NA, Gateway, possibly even Pine Richland

and possibly McKeesport if Terry Smith lands there



2012 was the best chance for Gateway to make noise - same for Seneca Valley

Gateway does return some top players - but they lose a number of key players (and their JV team was weak)

Welcome aboard.

Um, I read on another message board that Terry and Harvey Smith was going to start up a program at a Charter School. Unsure if its local or not or what class the school will be. Unsure if its true or not, just throwing it out there.

[t2pyah]

thank you - glad to be aboard

(full disclosure: t2pyah = NA person)


2012 Gateway team was something else - secondary especially

would not be surprised if some kids on that team make some noise at the next level