If you could take a picture of Pennsylvania high school athletics, it might soon be a piece of memorabilia because its landscape might change a great deal in the next two years.
The addition of Philadelphia Public Schools to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association is pretty much a certainty. The Philadelphia schools probably will be in the PIAA playoffs starting in the fall of 2004.
This weekend, the PIAA Board of Control will start discussing another major change that is a definite possibility. The PIAA might go from four to six classifications in football and basketball.
"Will these things change the landscape? I'm not sure," said Bob Lombardi, associate executive director of the PIAA. "But change is something that always seems to be occurring in this world. We think these things might be good changes."
The change to six classifications in football is being pushed by the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association. A natural question is why not go to five classes?
"The coaches want that fifth class because of the inequity in Quad-A in the East and West," Lombardi said. "Right now in Quad-A, we have 96 teams in the East and 41 in the West, and they get equal representation in the PIAA playoffs. But, if we go to five classes, the Class A schools are saying, 'Wait a minute. You better address the inequity in Class A, where there are 41 schools in the East and 90 in the West.' "
Mark Byers, assistant executive director of the PIAA, said there also is a possibility the PIAA could go from three to four classes in baseball and softball.
The WPIAL is not in favor of adding classifications, especially in football. "If you go to six classes, it's just moving the problem around. There are still inequities," said Tim O'Malley, the WPIAL president, who also is a member of the PIAA Board of Control. "There are some complex issues here, and the PIAA has to look at them globally, in regard to everybody."
5-12 team ranks
The Duquesne boys' basketball team moved into the WPIAL Class A rankings this week at No. 3. How does a 5-12 team get ranked?
Of Duquesne's 12 losses, only three have been to WPIAL Class A teams, including two that were ranked in the top five. In the past few weeks, Duquesne has knocked off Serra and St. Joseph, which were both ranked in the top five in Class A. And most important, Duquesne is in first place in Class A Section 4 with a 5-1 record.
Football recruiting
Bethel Park offensive lineman Brad Stewart made a verbal commitment to William & Mary. ... Fox Chapel receiver Stanley Malyszka, who caught 26 passes this past season, committed to Yale. ... Beaver Falls' Rodney Slappy, who played receiver, quarterback and defensive back, chose Howard. ... Woodland Hills linebacker Y'Hoshua Murray committed to Youngstown State.
Baseball realignment
The WPIAL recently released its baseball realignment for this season, and there were a couple major changes. Shaler has been moved from Section 5 to Section 3 in Class AAA.
Shaler had good rivalries in Section 5 with North Allegheny, North Hills and Seneca Valley. But North Allegheny Athletic Director Bob Bozzutto, chairman of the WPIAL baseball steering committee, said the move was made because Section 5 was too strong.
"We tried to balance out some of the sections more," he said.
In other major changes, Franklin Regional was moved from Section 1 to Section 2 in Class AAA. Also, Blackhawk, a WPIAL Class AAA finalist last season, dropped to Class AA.
Where are they now?
Former Rochester star track sprinter Lauryn Williams, an All-American at the University of Miami last year, started this season in the fast lane. In Miami's first indoor meet, Williams, a sophomore, set a school record in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.82 seconds. ... Richard Mann, star running back on Aliquippa's 1964 WPIAL championship football team, will be in the Super Bowl Sunday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' receivers coach.
Mike White can be reached at mwhite@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1975.
E-mail this story 
