The PIAA is taking steps that would pretty much stop boys from playing on girls sports teams.

PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi was in Pittsburgh Wednesday for an annual meeting with WPIAL athletic directors. Lombardi informed the ADs of a PIAA proposal concerning boys playing on girls teams, which has happened more in recent years in volleyball and field hockey.

The proposal has passed two votes by the PIAA Board of Control. If it passes a third vote in May, it will take effect July 1.

Under the proposal, a boy can’t play on a girls team if the school has the same sport for boys. If a school does not have a boys team in a particular sport, a boy can play on the girls team, but only if the school principal determines the following:

The boy would not displace a girl on the team; a boy would not pose an increased risk of harm to opponents; the boy would not provide an unfair competitive advantage; the overall boys program at the school provides fewer opportunities for boys to participate than girls.

Also, if a boy is still permitted to play on a girls team, the girls team is prohibited from participating in postseason playoffs.

Part of the proposal also deals with girls participating on boys teams. A girl can’t play on a boys team if the school sponsors a girls and boys teams unless the school principal “believes that the girl’s skill level is such that participation on the girls team would not provide meaningful competition for the girl.”

Aloi ruling today

The WPIAL Board of Control held a hearing with Nick Aloi to determine his future eligibility. Aloi is a talented sophomore basketball player who transferred from Ellwood City to Lincoln Park in January. This morning, the WPIAL will inform both schools involved of its ruling.

Lincoln Park is a charter school in Beaver Country that has developed a strong basketball program, due in some part to a number of talented athletes who transferred there. Aloi averaged 15 points a game as a freshman at Ellwood City, but did not play as a sophomore because of a knee injury.

Ellwood City principal Kirk Lape would not sign off on the transfer, contending it was partly for athletic intent, which is against WPIAL and PIAA rules. If the WPIAL rules Aloi transferred for athletic reasons, he will be ineligible. The WPIAL could rule him ineligible for a year from the date of his transfer (Jan. 21), or a year from the date of the hearing (April 23).

Aloi’s parents had no comment after the hearing, which was closed to the media. Ellwood City coach Anthony Ovial and Lape testified at the hearing.

Craig Lee is the Alois’ attorney and he said the Alois contend that basketball had nothing to do with the transfer. He said the transfer is because Aloi wants to be a doctor and Aloi’s parents, who are both doctors, contend that Lincoln Park has courses that will better prepare their son for college.

Coaching moves

• Corey Gadson resigned as McKeesport’s boys basketball coach after 11 seasons. Gadson had a 175-92 record with one WPIAL championship appearance and nine playoff appearances.

• Carlynton hired Mauro Monz as its new football coach. Monz played at Seton-LaSalle and has been an assistant coach at various colleges, including Duquesne, Robert Morris, Akron and Youngstown State.

• Deer Lakes hired Steve Sciullo as football coach. Sciullo played at Shaler High School, Marshall University and a few years in the NFL.

• West Allegheny hired Dan Marshall as its new boys basketball coach. That means both of West Allegheny football coordinators will be head coaches in other sports at the school. Marshall is West Allegheny’s offensive coordinator while defensive coordinator Bryan Cornell is the school’s baseball coach.

• Chartiers-Houston hired Laura Montecalvo as girls basketball coach. Montecalvo is a 2006 graduate of Washington High School, who was a standout in three sports (volleyball, basketball and track and field).

WPIAL scholarship winners

The WPIAL announced its scholar-athlete scholarship winners. Burrell’s Nick Pattock, Fort Cherry’s Zach Dysert, Freeport’s Rebecca Dudek and Canon-McMillan’s Olivia Lorusso each received $5,000 scholarships. Eight other boys and eight other girls received $500 scholarships.

First Published: April 24, 2014, 1:12 a.m.