Blogger's note: This is the final installment of the 10th anniversary series, commemorating the best of local high school sports in the past 10 years. Today's topic - top male athletes.
10. Joby Lapkowicz, Carmichaels
Lapkowicz accomplished so many things at Carmichaels, Mikes fans believed he could complete a pass to himself or catch one of his 88-90 mph fastballs at home plate. Lapkowicz was Carmichaels' primary offensive threat in football, a defensive-minded guard who could put up points in basketball and one of the best pitchers the area has seen in years. He lost two games on the mound in four years.
9. Nick Wilcox, Peters Township
Wilcox offered glimpses of greatness during his junior year. He assisted on both goals in Peters Township's state soccer championship and averaged nearly 18 ppg in basketball. His senior year goes down in the record books. Wilcox earned all-state honors in soccer and basketball, in addition to winning WPIAL championships in both and making another state title appearance in soccer.
8. Robert Heller, Ringgold
Heller set a NCAA single-season rushing record for freshman at Waynesburg two years ago. Many people forget that he was a standout in three other sports at Ringgold. In basketball, Heller's determination turned him into a reliable scorer. In his only year running track, Heller qualified for the PIAA championships. In baseball, Heller was one of the top leadoff batters in the WPIAL.
7. Mike Hull, Canon-McMillan
Consider Hull's ranking incomplete as he has his senior year to finish. The Penn State recruit's football exploits are stuff of legend in Canonsburg, as is his single-season rushing record and 300-plus tackles. As a sophomore, Hull placed at the PIAA wrestling meet and, that year, batted leadoff for the Big Macs state championship baseball team.
6. Lanfer Simpson, Waynesburg
Every time Simpson carried the football for Waynesburg, a group of die-hard fans yelled, "He's too big." Simpson was also too good. Quick, nimble and agile for his size, Simpson rushed for more than 4,000 yards and was a two-time all-state linebacker in high school. He was a WPIAL wrestling champion and, for good measure, Simpson placed second in the shot put at the state meet his senior year.
5. Andrew Sweat, Trinity
Like Heller, people tend to think of Sweat strictly from a football perspective. That's slighting the man selected as the 2007 O-R Boys Athlete of the Year. Sure, he's one of the best high school linebackers Washington County has seen during the decade, but his skill set in basketball was far better than he receives credit for and his big bat was a big reason Trinity made the state playoffs that year. Missing that bat (Sweat graduated early) might have kept them from winning the 2008 state title.
4. Lee Fritz, Waynesburg
Arguably the most clutch athlete to come through the area the past decade, Fritz found ways to win more big games over a three-year stretch than some high schools have ever won. The quarterback and safety on three of the greatest football teams in Waynesburg history - including the 1999 WPIAL championship quad - Fritz became the first district player to run and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. His bat and pitching arm also got Waynesburg to one PIAA championship game and a WPIAL championship.
3. Coleman Scott, Waynesburg
Will Scott be the last three-time PIAA champion to wrestle in these parts? Chances are he's not but until someone else comes along, the guess here is my esteemed colleague Joe Tuscano (operator of the Mat Matters blog) would name Scott the "Wrestler of the Decade." Maybe wrestling fans should encourage him to do one. (After all, he needs something to do). Scott's wrestling abilities make him a shoo-in for this list but what ranks him so high is that he was also an outstanding all-section soccer player.
2. Dan Mozes, Washington
Recently named by the Varsity Letters as the best local football player of the past 10 years, readers don't likely need reminded of Mozes' havoc-wreaking ways on the football field. I can still see him spending most of the 2001 game versus Waynesburg chasing the Raiders' quarterback everywhere. Mozes also played basketball on some excellent Prexies teams in a role similar to what Bryan Thomas provided during the 2008-09 season. In the spring, Mozes played first base and annually ranked among the top offensive producers in the WPIAL for Wash High's baseball team.
1. Jim Gallagher, Peters Township
Speaking of baseball, the area has not seen a better player the past decade than Peters Township's Jim Gallagher, who was inexplicably not selected as the O-R Boys Athlete of the Year in 2004 by the sports staff (he got my vote). A top-notch defensive outfielder, Gallagher hit with the best of them and did it in clutch situations, like the PIAA playoffs. A dual-threat quarterback, Gallagher had scholarship offers from as far away as Stanford.
24 comments:
Solid list, but a top 10 male athletes list cannot be complete until Charles Murphy at least gets an honorable mention. He was a star basketball player that resurrected a dormant Canon-McMillan basketball program. I can't think of another player on a "good" team that ended up playing all 5 positions like Charles. Without him, Canon-McMillan would not have made the playoffs in any of his years and the fact that they made the state playoffs with a chump squad (exception being Murphy) is the stuff that legends are made of.
Oh and he also was the starting catcher on the 2008 state champion baseball team. This is all the more impressive considering he did not play for almost 2 years (from the end of 2006 season until the start of 2008 season). He didn't just play, he produced! Was an all-wpial and/or all-state (not sure on which one) selection.
what are you talking about a chump squad. whered you go to school
Good list, no question Gallagher is number 1. He is the greatest competitor I've ever seen play, it didn't matter what the sport, he was winning.
Great kid, great athlete, great choice.
Im confused - Robert Heller couldnt crack the Top 10 football players list but makes the Top 10 male athlete list because he also excelled in baseball?... The kid was a stud RB....We'll just have to agree to disagree here...Im guessing you didnt see Heller in person much....
Not really a FC fan or anything but how did Mike Vernillo get left off of the list.
What about Jeff Weiss, McGuffey, cross country and track and Justin Gregula, Washington, football and baseball.
Tough to leave those two off this list with what they accomplished.
3 sport stars get no love Colby Giles, Jono Menhart, Brendon Steele, Drew Denham, Justin Falcon I mean c'mon man all of these guys not only played 3 sports but were stand outs in all and all played college ball
I saw Heller play sports quite a bit.
Jeff Weiss and Justin Gregula are excellent choices as well. Ditto Mike Vernillo.
I'd really like to see some lists from others.
When I first got this idea, I thought it would be pretty easy. When I sat down and tried to consider an entire decade, it became much more difficult than I expected and I had to leave off worthy people.
Mike,
Putting out this list is just a way of stirring the pot. Just right about the sports in the present and for the future. And you wonder why you have to baby this blog. Your opinion on the selections are just that your opinion. There are a lot of kids out there that deserve to be on that so called list. So before anyone says anything negative about the list. Just remember who made the list.
"Just right about the sports in the present and for the future."
Are you my boss?
how do you make a list of the the top 10 male athletes in high school and leave out mike vernillo the wpial all time leading rusher.
Vernillo made the list of top 10 football players.
It was a tough call but I feel my list is pretty solid.
I agree with the anon who mentioned Jeff Weiss more than anyone. I guess he'd be 10b. Had I made a list of dominant athletes in a single sport, his senior year of cross country would have to be right up there. Weiss still owns many of the local cross country course records.
Are you my boss?
October 1, 2009 11:06 AM
To bad that I am not...... if I were you would be one of the 9.7 unemployed.
Vernillo was a below average baseball player and a non factor on the basketball court.
Ain't hatin', just sayin.
I wonder what the Lapkowicz twins think about little brother making the list and not them Both were outstanding 3 sport athletes and I think Jared still leads the WPIAL in pitching wins
Wrong about Vernillo in baseball he was on a all Pennsylvania team in 10th grade
That is funny about Vernillo and baseball. If he was on an All State baseball team it was compiled by Bob Sawhill or his father. Mike was a mind blowing athlete no doubt and we will be blessed to see another back of his caliber in northern Washington County but an all state baseball player he was not.
Any thoughts to doing a top 10 under appreciated/underrated athletes list? I'm thinking about key players on teams that were overshadowed by bigger names. Pat Gallagher from Peters Township comes to mind (overshadowed by Jankowski Rider and Merich).
I did think about doing a top 10 underrated athlete list but the series is over.
Won't rule it out in the future.
heller mada all state AAA the dude was the best never had a chance at rinngold high school noone helped him maybe if one of his parents was on the school, board he could of gone somewhere glad he made the list this time he truely was one of the best played every play on o and d and special teams a beast in hoops should of played baseball that may of been his best sport
Drew Headlee could also be on this list. State champ, div 1 all american, olympic alternate.
I agree to leave Vernillo off the list; he was a one sport star only even though he was in other sports. If he was at any bigger classification you probably would have never heard his name (he was a great Class A runner, don’t get me wrong), he went to WVU and didn’t cut it so he transfers to Slippery Rock and does nothing.
Blogger's note: This is the final installment of the 10th anniversary series, commemorating the best of local high school sports in the past 10 years.
Thank God.....this has been the dumbest thing yet and a total waste of time & space.
Where did #4,6,8,9and 10 from your list continue their college carriers? I am familiar with the others.
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