Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Peters Township fills coaching vacancies

Two coaching vacancies at Peters Township were filled at Monday night's school board meeting. Chris Lebakken was hired as girls basketball coach, and Justin Pinto is the new boys and girls track coach.

Lebakken, a graduate of Shaler High School, was an assistant girls basketball coach at Shaler and an eighth-grad coach at Pine-Richland. He also coached AAU basketball since 2005. He replaces Kyra Kaylor, who spent the past two season as the Indians coach, and is third girls basketball coach at Peters Township since Dennis Squeglia resigned after guiding PT to the 2008 WPIAL Class AAAA championship game.

Pinto has been part of the Peters Township track program for some time and was the person Dennis "Buzz" Scott hoped would replace him. Scott retired at the end of the school year, ending a three-plus decade coaching career in football and track.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Trinity football's open letter

I covered the Alumni Football USA game Friday night between Washington and Trinity – a game Washington won with ease – and I'll probably share some quotes I got from walking around the sidelines during the second half sometime soon.

My hastily written story on the event can be read by clicking here. A question posed in the reader comments concerned why Trinity didn't practice at their own facilities. The game was played at Wash High, and the Hillers alumni team practiced at Chartiers-Houston.

We'll get to the answer in a minute.

First, I got a chance to catch up with former Hillers great Ben Jennings, who sure looked like he could still run the football. As I was ending the post-game interview with Jennings, he wanted to say one thing on the record, part of which could be read at the end of the story.

Jennings, a person I always considered thoughtful and soft-spoken, further criticized the Trinity Area School Board from what Jennings said was their lack of cooperation with helping the team to a refusal to host the game, which proved beneficial for the football players, wrestlers and cheerleaders at Washington. His words definitely caught my attention.

Then, I saw something on my windshield as I was leaving Wash High Stadium. It should answer the previous question.

"An open letter to Hiller Football Alumni and Fans:

The Trinity Football program is under attack by members of our Board of Education, at a time our program has reached levels of success over a long period of time never achieved before in Trinity football history. Currently, our program has reached the WPIAL playoffs six consecutive years – a feat only TJ, Mars and Franklin Regional can equal in Class AAA. In addition, we have 26 active college football players, nine at the Division I level, which ranks us in the top three percent in the nation for moving players on the college football. These board members Sandra Clutter, Coleen Interval, Scott Day and Dennis McWreath have been on a two-year mission to ruin our football program.

The most recent attacks have been to cut the football supply and equipment budget to virtually zero only buying football, and not much else for the program. This despite the football program bringing in more revenue through season tickets and at the gate then all other Trinity Area sports put together. Furthermore, cutting two of our top football coaching assistants, Dr. Chad Daloia (Class of 1991) and Mr. Craig Uram (2001), both are alumni, who own homes in the district, and have been great assistant coaches to our program.

In closing, big thanks to the Wash High Prexie Alumni and fans, as this night is an example of the Washington School District working together for a great event. Additional thanks to the Chartiers-Houston School District for allowing our team to practice at your facilities. Our Trinity Area School District would not even allow our team to practice or use any of our facilities. How embarrassing and sad for our alumni and fans. Please join our football web site www.trinityhillerfootball.com and our facebook page Coach Ed Dalton's Hiller Football Nation, or follow Coach Dalton on twitter @edalton2, so we can keep you up to date and have your support in this embarrassing and malicious campaign of destruction of our program at Trinity."

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Alumni game parking

A large crowd is expected for Friday night's Alumni Football USA game between Trinity and Washington at Wash High Stadium. Those attending the game should read this notice.

Alumni game parking and ticket sales
For fans going to the Trinity vs. Washington alumni football game on Friday, parking plans have been released. There will be limited, on-street free parking outside the stadium on Tyler Avenue. Paid parking will be available along the stadium fence on Humbert Lane for $3. Other $3 lots will be located in the field below the stadium that can be accessed via Humbert Lane or Montgomery Avenue, and the small lot on Tyler Avenue across the street from Wash High Stadium. Parking for $5 is available inside the stadium behind the scoreboard via Humbert Lane and inside the stadium near the fieldhouse via Tyler Avenue. Free parking is available at Washington High School for those wishing to car pool with others or walk.

Gates open at 6 p.m. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. All seating is general admission, and adult tickets are $8 with student and senior tickets $6. Children ages 9 & Under are admitted free.