December 2010 - Allegheny West Magazine

FOOTBALL OVERCOMES ADVERSITYIn the annuls of West Allegheny football, 2010 will be remembered as theyear of Mike Caputo. Not because of his participation but because of hisnon-participation. A University of Wisconsin recruit and an All-State Performeron the 2009 WPIAL Championship team, Mike injured his ankle while ondefense in the first half of WA’s first game of the season at South Park andwas lost for the season.Step-up time for the Indians who were ranked number one and favored torepeat as WPIAL Champions before the injury to Caputo. They took turnswearing his number 7 jersey in games and were always aware of his presenceon the sidelines. The Indians made it to the play-offs with a 6-3 record afterfinishing second in the Parkway Conference. They won over Trinity, 34-7, athome in the first round. But Mars ended their season in the WPIALquarterfinals 29-3 in a game much closer for three and a half quarters thanthe final score would indicate.Seniors Aaron McKinney and Alex Sinclair and junior Dylan Bongiorni ledthe team in most offensive categories.McKinney rushed for 1,177 yards on 184 carries and scored 22touchdowns. He caught 14 passes for 237 yards and 2 TDs. He completed15 of 20 passes for 127 yards. McKinney accumulated 1,551 all purposeyards and led the team in scoring with 144 points.Alex Sinclair was the team’s leading receiver with 21 for 279 yards andthree TDs. He also rushed for 583 yards for a 7.4 average on 79 attempts.Bongiorni completed 76 of 145 passes for 1,030 yards and 8 TDs for aquarterback rating of 124.8.Senior Jesse Broda, senior Mitch Posel, and junior Mike O’Donnell were atthe top of the Stat List on defense. Broda, a defensive end, led the team with43.5 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.Posel had 31 tackles and three assists with 8 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.He also was credited with three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned45 yards for a TD.O’Donnell will be a key returnee next season after making 24 tackles andassisting on 24 others this season. As a wide receiver on offense he had 12receptions for 121 yards and a TD.(Statistics for this article were provided by WA football statistician BillMorosetti.)56 Allegheny West Magazine December 2010IT’S A GIRL THINGIt’s called Powder Puff Football. A team of West Allegheny junior girlschallenged a team of West Allegheny senior girls before a large crowd at JoeDeMichela Stadium on Memorial Day.The event was the 26 th annual affair sponsored by the National HonorSociety to raise money for the organization’s Christmas Family fund.Powder Puff is more like flag football than the American football versionand there are no scrums allowed like in European Rugby. But there is blockingand the emphasis is on strategic maneuvering.Guys are permitted to cheer in the stands and are encouraged to do so bya squad of male cheerleaders that are also part of the halftime show.“We had a blast,” said Mary Trax, even though her team was blasted 32-6by the more experienced seniors.Chalk it up as a learning experience for Mary and her junior teammates.“Next year it will be our turn,” said the teenager that carried a 4.0 grade pointaverage into the game.Physical Education instructor Munaii Franjione acts as one of the coaches.She has been doing it for the past 15 years.“The girls are just phenomenal. They only have time for two or threepractices but they have so much fun doing it and its all for a good cause,” shesaid.ABOVE: Congratulations to the West Allegheny Youth Football 7Uteam on their outstanding season. They capped an 8-0 season withan 8-0 victory over Baldwin. They outscored opponents 154-46 andposted 4 defensive shutouts. “This group of 6 and 7 year old footballplayers showed tremendous disciplineand enthusiasm. The coaching staff ledby Jeremy Horton challenged them allseason long and they responded likechampions,” said assistant coach JeffPalaima.RIGHT: Emily Garvin, a freshman at WestAllegheny High School, was selected tocompete in the 18th Queen of DiamondsShowcase North (QDSN) at Kent StateUniversity in Kent, Ohio, January 8 and 9,2011. These events are the largestfastpitch softball showcases in thenation. The event attracts athletes whoapply from 30+ states and two CanadianProvinces to be selected. Emily starts atsecond base for the Metro Express 16 &U travel team where, as a three-yearstarter, she has received MVP awards atthe Motor City Showdown in Detroit, andthe Toledo Tune Up in Toledo. Emily alsoplays for the West Allegheny Indians andthe Oakdale Youth League fastpitchteam. At the age of 14, she is one of the youngest applicants everselected.