Derry
Coach: Shawn Spencer (14th year)
Returning Starters:
6-4 senior outside hitter Dom DeLuca
6-4 senior opposite Jason Geary
6-6 senior outside hitter John Kerr
6-0 senior setter Nathaniel Marinchek
5-7 senior libero Alex Murphy
Season Outlook:
Compete for section title and WPIAL title.
WPIAL Favorite:
Ambridge and Seton LaSalle.
---------------------------------------------------
Gateway
Coach: Phil Randolph (1st year)
Returning Starters:
6-1 junior setter/opposite Jared Gable
5-8 junior defensive specialist Connor McCune
Season Outlook:
We are looking to play some competitive ball and begin to grow some roots in our program. I will be the fourth coach in four years at Gateway for the boys’ team, so we’re looking to build a foundation from the ground up and do it the right way: with a lot of heart, hustle, and hard work.
Section & WPIAL Favorite:
I’m pretty new to the boys scene, but I know that Derry and Deer Lakes have consistently strong programs that have left deep fingerprints on AA ball. I am expecting them to come in with bang, and I am hopeful that we can prove to them - and to ourselves - that we deserve to be in the same conversations that they are in. It won’t come easy, and it won’t happen overnight, but as Ric Flair famously said, "if you want to be the man, you have to beat the man!" We’ve circled some dates on our calendar this year.
Young Players to Watch:
Again, because I am pretty new to this fraternity, I do not have any names from other schools; however, I can say with certainty that Will Kromka, a 6-3 freshman outside hitter, will be a force in this section, hopefully, as early as this season if he continues to develop at the rate that he has.
--------------------------------------------------
Mars
Coach: Mike Nypaver (3rd year)
Returning Starters:
5-10 outside hitter Justin Lee
6-2 outside hitter Carson Owens
6-0 opposite Mitch Fitzsimmons
6-2 setter/opposite Dan Malcanas
5-9 setter Jesse Sines
Season Outlook:
We have several returning starters and hope to better our record from last year.
Section Favorite:
Derry
WPIAL Favorite:
Ambridge
---------------------------------------------------
North Catholic
Coach: Stacie Ball (4th season)
Returning Starters:
6-3 senior middle hitter Jake Swidorsky
5-10 senior libero Owen Daugherty
6-1 sophomore setter Richard Kaminski
Season Outlook:
We lost four senior starters from our inaugural WPIAL season, but we have a lot of young talent. We should challenge Derry and Obama and Deer Lakes for winning our section.
Section Favorite:
Derry
WPIAL Favorite:
Seton LaSalle or Derry
Young Players to Watch:
Seton-LaSalle sophomore Nathan Zini, and North Catholic sophomore Richard Kaminski.
---------------------------------------------------
Obama Academy
Coach: Pete Vitti (25 years)
Returning Starters:
5-11 senior outside hitter Terrance Harris
5-10 senior setter David Graham
6-0 senior opposite Ta'Shown Taylor
5-10 senior outside hitter Zyaire Walker
6-3 senior middle hitter Jason Thomas
6-5 junior middle hitter Sean Snead
Season Outlook:
We have a strong core of returning starters, so we should contend for a WPIAL playoff spot. We are in an extremely competitive section, so there are no guarantees. If we don't have any injuries (we don't have much depth) and we play to our potential, we should be one of the teams to beat this year in AA.
Section Favorite:
Derry
WPIAL Favorite:
Derry