Monessen aims to end playoff drought
Monessen’s Jaron Youngblook
Monessen’s Justin Towler
Monessen’s Darius Stevenson
Going two consecutive seasons without making the playoffs is certainly a rarity for Monessen.
Going three in a row? That’s unheard of.
Senior Jaden Altomore is intent on not allowing that to happen.
After missing the postseason the past two seasons while playing in the rugged Eastern Conference, the Greyhounds are now back in the Tri-County South after the PIAA’s move to six classifications that caused the WPIAL to shuffle the deck again.
The Greyhounds last played in the Tri-County South in 2011 before moving to the Black Hills Conference, then to the Eastern two years ago.
Altomore was part of the Greyhounds’ 2013 team as a freshman that tied Clairton and Fort Cherry for the Black Hills championship. Now, he wants to be a big reason Monessen returns to prominence.
“We want to win the section and go on from there,” said Altomore, who also is a standout basketball player. We haven’t won the section or been to the playoffs in two years. We want to get back.”
As a quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back, Altomore will be counted on as one of Monessen’s top offensive weapons, along with Jaron Youngblood.
Head coach Joe Salvino, who also doubles as the head basketball coach at Monessen, has seen a lot of growth and maturation from Altomore.
“I think Jaden is growing into being a young man,” Salvino said. “He’s just so versatile for us. He plays quarterback. He plays receiver. He plays defense. He’s just become more of a leader. And he’s really put in the work and added some muscle.”
Altomore has taken that leadership role and run with it just as well as he runs with the football.
He’s ready to put the Greyhounds on his shoulders, if needed.
“It’s really just expected of me to step up and be a leader,” Altomore said. “I’ve tried to do that. I want to be the guy the team counts on to make plays.”
Monessen lost 10 seniors from last season’s 5-4 team, which was 4-4 in conference play.
The Greyhounds need leadership not just from Altomore but other senior holdovers, such as Youngblood and tackle Marc Gibson.
Youngblood was second on the team in rushing last season, and Gibson (6-5, 295) is drawing interest from several NCAA Division I programs, including Pitt.
But Altomore’s play might be the key. He split time at quarterback last season with Lavelle Rush but much more will be expected this season if the young Greyhounds are to get back to the postseason.
“Our football team is coming off a rebuilding process,” Altomore admitted. “But our competition was really tough the past couple of seasons. I think in this new section, we should be able to do that.”
The shift to the Tri-County South, along with Fort Cherry, moves the Greyhounds away from perennial powers Clairton, Jeannette and Greensburg Central Catholic. And two of the better teams from the Tri-County South last year, Beth-Center and Frazier, have bumped up to Class AA.
While that might make things easier for Monessen to get to the postseason, Altomore isn’t exactly excited about that. “I’d rather test ourselves in the regular season,” Altomore said.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be some rugged competition, both in and out of conference. The season will begin Aug. 26 with the resumption of the Monessen-Charleroi grudge match. The Greyhounds also will play Clairton in a non-section game Sept. 23 and Northgate Oct. 7.
Charleroi and Monessen first met in 1907 but haven’t squared off for nine years since realignment forced the schools to scrap the long-standing rivalry. This year’s game will be played at Monessen Memorial Stadium.
Prior to another WPIAL realignment in 2008, the game had been played in every season since 1923, with the exception of 1972, when a teachers’ strike forced a cancellation. Charleroi leads the all-time series 47-43-9.
A non-conference game is the least of Monessen’s concerns, though the ability to resume the series with Charleroi is an added bonus to the state’s move to six classifications. Salvino is more concerned with getting this year’s roster to play well enough to get the Greyhounds back to the postseason.
“We have to do what has to be done,” Salvino said. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing. It matters what you’re doing. We’ve got to play well to win, no matter what conference we’re in.”