Jan 1, 2016 4 min read

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There is still much to be decided regarding six classifications in WPIAL football, but with voluntary upgrades announced, the conferences are starting to take shape. Though many opponents of expansion used a lack of geographic rivalries as a rallying cry to sticking with four classes, there will still be plenty of marquee matchups and rivalry games around Western Pennsylvania.

We’re likely going to see a 10-game regulr season with roughly two open dates. Conferences and playoff setup have yet to be announced, but let’s take a stab at predicting what conferences could look like with six classifications.

WPIAL 6A (18 teams)

Section 1

North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, Butler, Pine-Richland, Shaler, Central Catholic, Altoona.

Section 2

Canon-McMillan, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, Norwin, Hempfield, Bethel Park, Penn Hills.

Thoughts: Neither conference will want Altoona because of travel, but it wouldn’t belong with schools such as Bethel Park. Plus, why split up Canon-McMillan and Peters Township or Mt. Lebanon and Bethel Park. I could also see Central Catholic switching with Penn Hills.

5A (18)

Section 1

Armstrong , Baldwin, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Moon, Chartiers Valley, West Allegheny and Upper St. Clair.

Section 2

Connellsville, Gateway, Plum, Penn-Trafford, McKeesport, Woodland Hills, Latrobe, Franklin Regional, Kiski Area

Thoughts: Travel wouldn’t be a major issue with this layout. It would certainly create some very intersting regular-season matchups. Who wouldn’t want to see Penn-Trafford play Woody High or Upper St. Clair at West Allegheny?

4A (18)

Section 1

Ambridge, Blackhawk, Highlands, Indiana, Knoch, Mars, Montour, New Castle and South Fayette.

Section 2

Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Greensburg Salem, Laurel Highlands, Ringgold, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity and Uniontown

Thoughts: Again, there is one outlier with Indiana and there’s no easy way of placing them. The other option is shift Trinity to Section 1 and drop Indiana down. Travel to Indiana from a school such as Thomas Jefferson would be much easier than going there from New Castle or even South Fayette. It’s tempting to keep the Hillers facing familiar rivals, though. Oh, and I thought things were supposed to get more difficult for South Fayette? Sure, Mars is tough and Montour will eventually return to prominence, but who is going to stop the Lions from being one of the team teams in 4A? Critics may be silenced if SF has big success, which it very well could.

3A (23)

Section 1

Elizabeth Forward, McGuffey, Mount Pleasant, Seton-La Salle (playing up), Southmoreland, South Park, Waynesburg, Yough

Section 2

Aliquippa (playing up), Beaver, Beaver Falls, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Hopewell, Keystone Oaks, Quaker Valley

Section 3

Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Derry, Freeport, Shady Side Academy, Valley

Thoughts: Section 1 works out nicely, but it’s tough separating Seton-La Salle from Keystone Oaks. I tried shifting teams around, but Section 2 needs to remain intact because of the Beaver County rivalries, which will be perfect. That conference could be the most intersting in the WPIAL for the next two years. McGuffey benefits from this setup and you could argue it will battle Seton for the conference title.

2A (24)

Section 1

Brentwood, Carlynton, East Allegheny, Serra Catholic, South Allegheny, Steel Valley, Vincentian

Section 2

Avonworth, New Brighton, Freedom, Laurel, Mohawk, Neshannock, North Catholic, Riverside, South Side Beaver

Section 3

Bentworth, Beth-Center, Brownsville, Burgettstown, Charleroi, Chartiers-Houston, Frazier and Washington

Thoughts: Section 1 may be the weakest in the top-five classifications. It’s Steel Valley then everyone else. Section 2 was easy to shape because of geography. North Catholic against Neshannock has the potential to be one a great rivalry. Section 3 is tough to get a pulse on. It’s obviously Washington as the favorite and Beth-Center will surprise people with the talent it has returning. Frazier is a great addition and Chartiers-Houston should be strong again. Again, this one worked out perfectly and I know people in Washington County are excited about this mock conference becoming a reality.

1A (23) Section 1

Northgate, OLSH, Rochester, Shenango, Summit Academy, Sto-Rox, Union, Western Beaver

Section 2

Avella, California, Carmichaels, Fort Cherry, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown, Monessen, West Greene

Section 3

Bishop Canevin, Clairton, Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette, Leechburg, Riverview, Springdale

Thoughts: My top prediction is Sto-Rox will return to being a WPIAL title contender. The only problem is Clariton will still stand in its way of winning it all. The one change I’m considering is switching Monessen and Bishop Canevin. It would be nice to have the Greyhounds in a section with Clairton and Jeannette.