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Backlash: Private school domination in Hoops.

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WPIAL basketball coaches air complaints about Catholic and private school teams​

Published: Mar. 28, 2022, 8:00 a.m.

By Tribune News Service
The critics of Catholic/private/charter schools in Pennsylvania high school sports have been many in recent history. And you can now add to the group a few coaches of WPIAL schools in PIAA basketball championships this weekend.
Five teams — three boys and two girls — from the WPIAL all lost to Philadelphia Catholic League teams this weekend and the average margin of defeat in those games was 20 points. A few coaches of the WPIAL teams weren’t shy about making their feelings known about what they perceive as an uneven playing field between public and Catholic/private/charter schools — and they are calling for the PIAA to address the subject. They believe there should be separate playoffs for public schools and all other schools.

Boys coaches Ralph Blundo of New Castle, Mike Mastroianni of Quaker Valley and Nick Lackovich of Aliquippa all lost to teams from the Philadelphia Catholic League and their teams lost by 15, 25 and 18 points.

The complaint from coaches, fans and even administrators is that public schools can take only students from within their geographical districts. Meanwhile, Catholic/private/charter schools don’t have geographical boundaries and can take students from anywhere.

The subject of public vs. private/Catholic/charter schools in Pennsylvania high school sports has long been debated, but the critics seem to be growing and some coaches are speaking louder than ever about the subject.

“It needs to be re-evaluated. It does. It’s just common sense,” said Blundo, whose team lost to Imhotep Charter, 54-39.

The Philadelphia Catholic and Public leagues have some excellent teams and players and those two leagues have dominated the state championships in recent years. The Philadelphia leagues have won 40 championships since 2012, with most of those 40 teams coming from either Catholic or charter schools.

Over the years, the Philadelphia teams — in football and basketball — have developed a reputation of having numerous players who transfer schools. Some haven’t even lived in the state of Pennsylvania. Transferring schools for athletic reasons is against PIAA rules.

This season, Imhotep featured guard Ahmad Nowell, ranked as one of the top sophomores in the country. He helped a Tennessee school win a state title last season. Neumann-Goretti had Sultan Adewale, a 6-7 senior who has scholarship offers from major colleges and attended a school in St. Louis last year. Other Philadelphia teams in the finals had players who transferred from other Philadelphia-area schools.

“This is really the only level of basketball where there’s inequity,” said Blundo, who has won seven WPIAL titles. “NBA teams don’t play Division I college teams. Division I teams that have scholarships don’t play Division III teams for championship because the circumstances are different. The ability to obtain players is different. I get all that. But you have to acknowledge and handle it because it hurts kids.
“The kids at Imhotep are not doing anything wrong. They’re simply playing by a set of rules that permits it.”

New Castle lost to Imhotep Charter in state championship.
Count New Castle coach Ralph Blundo among the many coaches who feel something should be done about private/Catholic/charter schools in Pa. sports.

After Quaker Valley lost to Neumann-Goretti, 93-68, in the Class 5A championship Thursday night, Mastroianni talked with PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi on the court to express his displeasure about the situation. Mastroianni also is Quaker Valley’s athletic director.

“As an administrator, I just think we have a responsibility,” said Mastroianni, whose team was undefeated until the loss to Neumann-Goretti.

The 93 points Neumann-Goretti scored were the most against Quaker Valley since Mastroianni began a second term as the Quakers’ coach in the 2007-08 season.

“I just think we should re-evaluate things,” Mastroianni said of the public vs. private school debate. “I think a lot of other people do, too.”

Aliquippa’s Lackovich said, “It’s staring everyone right in the face. You can’t have guys from different areas. All of my guys are from within one mile of the school. ... That whole Philadelphia area, it’s like free agency. But (the PIAA) is going to worry about Aliquippa playing 4A or 5A in football? I don’t get it. Let’s clean this up.

“What’s the answer? Well, if you’re not going to clamp down on transfers, then you should have separate championships. Let them (Catholic/private/charter schools) do their own thing. Then you’ll see more balance and more fairness. That would be the first place to look.”

Bob Lombardi, executive director of the PIAA, was well aware of the complaints from coaches this weekend, but said, “It sounds like sour grapes. I hope it’s not, but I didn’t hear any complaints when those teams were beating anyone on the road (to the state championships). I think some teams made a little better adjustments in the (championship) games than others, some coaching adjustments.”

The Philadelphia Catholic and Public leagues have been part of the PIAA since 2008-09 and Lombardi made it clear that the PIAA has no intention of having separate playoffs, no matter the number of complaints.

“What are you going to do, separate them? That’s an immediate lawsuit on discrimination and we’re not going down that road,” Lombardi said. “So maybe we need to work together a little bit on this. But I don’t have another answer. But I hate to hear that commentary from losing teams. It’s disheartening. ... Would they have the same comments if they won?”


Championship attendance
The 12 championship games over three days at Giant Center in Hershey drew a total of 16,946 fans. That is the lowest attendance for the title games since the PIAA moved from four to six classifications in the 2016-17 season. The previous low was 17,091 in 2016.

For comparisons sake, attendance for the WPIAL championships has been on the rise over the past five years. This year’s 12 WPIAL games drew 24,719 fans, the best since the advent of six classifications.

But attendance has generally been on the decline at the PIAA championships for more than a decade. Gone are the days when the games would average more than 4,000 fans a game — and that was less than 20 years ago. For example, from 2004 through 2007, eight title games played over two days drew at least 30,000 fans at either Hershey’s Giant Center or Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center. The attendance for the 2004 games in Hershey was 34,772 and 33,293 in 2005.

This year was the first time that the PIAA emptied the arena after every title game. In the past, games were played in doubleheaders and one ticket was good for both games. The largest crowds this year were 2,408 for the New Castle vs. Imhotep Charter game in Class 5A boys, and 2,022 for the Mt. Lebanon vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh game in Class 6A girls.
But Lombardi wasn’t displeased at the attendance. He said it’s a sign of the times.


“With the games on statewide TV (PCN), live streaming of games and gas prices as high as they are, 5,000 people a day is not too bad,” Lombardi said.
Another factor in the lower attendance has been that some of the teams from the Philadelphia Catholic or Public League might bring only a few hundred fans sometimes.
“Some schools don’t draw and I think the long-time basketball fan that used to come and spend two or three days at the games, we don’t have that any more,” Lombardi said.
 
Those two coaches are among the most respected in the WPIAL. I can't say what's going to happen state wide, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some movement on this within the WPIAL in terms of regular season scheduling.
 
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I think one difference would be the academic standards are much greater at Catholic schools, most require a 3.0 GPA to be eligible, compare that to a 1.0 GPA required by some public schools. I would like to see an ACT comparison - which is why kids are sent to these schools instead of a failing public educational system they may live in. Also note that IEP's are not in Catholic schools, not sure about private, but I would bet that most students enrolled in these schools do not have individual educational plans stating athletic participation is required - that happens at other schools, or they get labeled special education so they remain eligible for sports participation.
 
This has been an issue for years. Nephew's team lost in final as a 1A to Kennedy Christian/Catholic who went 27-4 ranked #1 in state with losses to Grove City, Bishop Hannan, big school #1 Pitt Schenley 52-49 and USA Today 3rd rated nationally Akron St Vincent-St. Mary 51-50........yet was considered a 1A.
It was unfortunate for the boys who had an extraordinary once in a life-time team from a town with a pop of 850 (1012 now), who got hot (12-12 end of reg sea) beating Lourdes, Camp Hill, Lebanon Cath, Old Forge etc before running into a team who was hanging with some of the best teams in the country.
Obviously, the game was a laugher with KC winning 87-45 for a 4-peat! But no laughing matter for the boys who had something special despite going up against a team with super talent from Pitt, Ohio, etc and losing.
I don't think this is what scholastic competition is supposed to be about. And I don't think many others do either.
 
Basketball is even more imbalanced then football. The philly area has really built these basketball/football factories. Neumann, Imhotep, and roman in basketball. Wood, st Joe's prep, and southern Columbia in football. Back during football season I was having this same debate and I said all 3 of these schools would win state titles in basketball. Guess what they will win it again next year as well.
 
Basketball is even more imbalanced then football. The philly area has really built these basketball/football factories. Neumann, Imhotep, and roman in basketball. Wood, st Joe's prep, and southern Columbia in football. Back during football season I was having this same debate and I said all 3 of these schools would win state titles in basketball. Guess what they will win it again next year as well.
Southern Columbia, you must know, is in no way part of the Philly area.

The basketball situation strikes me as quite different from the football one. The demographic realities are more striking. You could say that Blacks dominated the NBA and major college basketball 40 years ago, but it's far more the case now. So surprise, surprise: the part of the state with the highest percentage of Black people/students dominates in high school basketball. And Philly, unlike Pittsburgh, has a very long history of developing lots of great basketball players. All the summer leagues and the CYO teams are part of a well-developed youth basketball infrastructure.

I can recall really good mostly White or all-White hs teams in decades past but I can't think of any recent ones--not ones that would be among the best few teams in the state. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.

Of course, there are other factors, such as the fact that hs basketball players feel an even greater need to prove/show off their talent in truly competitive hs games than hs football players do. Thus the interest in playing in what might be the best hs league in the country: the PCL.

The scrutiny from colleges is more intense now because they are looking for players who can make an impact right away--players who very rarely stay for the full four years anymore. So they pay more attention to players in Philly who are up against strong competition in almost every game. Kids (and their parents) know where they will get noticed.
 
Also, 2 good hoops players( and sometimes 1) can really change a basjet all team. 2 good football players will make yiu better , but will not guarantee success.
 
Southern Columbia, you must know, is in no way part of the Philly area.

The basketball situation strikes me as quite different from the football one. The demographic realities are more striking. You could say that Blacks dominated the NBA and major college basketball 40 years ago, but it's far more the case now. So surprise, surprise: the part of the state with the highest percentage of Black people/students dominates in high school basketball. And Philly, unlike Pittsburgh, has a very long history of developing lots of great basketball players. All the summer leagues and the CYO teams are part of a well-developed youth basketball infrastructure.

I can recall really good mostly White or all-White hs teams in decades past but I can't think of any recent ones--not ones that would be among the best few teams in the state. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.

Of course, there are other factors, such as the fact that hs basketball players feel an even greater need to prove/show off their talent in truly competitive hs games than hs football players do. Thus the interest in playing in what might be the best hs league in the country: the PCL.

The scrutiny from colleges is more intense now because they are looking for players who can make an impact right away--players who very rarely stay for the full four years anymore. So they pay more attention to players in Philly who are up against strong competition in almost every game. Kids (and their parents) know where they will get noticed.
Wasn't including southern Columbia in the Philly schools but saying they are an example of bringing in all the talent to one school. Neumann, Imhotep, and roman in basketball and southern and sjp in football are prime examples of this. They never have to rebuild or have down years like other schools.
 
you would think the fact that they don't sell many tickets to the title games would be enough for Lombardi to not want them in the PIAA playoffs, but he truly thinks they don't have an unfair advantage

it's all "sour grapes and bad coaching" according to him
 
I despise the unfair advantage that private schools have, but it should also be pointed out that the public schools that played in the basketball finals have an unfair advantage too, so the people crying the loudest aren't so innocent either

New Castle lost in the 5A final, they are forced to move up to 6A next year because of transfers

everybody knows about Aliquippa having to play up in footbal because of transfers, well almost all of their 3A runner up basketball team played football including all of their starters, not that it's an unfair advantage but their coach got busted with kiddie porn and dog fighting so how is he allowed to coach?

Chartiers Valley girls team is moving up to 6A because of transfers after getting blown out a 2nd year in a row by Cardinal O'Hara in the 5A title game, i didn't think it was possible for a high school team where 6 of their players will play in college could only score 19 points in a game
 
Here is what you do if you are a public school. Forfeit , just dont play them. Take the hit and tell them we will not play you.
 
I despise the unfair advantage that private schools have, but it should also be pointed out that the public schools that played in the basketball finals have an unfair advantage too, so the people crying the loudest aren't so innocent either

New Castle lost in the 5A final, they are forced to move up to 6A next year because of transfers

everybody knows about Aliquippa having to play up in footbal because of transfers, well almost all of their 3A runner up basketball team played football including all of their starters, not that it's an unfair advantage but their coach got busted with kiddie porn and dog fighting so how is he allowed to coach?

Chartiers Valley girls team is moving up to 6A because of transfers after getting blown out a 2nd year in a row by Cardinal O'Hara in the 5A title game, i didn't think it was possible for a high school team where 6 of their players will play in college could only score 19 points in a game
I think another point to be made is that the kids going to the private/catholic schools are also going there for academics - not just the athletics.

The same can not be said about New Castle or Aliquippa. Public education is a mess.

As you pointed out, Aliquippa performed well in football with 11 athletes. Maybe New Castle and Aliquippa are just getting out-coached in basketball?
 
I think another point to be made is that the kids going to the private/catholic schools are also going there for academics - not just the athletics.

The same can not be said about New Castle or Aliquippa. Public education is a mess.

As you pointed out, Aliquippa performed well in football with 11 athletes. Maybe New Castle and Aliquippa are just getting out-coached in basketball?
This GUY ^^^^^^ WTF.
 
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Some have mentioned separating into Private and Public. I guess it could be worked out but it'd be slim pickins on the Private side (football) knowing the following numbers. Believe I go em all.

# of schools each class

6A 5

Pitt CC, Wood, SJP. LS, Roman
5A 2
Cathedral, Father Judge
4A 11
Bishop Shanahan, McDevitt-Harrisburg, PJP-II, Berks Cath, Milt Her, Trinity-D7, Allen CC, BECA, Ryan, Bonner, O'Hara
3A 6
Holy Redeemer, Scranton Prep, North Catholic, NDame-GP, AB Carroll, Neumann Goretti
2A 7
Trinity-D3, York Cath, Serra, Seton LaSalle, CE, Conwell-Egan, West Cath, Summit Acad
1A 11
Holy Cross, Delone, Guilfoyle, McCort, Canevin, Green CC, Imani, OLSH, Elk Cath, Kennedy Cath, Nativity BVM

Personally as a D3 native, I'd much rather see the Harrisburgs, Central Dauphins and Cumberland Valleys playing the private schools despite the advantages the Power Privates have over most Pubs.
Still, you want to take on all comers, play the best and kick their ass every chance you get. Who wants to hear 'yeah but you didn't play St. Joe's'?

**** Edited to say you could work out a two-trophy set up.
 
Here is what you do if you are a public school. Forfeit , just dont play them. Take the hit and tell them we will not play you.
Omar Poretta tried that. When he was the head wrestling coach at Palisades, he forfeited every match to Bethlehem Catholic in the District 11 Dual tournament. He got a yearlong suspension from D11 for “making a mockery of the the postseason” and ended up forced to resign. Nobody has hired him since.
 
Omar Poretta tried that. When he was the head wrestling coach at Palisades, he forfeited every match to Bethlehem Catholic in the District 11 Dual tournament. He got a yearlong suspension from D11 for “making a mockery of the the postseason” and ended up forced to resign. Nobody has hired him since.
If every coach did it then what.
 
Sammy, what would that teach the kids? When the going gets tough, quit? When the odds may be stacked against you, just take your ball and go home? I’m not sure that’s the answer.
 
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Sammy, what would that teach the kids? When the going gets tough, quit? When the odds may be stacked against you, just take your ball and go home? I’m not sure that’s the answer.
Well than there should be no complaining right. We have a Catholic School here in Raleigh who beat us to go to the state championship this year so for 2023-2024 I got them on the schedule because I want to beat their ass. Now I work at a school that has 2500 kids to make a team from but even with that they have advantages over us. We are close to them as a team and talent due to enrollment. Now if we have say 800 kids less and had less talent to pull from I might have a different view on this. Either let the public schools have open enrollment and accept it or divide public from private and charter
 
Offer something better and the kids will come. Until then it's all just complaining.

Private and Charter schools were birthed form the failure of public education.
 
I think the problem isn't in all the public schools but just some. Kennedy Catholic in mercer county didn't win a game all year where you have these schools because of location and where they can get their talent from are able to put together these super teams every year like sjp prep in football and Imhotep in basketball. It's a small percentage of the Catholic schools that are the problem. Even Pittsburgh central Catholic has down years and rebuilding years. I think they've won one wpial title in the past 5 years and not a single state championship. Teams like sjp and Imhotep win it every single year. This year was a down year for prep and they took silver. They've been to 9 out of the last 10 state championships. The only 2 Imhotep didnt compete in was due to covid.
 
Offer something better and the kids will come. Until then it's all just complaining.

Private and Charter schools were birthed form the failure of public education.
And charter schools are unfortunately failing at the same rate that public’s are. In a lot of cases charter schools are a great way to keep the white side while and the black side black. And what is wrong with public schools? There are a ton of great public schools in PA. Just in the WPIAl you have Mt Lebo Fox Chapel Mars Upper St Clair pine Richland Bethel Park West Allegheny Cannon Mac Ect Ect. That are all great schools
 
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Offer something better and the kids will come. Until then it's all just complaining.
That works to a point. But to go back to my Bethlehem Catholic wrestling example - their back up 106 was probably the second best 106 in the state behind their starter. Two-time junior high state finalist, placed high in national off-season tournaments. Went to Becahi where he was blocked by two other freshmen at 106 (state champ) and 113 (state finalist). So he left his home school to not start this year.

So he must have been leaving a home school that was a bad opportunity? Well, his home school has the 2019 PIAA coach of the year, who was an 4x NCAA qualifier as a college wrestler who has coached multiple state champs and taken that school to state finals (and won the D11 coach of the year this season). They wrestle a national schedule that would get the kid the same exposure as Becahi (they’re in all of the same major national tournaments except for one). They a state champion who they sent to the Big 10 on a full scholarship last year. The spot at 106 was open, and his training partner at 113 is a two-time state medalist and nationally ranked and sure to be a Division I kid, so his main practice partner would also be elite.

The home school also offers 19 AP classes, compared to the 12 at Becahi, has a full Vo-Tech program if that’s your route, and has a lower student-teacher ratio.

But, he’d be wrestling on the third best team in the Lehigh Valley instead of the best. What else exactly is a home school supposed to do to attract their own talent?
 
I myself live in Fox Chapel, which is also home to Shadyside Academy. Most kids in our neighborhood go to public FC because we offer a great education. Most SSA kids are from other areas because their home school is underperforming.

I was referring to the low academic requirements at schools like New Castle and Aliquppa - eligibility requirements are much lower. A 1.0 GPA-a “D” average. These schools have IEP’s that have sports participation as required in the plan./meaning they are always eligible. They do not have the same academic requirements as private/catholic schools. A 3.0 GPA- “B” average……Doesn’t that give public schools an unfair advantage?
 
I myself live in Fox Chapel, which is also home to Shadyside Academy. Most kids in our neighborhood go to public FC because we offer a great education. Most SSA kids are from other areas because their home school is underperforming.

I was referring to the low academic requirements at schools like New Castle and Aliquppa - eligibility requirements are much lower. A 1.0 GPA-a “D” average. These schools have IEP’s that have sports participation as required in the plan./meaning they are always eligible. They do not have the same academic requirements as private/catholic schools. A 3.0 GPA- “B” average……Doesn’t that give public schools an unfair advantage?
So what standards are those??? Are they following a state standard? Do they follow state testing standards or their own?
 
I myself live in Fox Chapel, which is also home to Shadyside Academy. Most kids in our neighborhood go to public FC because we offer a great education. Most SSA kids are from other areas because their home school is underperforming.

I was referring to the low academic requirements at schools like New Castle and Aliquppa - eligibility requirements are much lower. A 1.0 GPA-a “D” average. These schools have IEP’s that have sports participation as required in the plan./meaning they are always eligible. They do not have the same academic requirements as private/catholic schools. A 3.0 GPA- “B” average……Doesn’t that give public schools an unfair advantage?
Where have you gotten the info that schools like Quip need a minimum of a 1.0 GPA to be eligible for athletics?

Can you describe to me your experience with IEP's with sports participation as a necessary intervention regardless of grade performance?
 
Fox Chapel 90% Math Proficiency 90% Reading
Where have you gotten the info that schools like Quip need a minimum of a 1.0 GPA to be eligible for athletics?

Can you describe to me your experience with IEP's with sports participation as a necessary intervention regardless of grade performance?
The handbook states they need a "C", but a friend who works there says the academics are so watered down, teachers have been asked to change grades or offer "extra credit", administrators have changed grades. A "D" now has the equivalent of "C" . It's sad actually.

According to US News...

Aliquippa = Reading Proficiency 34% Math Proficiency 26% yet somehow have a 89% graduation rate

New Castle = Reading 70% Math 50% yet somehow have a 94% graduation rate

These schools are just pushing kids through so they no longer have to deal with the student or parent.

An IEP can have athletics required as a means of increasing social interaction. I have also seen students all of the sudden be labeled as "special education students" so that they may remain eligible. Students are also allotted more time for tests, or have the test read to them by a coach. Some even get the answer key. And some of these students are just lazy - not in need of any modifications. All of these things happen in a public education.

Fox Chapel = Reading 90% Math 90% Graduation 96%

I have seen kids transfer in from other schools and almost be a complete grade level behind.
 
Fox Chapel 90% Math Proficiency 90% Reading

The handbook states they need a "C", but a friend who works there says the academics are so watered down, teachers have been asked to change grades or offer "extra credit", administrators have changed grades. A "D" now has the equivalent of "C" . It's sad actually.

According to US News...

Aliquippa = Reading Proficiency 34% Math Proficiency 26% yet somehow have a 89% graduation rate

New Castle = Reading 70% Math 50% yet somehow have a 94% graduation rate

These schools are just pushing kids through so they no longer have to deal with the student or parent.

An IEP can have athletics required as a means of increasing social interaction. I have also seen students all of the sudden be labeled as "special education students" so that they may remain eligible. Students are also allotted more time for tests, or have the test read to them by a coach. Some even get the answer key. And some of these students are just lazy - not in need of any modifications. All of these things happen in a public education.

Fox Chapel = Reading 90% Math 90% Graduation 96%

I have seen kids transfer in from other schools and almost be a complete grade level behind.
So you work at these places I see you have insider information from the always reliable someone told me. Ahhh I see. Well with all of these points you made then you should be for an all private chater school league and playoffs
 
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Fox Chapel 90% Math Proficiency 90% Reading

The handbook states they need a "C", but a friend who works there says the academics are so watered down, teachers have been asked to change grades or offer "extra credit", administrators have changed grades. A "D" now has the equivalent of "C" . It's sad actually.

According to US News...

Aliquippa = Reading Proficiency 34% Math Proficiency 26% yet somehow have a 89% graduation rate

New Castle = Reading 70% Math 50% yet somehow have a 94% graduation rate

These schools are just pushing kids through so they no longer have to deal with the student or parent.

An IEP can have athletics required as a means of increasing social interaction. I have also seen students all of the sudden be labeled as "special education students" so that they may remain eligible. Students are also allotted more time for tests, or have the test read to them by a coach. Some even get the answer key. And some of these students are just lazy - not in need of any modifications. All of these things happen in a public education.

Fox Chapel = Reading 90% Math 90% Graduation 96%

I have seen kids transfer in from other schools and almost be a complete grade level behind.
What is your background with IEP's?

Where have you seen students being given answer keys?

I'm all ears.
 
Impressive interview...dedication, character, intelligence...a credit to his profession.
 
Impressive interview...dedication, character, intelligence...a credit to his profession.
I agree with him. I know I'm going to get backlash from some of these st Joe's prep guys on here but the biggest problem is with the Philadelphia Catholic league. There's a reason sjp in football and roman in basketball never have down years, have to rebuild, and compete for a state title every year. Like coach B said you can't fault the kids either. They are following the rules but the piaa needs to change things. Those schools should not be competing in the piaa playoffs.
 
I agree with him. I know I'm going to get backlash from some of these st Joe's prep guys on here but the biggest problem is with the Philadelphia Catholic league. There's a reason sjp in football and roman in basketball never have down years, have to rebuild, and compete for a state title every year. Like coach B said you can't fault the kids either. They are following the rules but the piaa needs to change things. Those schools should not be competing in the piaa playoffs.
So what does the playoff format look like? Point being, a problem and solution are different issues. Whether from corporate level at Fed-Ex as a loadmaster super or in military, the bosses were always quick to say....'so, what's the solution?' Just mentioning the problem didn't fly. No diss to you Haus but that's all this board has been doing for years, mentioning the problem.
I listed the privates a few days ago 6A thru 1A in football. Here they are again. What's the solution? It's not a simple task.

6A 5
Pitt CC, Wood, SJP. LS, Roman
5A 2
Cathedral, Father Judge
4A 11
Bishop Shanahan, McDevitt-Harrisburg, PJP-II, Berks Cath, Milt Her, Trinity-D7, Allen CC, BECA, Ryan, Bonner, O'Hara
3A 8
Holy Redeemer, Scranton Prep, Lansdale Cath, Lancaster Cath, North Catholic, NDame-GP, AB Carroll, Neumann Goretti
2A 7
Trinity-D3, York Cath, Serra, Seton LaSalle, CE, Conwell-Egan, West Cath, Summit Acad
1A 11
Holy Cross, Delone, Guilfoyle, McCort, Canevin, Green CC, Imani, OLSH, Elk Cath, Kennedy Cath, Nativity BVM
 
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To me the solution is easy ( and id add the charter schools to the above list) and just have one division of lets say "non-boundary " schools. If you added in the charter schools ( and maybe even city Pub schools) youd have a 60+ separate classification that would compete against themselves for championships. No real change to leagues, schedules, etc., it would only be for post-season.
 
* Non-Boundary clarifies it well as you mentioned. That gets us away from "Catholic" that sounds more like an indictment than a grouping. I'd like to see Presbyterians battle it out with Episcopalians but that's just me.

* Talking FB only, there aren't many charter schools of note beside Imhotep if I understood you correctly; Executive Ed Chart Acad, Belmont, Boys Latin, Prep Charter. Not many. The privates I listed (forgot but just added Lancaster and Lansdale Catholic) bring the total to 43 for FB only.
Are you saying to throw them all into one pot since it's hard staying with a "classification" breakdown for a playoff format?

* The Inter-Ac would be a nice edition if you could get them in the PIAA and that's doubtful.

**** I was thinking of merging 1A, 2A and 3A as a block (26 teams), and 6A with 5A and 4A (18 teams). Maybe 12 make post season (4 top seeds get byes).
 
In football, I think the largest outlier is SJP. Can publics consistently beat LaSalle, PCC, ECP, Wood, Imhotep, etc? I’d venture to say yes - it would at least be much more competitive on average. I do not advocate for a separation of private vs public, nor do I necessarily endorse this idea. But, what if the PIAA said only PA residents could compete in the state playoffs? Would SJP comply or would they pull out of the PIAA? I’m not sure of the legality of this, but maybe it’s a happy-medium.

Again, I am NOT advocating for this to happen. It’s simply an idea that may please both sides (outside of SJP). It’d obviously have effects on more privates in basketball, wrestling, etc.
 
HSFB99: I agree. SJP is the outlier - but even they’ve been beaten by pubs 2x in recent memory. I’ve flip flopped on this. With great coaching and above average to great talent, publics can win.
 
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I agree, which is again why I’m not advocating for it. It’s the one reasonable compromise I can see.
 
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