Apr 4, 2002 By Amy Karpinsky 3 min read

Not even temperatures in the 30s could keep the faithful Uniontown Red Raider fans from cheering the boys basketball team one last time. For winning the WPIAL championship and making it to the PIAA finals, the team and its cheerleaders were the guests of honor in a parade through Uniontown on Wednesday evening.

Two Uniontown fire trucks served as limousines for the proud and smiling team members and cheerleaders. Bands from various schools in the district marched and played, and fire trucks from Uniontown and Smock flashed their lights as they drove through the city.

Uniontown Mayor Jim Sileo and Fayette County Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh marched in the parade directly following the band and in front of the fire truck carrying the team.

Officials for the school district and the city had declared it Red Raider Day in Uniontown, and nearly everyone who turned out was wearing maroon and white.

The parade began at the intersection of North Mount Vernon Avenue and Fayette Street and proceeded past the Five Corners intersection and to the Uniontown Area High School. The route was dotted with spectators, with most fans gathering in the front of the school for the program.

Impromptu cheers and chants spread throughout the bundled crowd as various speakers stood outside the school and praised the team’s accomplishments. Local politicians, many of whom were Uniontown Area High School graduates, offered sentiments of pride for the team.

Tony Perno, described by the emcee as the team’s “number one cheerleader,” said the boys on the team were an inspiration.

Perno said their “demeanor, pleasant attitude and polite treatment (of other teams) can serve as an example for professional athletes.” He said he was “proud, pleased and happy to see the way the team treated others. It’s rare that such skilled athletes are so humble.”

Cavanagh, a Laurel Highlands graduate, was sporting a Uniontown baseball cap given to him by one of the team members.

“I am a Mustang, but today I’m a Red Raider,” he said.

State Sen. Richard Kasunic presented a citation to the school on behalf of himself and the local state legislative delegation and said each team member will receive individual citations.

“You did your community, school district and county proud,” Kasunic said. “You lifted up spirits, gave us a reason to cheer and get on board and be part of your success.”

Fayette County Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites commended the team for making it to the state finals twice in three years: “You really represent Uniontown and Fayette County well.”

Senior player Dierre Jenkins spoke on behalf of the team and thanked the “parents, fans, cheerleaders, everyone” for their support in the last four years.

Sileo commended the team and outgoing coach Dave Shuck, who compiled a record of 228 wins and 78 losses in 11 seasons with the team, a winning percentage of 74.5 percent. In the last three years, the team compiled a record of 91 wins and only 16 losses.

“The players on this team have nothing whatsoever to be ashamed of, and you are number one with all of us,” Sileo said.

Other speakers included Fayette County Deputy Sheriff Samuel Lee, on behalf of Fayette County Sheriff Gary Brownfield; state Rep. Larry Roberts (D-South Union); and state Rep. Jim Shaner (D-Dunbar).