Carmichaels reaches semifinals as a ‘team’
Looking ahead Who’s No. 1? According to the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Rochester is No. 1 statewide in Class A. Accordingly, most Western Pennsylvania newspapers feel the same way when it comes to their WPIAL rankings, including the Post-Gazette and Tribune-Review.
It’s understandable. The Rams (9-2) have never lost in the postseason under head coach Gene Matsook, and have won PIAA titles in 1998, 2000 and 2001.
Carmichaels, meanwhile, is ranked sixth in the PIAA by the Patriot-News, No. 2 in the WPIAL by the Tribune-Review Coaches Poll, No. 3 by the Post-Gazette and third by Nauticom Sports Network.
One Western Pa. newspaper, however, has Carmichaels No. 1 and Rochester No. 7. The Beaver-County Times, located about an hour north of Pittsburgh, came out with its final regular-season poll Oct. 28.
Sports Writer John Perrotto compiles the rankings, and he gave this assessment on the Rams’ No. 7 ranking:
“The New Brighton loss (to open the season) wasn’t a good a loss in the long run,” Perrotto said. “New Brighton ended up being a pretty big disappointment. Then the Monaca loss came on their (Rochester) home field after Monaca had just lost to two teams who were under .500.”
Whether No. 1, 2, 3 or 16, John Menhart really could care less.
“It’s fun to read, but it means nothing,” he said. “It won’t do you a bit of good on Friday night.”