Scholastic notebook
Sunseri cleared to play at Pittsburgh Central Catholic The son of a former Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, University of Pittsburgh and NFL player has been cleared to play football for his father’s high school.
Tino Sunseri, the son of Carolina Panthers defensive line coach Sal Sunseri, transferred to Central Catholic after playing for two seasons at Weddington High School in suburban Charlotte, N.C.
The younger Sunseri, listed at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, was expected to compete for the starting job at quarterback as a junior this year at the North Carolina school.
He will live in Fox Chapel with his uncle and aunt, Gus and Karen Sunseri, who will also be his legal guardians.
Tino Sunseri’s eligibility was brought before the PIAA District 7 (WPIAL) board, which decided Sunseri was eligible.
“It was the vast majority of opinion of the board that PIAA guidelines regarding transfers were not violated in this case,” new WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley said.
The hearing was closed to the public at the request of Sal Sunseri and his wife, Roxanne.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic is also the alma mater of, among others, NFL career passing leader Dan Marino and St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger.
OHIO BACK IN BIG 33: Ohio will return as Pennsylvania’s opponent in the Big 33 all-star football game next year.
The Pennsylvania state football coaches association and the Big 33 executive board decided to keep Ohio as the opponent after Ohio coaches agreed to review their selection process for Big 33 players.
Big 33 officials were unhappy this year when players for Ohio’s annual North-South game were chosen before the Big 33 roster was set, thus depriving the Hershey-based game of many of Ohio’s top players. The two games were played on the same day, June 17.
The incoming president of Ohio’s coaches association, Steve Channell, said the changes might include changing the date of the North-South game to coincide with Ohio State’s spring game.
Pennsylvania defeated Ohio 61-42 last month despite trailing 28-14.
ON THE RISE: Jared Williams, a defensive back and senior at Perry Traditional Academy in Pittsburgh, had backed off an earlier commitment to play at Pitt despite having no other offers.
Williams thinks he made up his mind too quickly.
“Now, I can go through the summer and see other schools,” he said.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: The WPIAL, which doubles as PIAA District 7 and is older than the PIAA itself, will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. The celebration will feature one of its most famous former stars, Arnold Palmer.
Palmer grew up in Latrobe and won two PIAA golf championships before becoming one of the greatest pro golfers and history and, arguably, the sport’s best-known player. He has agreed to serve as the WPIAL’s honorary chairman and will allow the district to use his name and likeness.
“That’s huge,” O’Malley said. “The fact that he has agreed to let us use his name and likeness speaks volumes about what his thoughts are in regard to western Pennsylvania interscholastic athletics and where he started.”