Belle Vernon Area's Pirilla joins elite runners

Sometimes, you just don't know until you try something.

After promising seasons as a freshman and sophomore with the Belle Vernon Area boys soccer team, Belle Vernon senior Tyler Pirilla was encouraged to join the Leopards track team, where the team could take advantage of his speed.

Of course it didn't hurt that Belle Vernon's soccer coach, Chris Stasicha, doubled as the track coach and, recognizing Pirilla's speed on the soccer pitch, could already see that light at the end of Pirilla's track tunnel.

"Tyler's first year in track was a learning experience," Stasicha said. "With his speed, he competed in several relays but everything was new to him. He is very fast and, even though he had no background with track, he eventually committed himself to the program."

Admittedly, Pirilla didn't see it that way, at least not at first.

"I started running track as a sophomore primarily to stay in shape for soccer and I didn't have any particular goals that year," Pirilla said, reflecting on his introduction to the sport. "I actually despised it my first year. Everything was new to me as a sophomore and I had no experience and did not know how to run the events."

In his first meet that sophomore season, Pirilla recalls competing, albeit reluctantly, in the mile, he noted.

"I really wasn't excited about running the mile," he recalled, "and I dogged it the first three laps. But, as I passed coach to begin the final lap, I said, 'Do you think I should run now?' Coach was surprised at what I said, but he was more shocked at my final lap time. After that, he put me in the 400 meters."

And the rest is, as they say, history.

As a junior last year, Pirilla was a member of three relay teams -- 4x100, 4x400, and 4x800 -- that set school records. Continuing his record-setting performance this season, he has recorded school bests in the 100 meters (10.94), 200 meters (22:04), and 400 meters (49:64).

At the Westmoreland County Coaches' Association competition at Latrobe's Memorial Stadium at the end of April, Pirilla set meet records in the 100 and 400, winning MVP honors in the process. In the Mid Mon-Valley Classic in early May, he set meet records in the 200 and 400.

"Tyler is taller and stronger and his physical growth has been a key factor in his development," Stasicha said. "Plus, his work ethic improved and he realized he had to work in off season."

An All-WPIAL soccer selection this past season as a striker and outside midfielder, Stasicha referred to Pirilla as "one of the best two-way players I've coached."

Grown with experience

Pirilla's maturity on the track is matched by his maturity in recognizing the demands and necessities of the sport.

"Track is much more than just running," he said. "I tried it as sophomore and didn't know what to expect, but with more experience, I began to like it that much more."

So much more that this past winter he made the most of his off-season by participating in a speed, fitness, and strength training program.

"I improved my starts for the sprints and developed more explosiveness coming out of the starting blocks," Pirilla said. "My speed is better, my stride is longer and stronger, and I have faster leg movement."

In setting the school and meet records in the 400, Pirilla noted that is the only event he has run for three seasons.

"With the winter program, I'm stronger and fastest at the end of the 400 than I was before," he said.

At the recent prestigious Baldwin Invitational, Pirilla finished first in the 400 and second in the 100. In fact, heading into the WPIAL finals May 19 at Baldwin, he was ranked first and second in those events, respectively, among AAA competitors. His best time in the 400 - 49.64 - was against Uniontown.

But Pirilla's strengths aren't limited to the soccer and track venues.

An A student - with "an occasional B," - he has a grade average above 4.0 and is ranked 20th in his senior class. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Interact and Outdoors clubs, and MIC-SADD. Pirilla plans to attend either Duquesne or the University of Pittsburgh - he has been in contact with track coaches from both schools - and major in pharmacy.

Even though he has been a record-setting runner with the Leopards, Pirilla's best track memories have nothing to do with his numbers.

Instead, it's "All the friends I've made in three seasons in track, especially last year when I just ran relays. Being a member of different relay teams gives you a chance to become closer with other guys on (relay) teams and that's one of the best memories I have."