The PIAA Board of Control overturned WPIAL rulings and made Oakland Catholic freshman Sarah Bucar and New Castle senior Dante Spino eligible to play basketball this season, but denied the appeal for Lauren and Ashley Revesz, who transferred from Carlynton to Chartiers Valley.
The PIAA voted, 3-2, in favor of Bucar, who lives in the Penn-Trafford School District but chose to attend Oakland Catholic. Bucar was ruled ineligible after a hearing before the WPIAL Board of Control on Oct. 22.
"This has been such a long process," Oakland Catholic principal Mary Claire Kasunic said. "This is the first time I have encountered anything like this. I am most happy because Sarah's family wanted to send her to an all-girls Catholic school. So, I certainly agree with the PIAA's decision."
Oakland Catholic coach Suzie McConnell Serio said the PIAA made right call.
"Sarah is such a great kid," McConnell Serio said. "This is the decision that the WPIAL should have made, but I am happy that the PIAA ruled in her favor."
Spino transferred to New Castle from Butler, where he led the Golden Tornado in scoring at 15.6 points per game last season. The Revesz sisters - Lauren, a junior, and Ashley, a sophomore - helped Carlynton reach the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals and the PIAA semifinals last season.
USC TENNIS STAR PICKS SCHOOL
Jessie Jones, an integral part of four WPIAL Class AAA and two PIAA Class AAA team championships at Upper St. Clair, has signed with Colorado State. She chose the Rams over American, Samford and Southern Mississippi.
"I went to visit Colorado, and I loved it," Jones said. "It is beautiful there, and I wanted to go away for college. I didn't want to stay close to home. It's pretty exciting."
Jones made it to the WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA singles finals last fall, losing to Karissa Walker of Greater Latrobe. Jones played No. 1 singles for USC this season, but skipped the WPIAL singles sectionals because the WPIAL championships conflicted with a recruiting visit. Instead, Jones teamed with freshman Shayna Miller to win the PIAA and WPIAL Class AAA doubles titles.
"I hope I can come in right away and play," Jones said. "I can't wait. This is so exciting."
USC'S ENICK PICKS WAKE FOREST
Upper St. Clair senior Brendan Enick has signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at Wake Forest.
The power-hitting third baseman, a two-year starter, has helped the Panthers win two consecutive Section 5-AAA titles. He also was a member of the 2000 and 2001 Allegheny teams in the Keystone State Games.
Wake Forest finished ranked 18th nationally last year, winning the Atlantic Coast Conference for the third time in the past four years and qualifying for the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
SV's Smith chooses UNC
Seneca Valley senior Amanda Smith, a two-time state champion and three-time WPIAL Class AAA champion in the 200 Individual Medley, has signed with North Carolina.
Smith will receive a full scholarship to the Atlantic Coast Conference school. She is the state record-holder in the 200 IM with a time of 2:01.36. Staff writer Kevin Gorman contributed to this report.
