Ryan Mundy and Woodland Hills have the making of a dynasty
Playing to a captive audience and sellout crowds, Woodland Hills is drawing rave reviews.
High school football fans are flocking to stadiums to watch them live. College recruiters and opposing coaches alike are glued to video of the Wolverines.
They are the best show in town.
And, this season, Ryan Mundy debuts in a starring role.
Woodland Hills has become the dominant program of the WPIAL. In the past three seasons, the Wolverines have won 39 of 42 games and two WPIAL Class AAAA championships while developing major-college prospects at an alarming rate.
Of the 56 players Woodland Hills players who have signed with Division I-A or I-AA schools, none was as highly touted as Mundy prior to their senior season. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound receiver/safety already is being hailed as the best player in western Pennsylvania and one of the finest in the country.
“There's been tons of great players at Woodland Hills,” Mundy said, “so for me to be recognized as one of the best is truly special.”
It's ironic that Mundy's nickname is Dynasty.
They are starting to say the same about Woodland Hills.
AN EARLY START
When Mundy transferred to Woodland Hills from Central Catholic prior to his sophomore year, he had some understanding that he was joining one of the premier programs in the WPIAL.
What Mundy didn't realize was that he was about to join select company by earning a starting position.
Since its inception in 1987, Woodland Hills has used a two-platoon system. The Wolverines have a sophomore team, and only the exceptional sophomores practice with the juniors and seniors on the varsity. Even Steve Breaston, who finished his career last fall as perhaps the best player in school history, didn't crack the varsity lineup until his junior year.
“It's kind of hard because you sit there and think you have the talent to play for another team,” Breaston said. “In that system, you learn from other players. It makes you better when you get your turn.”
Mundy has started both ways the past two seasons. Only three other players have started for the Wolverines as sophomores: Wayne Anderson, William “Tutu” Ferguson and Tyre Young.
“He's as talented,” Woodland Hills coach George Novak said, “as any kid we've ever had.”
Mundy is certainly the highest-rated by scouting services. Student Sports ranks him the No. 19 player nationally and the top defensive back in the East. SuperPrep placed Mundy on its Elite 50 list and has him ranked its No. 2 defensive back nationally.
With 30-plus scholarship offers, Mundy is the WPIAL's most highly recruited player. He has scholarship offers from the likes of Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Penn State, but favors Pitt and Michigan.
“He's certainly one of the top high school football players in the country,” said Baldwin coach Don Yannessa, who has coached against Mundy in the Quad East conference. “He's got schools looking at him that don't even recruit this part of the country. The Florida schools have tons of skilled athletes to choose from.
“For them to come here for one is something else.”
Mundy, however, has been overshadowed the past two seasons by Breaston, who won statewide honors and national recognition for his breathtaking running ability, and all-state tailback Kareem Dutrieuille.
“I've played behind some great players,” Mundy said. “It's my time to shine.”
Mundy had 84 tackles and four interceptions to star on a defense that recorded five shutouts and allowed an average of 9.1 points per game. He was the only junior chosen to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Terrific 25, but wasn't selected to The Associated Press Big Schools all-state teams.
Mundy played more of a cameo role on offense, with 12 receptions for 219 yards and three touchdowns. All three of his scoring plays came in the postseason: a 47-yard catch against Canon-McMillan in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs; a 40-yarder against McKeesport in the WPIAL semifinals; and a 10-yarder against Altoona in the PIAA Western Final.
“During playoff time, he came up with big catches,” Breaston said. “When you need something to happen, you go to Ryan Mundy.”
Novak certainly plans to this season, as the Wolverines are expected to spread the field and pass more. Mundy plays in the slot, and could be featured more prominently on trick plays like reverse handoffs, as well as on pass plays.
“He's a big, strong wide receiver with speed and great hands,” Novak said of Mundy, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. “You have to respect him, wherever he's at on the field.”
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
Woodland Hills has likewise gained respect, not only throughout the WPIAL and PIAA but also in national rankings and reputation despite opening its doors only 15 years ago.
The Wolverines were ranked as high as No. 7 in USA Today's Super 25 last fall before finishing 24th overall and fourth in the East after a 21-7 loss to Neshaminy in the PIAA championship game.
USA Today also counted their home field, the Wolvarena (otherwise known as Turtle Creek Stadium) as one of the 10 greatest places to watch a high school football game.
The Wolverines have come a long way very quickly.
“For a school that's only been around 15 years, it seems more like 50,” Mundy said. “I think it's because of our toughness and determination to stay No. 1. Every week, everybody is gunning for us.”
The Woodland Hills School District was formed by court order in 1981 to desegregate the predominantly black General Braddock district, which consisted of Braddock, North Braddock and Rankin. Twelve communities, black and white, were joined to form Woodland Hills.
The Wolverines draw players from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in the communities of Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek and Wilkins.
They are towns with storied football pasts.
“There's a lot of tradition that has been built over the years in the communities,” Novak said. “They have a lot of pride in the football program.”
North Braddock Scott won WPIAL championships in 1933 and '34 in Class AA and '35 and '37 in AAA. Under Chuck Klausing, Braddock won WPIAL 'AA' championships from 1954-59. Its 56-game unbeaten streak was the state's best for 40 years.
“Tons of great athletes came out of those schools,” Baldwin's Yannessa said. “Now, they're all in one building.”
Turning 290 players from three high schools into one, cohesive unit was the initial challenge for Novak. He had previous experience on a smaller scale at Steel Valley, which merged Homestead and Munhall, where he turned the Ironmen into a perennial force and the 1982 WPIAL Class AAA champions.
“We wanted to set up an organized football program that could compete with anyone in the state,” Novak said. “It was a monumental task.”
Novak, also the school's athletic director, had to hire 75 coaches for 24 varsity programs. The Wolverines had 167 players at their first practice, with players broken down by class, with each class going two-platoon. Like T.C. Williams High School in the film, Remember the Titans , Woodland Hills overcame the racial divide and ended up winning the Quad East conference in 1987.
“I don't think too many individuals coaching could have done what George did,” said Neil Gordon, who also became Penn Hills' coach in 1987. “I had tradition to rely on. I could cite the Fralics and Flynns and the championships in 1976 and '78.
“George had nothing, not even school colors or mascots.”
Novak has preached patience to his underclassmen and keeps them involved by playing on the sophomore team. The by-product is a varsity roster loaded with Division I prospects who are hungry for their chance to shine as Wolverines.
“We coach every kid every day,” Novak said. “I tell the parents it's not important to win those (sophomore) games, it's more important to develop.”
Players buy into that rationale after seeing the success of predecessors. Thirteen Wolverines have played in the Big 33 Football Classic. Tirell Green, a 1989 graduate, played on a national championship team at Miami (Fla.). Jason Taylor plays defensive end for the Miami Dolphins. Brandon Payne is a Doak Walker Award candidate at Akron. Ferguson, Young, Lousaka Polite and Shawtae Spencer play key roles for Pitt.
Woodland Hills, in fact, has produced at least one Division I player every year, and one at every position on the field. Success has followed the talent. The Wolverines won WPIAL Class AAAA titles in 1996, '99 and '01 and lost by a point to Mt. Lebanon in 2000; they were PIAA runners-up in '96 and last season.
“I would have to say, without question, Woodland Hills is the premier program in the area in terms of championships and player development,” said Steel Valley coach Ed Wehrer, who is one of Novak's eight former players or assistants to become a head coach in the WPIAL. “There's no one on that level. And you could probably argue that they're doing it better than anyone in the state.”
And the Wolverines look like they're only going to get better. The only thing missing from their resume is a PIAA crown, and some observers believe this might be Woodland Hills' finest team yet.
“They have the best players available to one school and the coaching staff to go with it," Baldwin's Yannessa said. "They're always going to be a perennial powerhouse.”
Or, if you prefer, a dynasty.
| Follow the leader |
Woodland Hills coach George Novak has made an impressive impact on the western Pa. coaching ranks, as eight of his former assistants or players became head coaches in the WPIAL or City League.
Novak can count former Steel Valley assistants Jack Giran, who succeeded him, and Jack Garrity, formerly of Thomas Jefferson, and Ray Braszo (West Mifflin), as well as Ironmen players Ed Wehrer (Steel Valley), Bill Cherpak (Thomas Jefferson), Jim Ward (South Allegheny), Nick Kamberis (Keystone Oaks) and Len Ferency (Langley) among his proteges who became head coaches.
“Without question, he's had an influence on us all,” Wehrer said. “It'd be tough to find a better role model. The big thing is having a positive impact on kids' lives. He made us see that as a worthwhile profession.”
| Woody U. |
Few WPIAL schools can compare to Woodland Hills in terms of producing college football players. Since its inception in 1987, 56 Wolverines players have signed with either Division I-A or I-AA schools:
NamePositionCollege
1987
H.B. Brown WRRice
Phil EdwardsOGColgate
Chris RakowOGMarshall
Hank RamseyWRBucknell
Craig ThomasRBMichigan State
1988
Maurice HickmanOTHoward
Steve PokrantOTN.C. State
1989
Wayne AndersonDTAkron
Tirell GreenDTMiami (Fla.)
Frank HuckCPitt
Karl JohnsonWRRichmond
Dennis PerkinsTEKent State
Jamal WebsterDEMaryland
Bob WershableOTRichmond
Thad WilsonLBHarvard
1990
Tom DillinghamDE Youngstown State
Ken FowlerLBCincinnati
Clancy HempfieldOTAkron
1991
Mike AcieQBKent State
Vern PhillipsWRMarshall
Jason TaylorDEAkron
Gerald ThompsonRBPitt
1992
Jason HenleyTEArmy
1993
Jason McDonoughDEKentucky
Dom McKinleyDEToledo
1994
Melvin CobbsRBRutgers
Rick McIntyreTEBucknell
Ewane NanjiLBOhio
Marcus RaineyWROhio
Joel RileyOTYoungstown State
1995
Chris EdmondsTEWest Virginia
Rob MowlOTNotre Dame
Randy ZilkoLBLouisville
1996
Delrico FletcherWRRutgers
Khalid JohnsonOTOhio
Fon NanjiFBYoungstown State
Madei WilliamsQBSyracuse
1997
Jeff BacheDEArmy
Barry CrableOTConnecticut
Brandon PayneRBAkron
1998
William “Tutu” Ferguson DBPitt
Ryan FriendDELehigh
Lousaka PoliteFBPitt
1999
Dom RichardsonTEHoward
Jason RussellDBCincinnati
Rafael SmithWRKent State
Shawntae SpencerDBPitt
2000
Brendon BanksDBAkron
Charlton Lewis DEAkron
Mike MooreLB Lehigh
Montae MurphyDBAkron
Mike WhiteDBKent State
Tyre YoungDTPitt
2001
Brian BorgoynOTPenn State
Steve BreastonWRMichigan
Austin NovakTEKent State
