WPIAL investigates unsportsmanlike allegations against South Side football team

Through: Chris Harlan

Monday, November 15, 2021 | 19:21

WPIAL is investigating allegations of unsportsmanlike conduct against the South Side football team, WPIAL Executive Director Amy Scheuneman said on Monday.

The charges involve derogatory comments made during WPIAL’s playoff loss last week to Steel Valley, which brought the concerns to WPIAL’s attention. WPIAL asked each school to provide a written report.

“We will determine the best course of action after receiving reports from both sides, as well as officials,” she said.

WPIAL has already received the initial report from Steel Valley. To avoid any implication of bias, South Side will hire an outside consultant to investigate the allegations, South Side athletic director Mike Colligan said.

“We take these allegations very, very, very seriously,” Colligan said. “We will conduct an independent investigation with a third party who has no affiliation with the school. Not that we would intentionally sweep anything under the rug, or fall on deaf ears, but we want to make sure that every T is crossed out and every I is pointed.

The district is due to meet with the consultant on Tuesday and the investigation will begin immediately, Colligan said.

Steel Valley athletic director Shawn McCallister confirmed that the school had asked WPIAL to review the unsportsmanlike allegations, but declined to comment until WPIAL completed its investigation.

Scheuneman declined to characterize the nature of the allegations.

“At this point, I don’t really want to talk about it because I don’t have everyone’s report,” Scheuneman said after the WPIAL board meeting on Monday.

Steel Valley won 28-12, but the victory was painful. The Ironmen lost WPIAL leader Nijhay Burt to an ankle injury early in the match. The South Side’s reaction to his injury and others is believed to be among Steel Valley’s concerns.

“There are a number of issues to be addressed in their concerns,” said Scheuneman. “It’s partly an injury, but other things that concern us are the sporting aspects, which maybe need to be deepened. “

The loss ended the South Side season. Steel Valley advanced to the WPIAL semi-finals to face Beaver Falls on Friday.

Chris Harlan is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Chris by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .