WPIAL Had a Whopping total of 15 players nominated For Pennsylvania Football News 5A All States team

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Ryan Thielet | January 6, 2024

The WPIAL boasted a commendable count of 15 players selected for the Pennsylvania Football News All-State teams. Peter Township led the pack with 6 players, with Pine Richland coming in as the nearest contender with 4 players of their own.

First team offense

The initial WPIAL athlete to make a mark was Luke Denny, a 6-1, 185-pound wide receiver from Norwin. His impressive stats include 44 receptions, 1046 yards, and 11 touchdowns.

The second standout from the WPIAL is Ryan Cory of Pine Richland, a 6-4, 265-pound offensive guard committed to Wisconsin. Cory secures a spot on the first-team offense and looks forward to extending his football career at the University of Wisconsin.

Penn Trafford will make its mark with the addition of Offensive Tackle Zach Tomosovich, the first of their six players. Standing at an impressive 6-5 and weighing 310 pounds, Tomosovich was a standout player on a line that featured other exceptional talents.

Pine Richland’s second representative is their kicker, Grant Argiro. Throughout the season, he successfully made 45 point-after tries and scored 7 field goals, contributing a total of 68 points to his credit.

Completing the first-team offense is Ryan Petras, the offensive athlete from Bethel Park. Displaying versatility, he excelled as both a receiver and running back, in the running game he accumulated 936 yards on 52 carries. Now, in the air he had 734 receiving yards. Combining both the run and passing game, Petras secured an impressive total of 14 touchdowns.

First team defense

Carter Lance, the inaugural WPIAL representative on the defensive side, made his mark as a defensive tackle for Penn Hills. Standing at 6-2 and weighing 260 pounds, Lance showcased his defensive prowess on the field.

The third standout from Peter Township to earn recognition is Mickey Vaccarello, holding the position of nose tackle. This formidable player, standing at 6-2 and weighing 220 pounds, demonstrated his prowess by relentlessly tearing through opposing offensive lines.

The final first-team player representing the WPIAL hails from Peters Township. Cornerback Eliot Schratz, standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 170 pounds, played a crucial role in Peters’s secondary. His skill set was evident as he successfully shut down some of the best receivers in the WPIAL. He will be the last WPIAL player to be named on the first team.

Second Team offense

Now it is time for the second-team all-state to get started with quarterback Nolan Dilucia from Peters Township. In his sophomore campaign, Nolan threw 379 times completing 229 of them (60%) for 3,131 and 30 touchdowns and only having 11 interceptions. He was the passing leader for all of WPIAL.

The next WPIAL representative on the second-team all-state roster is Pine Richland’s fullback, Alex Cerminara. Standing at 6-1 and weighing 215 pounds, Cerminara played a crucial role in blocking for the Rams’ run game, contributing to the success of a thousand-yard rusher.

The final offensive player nominated is South Fayette’s standout receiver, Michael Gimigliano. Throughout his senior campaign, he made a significant impact with 59 receptions, amassing 865 yards and scoring 8 touchdowns. His contributions were pivotal to South Fayette’s passing game during the past season.

Second Team Defense

The inaugural nominee for the WPIAL to be on second-team all-state defense is Clancy Orie, who held the position of defensive tackle for Bethel Park. Standing at 6-1 and weighing 235 pounds, Orie, a formidable force, delivered another outstanding performance for Bethel Park in the past year.

Continuing in the defensive tackle position, another nominee for the second-team all-state is Franco Muscatello from Peter Township. Standing at 6-2 and weighing 235 pounds, Muscatello had a remarkable season, leading the way for the defense with his impressive contributions.

The fourth and final nominee from Pine Richland for the second-team all-state is Evan Johnson, an Outside linebacker. Standing at 6-1 and weighing 190 pounds, Johnson emerged as a dominant force on the outside for the Rams, showcasing his prowess throughout the year.

Completing the nominations for the all-state second team is Reston Lehman from Peters Township, who played the outside linebacker position. Lehman had a commendable performance on the outside, playing a significant role in Peters’ pass rush throughout the year.

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