RIDGWAY — Players and coaches from the schools making up the Allegheny Mountain League met with members of the local media to discuss enrollment, co-op programs, and the general outlook of the league on Wednesday morning at Aiello’s Cafe in Ridgway for the second AML Media Day.
Sheffield High Athletic Director and league president Corey Copley coordinated the event, which saw representatives of the 12-team AML meet with various media outlets covering District 9 sports. Each media member had a 10-minute conversation with the various players and coaches in attendance.
After being treated to a hearty breakfast by the hard-working folks at Aiello’s, the roughly two-hour session yielded a few notable insights into some notable storylines to watch heading into the new season.
ENROLLMENT
As was the case last year, enrollment and team turnout were big topics of discussion amongst many of the coaches in attendance. With much of the AML made up of smaller schools, many programs have been challenged to field rosters that match the size of those in the past.
Now entering its second season as a member of the league, Bradford High again represents one of the larger programs in the area –– head coach Jeff Puglio estimated that this year’s squad will boast around 50 players, though that number figures to change as practices begin to ramp up.
It’s in the AML North where the effects of having a smaller roster are especially noticeable –– Cameron County expects 24 players to fill out its roster. It’s no coincidence that teams from the South division have dominated their Northern counterparts over the last few years.
CO-OP SUCCESS
It’s worth noting, however, the success that has been attained by local programs who have adopted a co-op system. Perhaps no team has benefitted more from that system than Ridgway, which is coming off a District 9 Class A title, the Elkers’ first since 1989.
Head coach Mark Heindl pointed to the team’s co-op with Johnsonburg as a big key to the success of the 2016 season.
Other co-op programs such as Sheffield, Kane and Otto-Eldred have also found varying degrees of success. One drawback, though, is not always knowing what you have until late in the summer. That’s something Sheffield head coach Dave Fitch touched on, as the Wolverines’ roster typically consists of several members of Abraxas in Marienville.
SOUTH STILL TOUGH, NORTH ON THE RISE
The AML South schedule once again figures to be a week-to-week slugfest, with the reigning champion Kane Wolves the prohibitive favorites after an undefeated 2016 season.
But coach Todd Silfies was quick to point out how he expects every game to be competitive once the league slate rolls around.
In the North, Coudersport and Otto-Eldred return plenty of talent and experience from teams that finished 4-1 and 5-0 in league play, respectively, in 2016. Coudy in particular will feel like it can win any time it steps on the field. The Falcons are the only North team to net a win against the South in each of the last two years, topping Ridgway, 13-7, in 2015 and Bradford High, 36-34, in an overtime thriller last September.
NEW FACES
The AML will feature three new head coaches in 2017. Tom Storey of Coudersport figures to have the best chance at success in his first year at the helm. The Falcons are coming off a second-place finish in the AML North, and as mentioned earlier, have found a degree of success against teams from the South.
The other two coaches will assume the top job at their respective alma maters: Pat Warnick takes over a Port Allegany team that has nowhere to go but up after a winless 2016 campaign (he is a member of the class of 1986).
Meanwhile over in Smethport, Adam Jack (class of 1991) was promoted to head coach after several seasons as an assistant. The Hubbers will be looking to improve as well after going 3-6 last year.
