Vukovcan: The Future Of Hopewell Athletics Is Very Strong and Has an Opportunity to Get Better

Hopewell Athletics is in a real good place right now.

It can be argued that its current standing and the future is as bright as it’s been in a real long time.

This isn’t just one man’s opinion, just take a look at what’s currently happening.

*The HS Baseball program is back in the playoffs once again. Over the last 3 seasons, Morgan Singletary’s program has won 2 WPIAL Championships and won the consolation game to get 3rd place and make the PIAA tournament.

*With 2 games left, the Junior High Baseball program is 6-3, which is quite the improvement from a year ago when they won just 1 game. It won’t be long before a few of those 8th graders could have an impact on the High School team. And despite losing a number of players to graduation next season, this junior high team will be adding a number of talented 7th graders to the roster next season. The mindset won’t be to rebuild but instead to reload.

*The HS Football program will have new head coach John Rosa in charge this season, which will bring some enthusiasm. Rosa has a track record of winning and will be inheriting a young roster so he’ll have an opportunity to install his scheme and philosophy to a group of players that will be around for a few years. Couple that with the fact that the high school roster will be adding some talent from a junior high program that are coming off a season in which they went undefeated and tied New Castle, 42-42, for the Western Pennsylvania Big School Junior High Championship.

*Jeff Homziak and the HS Girls program were in the playoffs for consecutive seasons and will be returning their entire starting roster, minus one player. Plus, a very talented 8th grade group of girls will be added to his roster next season. The goal next season won’t be just to make the playoffs but to win a game or two.

*Talk about consistency. Under HC Terry Borkovic, the Hopewell Girls Volleyball team has made the playoffs 25 straight seasons and with Jordan Sirianni, Mena Catanzarite, Alyssa Spang and others returning, there’s no reason to think that amazing streak won’t continue for another season.

*The Boys HS Soccer program is coming off a season in which they made the playoffs and pulled off a huge upset over defending champion, Deer Lakes. New HC Nathan Richter has an impressive resume and with a strong junior high/youth program, the future of soccer in Hopewell looks extremely bright.

*The HS Wrestling program just produced a WPIAL champion in Isaiah Pisano and the HS Boys and Girls Track and Field program is a rock of the Hopewell athletic program under Jeff Brunton, who might be the best coach in the WPIAL that no one is truly aware of. Hopewell is very lucky to have someone like Brunton.

The program in Hopewell that has a chance to take the next step and start to have some sustained success is the HS Boys basketball program.

Head coach Mark D’Alesandris is working hard to bring winning basketball back to Hopewell. The Vikings got off to a great start last season before they cooled off in the second half of the season.

The good news for D’Alesandris is that he’ll be returning a few key players from this season in Zack Kovell, Zach Gigliotti, Thomas Pipkins, etc. Plus, the 8th grade program will be supplying the varsity team with some players that are not only talented but that have won a lot, not only in junior high but high-level AAU competition. It remains to be seen what impact these incoming 8th graders will have next season but there’s no doubt they’ll be on the court sooner rather than later.

With this collection of players, Hopewell HS basketball should be able to not only be competitive but should compete relatively soon.

Aside from the talent that’s developing in the township, here’s another way for the boys’ basketball program to get better- bring aboard a Hall of Fame coach.

For years, Nick Saban, the best coach in college football history, hired talented former head coaches to his coaching staff to assist him and I believe Mark D’Alesandris should consider the same approach.

For a few years, Hopewell has been fortunate to have Doug Biega living in the district and assisting with the youth basketball program.

Why not bring him aboard the varsity staff in some capacity? Whether that be as an assistant or as the junior varsity coach or assistant. It doesn’t matter, if Hopewell has the opportunity to get better by bringing a board a coach that’s won over 300 career varsity games, won 4 WPIAL titles and 2 PIAA titles, why not do it? One thing is for certain, he’ll be able to help out with developing the talent, but he’ll make D’Alesandris a better coach.

I know one thing, if I’m in charge of a basketball program and truly want to win and for its players to get better, aside from a friend of mine, Chris Raso, I couldn’t name many people more qualified and with a track record of doing so than Biega.

I want to be very clear about something. I’m not suggesting that Biega should replace D’Alesandris as the head coach. What I am saying is that in some way, Biega should be a part of the varsity program. It would make zero sense for him not to be.

Varsity basketball summer leagues will be starting up and preparation for the 2024-25 season will be starting soon.

With so many of Hopewell’s sports programs headed in the right direction, it’ll be interesting to see if the varsity basketball program takes a step in trying to make themselves better because brining aboard a proven winner like Biega would do that.