Woodland Hills News
The 2008 WPIAL Hall of Fame Selection Committee has selected two local candidates for induction: Mr. Chuck Klausing, a graduate of Braddock High School and Mr. Dick Groat, a graduate from Swissvale High School. Both gentlemen have had illustrious careers will be honored on June 20, 2008 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Moon Twp. Tickets to this event can be purchased by the general public from the WPIAL office by calling 412-921-7181 or via email at jcollins@wpial.com. There is a deadline to purchase tickets. Completed registration forms for tickets and/or congratulatory messages are due no later than June 10. The evening's festivities will begin with a reception at 6:00 pm followed by dinner and ceremony at 7:00 pm.
The WPIAL Hall of Fame was organized as a means of recognizing, preserving, and promoting the heritage of interscholastic athletics in Western Pennsylvania. Mr. Klausing will be inducted in the "Coach" category. Although Klausing only coached in the WPIAL for 12 seasons, he made them count, finishing with a record of 83-22-3. His teams went 53-0-1 at Braddock, winning a record six consecutive WPIAL Class AA titles from 1954-59. He was selected as one of the top 10 football coaches in the history of the WPIAL and belongs to eight halls of fame. After leaving Braddock, he went on to college coaching. He was an assistant at Pitt, West Virginia, Army and Rutgers. He was the head coach at Indiana (PA) and Carnegie Mellon. While being inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1998, he remembered his roots by remarking that his greatest memory was playing Friday night football against North Braddock Scott High School.
Mr. Dick Groat will be inducted in the "Athlete" category. Elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. Groat is one of Pittsburgh's most enduring sports legend, making his mark in two different sports. He played 14 years in Major League Baseball, was a member of two World Series teams, earned league MVP awards and won the 1960 batting title. During his Duke University basketball career, he was a two-time All-American selection in both basketball and baseball, being under contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates at the same time. Groat was the first Duke basketball player to have his jersey retired and was inducted into the Duke Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.
Woodland Hills Football Alumni
Jason Taylor
Miami Dolphins - Defensive End
Height: 6-6 Weight: 255 Age: 33
Born: 9/1/1974 Pittsburgh , PA
College: Akron
Experience: 12th season
High School: Woodland Hills HS [Pittsburgh, PA]
Jason, a third round pick (73rd overall) in the 1997 National Football League draft by the Miami Dolphins, has become one of the superstars of the league at his defensive end position. In his 11th season in the NFL, Taylor has earned five Pro Bowl selections (2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006) and continues to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. His 106 career sacks ranks third among active players, and No. 99's abilities will continue to be showcased on the field for the Dolphins as he is signed through the 2009 season. Taylor was homeschooled throughout high school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but he got the chance to play varsity sports for Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, where he quickly made a name for himself.
Shawntae Spencer
San Francisco 49ers - Cornerback
Height: 6-1 Weight: 179 Age: 26
Born: 2/22/1982 Rankin , PA
College: Pittsburgh
Experience: 5th season
High School: Woodland Hills HS [Pittsburgh, PA]
Lousaka Polite
Chicago Bears - Fullback
Height: 6-0 Weight: 242 Age: 26
Born: 9/14/1981
College: Pittsburgh
Experience: 4th season
High School: Woodland Hills HS [Pittsburgh, PA]
Chris Morgan
NFL Prospect
Height: 6-0
Weight: 210
Position: RB
Experience: R
High School: Woodland Hills [Pittsburgh, PA]
College: Indiana of PA
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Colts on May 16th, 2007...Waived by the Colts on July 27, 2007. "Morgan finished his IUP career as the second leading rusher in school history with 3,817 yards while also ranking second in rushing touchdowns with 34 and attempts with 680. He is fourth in total touchdowns scored with 36."
Steven Breaston
Arizona Cardinals - Punt Returner/Wide Receiver
Height: 6-0 Weight: 189 Age: 24
Born: 8/20/1983
College: Michigan
Experience: 2nd season
High School: Woodland Hills HS [Pittsburgh, PA]
Full name Steven William Breaston … attended Woodland Hills (North Braddock, PA) High School where he lettered three times in football, leading the team to a 14-1 record and to a berth in the Pennsylvania 4-A state championship game … helped Woodland Hills win the WPIAL Class AAAA title, gaining 219 yards on 15 carries during a 41-6 victory … named the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year in 2001 … selected as Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's co-Player of the Year (with quarterback Tyler Palko) … gained 2,545 career rushing yards and 37 touchdowns as a quarterback … as a senior, he carried 151 times for 1,718 yards (11.4 avg.) and 24 touchdowns, completed 33-of-79 passes for 600 yards and was involved in 34 scores overall, including 10 touchdown runs of more than 50 yards … returned two punts for touchdowns in his senior season and accounted for more than 5,000 all-purpose yards during his last two seasons … lettered twice in basketball and track, winning the district title in the 300-meter hurdles as a junior.
Ryan Mundy
Pittsburgh Steelers-Safety/Cornerback
Height: 6'1" Weight: 215 College: West Virginia Conference: Big East Hometown: Wilkins Township, PA High School: Woodland Hills
Even though his career at West Virginia was short lived, Mundy teamed with Eric Wicks to give the Mountaineers one of the best safety tandems in college football. The defensive back enrolled at WVU after spending his first four seasons at the University of Michigan, ironically the school that their former head coach, Rich Rodriguez, bolted to before the end of Mundy's senior campaign. In 2007, Mundy took advantage of a short-lived NCAA rule allowing graduating players to use their last year of eligibility while in a graduate program at another college. After starting 18 games for Michigan over three years (plus a redshirt year for a shoulder injury), he decided to go to a school closer to his hometown. At Woodland Hills High School, Mundy was a three-year starter as a strong safety and wide receiver. He was named to USA Today's All-American second-team, adding first-team national honors from Prep Star and Super Prep. He was rated the fourth-best safety in the country by Tom Lemming and named to Lemming's 2003 Super Team. He was rated the best defensive back in the nation and named Northeast Defensive Player of the Year and the best player in Pennsylvania by Super Prep. Mundy was graded as a four-star prospect by Rivals100.com, adding All-State honors in addition to picking up Pittsburgh Tribune-Review AAAA Player of the Year and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 Team as a junior and senior. He garnered All-Conference twice and tallied two interceptions at the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Mundy holds the school record for career receptions (54) and collected 1,184 career receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. He rushed 14 times for 201 yards, registered 214 career tackles and had 17 interceptions. He caught 32 passes for 755 yards and 14 touchdowns and ran 12 times for 200 yards as a senior. He also made 70 tackles and recorded seven interceptions senior year. As a junior, Mundy registered 84 tackles and seven interceptions, as he also had 12 grabs for 219 yards and three touchdowns. He lettered three times in track, clocking a career-best 10.6 seconds in the 100 meters. He also competed in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the 4x100 relay.