By: Chris Harlan
Monday, August 4, 2025 | 4:34 PM
The WPIAL denied eligibility to two Central Catholic football players, leaving Xavier Harding and Ma’Noah Wright sidelined for the upcoming season.
The sophomore transfers had eligibility hearings Monday. WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said the board found both transfers were motivated at least partially by athletics.
The decision came on the day high school football teams statewide began heat acclimation.
Harding, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound tight end and defensive end, transferred from Avonworth. Wright, a 5-10, 175-pound cornerback and wide receiver, transferred from Plum.
Central Catholic can appeal the WPIAL decisions to the PIAA.
• Burrell sophomore Antonio Perkins, a standout wrestler and multi-sport athlete at Valley as a freshman, is fully eligible after switching schools.
The WPIAL held hearings Monday and granted eligibility to Perkins and Logan Heakins, another freshman who transferred from Valley to Burrell. Both played football at Valley. Since the two transferred prior to their sophomore year, they are eligible for postseason play under PIAA rules.
Perkins stood out as a wrestler last winter when he posted a 26-15 record as a 145-pound freshman. He placed second in the section, fifth in WPIAL Class 2A and eighth in the southwest regional.
• Canon-McMillan sophomore Luke Sohyda, a 6-4, 260-pound tight end and defensive end, is fully eligible after a hearing Monday. Sohyda transferred from Bethel Park.
• North Catholic junior Will Toprani gained regular-season eligibility from the WPIAL but was denied postseason eligibility, Seltzer said. The quarterback transferred from Central Catholic.
North Catholic can appeal to the PIAA requesting postseason eligibility.
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Avonworth, Bethel Park, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, North Catholic, Plum, Valley