Cody W. Pattison: Column by It's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock 'n' roll)

Cody W. Pattison, New Castle News, Pa.
·4 min read

Feb. 17—It is currently 4:07 a.m. as I type this out.

I was trying to come up with a proper introduction to this column and wanted slumber beforehand. But, I have not been able to succumb to that yet.

I am on a mission.

We have a problem in the neighborhood with an influx of dullard kids vandalizing the town. They got me twice as much, but those details will only get them giddy and make them do more damage.

It sounds like a rough opinion, or maybe an odd observation, but this is an opinion column: Parents don't use the belt too much anymore, eh?

I got the belt. Heck, I got the horse whip from my father's parents once or twice too (and don't get me reminiscing on the story of my grandmother beating my mother with the Holy Bible on third base during the middle of a softball game).

I turned out alright. But, times are different.

Now, my mission is a stakeout to catch the vandals and gift them with blank canvases I use for painting in my limited spare time. Then, I'll gift them a leather belt — no not to use on them ho ho! Instead, I'll gift them an extra leather belt of mine so they can use it on their parents.

Speaking of missions, nine basketball teams are on a mission to capture WPIAL gold, not vandals.

Let's get into it, folks.

ODDS: 366 DAYS A YEAR

In my previous Odds & Ends column that was published on Thursday, I made it good and clear that WPIAL basketball playoffs are upon us.

What isn't good and clear is who will be scheduled for what days at the Petersen Events Center yet. Who will end up competing on the infamous leap day?

If the playoffs go well for Lawrence County teams, my odd pessimism about the season might go away. But, it would be interesting to see one team make it to The Pete, compete on leap day and win it.

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That's a once-in-every-four years championship right there. Yes, I know it's not really every four years.

Maybe you could call it the Day 366 championship?

ENDS: HER-STORY

Let's switch gears a little bit, folks.

There's no I in team, but there is an I or three in individual. Individual wrestling starts on Saturday and some history can be made for girls wrestling.

In May, the PIAA unanimously approved to sanction girls wrestling, which brought in girls wrestling teams competing for WPIAL and PIAA gold for the first time. Now, it looks like a couple standout female wrestlers from Lawrence County can be the first to claim individual PIAA gold.

The two girls who stand out to me are New Castle High's Alexia Fisher and Laurel's Alexis Brua. Becoming the first female wrestler from Lawrence County to bring home a medal in wrestling can do wonders for the two seniors' futures.

Fisher will wrestle at Bethany College after graduation and Brua is set to compete on the mat at D'Youville University come fall.

ODDS AND ENDS: AN IMMINENT DÉJÀ VU TRIP?

One team that I've not been pessimistic about all season has to be the Union girls basketball team. If any school has kept me busy the past couple of years, it's been Union.

Last year, the Lady Scots captured their first ever WPIAL championship and followed that up with their first ever PIAA championship. A repeat is imminent if you ask me.

This season, Union was undefeated in WPIAL Section 1-1A action and claimed the outright section title. The next step in the mission is making it to the Petersen Events Center to defend the WPIAL 1A championship.

Union, the No. 1 seed, had a bye week and will end up facing the winner of the West Greene/Jeannette game on Thursday at home.

Then, the final goal of the Lady Scots' mission is defending their PIAA championship. Like the song title goes "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)."