2015-2016 MSA SPORTS MALE ATHLETE of the YEAR

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, June 30, 2016 | 11:11 PM

There is a reason why Erick Taylor has that “K” at the end of his name. His father had a best friend who was shot and killed many years ago, and the friend spelled his first name “Erick.” So Garth Taylor decided to give his son the same name in memory of his friend.

Almost two decades later, the name Erick Taylor meant something special around WPIAL sports. It defined supreme athlete.

Taylor has been named the MSA Sports Athlete of the Year for boys sports in the WPIAL in the 2015-16 school year. The award is selected by the MSA Sports staff.

Taylor graduated last month from Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic in Cranberry. And although he attended the school for only a little more than a year, he left a big impression, and not just because he is 6 feet 3 ½, 235 pounds. Taylor had a huge impact as a three-sport athlete.

*He was a standout quarterback in football, had more than 2,300 yards offense and led the Trojans to an 11-1 record.

* In basketball, he averaged 11 points a game, made the all-section team and helped North Catholic win a WPIAL title.

*In baseball, a sport he never played in high school, he had a 6-1 record as a pitcher and helped the Trojans to the WPIAL playoffs.

*Taylor was a member of three teams that either won or tied for a section title.

It was quite a way to end a high school career that saw him attend four different high schools, trying to find a place that suited him best. He spent his freshman year at Imani Christian in the East Hills section of Pittsburgh. He spent his sophomore year and a little of his junior year at Linsly Institute (W.Va.) before transferring to Obama Academy in the Pittsburgh City League.

He enrolled at North Catholic in the final quarter of his junior year. He was pretty much an unknown commodity around the WPIAL until he started making waves in football.

“When I was younger, my best sport was football,” said Taylor. “I honestly believe I was born to play football. My Dad coached the Garfield Gators [midget-league team] for years. When my mom went into labor with me, they called my Dad and he was at football practice with my brother. He took my brother and drove straight to the hospital from practice.

“I was around those Garfield Gators since I was a baby. My Dad would always have me at practice. I started playing football when I was 4. You were only allowed to play when you were 5, but they let me play when I was 4 and I played all the way until I was 14.”

Taylor still lives with his family in the Garfield section of Pittsburgh. He took an hour-long bus ride every day to North Catholic. In football, he played under new North Catholic head coach Jason GIldon, a former Steeler. Pete Gonzalez, a former Pitt quarterback and also a former Steeler, was North Catholic’s quarterbacks coach.

For the Trojans, Taylor completed 105 of 166 passes for 1,809 yards and 19 touchdowns and also ran for 535 yards on 93 attempts.

“Every coach I played for at North Catholic I think had certain expectations,” said Taylor. “In football, I don’t know if I reached coach Pete’s expectations, but I think I came close. In basketball, it wasn’t easy for coach [Dave] Long to get the best player out of me, but he did by the end of the year. He pushed me to my limits. I can honestly say coach Long did a lot of good for me.”

Taylor will attend California University of Pa. and plans to play football and baseball for the Vulcans. He was only at North Catholic for a year, but has plenty of memories.

“A lot of kids might say winning the WPIAL in basketball would be their favorite memory,” said Taylor. “But my favorite memory came in football. We were playing Avonworth and it was the first big rivalry game in my high school career. I was very psyched for it and I fumbled early because I was too excited.

“Coach Pete came down to the sideline from the press box and said some words I can’t repeat. He looked me in the eye, got a little teary-eyed and told me to calm down, and that whenever I start to tune in and listen to him, I could be a great player. And that he loves me and he sees a lot of greatness in me. I will always remember that.”

As far as a game, Taylor said he will most remember beating Monessen in the WPIAL basketball semifinals. Monessen was  heavy favorite to win the WPIAL title. Taylor had 29 points and 22 rebounds in the win.

“That game, that win was my biggest accomplishment,” said Taylor. “That game meant a lot to us and coach Long because we were just trying to get him back to the WPIAL championship.”

Tags: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, North Catholic