PIAA upholds District 6 ruling on Ligonier Valley’s Kyle Silk

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 | 8:02 PM

Unless Kyle Silk’s family pursues legal action, his senior football season is over before it started.

The PIAA upheld District 6’s decision to deny Silk eligibility to play football at Ligonier Valley after he transferred from United in June.

Silk, who lived in Robinson, moved with his father into the Ligonier Valley School District in June.

The PIAA voted 5-0 to deny Silk’s transfer for football only, ruling it was in part for athletic intent. He can play any other sport for the Rams, including basketball.

Ligonier Valley football coach Roger Beitel said he’s not aware if the Silk family will pursue legal action.

“I’m disappointed in the PIAA’s decision and devastated for Kyle,” Beitel said. “It has nothing to do about football.

“He showed up in the weight room and worked his tail off and became one of us. Now he’s be punished for something he had no control of.”

Silk spent his first three years at United and was a second-team all-state player in 2018. He was United’s quarterback in 2018 where he rushed for 1,505 yards and 30 touchdowns. He completed 50 of 109 passes for 428 yards and one touchdown.

As a sophomore, he rushed for 914 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 40 of 114 passes for 492 yards and five touchdowns.

Beitel said he would have used Silk at different positions — quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

“I’m disappointed that the two Heritage Conference representatives didn’t vote for him,” Beitel said. “All the PIAA’s decision did was motivate the team even more. The team is out to send a message.”

Silk was not at practice Wednesday.

Beitel said the PIAA’s teleconference lasted only 10 minutes, and Silk wasn’t allowed to speak.

“I’m internally struggling with this decision because I thought the purpose of interscholastic sports was to promote the student-athlete and not destroy them,” Beitel said.

Silk was the only athlete from District 6 denied eligibility at the August meeting. Four athletes were ruled ineligible for postseason play only in football, basketball, volleyball and baseball.

One other player approved was wrestler Noah Teeter, who transferred from Mt. Pleasant to Forest Hills.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant