After “heat week” last week, high school football teams across the commonwealth begin their official training camps today. Four local teams have new coaches: Mark Zilinskas returns to coach Indiana, Ed Dalton returns to the Heritage Conference to take over at River Valley, Carson Rhea takes over for the retired Bill Packer at Penns Manor, and another Heritage Conference team, Conemaugh Valley, welcomes a new head coach in Joel Holsopple, a former player and assistant coach at Shade.
Yesterday, River Valley dedicated the brand new Thomas L. Shoemaker Fieldhouse at their school complex in Blairsville. Named in honor of the legendary Blairsville High School football star and state javelin champion, the late Tom Shoemaker, who played his college ball at Penn State.
River Valley football coach Ed Dalton was amazed at the new facility.
Panthers quarterback Max Persichetti is fired up about his team, and about getting to play at the new facility.
River Valley superintendent Philip Martell said at the dedication that the Thomas L. Shoemaker Fieldhouse is a project that the entire school district and community have embraced and said it’s a “regional asset” that can host a number of events such as state playoff games and even Special Olympics.
