More teams have split from the Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League in the wake of an investigation into funds reportedly missing from the league’s shared bank account.
Youth teams from Baldwin- Whitehall, Belle Vernon, Connellsville, Hempfield, Montour, Norwin, Trinity and West Allegheny have left to form the Western Pennsylvania Football League, according to Stan Gorski, who is on the board of directors for Norwin.
“There was some fear that we weren’t going to have the (Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League) functioning in 2025,” Gorski said. “So we wanted to make a move and do what’s best for the kids so our football players and cheerleaders will be sure to have a season.”
The move by the eight teams comes on the heels of an earlier departure of five Westmoreland County teams that left to form the Keystone Foothills Football League. Those teams are Derry Area, Greater Latrobe, Greensburg Salem, Mt. Pleasant and Southmoreland.
Those squads left the Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League after police began investigating the reported disappearance of an undisclosed amount of money from the league’s bank account, which is funded through revenue from each team’s gate fees. Greene County Regional Police Chief William DeForte did not say how much money was reportedly missing.
Shortly after the funds were discovered missing, the league’s longtime director resigned. Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League officials could not be reached for comment, and league parents said contact information on the group’s website was removed.
The status of the investigation is unknown.
In Baldwin-Whitehall, youth football members held an emergency meeting in March, where they voted unanimously to leave the Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League.
“We wanted to pursue better opportunities and seek the best fit for not only our organization but our players, families and community,” Baldwin-Whitehall Board President David Mingone wrote in a letter to parents.
The division that included the eight teams in the new league was the largest in the Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League, Gorski said.
“We all have larger rosters, and so we’re able to field varsity and (junior varsity) teams and can have full JV games for the boys,” he said.
Gorski said the revenue sharing in the Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League — where any remaining money from gate fees at the end of the year was divided evenly among the league’s teams — was one of the main factors in their decision to leave.
“So much of our money went to the (Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League), and our revenue share was so small compared to what we provided,” he said.
Gorski said the new league will keep track of team money contributed for shared events, such as a senior bowl.
“Everyone will get their remaining funds back at the end of the year,” he said.