Uniontown, Pa. — The Uniontown Area School District celebrated a milestone on Wednesday at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh when the Red Raiders received their fourth Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) sportsmanship award. The honor, part of the “SPORTSMANSHIP: The Only Missing Piece is You” program launched in 1997, highlights schools that exemplify respect, integrity and teamwork.
Legacy of a champion
Former principal Richard A. Constantine, a 1965 Uniontown graduate who earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Virginia, helped lay the foundation for the district’s sportsmanship culture. During his 19‑year tenure as principal, Constantine emphasized character development and proudly accepted the first two awards in 1997 and 1998. The Red Raiders added a third award for the 2000‑2001 school year before Constantine’s passing in 2010.
Continuing the tradition
Current principal Bob Manges, who succeeded Constantine as athletic administrator, said the latest award is a testament to the community’s shared values. “I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Constantine as a coach, and I think he would be so proud of this award sitting on my desk right now,” Manges said.
Athletic Director and Dean of Students Harry Kaufman, who played a key role in the nomination process, noted the district received a 4Ö6 banner, a PIAA Board resolution and a paperweight featuring the banner. The award includes $1,250 to be shared among the winning schools, courtesy of The Wilson Group, and a spot at the annual WPIAL Sportsmanship Summit.
Community pride
Both Manges and Kaufman praised the district’s coaches, teachers, parents and students for embracing the program’s principles. “We are just really proud of our community, kids, coaches and teachers,” Kaufman said. “We want to thank our school board and administrators for the support they give to all our athletes in the district.”
Uniontown’s fourth award ties the Red Raiders with South Park for seventh place among the 30 WPIAL schools that have earned multiple honors. South Fayette leads the league with eight awards, followed by Hampton and North Hills with seven each.
Student voices
Four Uniontown junior athletes attended the ceremony in Pittsburgh: Eleanor Carei, Charley Murtha, Qua’Mari Scott and Matthew Page. Murtha, a multi‑sport participant, emphasized the personal impact of sportsmanship. “As an athlete, I think sportsmanship is the main thing a good athlete needs,” she said. “People really like a good human being, and being a good human being reflects not just you, but your whole team.”
The event also featured CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore, a Uniontown native who graduated from Laurel Highlands High School, underscoring the district’s deep ties to the broader sports community.
Looking ahead
Manges reflected on the challenges the district has faced, noting that the award was earned not by perfection but by learning from setbacks. “We took the blame and the criticism, and we jumped into the same boat to make this better,” he said. “We almost did a doctoral thesis of work to show the state we were going to go above and beyond what they expected, and that’s what we did.”
The Red Raiders’ continued success in the sportsmanship program reinforces Uniontown’s commitment to fostering character, respect and excellence for every student‑athlete.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
