Girls’ Basketball Makes History with First WPIAL Championship

In his third season at the Canon-McMillan School District, head coach John Fontana led the Big Macs to a historic milestone: the program’s first WPIAL championship in 51 years.

When he first joined the District, Fontana said Superintendent Greg Taranto, Principal Brittany Taylor and Athletic Director Frank Vulcano helped make Canon-McMillan feel like the right place to be. That support helped lay the groundwork for a culture centered on excellence, which Fontana has emphasized since his early days as a coach.

“I got involved with the team and really just enjoyed coaching,” he said. “The kids are tough, hard workers and committed to the game.”

With seven seniors leading the roster, expectations were clear from the start.

“Our goal was always to win a WPIAL championship,” Fontana said. “They believed in themselves, each other and the entire process. That kind of mindset proved to be critical, especially during the championship.”

The senior class, Isabella Hunt, Alyssa Carlson, Madison Clair, Samantha Miller, Alanna Bevan, Lauren Borella and Olivia Ross, set the tone, with captains Borella, Clair, Miller and Ross leading both on and off the court. During a challenging stretch, their confidence never wavered.

They were supported by a talented underclass group that included juniors Faye Saunders, Julia Larouere and Madelyn Piatt; sophomores Brooke Stanton, Isabella Urso, Lucie Fleming and Izabella Bobitski; and freshmen Makenzie Clair, Giada Magliocchetti, Whitney Radue and Elizabeth Schmeltz, all of whom contributed to the team’s success.

Fontana credits his coaching staff, William Burgess, Rachel Russell, Carlee Kilgus, Beka Bellhy and Caroline Willig, along with team manager Carli Phenneger, for the team’s championship success, saying that he believes he has the best staff in the WPIAL.

“They looked at me and said, ‘Hey, coach, relax. We got this,” Fontana said, noting how that belief spread throughout the team.

As the season progressed, the impact of the student body extended beyond the court.

“When I looked at the stands and saw an almost sold-out gym, I knew how special this team was,” Fontana said.

From packed home games to large crowds on the road, including in Altoona, the community rallied behind the team, while younger players filled the stands, inspired by the seniors’ example.

For Fontana, the most meaningful moment came during the final buzzer at the end of the WPIAL game at the Petersen Events Center.

“What I wanted to do was step back and watch them celebrate. That was my gold medal,” he said.

For a program that hadn’t reached this point in decades, the achievement was as significant as it was emotional.

“To create history like that is so special,” he said.

In the end, the championship reflected the standard the team set all season.

“If we were going to become special, they had to do special things. They had to have a special attitude on and off the court, a commitment to the team and focus for the game,” Fontana said. “That’s exactly what this team did.”