By Zane Sable

May 2026

The Thomas Jefferson Jaguar football team has dominated the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) 4A section since moving up from the 3A section in 2015. Since 2015, the Jaguars have won seven WPIAL championships and two state championships. Now, with the move up to 5A this upcoming 2026 season, fans don't know what to expect. It's undeniable that the Jaguars have dominated their past competition, but with new-found competition, there is skepticism surrounding their ability to maintain their reputation of excellence.

The 2026 schedule for the Jaguars features some of their toughest competitors yet. Featuring competitors the Jaguars haven’t faced in a decade, it will be a great test to see how the Jaguars match-up against larger teams, like Mount Lebanon (MtL) or Upper St. Clair (USC), as well as familiar opponents like Trinity and Belle Vernon. 

Head coach Bill Cherpak, current offensive and defensive lineman Dylan Beasock, and former offensive lineman Hunter Houk offered their perspectives on moving to 5A this upcoming season.

Cherpak discussed what he anticipates the differences will be, going from 4A to 5A: “The lower end teams [in 5A] are better than the lower end teams in 4A. And then the upper end teams are all competitively equal and good. So, I mean, there's just…more good teams because there's more teams in 5A now.” This is especially true as the Jaguars will join the Allegheny 6 conference with Peters Township, Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, West Allegheny, and Trinity.

Although Thomas Jefferson Football has played a lot of these teams in the past, it will be interesting to see them play again, especially teams like Peters Township that has had 2 WPIAL championships in 5A in the past 3 years and USC that has found success in 5A recently. 

Former offensive lineman, Hunter Houk, a 2025 graduate, was a contributing part of the 2024 WPIAL championship win for the Jaguars in 4A. Houk offered advice as to what it will take for the team to stay as successful in 5A, noting that the team will “just [need to be] more disciplined, and make sure their head isn't bigger than what they are… then go out there and dominate.” This is great news to hear from a former player, especially an offensive lineman considering the power I offense the run heavy offense TJ is known for. 

Dylan Beasock is hoping to have a big junior season. Beasock started on both sides of the ball last year at guard and defensive tackle, getting 2nd team all conference honors for defensive tackle. Beasock is anticipating playing teams he played in youth football, stating “I’m really excited to play teams we used to play when we were little, especially conference opponents like Peters and Bethel. We had some really good games with them when we were little and I'm excited to play them again.” 

All in all, this is going to be a very interesting season for the Jaguars, seeming to be built on confidence and excitement from players and others connected to the team. The Jaguars will start their season against a familiar rival in Belle Vernon on Friday, August 28, 2026 and everyone will get to see what TJ has to offer this upcoming season.

By Elena O’Dea

May 2026

Standing at the edge of the pool, Assistant Swim Coach Brian McClain gives a quick nod before the race begins. The first time he blew the whistle as a coach, McClain knew he had stepped into something new: guiding swimmers.

McClain decided to become a swim coach at Thomas Jefferson High School this school year: “One of the reasons [I decided to coach] is that Officer Peters stepped down this year. So before that, there really wasn't a position. I respected him a lot, and I knew that he had a really good experience with TJ Swimming, so I kind of felt the interest in following up.”

Prior to McClain taking over as the assistant coach, Brian Peters served in this role. Although McClain is new to the swim program, many swimmers have noticed similarities between him and former coach Peters. Both brought a strong sense of discipline, consistency, and encouragement to the team, making a good environment where athletes felt supported while still being pushed to improve. Like Peters, McClain emphasizes effort, accountability, and team unity.

For returning swimmers, that sense of community made the transformation smoother and helped maintain the team’s positive attitude. 

McClain is a long-time TJ biology teacher. Prior to coaching the swim team, he coached football for 30 years. In his younger years as an athlete, he played college football and swam in high school.

Alexis Greese, junior at Thomas Jefferson High School and a member of the 10-person state swimming team, notes, “I was really excited [about McClain joining the coaching staff] because there was a familiar face, and we see him every day.” She's not the only person who felt like that. The swim team as a whole was very excited about their new coach.

Alayna Bindas, who is a senior swimmer agreed, emphasizing his positive influence: “...I just think he is a …good person to be around and coach.” 

Under McClain's guidance, both the boys and girls swim and dive team won section titles this season. While many factors played into this victory, McClain's welcoming presence and encouragement played a noticeable role in keeping the team focused and motivated.

Besides team achievements, McClain's impact could be seen in the individual success of his swimmers. This season, five boys and five girls advanced to the state competition, a milestone that reflects both dedication and strong leadership. Rather than focusing only on results, McClain encouraged and helped swimmers stay confident in and out of the pool.

Greese notes, “He’s always encouraging us to try our best, and even if we don’t have our best race, he reminds us there’s always a next time and something we can improve.” That encouragement gave athletes the confidence to push themselves further. 

The swim team is determined to perform even better next year, driven by a shared sense of purpose and motivation. After reflecting on past performances, the athletes recognise both their strengths and the areas where they can improve.