Eye On Sports
by Derek Pyda, Brendan Howe, Jake Adams
A weekly sports podcast hosted by Butler Eagle News sports writer Derek Pyda. Joining Derek are Butler Eagle sports editor Jake Adams and fellow sports writer Brendan Howe. For more follow: @altereaglepodcast on Instagram, www.butlereagle.com/section/sports and www.alter-eagle.com Hosts: Brendan Howe, Derek Pyda, Jake Adams Producer: Laura Crago
Episodes
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Bonus Episode! Butler, Notre Dame Legend Terry Hanratty's Chat With Steelers Great Bill Cowher
We have a special treat for football fans this weekend. Legendary Butler and Notre Dame quarterback Terry Hanratty, friend of the pod, is back and brought some early Halloween candy for "Eye on Sports." The former Steeler had a conversation recently with Super Bowl champion and former Pittsburgh...
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Moniteau Football Makes Playoffs and Freeport Volleyball's Radvan and Stivenson Join the Show
The key to a good Tom Phillips costume is the yellow ballcap. That's what we learned this week on "Eye on Sports" talking to Freeport volleyball's Jayme Radvan and Macy Stivenson, the seniors leading the undefeated Yellowjackets into the WPIAL playoffs. They talked about the season, their…
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Previewing Butler vs. Karns City Football, Week 8 Games, and Brendan Howe Returns to Talk Steelers
"I haven't had one minute to think." Look who's back! It's Brendan Howe, friend of the show, making his debut as a guest this week. Howe joins "Eye on Sports" to talk about the Steelers' bounce-back win and the state of the team, Jaylen Warren's ascent and the team's playoff hopes. Back in high...
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Analyzing Butler County's .500 Football Teams, and Brad Walker on Freeport Boys Soccer's Hot Start
"Would you buy a urinal trough?" Nebraska's selling urinal troughs — yeeeppp! — to fans for a cool $2,500. You in? In on-the-field news, Derek Pyda and Jake Merda Adams break down the area's 3-3 football teams: Butler, Knoch, North Catholic and Slippery Rock. Where are these teams trending? Can...
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Butler County Football Midseason MVP, Surprises, Storylines and Fantasy Update with John Enrietto
John Enrietto is back, repeatedly asking himself "what is this show?" Good question, John. The former sports editor and friend of the show is again in studio to talk PIAA football at the midway point of the season. Who has surprised us most? Which team has impressed us? What stories came out of...
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Slippery Rock Football's Aden Shay on His Breakout Season, Our Week 5 Picks & Movie Trivia Goes Bad
"Give us a hint!" Slippery Rock running back Aden Shay has been the breakout star of the PIAA football season. The senior, who has multiple 200-yard games already, hopped on the phone with us this week to talk about returning to football, his goals in the sport and wrestling, and more. Plus, Jake...
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Week 4 PIAA Football Picks and Chatting With Tyler Friel, The Voice of Butler Football
"I was a terrible athlete, probably." Butler High graduate and Butler Radio news director Tyler Friel made his "Eye on Sports" debut (FINALLY) this week to talk about not being a childhood phenom in sports and turning to broadcasting instead, his fandom, the Golden Tornado's 3-0 start and future…
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2026 Butler County Fantasy Football Draft: Does Cole Johnston Go No. 1? Plus Guest Jack Steineman
Season 2 of our high school fantasy football league kicks off with our draft. Producer Laura Crago has joined the league. Can she unseat Derek and Jake at the top of the league? The rules are simple: Each team drafts 1 QB, 2 RBs and 2 WRs You can make waiver wire moves at the start of each…
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It's Not Goodbye, It's See You Soon. Brendan's Last Show and Week 2 PIAA Football Picks
Yeah, yeah, yeah ... it's football season or whatever. But today is Brendan Howe's last show, and we're ... sending him out in style? He's off to Yinzer pastures and reflects on his five years at the Butler Eagle and two years on Eye on Sports. And as our going away present, can he beat Derek in…
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Will Union/A-C Valley Football Skip a Beat Without Star RBs? Most Hated Chore: Media Day Special
Max Gallagher and Logan Skibinski shredded defenses last year for Union/A-C Valley football en route to the co-op's best season on record. No matter, the Falcon Knights are confident the newest edition of the offense will be just fine. Parker Bish, Nick Ielase and Noah Yori join "Eye on Sports"…
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Can Slippery Rock Football Begin Turnaround With New Coach? Drumsticks or Flats: Media Day Special
Steve Monteleone takes over a football program for the first time in his long coaching career, and there's enthusiasm already in Year 1 for the Slippery Rock Rockets as they look recover from injuries and graduation losses. Some of those Rockets —Aiden Shay, Cole Schwartz and Logan Schlobohm —…
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LIVE from Mars Football! Season Opener Prep + Our Week 1 Predictions
"Let's go!" We're kicking off Season 3 from Mars Athletic Complex, with the Planets practicing for their season opener against Seneca Valley. First-year Mars head coach Zachary Benedek and Planets players Jameson Garvin, Smyth Dunaway and Raymond Chase sit down to talk with Derek Pyda, Brendan…
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How Is New-Look Offense Taking Shape at Seneca Valley? Super Bowl Dream Spread: Media Day Special
Quarterback Jamen Alwine and two of his weapons, Julian Hunt and Josiah Edwards, are eager to kick off Year 2 of the Don Barclay era at Seneca Valley the way 2025 ended: with a bang. That trio is here on "Eye on Sports" for a special Butler Eagle Football Media Day episode to talk about the...
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Can New Weapons Lead North Catholic Football to Same Level? Least Favorite Drill: Media Day Special
After showcasing a prolific offense in 2025, the North Catholic Trojans are back with the same lofty expectations for the PIAA football season but plenty of new faces in important roles. Will Waskiewicz, Louisi Iaquinta and Joseph Colluiton hop on "Eye on Sports" for a special Butler Eagle…
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What's Next for Moniteau Football After 2025 Turnaround? Team's Best Dancer: Media Day Special
Vibes are high in Warrior Country, where second-year head coach Clay Kohlmeyer and Moniteau football are looking to build off last year's 3-7 season in District 9, a marked step up from the year before. Senior Carter Knight and juniors Bryce Stamm and Bryan Hazlet sit down for a special Butler...
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With New Coach, Can Mars Football Match Past Success in 2026? Favorite Wing Sides: Media Day Special
First-year head coach Zachary Benedek is bringing a new energy to the Mars Fightin' Planets football program after they had another successful run to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs in 2025. Jameson Garvin, Jameson Dickman and Ryan Walker join Eye on Sports for a special Butler Eagle Football Media…
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Can Knoch Football Rebound After Difficult Season? Coach's Disney Princess Comp: Media Day Special
It was tough sledding for the Knoch Knights, who went winless a year ago under first-year head coach TJ Wiley. But the Knights have hope heading into the 2026 PIAA football season, with veteran talent drawing interest from NCAA programs. Can seniors Max Wiley, Carter Beres and Makai Noah lead the...
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Can D9 Champion Karns City Football Repeat? Coach Sherwin as Disney Princess: Media Day Special
The Karns City Gremlins kick off the 2026 PIAA football season as defending District 9 Class 2A champions and made the state tournament. With standout dual-threat quarterback Cole Johnston back, can KC recapture last year's magic? Johnston, Bryce Galan and Owen Kaufman sit down during Butler…
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Can Freeport Football Keep up Winning Ways in WPIAL in 2026? Least Favorite Chore: Media Day Special
The Freeport Yellowjackets made the WPIAL Class 3A tournament second round in 2025, finishing 8-4. Without stars Amos Glenn and Drew Ross leading the offense, who will step up to make sure Freeport doesn't miss a beat in the 2026 PIAA football season? And what's it like playing in the same…
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Can Butler Football Follow up on Breakout 2025? Who Would be in Team's Boy Band: Media Day Special
The Butler Golden Tornado head into the 2026 PIAA football season looking to build off the overwhelming success of 2025. Can coach Eric Christy's bunch match or exceed last year's 7-3 campaign? Who are the players to watch, and how is the offensive line shaping up? Seniors Nicco Baggetta, Jake...
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Season 2 Review - Best Moments, Laughs, Interviews and More
It's hot. It's summer. Everyone's taking vacation. And with that, it's time to look back at Season 2 of Eye on Sports. What'd we get right? What'd we get very, very wrong? And how will Dominic the Intern embarrass Jake? Let's take a trip down memory lane for our Season 2 Year in Review special,...
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Athletes of The Year Nolan Stefaniak And Simone Sharpless on Careers, Sibling Rivalries And More
"There was a human-shaped hole in the wall." Ummm ... what? The Butler Eagle named its third annual Male and Female Athletes of the Year this week: Butler senior baseball player Nolan Stefaniak and North Catholic senior soccer and flag football player Simone Sharpless. The two local standouts...
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Butler Eagle All-Stars Part 2: Breaking Down Baseball, Softball and Lacrosse
Jake is here, but he's not. But he's here! The power of YouTube magic has Jake Merda Adams, on vacation, back in studio with Derek Pyda this week to break down the rest of our spring all-stars. WPIAL champions Butler baseball, Mars boys and Mars girls lacrosse stole the all-star show. Find out...
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Butler Eagle All-Stars Part 1: Breaking Down Track, Volleyball, Flag and Tennis
A couple two-time players of the year and our very first flag football all-star team! Who made the cut for the all-Butler County spring teams? Derek Pyda and Jake Merda Adams break down the awards and talk about the first-teamers, from Freeport's Mackenzie Magness to North Catholic's Lizzie…
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Mars Boys Lacrosse Celebrates Its State Title, and Butler Baseball's Lasting Legacy
"State champion" has a nice ring to it. Mars boys lacrosse's Grant Weaver, Reed Fuller, David Renner and Jack Tirch joined the show today to continue celebrating their PIAA championship, the second in program history. The crew relived the final minutes of the game, their favorite highlights of…
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Rainbow Vacuum Cleaners, Previewing PIAA Championships and Butler's Lew Liparulo
"They look like a droid from Star Wars." We go off the rails almost immediately, from pistachio chocolate to rainbow vacuum clearers, cutting the grass and, well ... you get the picture. Butler baseball and volleyball are in the PIAA tournament this week, plus Mars and girls lacrosse and a few...
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Can Jake Stand the Heat? Trying Wings for the Beacon Hotel's Wing Fest 2026
The 2026 Wing Fest is June 7, and Jake broke containment from the office for the difficult task of taste-testing some of the wings that might be entered in the competition to by the Beacon Hotel this year. It was a difficult assignment, don't let his sauce-covered hands fool you in this special...
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Breaking Down the WPIAL and District 9 Baseball and Softball Championships
"You're not Derek!" Nope, she's not. Laura steps into the host seat for the first time with Derek and Brendan in parts unknown so we can drop a special Memorial Day episode previewing this week's WPIAL and District 9 baseball and softball championships. The stars have aligned for Butler to…
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What to Watch at PIAA Track and Field Championships
Can Freeport's Mackenzie Magness defend her PIAA pole vault title? And who else will join her on the podium at Shippensburg University this weekend? Derek, Jake and Brendan break down the Butler County contingent heading to the PIAA Track and Field Championships. Butler's 4x800 relay is coming…
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Can Butler Baseball Win Its First WPIAL Title? Plus Karns City's Alex Wilson Joins The Show
We won't make the Jim Mora "Playoffs?!?!" joke this season. It's a Derek and Jake episode this week, and they're breaking down a couple big WPIAL playoff storylines: Can Butler baseball finally win a title as the top seed? And can Knoch softball do the same? Will Mars boys lacrosse make it 10...
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Madi Barnyk, Simone Sharpless' Moment on the NFL Stage, Plus WPIAL Track and Penguins
The WPIAL track and field championships are next week, as are District 9 and 10. What can we expect from some of Butler County's top runners, jumpers and throwers? We break it down. A week off should've given us a rested Jake. Instead, he's in pain from his Broad Street Run. You know who's not in...
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NFL Draft Hits Pittsburgh, WPIAL Track Shines & JJ Wetherholt Update
Jake's on vacation, but the sports world isn't slowing down. This week, we dive into JJ Wetherholt's continued impact, highlight standout performances from WPIAL team track, and break down the excitement as the NFL Draft lands in Pittsburgh. From local athletes to the national spotlight, it's a...
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The Only Steelers Draft Breakdown You Need, featuring PennLive's Nick Farabaugh
"It's very hard not to see 2 or 3 players on the board (they like)." The Penguins are down bad, but it's the week of hopes and dreams for all football fans. PennLive Steelers reporter Nick Farabaugh makes his debut on the show to talk all things NFL draft this week. What's the best-case and...
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NCAA Champ Easton Bazzoli, Butler Eagle Swimming and Wrestling All-Stars, and Steelers Draft Talk
"I got about four hours of sleep last night." Seneca Valley grad Easton Bazzoli still hasn't slept much since leading Gannon men's basketball to its first NCAA Division II title a week ago. Is it the recruiting, the celebration or raising a 3-year-old? The former Raiders standout hops on the pod…
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A Debt Paid off, Butler Eagle All-County Basketball, Mars' Jackson Krock Joins Us
"What do you got there, Brendan?" Jake finally pays off his debt from the fantasy football season, much to Brendan's full stomach's content. He chows down while we break down our decisions for the Butler Eagle all-county boys and girls basketball teams, including players of the year Teegan…
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Hall of Fame Inductee Brad Mueller in Studio, Only After We Go Off The Rails
Mars football and track star Brad Mueller is heading to the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame this month. The former Boston College running back who later went to Slippery Rock University joined us in studio to relive some of his favorite memories as head enters the hall. But before that, a food...
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Mars' Marin Raible Joins the Show, Previewing the PIAA Spring Season
"Diving is definitely the way we still get that excitement." Mars diver and newly crowned WPIAL and PIAA medalist Marin Raible hopped on "Eye on Sports" to talk about her transition from gymnastics to diving and what it was like to win multiple medals. But first, we stumble all over ourselves to...
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Flag on The Play! Talking PIAA Flag Football's Debut, Spring Storylines and NBA Tanking.
"Speaking of flags..." Warmer weather means outdoor sports are back. And that means storylines. Jake is all on board the flag football train. The first PIAA-sanctioned season began in the past week, and Mars, Seneca Valley and North Catholic will be part of the debut season. What can we expect?...
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PIAA Wrestling Championships Recap; Mars' Bednars, Wetherholt Having Big Spring Trainings.
Butler's Santino Sloboda won his fourth medal, bronze, at the PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships, closing out a historic career. Jake was on site with coverage, highlights and interviews with the man of the weekend. And with it feeling like a (soggy) spring finally, you better be watching…
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Breaking Down PIAA Basketball and Wrestling Championships, Plus an NFL Combine Scouting Report.
"Some of its jokes haven't aged well." Jake gets nostalgic for Scrubs returning after nearly 15 years, which gets Brendan to open up about his love for Peaky Blinders and Derek espousing the virtues of Breaking Bad again. As for sports, the PIAA basketball playoffs and PIAA wrestling…
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A LOT of WPIAL Wrestling Thoughts, That Knoch-North Catholic Semifinal and Olympics.
We find out Jake REALLY likes to talk about the Olympics, and figure skating, and King Klaebo. And we didn't even get to Nazgul the wolfdog! But first, Derek and Jake break down a big week of WPIAL wrestling championships, where Butler's Santino Sloboda won his third straight gold to join…
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Santino Sloboda's Record-Breaking Day at Butler, Talking Karns City Girls Basketball's Playoff Odds
It's the best time of the wrestling calendar — POSTSEASON! Jake was on site at Butler High School and got some highlights and news from the WPIAL sectional wrestling tournament, where Butler's Santino Sloboda broke a historic record and classmate Sutton Stoner at long last got the win he has been...
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WPIAL Basketball Bracket Release, Karns City's Naomi Venesky on Her Milestone & Super Bowl Thoughts.
So, as soon as we started recording this week's episode, the WPIAL basketball tournament brackets were announced. But unlike that bracket show, ours doesn't freeze in the middle of the stream! Derek, Brendan and Jake attempt to break down in real time the seedings and matchups for Knoch boys…
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Knoch Basketball's Joe Lafko Joins the Show, District Basketball Lookahead and the Belichick Snub
The WPIAL, District 9 and District 10 playoffs are right around the corner. But many Butler County teams still have to make the dance. Derek, Brendan and Jake discuss this year's surprises and which teams have the best chance to stick around for a while. Can Seneca Valley girls, poised to repeat…
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Best Student Section? Karns City in the Running + Mike McCarthy to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Student section week is here in Butler County, and Derek, Brendan and Jake talk about how high school crowds do it best. And then Karns City senior Quinn Robinson, the man behind the theme nights and organizing the gang, joins the show to tell us why the Gremlins have the best supports in all the...
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Moniteau Basketball Coach Jake Jewart Joins the Show; Reacting to Mars, Slippery Rock Openings.
Move over, Mike Tomlin. There's bigger coaching carousel news this week! Derek, Brendan and Jake break down last week's stories on Mars and Slippery Rock losing their head football coaches. What's next? Who might be a candidate for those teams? How good of a job are they? Oh, yeah, there's a...
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Court to the Sideline: Madison Romanovich & Coach Jeff Steele, and the End of the Mike Tomlin Era.
In this episode, John joins Derek in the studio for a wide-ranging sports conversation that hits both the local and national stage. They're joined by Slippery Rock girls basketball senior Madison Romanovich and Coach Jeff Steele to talk about leadership, senior season mindset, team culture, and...
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Midseason High School Basketball and Wrestling Surprises, MVPs and What To Watch The Rest of The Season.
It's a whole new year! Not really, we're at the midway point of the PIAA winter season. And with that, let's have some fun. Since we last were on air, Butler boys basketball went 1-3 and Karns City basketball has looked impressive. What were Derek, Brendan and Jake's takeaways from the holidays?...
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Karns City Two-Sport Star Mason Bell Joins Us, More All-Stars and Christmas Power Rankings.
Why is Karns City's Mason Bell already bored? The soccer and football all-star joins the show to talk about his unbelievable season. Please we break down the final all-county soccer, volleyball and golf teams. It's our final episode before Christmas! Jake and Derek create dueling holiday power...
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All-Butler County Football Sweet 16s; SRU's Roberta Page On Launching Flag Football, Wrestling.
A good ol' fashioned sports debate about Notre Dame and the CFP? Yeah, let's do it! Oh, and the guys break down the Butler County Sweet 16 football teams, from record-setting QBs to hard-hitting linemen. Slippery Rock University athletic director Roberta Page joins the show to talk about the…
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About this show
A weekly sports podcast hosted by Butler Eagle News sports writer Derek Pyda. Joining Derek are Butler Eagle sports editor Jake Adams and fellow sports writer Brendan Howe. For more follow: @altereaglepodcast on Instagram, www.butlereagle.com/section/sports and www.alter-eagle.com Hosts: Brendan Howe, Derek Pyda, Jake Adams Producer: Laura Crago
Hosted by
Derek Pyda, Brendan Howe, Jake Adams