BVA’s Weightman shines on defense

By Jose Negron

jnegron@yourmvi.com

There weren’t many defensive players in the WPIAL who were as valuable to their team as Cole Weightman was to Belle Vernon Area this season. 

The junior linebacker was a menace in the eyes of opposing offenses, collecting a whopping 129 total tackles and 29 tackles for loss. Weightman helped lead a BVA defense that finished with four shutouts during a campaign in which the team advanced to the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals. 

Due to the immeasurable impact Weightman had on the Leopards’ success this season, he was rewarded with the Mon Valley Independent-BeeGraphix Finest 30 Defensive Player of the Year Award last week. 

Weightman was the runner-up for the award as a sophomore last season. 

“With all of the talented players in this area, this means a lot,” Weightman said. “Being honorable mention last year made me work hard. This year’s award is going to make me work even harder.”

BVA head coach Matt Humbert said  Weightman’s toughness and 6-4, 215-pound frame are two attributes that make him such a solid defensive player, one that progressed as the year went on. 

“This year, I think he really took a step in the right direction with being a complete linebacker,” Humbert said. “Last year as a sophomore, he did a decent job for us, but really understanding the nuances of the position, I think, came this year. 

“He’s a versatile kid and next year’s we’re looking at a bunch of different ways in which we can utilize Cole from a defensive end position to a linebacker position.” 

In addition to lauding Weightman’s play on the defensive side of the football, Humbert said the junior’s role on the offensive side of the ball flew under the radar as well. 

“I don’t think people realize the type of tight end Cole is,” Humbert said. “At that position, Cole didn’t catch a lot of balls, but when you look at him as an extension to the offensive line, he’s one of the best blockers I’ve had in probably the last five years at Belle Vernon. I think that parlays into who he is as a defensive player, he is just a team guy.” 

After playing a significant role during BVA’s run to the WPIAL championship game in 2019, Weightman entered his junior season with a heightened sense of motivation. 

Considering the Leopards were faced with having to replace a number of key seniors, Weightman knew he had to take on an even bigger role as a leader, too. 

“I was very motivated personally because I want to win. I want to be a WPIAL champion,” said Weightman, who already owns a WPIAL championship in wrestling. “It helped that Coach (Brett) Berish and Coach (Jeff) Ogrodowski both told me that I needed to start being a leader, especially with all the leaders we had in Hunter (Ruokonen), Jared (Hartman), Nolan (Labuda), Larry (Callaway), Hayden (Baron) and Andy (Pacak). My teammates look up to me, so I wanted to make sure I showed them I could lead by example.”