Meet the notable alumni from Canon-McMillan athletics on the Canon Mac Sports Network.
ALUMNI
Canon-McMillan Alumni
Discover stories and achievements of Canon-McMillan athletics alumni who continue to embody the Big Macs spirit beyond the field. Each profile tells the story of a Big Mac alum—from their high school days on the field to their current career paths and personal reflections. These features celebrate their achievements while inspiring current students and the greater Canon-Mac community.
Joseph A. Macerelli, Esq.
A graduate of Canon-McMillan (1973), Mr. Macerelli was a multi-sport athlete and two (2) year letterman of the Big Mac football team as a tight end and linebacker. A team captain, he received All Western Conference honors as well as All WPIAL honors. After being recruited
by multiple Division I programs, Joe selected the University of Pittsburgh and had the distinction of being the very first commitment for Coach Johnny Majors. Future Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett would soon follow.
Mr. Macerelli was voted freshman team captain and was a participant in the 1973 Fiesta Bowl. He was also a member of the 1976 National Championship football team. Unfortunately, a spinal injury
and resultant surgery concluded any future ability to participate/play. A longtime member of the Pitt Varsity Letter Club, Joe served as President of its Board of Directors in 1998 and was awarded the Letter Winner of Distinction in 2002.
After graduating from the Duquesne University School of Law in 1981, Mr. Macerelli managed his own law firm for 35 years before taking a position as a Member with Burns White in 2016. Joe has concentrated practice in Medical Negligence and professional liability for over 40 years. He is admitted to practice in all Pennsylvania Courts as well as
the U.S. Federal District Court, Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme
Court, with membership in all local Bar Associations, as well as an invited member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers, Pennsylvania Defense Institute and national Defense Research Institute. Joe is recognized annually on the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers listings since 2005 and has been selected by his peers for inclusion of Best Lawyers
in America from 2016-present, the Allegheny County Bar Foundation
Fellows Program and is peer rated AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 in Martindale-Hubbell.
Mr. Macerelli is an active member of community affairs, including various Board of Directors positions; Chairman, Canonsburg General Hospital, Chairman, West Penn Allegheny Health System, Allegheny Health Network and Lending Hearts.
John Somsky
Mr. Somsky has a broad range of professional experience in athletics, sports management/ sports marketing and traditional business management.
He concluded his career by being a member of the senior management team with the PGA Senior Tour hosting the Senior Players Championship held at Fox Chapel CC in Pittsburgh.
Prior to The Senior Players Championship he held several positions at Level 3 formerly Adelphia Business Solutions. During his tenure, Mr. Somsky was a member of the Adelphia team that developed the Adelphia Coliseum naming rights contract with the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League and was responsible for the strategic business plan for the use of the Coliseum in the corporation’s integrated marketing plan.
Before moving to Adelphia, Mr. Somsky was Vice President of Sales and Development with Host Communication (NCAA Marketing Agency specializing in multi-million dollar corporate sponsorships), VP of Marketing and Administration for Premier Distributing (Exclusive Anheuser Busch Distributor, New Mexico), Director of Strategic Marketing McDonald’s Corporation, & Senior Sports Marketing Manager at Gatorade.
During these stops, John was responsible for numerous athletic and entertainment sponsorships including the management of programs such as NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick, NATA, NASCAR, inclusion of Michael Jordan in both Gatorade’s and McDonald’s advertising/ marketing campaigns.
As an independent consultant, has advised the Pennsylvania “Big 33” Foundation, Upper Deck Authenticated, Robert Morris University, and the PGA Tour. John is former Chairman of the Board of Sports Management Department at Robert Morris University.
Prior to his transition into the business community, John was a teacher, a high school and athletic coordinator in both Texas and Pennsylvania. He spent several years coaching college football with stops at Purdue, WVU, TCU and LSU. He is a graduate of Bethany College where he played football and holds a MS from WVU.
In 1993, he received the National Man of the Year – Youth Development Award, from the National Organization of State Coach’s Association Directors (NOCAD) for his work in advancing high school athletics. John is a member of the Robert Morris Hall of Fame and in 2019 he was awarded the Bison Distinguished Service Award for his decades of support for Bethany College.
He and his wife Evonne currently reside in Canonsburg, PA.
Dan Wingard, Sr.
A graduate from Canon-McMillan (2005), Dr. Doug was a three (3) year letter winner for the Big Mac football team as a quarterback and outside
linebacker, four (4) year letter winner in Track and Field and two (2) year letter winner in Ice Hockey. Among his accolades during his high school football career, he was the first player to be named both offensive and defensive player of the year by the Observer Reporter in 2004.
After graduating from Canon-McMillan, he continued his playing career as a preferred walk on for the Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions and redshirted his freshman year.
His football career was unfortunately cut short by a long history of concussions along with his dream to go to medical school. He continued with his love for football with the Nittany Lions as
an undergraduate coaching assistant throughout the rest of his time at Penn State and graduated in 2009.
He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine where he also completed his internship and Internal Medicine residency serving as chief intern and chief resident during those years. After residency, he was accepted into Cardiology fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University Deborah Heart and Lung Center in south New Jersey where he
served as chief fellow. He continued his training at Deborah Heart and Lung Center completing a fellowship in interventional cardiology. During this time, he volunteered as a coach and tutor
with Focused Athletics for high school athletes in the Philadelphia area. In July, Dr. Rheam will finish his training after completing his last year of advanced training in endovascular medicine
and peripheral intervention at Cardiovascular Institute of the South in Houma, Louisiana.
In February of 2023, he welcomed his first child, Torren Douglas Rheam, who he hopes will one day wear the blue and gold.
The Honorable Brandon P. Neuman
The Honorable Brandon P. Neuman is a proud Graduate of Canon-McMillan (2000). Brandon played football, baseball, and he wrestled at Canon Mac. He received 8 varsity letters and numerous accolades as a student-athlete. He played fullback and linebacker for the Big Macs. Brandon credits his success on and off the field to the foundation built while at Canon Mac. He has many mentors that are part of the Canon Mac Community. Brandon’s wife (Carrie), parents (Jim and Susan), and siblings (Kristen Smith, Dr. Erin Neuman-Boone, and Dr. Brian Neuman) are a major part of his success.
Brandon attended the University of Richmond and played football. In 2004, Brandon’s teammates chose him to be captain of the team. This was a tremendous honor for him. Brandon was the starting fullback and lettered three seasons at Richmond. While playing at Richmond, the Spiders won the Atlantic 10 Championship. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond, B.A., Criminal Justice; received a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law; and his J.D. from the Duquesne University School of Law where he was selected to be the distinguished student by the faculty.
Brandon was sworn-in to the Washington County Court of Common Pleas in January 2018, currently handling criminal matters. He is an appointed member, by the Governor, to the Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Training and Education Board. He is also an appointed member, by the Speaker of the House, to America250PA. He was elected to four terms to the PA House of Representatives. While in the legislature, the Speaker of the House appointed him to the PA Commission on Sentencing, the Attorney General appointed him to a committee on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and Brandon held various other positions while in the legislature.
Brandon has always been passionate about helping the next generation succeed. He sponsored a youth jobs forum in November 2011, the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. In 2013, he served as the host of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) forum – also the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. While in the PA House, Brandon was the prime sponsor of HB 272, requiring among other things that sexual assault testing kits be processed in a timely manner. This legislation continues to provide timely justice to sexual assault victims. Prior to being elected judge, Brandon was a trial attorney for a firm in Pittsburgh where he was named one of the top trial lawyers in Pennsylvania under the age of 40 multiple times.
He is married to Carrie Neuman and they have four children: Josephine, Abraham, Claire, and Violet.
Mike Hull
A graduate of Canon-McMillan (2010), Hull was a four (4) sport Letterman while with the Big Macs, garnering first team All-Conference honors 4x on the football field as well as All-State and All-American honors as a Senior, capped off by playing in the U.S. ARMY All-American Game. Hull was a three (3) year letterman and won a State Championship in 2008 as a starter on the Baseball team. On the wrestling mat, Hull was a member of the 2010 WPIAL Championship Team, an individual WPIAL runner-up in 2008 and took 6th place at the State Championships after an injury forfeit. Hull finished up his Canon-McMillan career on the Track, where he won a WPIAL Team Championship in 2010 as part of the 4×100 team.
Hull went on to play Linebacker at Penn State University, where he played in 47 games, was a four (4) year letterman and a 2-year starter. In his Senior season (2014) with the Nittany Lions, Hull was named a team captain and earned 1st team All-BIG Ten honors, 2nd Team All-American Honors and was named the Big Ten Linebacker of the year. He finished his career with 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 21.5 TFL’s, 6.5 sacks and is 6th all-time in total tackles at Penn State with 294.
After leaving Penn State, Hull went undrafted to the Miami Dolphins (2015). He would go on to eventually make the team and spend 5 seasons in Miami. In 2016 Hull finished the season with 19 special teams tackles, which was the second highest total in the NFL that year. Mostly a special teams contributor, Hull played in 44 games and started 4 of those, while recording 79 career tackles, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery.
Hull now resides in Nashville, Tennessee where he is a partner at a real estate development firm, Creative Investments. He specializes in land acquisition and entitlement for the group on the residential side of the business.
Jeravin Matthews
A graduate of Canon-McMillan (2008), Jeravin was a member of the varsity football team from 2005-2007, earning three letters as a Running back and Defensive Back. During his senior season, Jeravin earned 1st Team All-Conference honors and helped the Big Macs to their first post-season berth since 2004. Jeravin was also a four (4) year letter winner in Track & Field, winning a team WPIAL Title and state medal in the Long Jump. At the time of his graduation, Jeravin held school records for all sprinting events and the Long Jump.
A graduate of Northwestern University (2012), Jeravin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Learning and Organizational Change from The School of Education and Social Policy. As a Wide Receiver, Running Back, and Defensive Back, he earned four letters and helped the Wildcats reach four consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history. Jeravin was a starter on the 2011 team that went to the Meineke Car Care Bowl, and he also served as a three-time member of the Northwestern Football Leadership Council.
Jeravin is currently a Senior Manager of Operations at GrubHub Inc. He resides in St. Louis, MO with his wife and daughter.
Douglas Rheam, D.O.
A graduate from Canon-McMillan (2005), Dr. Doug was a three (3) year letter winner for the Big Mac football team as a quarterback and outside
linebacker, four (4) year letter winner in Track and Field and two (2) year letter winner in Ice Hockey. Among his accolades during his high school football career, he was the first player to be named both offensive and defensive player of the year by the Observer Reporter in 2004.
After graduating from Canon-McMillan, he continued his playing career as a preferred walk on for the Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions and redshirted his freshman year.
His football career was unfortunately cut short by a long history of concussions along with his dream to go to medical school. He continued with his love for football with the Nittany Lions as
an undergraduate coaching assistant throughout the rest of his time at Penn State and graduated in 2009.
He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine where he also completed his internship and Internal Medicine residency serving as chief intern and chief resident during those years. After residency, he was accepted into Cardiology fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University Deborah Heart and Lung Center in south New Jersey where he
served as chief fellow. He continued his training at Deborah Heart and Lung Center completing a fellowship in interventional cardiology. During this time, he volunteered as a coach and tutor
with Focused Athletics for high school athletes in the Philadelphia area. In July, Dr. Rheam will finish his training after completing his last year of advanced training in endovascular medicine
and peripheral intervention at Cardiovascular Institute of the South in Houma, Louisiana.
In February of 2023, he welcomed his first child, Torren Douglas Rheam, who he hopes will one day wear the blue and gold.
Chris sidick
A graduate of Canon-McMillan (2001), Chris was a multi sport athlete and three (3) year letterman for the Big Mac football team. In addition to All-Conference honors, Sidick competed in the East vs. West WPIAL All Star Game.
At Marietta, Chris was a four (4) year letter winner in both football and baseball. On the gridiron, he earned All-OAC honors in 2003 and 2004 and was an All-Region selection in 2004. Sidick graduated as the NCAA Division III all-time leader in kickoff returns with 106 and kick return yards with 2,235.
As an outfielder for the Etta Express, Sidick was twice named the OAC Jack Rafeld Most Valuable Player earning the award in 2004 and 2005. He was a three-time first team All-OAC pick and took home all-region accolades three times. Sidick earned second team All-American honors in 2004 and third team honors in 2005.
Following his time in the pinstripes, Sidick played professionally for the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. He holds numerous Frontier League records including career marks for games played, at bats, runs scored and hits. Sidick, who was named a Top-10 Independent Professional Baseball Prospect in 2006 by Baseball America, was inducted into the Frontier League Hall of Fame in 2015.
Sidick, who graduated with a degree in Management and a minor in Sports Management, lives in Canonsburg, Pa., with his wife Melissa and two boys Easton & Carter. He is the owner of C-Side Sports Academy, a baseball and softball training school.
Mike Hull
A graduate of Canon-McMIllan (2003), Brandon was a member of the varsity football teams from 2000-2002 under Head Coach Dan Pallante. He was a two (2) year letter winner playing Quarterback and Defensive Back for the Big Macs. He takes great pride in being on 3 playoff teams, including the 2000 and 2002 Section Championship teams. Brandon counts his experience playing football at Canon Mac as some of the best times of his youth and still enjoys time spent with former teammates and coaches.
Brandon has also served on the coaching staff at Canon Mac under current Big Mac Head Coach Mike Evans from 2015-2022 assisting at all levels of the program (7th, 8th, Freshmen, JV, Varsity)
Brandon is a 2007 graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a 2012 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Arts in Teaching. He currently teaches Social Studies at Canon-McMillan High School and resides in Canonsburg with wife Taylor, and daughters, Chloe and Blake
Jeravin Matthews
A graduate of Canon-McMillan (2009), Pihakis was a three (3) sport varsity athlete, Football, Hockey and Baseball. A four (4) year letterman in Football, he was selected 1st Team All-Conference, Almanac Athlete of the year Finalist, Post Gazette Fab 22 selection and Tribune Review Washington County All Star selection. Alex played in the PA East/West All Star Game and previously held the single season sack record for the Big Macs. Also a four (4) year letterman in Hockey, he was nominated for the PA All Star game. As a three (3) year letterman in baseball, Pihakis was a member of the 2008 State Championship Baseball team.
A graduate of the University of Delaware Alfred Lerner school of Business with degrees in Sport Management and Business Administration, class of 2013. A four (4) year letterman as D-lineman on the Football team, Alex was a member of the 2010 National Championship Finalist team that played in Frisco Texas. He interned with the Sports Media and Information Department helping with day-to-day activities for multiple university sports. He has participated yearly in the Special Olympic walk to raise money along with other community service projects.
Upon graduating, Alex was hired by Northwestern Mutual as a financial representative working there for 1 year. He then decided to go into business for himself as an Independent Insurance broker specializing in individual life and health insurance mainly in the Senior Citizen and Medicare Sector, additionally with group voluntary benefits with Colonial Life and other supplemental insurance benefits for companies both big and small. A current member of AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) and steward for All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Canonsburg. He enjoys traveling and playing golf in his free time. Currently residing in the school district, Alex has a nephew Dimitri and niece Eleni, but no kids of his own.
Douglas Rheam, D.O.
A graduate of Canon-McMillan (2005), Macerelli was a two-year letterman on the Big Mac football teams that won
15 regular season games (8-1 & 7-2). As a senior in 2004, he was named second team All-State defensive back by
the Associated Press and PA Football News, making him the thirteenth All-State selection in school history and one
of eighteen to date. A first team All-Conference defensive back in the Big Seven and elected Co-Captain by his
teammates, Macerelli competed in the Pro-Grass Football Classic (Tri-County Coaches Association North/South
All-Star game), scoring a touchdown for the North in their victory.
Macerelli is a third-generation football alumnus. His grandfather, John “Big Red” Macerelli, was a 1949 graduate of
Cecil High School, a 1950 Tangerine Bowl Champion for Saint Vincent and a 1955 World Champion for the
Cleveland Browns. His father, Jeff “Mad Dog” Macerelli, was a 1975 graduate of Canon-McMillan, a 1975 Peach
Bowl Champion under Bobby Bowden over Lou Holtz, and finished his career as WVU’s all-time leading tackler
with 432 stops.
A graduate of West Virginia University (2009), Macerelli was recruited by Tony Gibson to play wide receiver for
Butch Jones as a preferred walk-on. Under the direction of head coach Rich Rodriguez, he was a member of the
2006 Sugar Bowl Champions (11-1) and 2007 Gator Bowl Champions (11-2). While at WVU, Macerelli was on the
Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll and received the Weight Room Warrior Award by strength and
conditioning coach Mike Barwis.
A self-employed independent contractor, Macerelli has been working as a Lease Buyer Landman in the Appalachian
Basin oil and gas industry since 2011. He was a part of the brokered Land team for local start-up, LOLA Energy,
who had built a nearly 20,000 acre position through leasing and mineral buying primarily in Greene County, PA. In
2017, LOLA’s assets were acquired by Rice Energy for $180 million. He currently resides in Castle Rock, Colorado
with his fiancé Kery, and two step-daughters, Leighton and Waylin.
Chris sidick
A graduate of Canon-McMillan (2005), Andronas was a three (3) year letterman for the Big Mac football team. In 2003 (8-1) & 2004 (7-2), their class won 15 regular season games. A record that gives this class the most wins in school history. Andronas competed in the Pro-Grass Football Classic (Tri-County Coaches Association North/South All-Star game), representing the North at ILB in their victory. His senior year, Andronas was elected Co-Captain by his teammates. In addition to football, Andronas was a four (4) year letterman of the Track & Field team and a four (4) year letterman of the Indoor Track & Field team.
A Cum Laude graduate of Corporate Communication from Robert Morris University, Andronas currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Bluestar USA, Inc. He has been involved in the Natural Gas Industry for the past 10 years specializing in pipeline construction and other midstream related projects. Also an avid entrepreneur, this Big Mac is involved in numerous non-profit organizations as well as other business ventures throughout Washington County. He currently lives in Canonsburg with his wife Dolly and two (2) children, Christiana & Frankie.