Oct 1, 2026 By Eleanor Bailey 8 min read

Evan Smirniw stands 6 feet, 5 inches tall but the Upper St. Clair junior is not a basketball player.

“I should be,” he admitted.

Smirniw, however, had other plans. During his youth, he tried every sport, except lacrosse, and as he approached high school, he mapped out a strategy with his father, Mark, who played soccer in New Jersey.

“We figured which (sports) I was best at and what to pursue,” he said.

Smirniw had grand plans. He wanted to make the varsity baseball team as a freshman. “That was the goal and I dedicated myself to it and achieved it. I was willing to pay the price. It paid off.”

A two-year starter, Smirniw was the first baseman on USC’s WPIAL championship club this spring. He batted .429 with 17 runs scored and eight stolen bases as the Panthers captured their first district title since 1992. That WPIAL winner 34 years ago featured a young Sean Casey, who went on to play 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, and whom Smirniw wishes to emulate .

“That’s the goal,” he said confidently.

There is, however, a problem.

Smirniw is making a name for himself on the gridiron.

This fall, he ranks among the top receivers in the WPIAL this fall with a 33.5-yard average per catch. He has 11 grabs for 278 yards and three touchdowns. He is No. 1 on the team in interceptions and No. 3 for tackles per game from his free safety position on defense.

Those numbers are drawing a different comparison.

“Evan reminds me more of Kevin Orie,” said Jeff Donati, who doubles as USC’s baseball coach as well as an assistant coach of the football team.

Orie was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1993 MLB amateur draft and played four professional seasons after excelling at Indiana University. At USC, he played football, basketball and baseball and was a member of the Panthers’ 1989 state championship football team.

“Evan is in that mode of Kevin. A multi-sport kid that won a WPIAL title as a sophomore. He’s bigger than Kevin but Kevin played basketball,” Donati said. “Evan, like Kevin, has a work ethic that is second to none.

“I give Evan a lot of credit because in the baseball world right now they are intentional about playing one sport. Evan’s different though. As long as he’s having fun, he’s going to play football.”

Smirniw is having a blast playing for the Panthers, who have started the season 5-0 in non-conference action.

“I love the atmosphere. Playing in front of all these people on Friday Nights and playing with my boys right next to me,” he said.

Smirniw gets a “thrill” out of scoring off a touchdown pass from Josh Snyder, his boyhood friend, or preventing one with a pick-6 from his new position as a strong safety.

“I really like offense and going up and catching the ball, especially those 50/50 balls that you have to battle someone to win. I have known Josh since first grade and he trusts me to throw those balls to me.”

Smirniw also has faith in his assistant coaches Aaron Fitzpatrick and Jamie Silva, who played safety for the Indianapolis Colts from 2008-10. He credits them for his success and for having instilled confidence in him.

“Coach Fitz predicted that I would have a huge breakout year and Coach Silvia came in and put me at strong safety. Before that I was a free safety,” he explained. “I never took it too seriously but he made me into a defensive player.”

According to USC head coach Mike Junko, Smirniw adapted well to his new position because he embraced the change with enthusiasm.

“Evan has the unique ability to cover in space and also the willingness to come downhill and make a tackle at the line of scrimmage,” he said. “Those types of players are hard to find. He has found a home on defense that takes advantage of that unique ability.

“He is a kid that just has fun playing the game. It is great to see him smiling every time he makes a play in practice. The other guys feed off that energy.”

Triumphs and setbacks have nourished Smirniw’s development. While winning a WPIAL title in baseball has been the career highlight so far, the broken bones and surgeries have fortified him too. As a freshman, he broke his ankle in football. Last year an ongoing baseball injury forced him to have elbow surgery in October.

According to Junko, Smirniw never missed a practice or meeting with his teammates after those difficult experiences.

“I am a big supporter of guys playing multiple sports,” Junko said. “You need to experience the highs and lows of difficult moments to grow mentally tougher.

“Evan’s experience this past baseball season was a great example of that. He started the year off somewhat slow, but finished with a flurry that helped to carry his team to a championship. Those lessons of grit and mental toughness have certainly helped him this football season.”

Smirniw wants to assist the Panthers in winning an elusive title in football. USC has not won a WPIAL championship on the gridiron since 2006. The Panthers were Class 5A semifinalists in 2024 and 2025 and WPIAL runners-up in 2022.

“The team has 11-28-26 in our head and we want to get to Acrisure Stadium,” Smirniw said. “We are taking nothing for granted. Going 100 percent in practice. Still doing the heavy squats in the weight room. Doing our best and staying mentally prepared. Remembering the last two years is making us hungrier.”

Smirniw has an appetite for winning that he wants to continue next spring and help the Panthers win another baseball title. It’s a make-or-break season for him as he should be heavily recruited by college baseball scouts, particularly after a summer playing on the AAU circuit throughout Georgia, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Versatility makes Smirniw attractive. In addition to first base, he can play third and shortstop as well as in the outfield, where his throws have been clocked at 90-plus MPH.

“His measurables are ridiculous,” said Donati. “He’s one of the best hitters that I’ve ever coached and his football skills are very good. Colleges can put him anywhere and when he’s done with football, he’s going to get his body ready for baseball and get stronger that balls that were hitting off the wall this year will be going over the fence next spring.”

Next fall, the sky will be the limit too because Smirniw has gained attention from 7-on-7 summer camps. Notice continues to escalate because of his recent escapades on the gridiron.

“He has the frame to play at the next level,” Junko said. “He is so long that it helps him to make plays on both sides of the ball. He has grown so fast that he is finally catching up to his body. His athleticism and agility has greatly improved since he was a freshman. His football IQ has really improved as well.

“Like many of our players, I think Evan’s best football is ahead of him,” Junko continued. “We are looking forward to watching him grow as a player each week.”

Evan Smirniw

Info Box

Age: 17

Birthdate: June 5

Parents: Leslie and Mark

Sibling: Addie

Pet: Golden Doodle named Daisy

Class: Junior

Sports: Football, baseball

Clubs: Natural Helpers

GPA: 3.5

Dream school: Virginia

Food: Steak

Restaurant: BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse at South Hills Village. “Love to go there for the $5 Pizookie night on Tuesdays. So many memories with my friends there.”

Book: The Great Gatsby. “We’re reading it right now in class and I’m loving it.”

Color: Orange

Music: Country

Artist: Morgan Whalen or Luke Coombs

Song: “Broken Window Serenade” by Whiskey Myers

Movie: The Sandlot

Athlete: George Pickens “In seventh grade, I picked the No. 14 to wear in football because he played for the Steelers and I loved him. I stuck with the number ever since.”

Toughest team to play: Peters Township. “They pack the place for baseball and football.”

People might be surprised to know this about you: Will (Stohl) and I have a landscaping business called the Backyard Bros.

Occupation if not a professional athlete: Business or salesman.

With whom would you would like to have dinner:

American YouTuber media personality Jimmy Donaldson best known as MrBeast. “I grew up watching him. He’s pretty cool. I would like to meet him.”

Life lesson sports has taught you: Be disciplined and work hard.

Motto: If you ain’t first, then you are last from Talladega Nights.