Pipeline from WPIAL to Naval Academy Adds Three Commitments

Several WPIAL football players have gone on to find great success at the Naval Academy in recent years.

Two of those athletes are Mt. Lebanon’s Eli Heidenreich and Alex Tecza, who combined for 19 touchdowns for a 10-3 team in 2024.

That pipeline from the WPIAL to Navy is growing after three more 2026 prospects announced their commitment to the program in the past week.

Avonworth lineman Peter Bonnet, Moon athlete Braeden Stuart and Trinity linebacker Anthony Giorgi have all given their verbal pledge to the Midshipmen.

For Bonnet, he selects Navy over a solid offer sheet of Utah State, Army, Air Force, Fresno State, Miami (OH), Dartmouth, Cornell, Penn, Fordham, Sacramento State, New Hampshire, Stony Brook, New Hampshire and Lafayette.

Very excited to announce that after discussing with my family I have decided on committing to the U.S Naval Academy!@NavyFB @Jay_Guillermo57 @NavyCoachYo @adamgorney@BrianDohn247 @wpialsportsnews @WPIAL_Insider @PaFootballNews @WPIAL_Blitz @PRZPAvic @AvonworthFB pic.twitter.com/ngj0PxIlCK

— Peter Bonnet (@peterthebonnet) July 1, 2025

The 6-5, 285-pound Bonnet was a First Team All-Conference tackle this past fall for an Avonworth team that secured a WPIAL Class 3A title and made an appearance in the state championship game. He helped pave the way for a ground game that ran for 203.6 yards per game and 47 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps.

Stuart’s first Division I offer came from Navy in February and he picked the Midshipmen over Air Force, Bucknell, VMI and New Hampshire.

As a junior for a 5-6 Moon team, the 6-1, 195-pound Stuart did a little bit of everything as he lined up at wide receiver, running back and safety.

Giorgi joins the Navy 2026 recruiting class as a versatile option that can slot in as an edge rusher/linebacker or wide receiver/tight end.

Up until his commitment, Giorgi had visited a handful of Division I programs but only held one offer from D-III Carnegie Mellon.

Along with three commitments so far in the 2026 class, Navy brought in three more WPIAL players in the 2025 cycle with Bethel Park defensive tackle Clancy Orie, Pine-Richland offensive tackle James Cardinali, and Mt. Lebanon nose guard Connor Young.

For more on all the WPIAL offers and commitments, check out PSN‘s Western Pennsylvania recruiting board here.