33nd Annual Banquet

 

INDUCTEES

BRIAN J. BUBNIS

Brian began his athletic career as a defensive tackle for legendary coach Mike Terry from 1959-61. He immediately was recognized as one of the strongest players to ever pay for the Tornadoes at that time. Brian would end his career on the field as Coach Terry succumbed to a fatal heart attack after a terrific come-from behind win over Shamokin. He moved on to Fork Union Military Academy where he dominated opponents from his defensive tackle position. He was a teammate and roommate of fellow classmate and hall of famer, Norb Bonjo. His play earned him a full scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh to play for the Panthers and Head Coach John Michelosen and later, Dick Hart. He would play all four years ta DT, playing a major college schedule against such noted foes as Roger Staubach (Navy), Floyd Little and Larry Czonka (Syracuse), Rocky Bleier, Jim Lynch, and Alan Page (Notre Dame, Ted Kwalick, Glenn Ressler, and Mike Reid (Penn State). Although they struggled at times, the Panthers did manage wins over Penn State, Miami, and West Virginia. Brian would graduate in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He continues to be an avid supporter of the University of Pittsburgh Athletics and Alumni Associations including Pitt Alumni Association, Pitt Golden Panthers, Pitt Varsity Letterman’s Club and the Pitt Club of Philadelphia.

Following graduation, Brian played offensive guard for the Pottstown Firebirds, a Philadelphia Eagles Farm Club at the time.

In addition to his athletic career, Brian also has a wealth of experience having worked in the financial industry since 1973. He began with Hornblower Weeks; then Kidder Peabody in 1976; moved to Shearson American Express; and then to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Brian is currently a Senior Vice President with MSSB in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. He has been recognized with his selection to the President’s Council from 1996-2008 and the Century Club from 2009 to the present; thus demonstrating long-term and consistent achievement for his clients.

Bubnis is a passionate supporter and lover of the arts and his surrounding community, donating his time serving as Board President of the Community School of Music (CSMA) since 1991 as well as several other organizations including: The Goggle Works, Berks Art Council, Reading Public Museum and Historical Society of Berks County.

A resident of Reading since 1970, he and his wife, Carol are the proud parents of three daughters: Stefanie, Natalie and Caroline all who reside in New York City.

 

FATHER PATRICK DEVINE

As football became the dominant sport in this, the Anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania, the running back position was always considered the glamor position. After all, Diehl, Eshmont, Filipowicz, Pezelski, Diminick, Darrup and others were the players that were looked up to by youngsters waiting in line to play. Pat Devine helped to change all of that by playing the quarterback position at Mount Carmel Catholic High like no one had done before. He not only handed off or threw once in a while, he ran the ball and made the Ram offense so difficult to defend. Thrust into the starting job by coach Frank Ulicny as a sophomore, Patrick would help the Catholic High team develop into one that had to be reckoned with. As a senior in 1960, Devine would throw for 10 touchdowns and add 8 more on the ground in leading that team to a fine 7-3 record and Catholic High’s first winning season since 1949. That Ram team would score 243 points, surpassed only by the 256 put up by Catholic’s 1940 team. They would finish as the runner-up in the Anthracite Catholic League to Shamokin Catholic, a team it lost to by a 6-0 score in a real slugfest. That 1960 team would mark a turn in the road for Catholic High fortunes, as they would lay the groundwork for the fine Ram teams of the future. Pat Devine would put himself in the middle of any quarterback discussion including Joe Buchinski and Greg Doviak as the greatest of all time.

For his efforts, Devine was named to the first team of the Anthracite Catholic League all star team for the second year running, and also placed second as the league’s MVP. On a larger scale, Devine was given honorable mention to the Associated Press All State team, as well as, the 1960 Big 33 team. By the way, the quarterback on those teams was Joe Willie Namath.

Father Pat also starred on the basketball court and the baseball diamond for the Rams for 4 years running. His efforts were responsible for his being named the Student Athlete of the Year at the annual banquet at the Elks lodge in 1961.

Following graduation in 1961, Pat would enter Resurrection College in Kitchner, Ontario, completing his Bachelor in Philosophy Degree in 1965. He would then enter Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland and graduated in 1959 with his M.A. in Theology. He was ordained into the priesthood on May 23, 1969 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Harrisburg, Penna. His assignments as an Asst Pastor from 1969-1980 included St. Francis of Assisi, Harrisburg, St. Joseph’s in Mechanicsburg, St. Leo’s in Rohrerstown and St. Francis Xavier in Gettysburg. He became Pastor of St. John Neumann in Lancaster from 1980 to 1994 and moved on to St. Columba’s in Bloomsburg until 2009. He currently serves as the Chaplain at Maria Hill in Danville.

 

STEPHEN MACIEJEWSKI

Stephen Maciejewsji has earned his way into the Hall by virtue of his consistency and athletic abilities covering three sports – football, basketball, and baseball. Steve was a three-sport star at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional from 1981-1984. He was a four-year letter winner in football for coaches Ron Grzyboski and Bob Chesney. Although his first three years under Coach Ron were nit significant, they definitely set the groundwork for what happened in 1983. Stephen would be one of the co-captains on Chesney’s first team in 1983 that would go 9-1, with their only loss coming to Marian Catholic by a 9-6 score. For his efforts “Mash” was given honorable mention all-state by the Associated Press.

Playing for coach John McKay, Maciejewski was again a four-year letter winner for the Raider basketball team. As a senior, Stephen was named the M.V.P. at the annual K of C Tournament and would average 8 points per game along with 10 rebounds per game. That year saw the Raiders go 21 and 3 in the regular season, posting a 13 game win streak along the way, before losing to Tamaqua in the League Championship by a 63-48 score. They would go on to defeat Athens 62-49 to again claim the District IV Championship. OLOL would eventually lose in the Eastern Final to Delone Catholic and conclude the campaign with a fine 27-5 record. The Raiders would win 82 games during the 4 years Mash was with the team (82-37).

Mash also played baseball while at Lourdes for Coach Tom Ryan during his first three years and Frank Marcinek as a senior. He would earn the coveted “Bat” Award for having the highest batting average in both his junior and senior seasons.

Steve then pursued his education at Bloomsburg University, where he played for the Huskies under coach Jim Landis, until a severe ankle injury shortened an otherwise promising career. He would graduate in 1988 with a B.S. degree in Elementary/Mathematics. He first took a position at Glen Mills school in Concordville, a private court-adjudicated school for troubled boys. It was then that he moved to Red Lion, Pennsylvania, accepting a teaching position for the South Eastern School District. During his time there, Steve has been actively involved in his school’s sports programs. He served as an assistant football coach for South Eastern in the 90’s and caoched JV girls basketball for 11 years. Currently, Steve is a youth league official for basketball and is the York Youth coordinator for Red Lion Youth Basketball Association and a PIAA basketball official. He has been active with the Red Lion Area High School Boy’s Basketball Booster Club and gives his time as a Eucharistic Minister for St. Joseph’s church in Dallastown, Pa.

Maciejewski is married to Donna DeWitt, formerly of Towanda. Together, they have three children, Todd, Erica, and Amy.

 

FRED “FRITZ” MURDOCK

Little Kulpmont High School has produced many outstanding football players over the years, so it is not surprising that another takes his place in the Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Fred was one of those hard-nosed, tough, do anything type of player so prevalent at the time. Fred was a four-year letter winner with the Wildcats at four different positions. He began as a defensive guard for Coach Bob Magalski during the 1948 season and would move to center in 1949. He took over the starting offensive guard position with the ‘50 Wildcats, a team that would go 8-2 with one of its losses to the great George Welsh Coaldale team by a 26-13 score.

In a complete surprise, Magalski would leave Kulpmont for Larksville, leaving the team to Ed Stavinski and Bob Balant and assistants Joe Diminick and Joe Pezelski. Murdock would move to fullback in a backfield that included Sugar Lashendock and Harry Malock. “Fritz” ran for 175 yards against the Black Diamonds of Ashland, helping the team to an undefeated season. Only a canceled game with Tamaqua (and a loss of points for Kulpmont) would keep the Wildcats from the Eastern Conference Crown and a trip to the State Championship game.

After graduating from Kulpmont in 1952, Fred would take his talents to Mansfield University where he started as a defensive guard and fullback as a freshman. Fred left to join the Navy as a flight crew member in a Neptune bomber squadron that patrolled the shore lines of Japan during the Korean conflict. Fred would continue playing and coaching football and baseball during his service career.

Fred was eventually assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk, and aircraft carrier patrolling the coast of Vietnam in the South China Sea and did so for 6 years. He then left for Antarctica on the South Pole and is believed to have organized the first football ever in the Southern Hemisphere. They lined the ice with oil from their vehicles and played until the football burst from the frigid weather.

Fred died a few years back but will always be recognized as one of those greats from little Kulpmont High School.

 

WILLIAM P. “BILLY” O’BRIEN

Billy O’Brien’s induction today is something that has long been overdue. During his high school career at Mount Carmel Catholic High School, O’Brien was recognized as one of the best basketball players to play in the area up until that time. Bill starred for four years with the Rams, finishing his career with 1,068 points, and is believed to be the first local player to register 1000 points in his career. Tom Vershinski did it at Mount Carmel in 1955, while Charlie Griscavage concluded his Catholic High career in 1957 surpassing the 1000 point mark. O’Brien and Griscavage remain as the only two players to surpass the mark in Catholic High history, while both still reside in the top 20 of St. Ed’s, Lourdes and MC Catholic combined. Catholic High played in the always tough Central Penn Catholic League at the time, but Billy still managed to lead the league in scoring as a senior.

Following his graduation in 1954, Billy would spend six years working for the Public Utility Commission in Harrisburg, PA. During his time O’Brien played basketball for the legendary Locust Gap Apollos, a semi pro team in the 50’s and 60’s. Billy would then spend two years with the United States Army Counter Intelligence Corps.

In 1962, Billy was approached by John Barr, the head basketball coach at Susquehanna University, and was offered a full scholarship to play for him and the Crusaders. (Barr is an inductee in the inaugural class of the Ed Romance Chapter in 1978). Bill would go on to letter for four years with the Crusaders and was named a captain in both his junior and senior seasons. Billy would rank third in scoring for Susquehanna in each of his three years as a starter. He would go on to score 892 points, averaging 12.9 pts per game in his three years as a starter. He would lead his team, shooting 85% from the foul line and 52% from the field during the 1966 campaign. Two of his teammates: Rick Eppenheimer and Clark Moiser, still rank as the 2 highest scorers in SU history.

After graduating from Susquehanna in 1966, Bill was employed as an accountant for Weis Markets, Inc. in Sunbury, PA. During his first two years at Weis, he served as the JV coach at Susquehanna. O’Brien remained with Weis Markets for 34 years, retiring as Controller in March of 2000.

Bill married the former Mary Louis Todorowski in 1961. They currently reside in Lewisburg and are the parents of three sons: William Jr, James, and Stephen.

 

ANTHONY PASKEVICH

Anthony “Tony” Paskevich began his athletic career as a football player for Coach Walter Levine and his Mount Carmel High School Red Tornadoes in the fall of 1932. Actually, Tony was part of the first team to ever play in the new Silver Bowl in a 0-0 tie vs Porter Township. The Tornadoes would then win their first game at their new digs in a game with St. Clair by a 13-0 score. Paskevich would play for three years, mostly as a center, completing his senior year for coach Albert Jones. He was described as having “fight, grit, will, and determination”. He also competed as a basketball player for Coach Jones during his junior and senior seasons.

Following graduation in 1935, Tony was originally slated to attend Gettysburg College, but somehow found himself at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pa. He then made his way to the Orangemen of Syracuse University. He became a three-year player and two-year letterman for Coach Ossie Solem, who was assisted by the great Bud Wilkinson. Syracuse managed a 13-8-2 record during Tony’s time there, including wins over Penn State and Maryland. One of Tony’s teammates and friend was future Michigan State Coach Duffy Dougherty. Both Dougherty and Wilkinson have been inducted into the collegiate Hall of Fame. Tony was chosen to captain the ‘39 team at Syracuse. Paskevich also managed to earn a varsity letter as a boxer and one with the track team while at Syracuse.

Tony graduated in 1942 with a degree in electrical engineering. He then enlisted in the Navy and served as an Ensign in the Philippines during World War II. After the war, Tony and his wife, Carolyn, returned to the area and settled in Hazelton, where he took a position with PPL. He then moved back to Syracuse and was the principal electrical engineer for Allied Chemical. After a short move to New Jersey, Tony retired in North Carolina, where he was an avid golfer and played almost daily. After returning to Syracuse, Tony died in 1999. Tony joins his brother Joseph, a 1991 inductee in the the Romance Chapter, as honorees of the organization. Joe played at Fordham with Vince Lombardi and Len Eshmont. Paskevich had three children, Tony Jr (Syracuse University), Penny (Syracuse, and Linda (Michigan State) and 8 grandchildren.

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JOSEPH “JAZZ” DIMINICK MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE

IAN KANEZO

Ian Kanezo has been announced as the 2011 Jazz Diminick Male Scholar Athlete at Mount Carmel Area High School. He has accomplished the fete by earning 13 varsity letters in four different sports. Ian has been a four-year member and letter winner for the boys soccer program at MCA. He has been named a captain during his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, and has been the leading goal scorer in each of the four years. He was an honorable mention News Item Soccer player as a junior and was named to the All Area Soccer Team in 2010. During the fall campaign, Ian was convinced to “double” as a kicker for the 2010 Red Tornado Football Team. He did more than double as he converted on his first 25 PAT’s to start out the season and finished with an amazing 43 out of 44 conversions. He also added a field goal for good measure. He would also handle kick off duties averaging 44 yards per kick on 58 kicks. Following the season, Ian was named the Joseph F. Greco Scholar Athlete.

Kanezo has also been a 4 year player with the Tornado basketball team for coach John Lazicki. He has been a two year starter and was the captain during the 2010-11 season. Ian is also a high jumper for the Tornado thinclads and has been a District IV qualifier for the past three years.

Kanezo has also proven himself in the classroom where he is a National Honor Society student. He has distinguished himself as a member of the prestigious 700 Club for attaining over a 700 on his math SAT’s. Ian was also named an MCA School Board Merit Award winner for November 2009, and has served as the captain of the Scholastic Scrimmage Team in 2010.

In addition, Ian has been a member of the school chorus, Spanish Club, Tech Club and has taken part in the annual school musicals in the spring. Ian is the son of Chsir and Dawn Kanezo and plans to attend Bucknell University to study Engineering.

 

JOSEPH D. WASILEWSKI FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE

BRIGID DEMKO

Brigid Demko will most deservedly take her place as the Joseph D. Wasilewski Female Scholar Athlete for 2011. Brigid has managed to excel both in the classroom, as well as, the athletic fields for Mount Carmel Area High School. When she graduates in June, Demko will have earned 11 varsity letters in 3 different sports. She has been a huge part of the girls soccer program at MCA, starting for four years as a mid fielder. The girls have won 49 games in the last four years while qualifying for District IV play in each of those years. Demko, a three year captain, would be named to the second team all area soccer team in 2010 after n honorable mention in 2009.

In addition to soccer, Brigid has been an integral part of the success of the girls basketball program at MCA. The girls recently won the Division II Championship of the Heartland Conference, while going 19-3 in the regular season. The 86.4 winning % is the best ever for girls basketball in the modern era. They also had a 14 game win streak which was the most ever in MCA history. They would highlight the season winning the District IV Championship for only the second time in school history. In addition to the championship this year, the girls placed third in 2010.

Demko also participates in track for Coach Angela Farronato, running the 400 meter and the 4 x 400 meter relay. She was part of the 4 x 4 team that placed 6th in the Coach’s Invitational in 2009. Brigid has been the Ed Romance Chapter Athlete of the Month for September.

As a student, Demko is currently ranked 3rd in her class while serving as class president for her junior and senior years. She is the Secretary of the National Honor Society and was recently named a member of the 1300 Club and Rotary Student of the Month for October. She is also the Editor of the Tornado Times, as well as, WKMC’s MCA Live. Demko has also appeared in Anything Goes, West Side Story, and Into the Woods, and will be a part of the Stage Crew for this year’s Kiss Me Kate. Brigid is also a member of the MCA chorus and is an altar server at Holy Angels Church. She has also been chosen to represent Mount Carmel Area at the annual Laurel Festival in Wellsboro as the MCA Laurel Queen.

Demko is planning to attend either Syracuse University or the University of Maryland to study Broadcast Journalism. She is the daughter of Peggy and Tom Demko, Kulpmont.

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SAINT PAULINE VISINTAINER SCHOLARSHIP

CHRISTINE MROZEK

This year’s St. Pauline Visintainer Scholar is Christine Mrozek, a senior at Mount Carmel Area High School. Christine’s accomplishments will serve as a blueprint for all future winners of this award. Christine is on track to become the valedictorian of her 2011 class at MCA. Mrozek is president of the National Honor Society, Future Nurses of America, and the Art Club. Her involvement with the Odyssey of the Mind helped her MCA team to a 6th place finish at the World Finals in 2010. She has also been recognized as the Sisters of Cyril Methodius Servant Leadership Award in 2010, has won the local Voice of Democracy competition, and received the National Language Arts Achievement Award from the United States Achievement Academy. She is also involved with the Gifted Program, Science Club, Envirothon team, homecoming float committee, and the Scholastic Scrimmage team. Christine has been named the Elks Student of the Month, as well as, a Rotary Student of the Month for September. She has also earned her way into the prestigious 1300 Club.

Athletically, Christine is a four-year letter winner with the girls track team as a thrower and has qualified for District’s as a freshman, sophomore, and junior in the shot. Her throw of 34’1/2” was good enough for 4th place in the 2010 District IV meet. She was with the District qualifying girls soccer team in 2007 and 2008, and switched to volleyball as a junior. She was named a captain as a senior and was the recipient of the Coach’s Award. Mrozek has also been a part of the resurgence of girls basketball at MCA when she was a player on the 2009 and 2010 District playoff teams.

At MCA, Mrozek organized an created the Haunted High School during her freshman year, and it has served as a fundraiser for the gifted program at MCA ever since. She is also very involved with the Interact Club and has helped with food and toy drives for those less fortunate in our local area.

Mrozek’s many interests also include art, for which she has been named artist of the month by the News Item. She has been named Best in Show at the annual MCA Art Show and was nominated to be a WVIA Artist of the week.

Christine has also been an active member of Holy Angels Parish, where she has been an altar server and lector, and has helped with CCD classes. She has also donated many hours to the parich picnic at Holy Angels. Christine is the daughter of Ray and Maribeth Mrozek of Kulpmont and plans to attned Elizabethtown College in their premedical and honors program with the hopes of becoming a surgeon.

 

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

MICHAEL STUTZCAVAGE

Michael Stutzcavage has recently become the 40th Mount Carmel Area High School football player to be named to the first team All State team by the Associated Press. Stutz established himself as a two way player during the 2010 campaign as tight end and defensive end. Michael caught 12 passes for 185 yards and 2 scores, many of them for key first downs in big games. His mere presence on the field forced defenses to play the Tornadoes differently, especially in the red zone. He also chipped in on defense with 50 total tackles – 15 for loss – and 6 quarterback hurries. Statistics do not show how many plays he stretched out and forced the running back inside for others to make the tackle. Mike was also named to the third team by the Pennsylvania Football News and found his way on the Heartland Conference and News Item all star teams. Michael is the son of Wendy and Frank Stutzcavage and is being recruited by a number of Division II schools to play football.

 

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

DYLAN HORNBERGER

Dylan Hornberger has become only the 9th wrestler at MCA to achieve 100 wins in his varsity career, posting his 100th win during District meet in his junior season. Dylan has done it consistently by winning during all four years of his career. He was the first MCA wrestler in history to record 40 wins in a season as a freshman by going 41-14. Dylan would finish 5th in District’s as a freshman (and qualifying for Regionals) and 6th as a junior. Dylan would ear a fourth place spot at District’s as a senior, marking the first time Tornado wrestlers have made it back to Regionals since 2008. His 130-41 career record and wins ranks 4th behind Mike Garcia (140), Josh Malick (140), and James Haynes (137). His career match total of 171 is the most ever wrestled at MCA. Dylan was also chosen as the Romance Chapter’s Athlete of the Month for March. Hornberger is the son of Cheryl and David Hornberger.

 

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

NICK DUSENDSHINE

Nick Dusendshine recently added his name as only the 10th wrestler in MCA history to pass the 100 win mark. He would record his 100th win in a victory over Warrior Run on Jan 6, 2011. Nick would be a four year District IV Qualifier for the Red Tornadoes and coach Randy Reidler. He would post 30 wins as a freshman and sophomore in going 30-16 and 30-8. Nick would qualify for Districts as a senior and would move on to Regionals by virtue of his 5th place finish in District IV. He would also represent MCA at Regionals for the first time since 2008, entering with a 33-9 mark. He would come back from an opening loss to eventual Region Champion Cody Wheeler to place third in the Northeast and earn his first trip to the State Championships. He would go 1-2 in the state meet and finish with a 121-46 record. His 167 matches would represent the second most ever wrestled at MCA. Nick is the son of Kathy and Ed Dusendshine.

 

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

1991 DISTRICT XI CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL TEAM

Heading into the 1990-91 basketball season, Mount Carmel Area High School had gone through over 1500 games and 76 years without ever having won a District Championship. The Tornadoes had played in 3 District playoff games, only to come up short for the gold. As the new season approached, MCA had lost 6 of their top 8 players from back to back 18 win teams, so breaking that streak was not on anyone’s mind. At least not until the Tornadoes opened the season with a thrilling 64-55 victory over the defending PIAA State Champion Lourdes Red Raiders. Big Red sealed the win with 6’10” Chris McCarthy’s 14 of 14 performance from the line. The Tornadoes would then come back to earth going 6-4 in a tough exhibition schedule, designed by Coach John McKay to better prepare the team for post season play. One of the early wins included a 68-65 win over rival Shamokin Area in the K of C Tournament. The Indians would go 22-1 in the regular season and would eventually win the District IV title going 26-3. The Tornadoes would also register MCA’s 700th basketball win with a 56-52 win over the Spartans of North Schuylkill.

McKay would use a rotation including McCarthy, Mark Vottero, John Christian, Jerry Delaney, Aaron Jayman, Mike Kaleta, Rocco Scicchitano, Shawn Zarkoski, Steve Katch, and Bob Veach. Each was asked to step up based on the game and situation – and they did. The Tornadoes, playing in the always tough Division I of the Schuylkill League, posted double wins over Pottsville, North Schuylkill, Tamaqua and Pine Grove, but would lose to West Hazleton, Blue Mountain, and Shamokin to finish 8-6 in the League.

That tough exhibition and league schedule were about to play off as the Tornadoes headed into District XI play for the third consecutive year. They opened with a convincing 61-50 win over Wilson and followed that with an offensive explosion (shooting 71% from the field) in an 88-72 win over Salisbury. The Tornadoes were paced in that game by McCarthy’s 35 points and 19 defensive rebounds, as well as, Vottero’s 13 assists. They would finally get over that District hurdle by defeating Northwest Lehigh 41-36 in a defensive struggle with their lowest scoring game of the season. They would go on in state play to defeat Columbia 53-52, before being eliminated by Archbishop Kennedy by a 62-61 score.

McCarthy would establish a new season record for scoring with 597 points, as well as, a new season record 520 rebounds. Vottero would register 406 points and 129 assists, while Christian lead the team with 30 3’s. This team certainly goes down in history as the first ever to win a title, but also provided future Tornado teams with a formula to do it.