INDUCTEE Al Pavis was ahead of his time. He was a versatile two-way football player; a good enough runner and defender to attract the attention of most of the big league college scouts. But on fourth down he was something special. Kicking the football was what God had in mind for Al Pavis. In today’s age of specialization, everyone who has seen him kick agrees, Al Pavis would be earning a living as an NFL punter. Susquehanna assistant Coach Bob Pittello, a high school teammate of Pavis, remembers the summer afternoons at Reichwein’s pool in Mowery. He and his teammates would take turns shagging Pavis’s kicks. “He’d kick with bare feet”, Pittello remembers, “Higher and farther than you could possibly imagine”. Pressed for comparisons, Pittello doesn’t even pause to think about it: “He was the finest kicker I have ever seen, anywhere”. During Pavis’ three-year starting career for the Tornadoes they were 25-3-4. And he was right in the middle of it all. He has the fourth longest run ever recorded by a Tornado ballcarrier, a 90-yarder against Lewistown in 1940. He played for one year at Temple after leaving Mt. Carmel; and was good enough to be named Second Team All State by the Old Philadelphia record. Like many kids in that era, however, he was drafted in the service. He never did resume a football career afterwards. But he is remembered for that special gift…the finest punter most people have ever seen.

INDUCTEE The Mount Carmel Area is widely known as a hotbed of football talent; so it is not surprising that most of the nominees for our Hall of Fame were former gridders. It’s nice, however, that two of this year’s class of honorees are former basketball players. Al Klokis was a real, honest to goodness basketball star. Between Bob Varano in the 50’s and Al Klokis in the 70’s there were some pretty fair players. But these two were the goods, dominating players who had the ability to lift their teams. Al Klokis was the first player in Mt. Carmel history to score 1000 points. He was the only player to score more than 500 points in a single saeson. He was the first Mt. Carmel player to have his jersey retired. For three varsity years he led the team in assists, steals and scoring. In that three-year period he set 8 modern school recors in basketball: 1283 Career Points; Most Points in One Game 43, Against Mahanoy Area; Most Points in One Half, 28; Most Points in One Quarter, 16; Most Field Goals in One Game, 16, against Tamaqua; Most Foul Shots in One Game, 14 against St. Clair; and Most Points in One Season, 514. In addition to his fine basketball career, he finished in second place in the District 4 Class A Cross Country meet as senior.

INDUCTEE Jim Riovito was big and quick and strong and tough. And if you think that combination adds up to an outstanding athlete you are right. The Kulpmont native was the first athlete in Lourdes High School history to be named All State in both football and basketball. In his final year, 1980, he was named both Eastern Conference Class B Lineman of the Year and the MVP in the K of C Christmas Basketball tournament…a tribute to his versatility and athletic ability. He still owns Lourdes highest rebound per game average. After high school he attended Lehigh University, where he was a three-year letterman at defensive tackle. In both 84 and 85 he led the Lehigh team in quarterback sacks and was voted game MVP twice…against Delaware in 84 and Bucknell in 85. He was also the College’s Intramural Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1985. After graduation he signed a free-agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL…and was one of the team’s final cuts.

INDUCTEE When Ed Romance dreamed of the Hall of Fame, which now bears his name, he always talked about what the Coal Regions’ great athletes had become after their playing days were over. He felt the Hall of Fame’s greatest contribution, besides honoring the great athletes themselves, was that it served as an inspiration to a while new generation of athletes…who could use the accomplishments of the older guys as a benchmark, a standard, for their own performance. Almost without exception, our great athletes have honored themselves and out communities, after they quit competing in athletics; but none more satisfyingly than Paul Burak. He was just a sophomore on the great ‘44 Kulpmont team, a solid running back and defender among his older, more celebrated, teammates. But he grew into an outstanding two sport athlete by the time he graduated in 1947. After graduation he attended Charlotte Hall Military Academy in Maryland, and was awarded an Athletic Scholarship to the University of Scranton. While at Scranton he was a member of the boxing team and was elected captain of the football team. At a time in life where a lot of us were trying to figure it out, he had it figured. He decided to attend a Seminary and study for the Priesthood. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1957; and like all good athletes and team players he went where he could do the most good. He served at Holy Trinity in Youngstown, Ohio; Immaculate Conception in Hamtramack, Mich; St. Andrews in Philadelphia; Annunciation B.V.M., Philadelphia; St. Vladimirs, New Kensington; St. John the Baptist, McKeesport; and St. Mary’s Parsonage, McAdoo. He died at the age of 57. But he was the kind of athlete and person the Hall of Fame is proud to have as a member.

INDUCTEE Glenn Smith was an outstanding three sport athlete at Mount Carmel High School from 1934 through 1938. He lettered in football, wrestling, and track and was honored as the outstanding athlete of the class of 1938. He left Mount Carmel for Wyoming Seminary, where he continued his excellent career. He topped off his fine performance there by becoming captain of the football team and winning the National Prep School Wrestling Championship in the 165 pound class. After Wyoming Seminary, Glenn headed for Penn State where he became an Eastern Champion in the 155 pound wrestling class. He also captained the Nittany Lion team as a senior. Glenn entered coaching at Bellefonte High School in 1946. He took that program from nowhere to a –position as one of the finest prep wrestling schools in the country. His record there was 57-7-1. He had three undefeated seasons, and two other seasons where his teams lost just once. He also developed 14 District Champions, 4 State Champions and 4 State Runnerups. In 1952 he moved to Allentown High School and accomplished similar coaching miracles. His record there was 96-34-2. There he produced 31 District Champions, 18 Regional Champions, 5 State Champions, and 4 State Runnerups. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1973. He is an outstanding credit to Mt. Carmel and the entire Coal Region.

INDUCTEE Varano graduated from Mount Carmel High School in 1951 where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. He was selected to play in the 1950 football dream game and also to play in the 1951 Keystone Basketball League All Star Game. In 195 he enrolled at Dickinson College on a full basketball scholarship and had a great college career. He is the only Mount Carmel graduate in the last fifty years to start and letter for four years as a college basketball player. As a starting forward on the team he was the team’s top rebounder and was second in scoring and foul conversions. Dickinson’s coach A.C. Ransom said of Varano: “The record book will never tell the true story of Bob’s worth to the Dickinson squad for there are no statistics for hustle; you don’t get an extra point in the score book for the basket that is so desperately needed in a tight ballgame; there is no statistic that measures defensive skill; nevertheless it is these things that win ball games and that is just what Bob has done for Dickinson since his freshmen year. He is the mist dependable, hard working boy I ever coached; a superb rebounder and defensive player.” He had several successful coaching years as Assistant football, basketball and track coach at Ashland High School, assistant football coach at Shamokin High School and as head basketball coach for five years at Mount Carmel Area High School. He left coaching when he became an administrator at Mount Carmel and in 1976 was named Superintendent of Schools at Southern Columbia Area School District. He owns and operates Varano Insurance Agency in Mount Carmel and Shamokin and he and his wife Jean live in Mount Carmel. They are the parents of a son Rob and a daughter Wendy.

INDUCTEES Coach Jerry Breslin’s favorite theory about high school athletics has to do with “Cycles”. He feels that every school goes through periods where there is a gathering of great athletes together at the same time…and of course the opposite is true. There doesn’t seem to be any question that the ‘44 Kulpmont Wildcats were part of an up-cycle. It’s doubtful that a team anywhere has so thoroughly dominated its opponents as that ‘44 team. Consider this: 1. They scored 357 points, averaging 31.9 per game. 2. Their opponents scored a total of 21 points for the season. The first team was not scored upon at all. 3. 8 of their 11 opponents were shut out. 4. The team had a total of 29 players. 6 of the 29 received scholarships to major schools and did well. The team was coached by Mike Terry, who was assisted by Al Ross. Further validation for the cycle theory is that of the 4 undefeated seasons racked up by Kulpmont High in it’s history, 3 were during that Terry era at Kulpmont. It was a team that had everything: size, speed, power and strength. They could run and throw and catch and tackle with equal skill. What more ts there to say about a great football team. Team Members: Bernard Barkowski, Alex Burak, Joe Dallabrida, Joe Diminick, Henry Duran, Rohland Evans, Oete Fusetti, Ronald Haas, Jack Fusetti, Eugene Yancoski, Matthew Lashendock, Joe Lech, Nick Mariano, Bernard Moleski, Len Makowski, Jack Moleski, Lou Murawski, Frank Nicola, Al Retalleck, Michael Siket, Henry Stewart, Robert Terry, Clem Thomas, Leonard Valania, Dominic Vitacco, Michael Wanzie, Bernard Washko, Len Yarish.

INDUCTEE They say there are lies, damn lies and statistics. And of course, many times statistics don’t tell the true story…especially in athletics. And in the case of Joey Diminck, even though the stats are mind-blowing, they don’t say how really good a football player he really was. First the stats: He was the only player, ever, to start every single game for four years for the Tornadoes. During that period the Big Red was 39-6-1. With Joey quarterbacking, they were 35-1, and won two Eastern Conference Championships. He ranks third in career total offense, and was second team All State defense with both UPI and Associated Press. He holds MCA’s All-Time Record in the high hurdles with 14.6. He was undefeated in both high and low hurdles in 73 and 74, was District 4 Champion in 72, 73 and 74; and finished 6th in the State met in 74. He is the third leading track scorer in MCA history, trailing only his brothers Michael and John. In the 1974 Big 33 Game, he was selected Outstanding Player in offense and defense…and was listed a Prep All American and ranked as one of the top 100 players nationally by that publication. He became an outstanding defensive back at Penn State and played in three bowl games: the Gator against Notre Dame, Fiesta against Southern Cal and a National Championship Game in the Sugar against Alabama. As a senior he defended against some of the nations best passers and receivers including Broomell of Temple, Buckey of North Carolina State and Slichter of Ohio State and never gave up a touchdown pass. He was a “Big Play” producer that moved coach Joe Paterno to say “We’ve got to have him on the field somewhere” when discussing the teams prospect for his final season at Penn State. Joe works for Federal Express and lives in Winstom-Salem, North Carolina with his wife Sandy and children Tyler, 7, and Lauren, 5.

OUTSTANDING STUDENT ATHLETE Paula Varano is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Varano of Kulpmont. She was selected Mount Carmel Student Athlete of the Month for November by the Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Varano was also selected Rotary Student of the Month for November by the high school faculty. The senior is a four-year letter winner on the Mount Carmel girl’s cross country team. The team co-captain was named to the Schuylkill League all-star team for three years. She was awarded the MOST DEDICATED TEAM MEMBER during the ‘92 season and was named the MOST VALUABLE RUNNER during her final season. In 1993, her 19th place finish at the District XI meet allowed her to qualify for the state meet at Lehigh University. Varano’s other athletic activities include spring track and field, where she is a three-year letterman. In the spring of 1993, she was named to the Schuylkill League all-star team as a member of the 3,200-meter relay team. She is a member of the Mount Carmel Area High School Band and serves as the band librarian. Varano is a sergeant at arms of both SADD and French Club. She belongs to the National Honor Society, Biology Club, Stand Tall, Big Sisters, and the peer tutor program. Varano plans to attend Bloomsburg University in the fall of 1994 to major in nursing.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT Michael Fantanarosa is being honored by the Hall for some Special Achievements to date. But his athletic career is really only beginning and it’s only a matter of time until Mike joins the Hall as a full-time member. Mike has already won two State Championship Medals in the shot put – A Silver as a junior and the Gold last spring. It was only the eighth Gold Medal won by a Tornado athlete. He is now at Kutztown University competing in track and football. Watch this career. He will set lots of records before it’s over.