Al Masciantonio

• Post by: mcalibrary
• December 18, 2023
• Comments off

INDUCTEE

Al is one of the great little men who dominated athletics in the late 20’s at Mount Carmel High School.

In football, he was at his best when the going was toughest as in the famous game against Shenandoah at Lost Creek/. This is the game which made the Tornadoes the champions of the Eastern Conference. Even though he was hurt, he played an outstanding game against the big, tough Shenandoah team that featured the likes of Ed Katalinas and Bobby Nork.

Fortunately, he recovered in time to help Mount Carmel win the State championship against Bellefonte in a game at Penn State. Al and Jim Morrison, who was previous inductee, were the leading receivers of quarterback Mike Terry on the team.

He lettered in football, basketball and track for four years at Mount Carmel High School. He also held the record in the low hurdles for a number of years and was a member of some good Mount Carmel High School mile relay teams.

Following high school, he went to Beckely College in Harrisburg, which at that time was a favorite stop for many coal region athletes. You could imagine Beckley compiled a fine football won and lost record during that period.

After graduation, he returned to Mount Carmel Township where he coached football and basketball along with fellow inductee, Charlie Karlow. His most successful athlete was Len Eshmont, who later made history at Fordham and with the San Francisco 49’ers. His high school coaching career was interrupted by a hitch in the Navy. After the war he returned to Mount Carmel Township, where he was given the job of reviving the athletic program.

He was also an outstanding musician. At one time or another, he has been a member of almost every region band. He still makes appearances with Shamokin’s “Our Band”. He enjoys retirement, presently living in Atlas, Pa.