INDUCTEE Tom Vershinski was such an outstanding athlete in so many sports that it would be difficult to choose which sport was his best. Tom was an extremely big man for that day. And the combination of his height and strength, together with his outstanding speed, made him a great three-spot athlete in Mount Carmel. He captained the football, basketball and track teams in 1932 when e graduated. He threw discus, high jumped, and held the school record in the long jump for many years., After high school, he attended West Chester State on a football scholarship, and in 1932, ran 85 yards for the winning touchdown as West Chester State defeated Indiana State for State Teacher’s college championship, 6-0. He transferred to Bloomsburg State in 1933, where he played football, basketball, track and baseball. In 1933, he won the State Teacher’s discus title. He began teaching at Mount Carmel High School in 1947. He was an assistant under Mike Terry, and was also head basketball coach. Probably his outstanding player during that period was his son, Tom. Jr., one of the finest athletes ever to compete at Mount Carmel High School. He also coached baseball and his 1948 team was good enough to win the South Anthracite League championship. He is remembered by many students and former athletes, this great sportsman, teacher, and athlete. He died on September 14, 1985.

INDUCTEE Tom “The Bomb” Alexander- Tommy Alexander has always had a little bit of recognition problem. Because he was surrounded by so many outstanding athletes, the tendancy was to give others the praise. However, even on the basis of his statistics, he belongs right there with the Doviak’s and Buchinski’s when the great quarterbacks of Mount Carmel High School are recalled. Tom holds seven Mount Carmel High School passing reords. Among these are: The leading career pass completeiong percentage of 51.6%. The one season pass completion percentage of 56.76% in 1969. The fewest career interceptions. The most games with a pass completion. The most extra points rushing in one season. And the most extra points passed for in one season. In addition, he is among the top 10 in single game passing, single season passing, career passing, career and season touchdowns, and career and season completions. He was, pure and simple, a winner. Is record as a quarterback form Mount Carmel teams was 57 and 1. His only loss came in the 1970 Eastern Conference championship game at Valley View when Valley View shocked the Tornadoes 14-8/ Putting his leadership role in perspective is a fact that in 25 years of coaching at Mount Carmel High School, Jazz Diminick allowed only one quarterback to call his own plays. That Quarterback was Tom Alexander. After graduation, Tom quarterbacked for four years at Salem College in Salem., West Virginia. His record as a starting quarterback there was 20 wins, 8 losses and 2 ties. “Tom the Bomb” is still a winner. He runs an auto dealership in Sunbury and lives on a farm in Paxinos, Pa.

INDUCTEE Lenny Kuczewski epitomized the football player who used courage, quickness, desire and brains to overcome his lack of size, and become an outstanding high school and college football player. He was, along with previous inductee, Ralph Menapace, one of Mike Terry’s famous “watch charm guards”. He had a sixth sense, which gave him the ability to diagnose plays quickly, and he was able to make tackled in the opponent’s backfield over and over. After graduating from high school, he felt he was too small for college football and joined the Army. The lure of the gridiron became too much for him, however, and he soon found himself in a football uniform while in the service. He performed so well as a member of some service teams for talent that they knew would be available as soon as the war ended. Coach Bob Devaney of the University of Wyoming saw something special in Lenny Kuczewskiu. Coach Devaney came to Mount Carmel and recruited Lenny between shifts at a local coal mine. With the encouragement of his family and friends, he decided to give college football a shot. He attended the University of Wyoming, and was an outstanding lineman, and captained the team in his senior year. He was named most valuable player in the Sun Bowl.

SCHOLAR ATHLETE When Ed Romance got his plans for a Sports Hall of Fame going, he insisted on one additional award each year- the honoring of the Outstanding High School Scholar Athlete. He recognized the importance of encouraging excellence not only in sports, but academics as well. We have always had outstanding award winners, but Lori Rothermel’s accomplishments rank with the best. Lori is #1 in her class with an average of 97.52. He SAT scores are 1259. She is president of the National Honor Society. He has won District Championships in booth informative and persuasive speaking. She’s been a Summer scholar at both Lebanon Valley College and Washington and lee University. She was Rotary’s Exchange Student to Korea in 1985-86, and a winner of Lebanon Valley College’s Presidential Leadership Scholarship. Athletically, she’s just as big a winner. She’s lettered in four sports: Cross country, track, swimming and basketball. She captained last Fall’s Girl’s District Courses year’s Lady Tornado Track Team. Lori has narrowed her choice of colleges to four; Princeton, Bucknell, Penn and Lebanon Valley. Lori is the daughter of Linda and Ray Rothermel of Mount Carmel. This delightful, pretty teenager will continue to succeed wherever she decided to go- accomplishment is part of her makeup.