SPECIAL HONOREE Although Kulpmont football is best remembered by the legacy of the 1938 Eastern Conference/State Championship Team and followed by the 1945 Eastern Conference Championship Team, one of the greatest of all times was the 1951 edition. That eleven went 10 and 0 during the 51 season and gave up only 47 points while scoring 333. They were denied their rightful place in history when Tamaqua refused to play the Wildcats that season. You see, the Blue Raiders had been defeated by a 61-0 score in 1950 and didn’t want more of the same in 51. Because of the old Eastern Conference rating system, the Wildcats were nosed out by Pottsville for the Southern Division Crown. The Wildcats were coached that season by Ed “Truck” Stavenski and Bobby Balent. What is amazing is that it was their first year at the helm for both men after taking over for Bob Magalski. Their field leader was captain Nick Bruno, who died saving a fellow workman in July of 1954. They began the year with a convincing win over arch rival Mount Carmel Township by a score of 26-0. Wins over West Hazleton, Ashlad and West Mahanoy Township set up a 34-6 victory over former coach Mike Terry and the Red Tornadoes. They followed that with easy wins over Minersville, Shenandoah and Shamokin. They then defeated Coaldale 32-0 and Coal Township 20-0, avenging their only two losses from the 1950 campaign. The Wildcats were paced by Harry “The Mailman” Malick, for QB Lashendock would give him the “Mail” and he would deliver. And deliver he would! <ailck went on to score 90 points that season, second only to Joe Pezelski’s 138 during the 1938 season. Malick also scored 18 points in the Coaldale game, good enough to tie the 4th best game in Kulpmont history. His 78 yard run vs Shenandoah is good enough for 7th on the all time Kulpmont list. Sugar Lashendock threw TD passes of 69 yards to Malick and 68 yards to Leo Fuginitti against Coal Township and Mount Carmel Township. Lashendock also chipped in with a 60 yard interception return vs West Mahanoy Township and a 70 yard punt return vs Mount Carmel and 60 yarder vs West Mahanoy Township. Of course nothing would happen without the front line of Bob Stark, Tony Toter, Steve Pisarz, Joe Wanzie, Rollo Rovito, Puddin Head Yasenchak, Nick Bruno, Charlie “Chow Dog” Else, Jimmie “Dun-Dun” Rovito, Joe “Baggie” Wisneski, and George “Gal” Goodelunas. One of the reasons for success of the 51 Wildcats was the challenges they faced in practice every day. Many of their second team players could have started for other teams, but this was a TEAM. It really felt odd when Bruno, Rovito and Murdock went on to play at Mansfield and they had to play against their old QB Lashendock at Bloomsburg. But today, these Wildcats come together again to be recognized as one of only four undefeated teams in the 34 year history of Wildcat football.

SPECIAL HONOREE In March, 2000, the prospects for Mount Carmel Area’s 2000 football season were not very bright, to say the least. Their coach of 7 years, Whitey Williams, had just resigned to take a job at AAAA Nazareth. They had only 2 offensive and 5 defensive starters returning on a team which went 11-4 in 1999, losing the state championship game to Tyrone by a 13-6 score. Also gone was player of the year Nick Sebes and first team all-stater Al Bailey, not to mention 5 of the 6 starters on the offensive line. On top of this, the school board has just hired a new coach with TWO years experience at a single A school. Little did we know that Mike Brennan’s hiring would make all the difference to Tornado prospects for 2000. Led by captains Matt Bucher, Ron Lentini, Dave Schoppy and Jon Veach, the Tornadoes opened their season with a convincing 46-20 victory over eventual Dist III runner-up Wyomissing and followed that with a 48-0 thrashing of Panther Valley. Their first test came in a 19-12 victory over new rival Southern Columbia and followed that with a convincing 46-6 win over arch rival Shamokin. The 20-7 victory over traditional AAA power Allentown Central Catholic turned people’s heads, then a 47-6 crushing defeat of undefeated Marian Catholic put the Tornadoes on a “short list” of teams to watch. Wins over North Schuylkill, Shikellamy and Wyalusing brought the Big Red one victory away from an undefeated regular season and career win 700. Although devastating, a 42-28 loss to AAA Selinsgrove found the Tornadoes with new found enthusiasm and a new focus for the remaining “new season”. Win 700 came the next week against Troy and was followed with the Dist IV Championship win over Wyalusing Area. The year’s most exciting game followed the next week with 12-0 win over previously undefeated Lakeland in a game that will be remembered for decades to come. The next week saw a repeat victory over Marian by a 38-7 score putting the Tornadoes in Hershey for the 3rd consecutive year. The 26-6 victory over Aliquippa gave the Tornadoes their 4th state title in the 90’s and left the seniors on this team a 49-8 record over 4 years and sweet revenge for the loss to Tyrone the previous year. The 2000 edition Red Tornadoes leave as the all time leaders in total offense with 5,390 yards and first downs with 267. They also established a first when ever starter (14) was named to at least one post season all star team. They had four all state selections in Pennsylvania. Player of the Year Jon Veach, DE Nick Cuff, LB Vince Yasenchak named to the first team and DE Aaron Ziegler named to the second team. Rookie Coach Mike Brennan was named AP AA Coach of the Year. This team, which showed what hard work and dedication will do for you, will go down in history as one of the finest to ever take the field wearing the Red and White.

FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE Jessica Stelma is this year’s female scholar-athlete and certainly fits the mold of previous award winners. How she found the time to be successful in the classroom as well as on the field is truly amazing. Jess has earned 13 varsity letters in four varsity sports during her year at Mount Carmel Area. She has been a four year letter winner in Soccer while serving as co-captain during last year’s mist successful season ever at MCA. This past season, Jess averaged 9 points per game from her guard position while serving as captain for the second consecutive year. During the spring, Stelma can be found running for the Tornado track team. Jess has run the 100, 200, 400, 4 x 100 meter relay team and 4 x 400 meter relay team as well as the jumping events for the Lady Tornadoes. As if this weren’t enough, Jess has also been varsity cheerleader for two years, acting as a co-captain during her senior year. Jess is a member of the National Honor Society, National Athletic Honor Society, President of the Pep Club, Vice President of the Spanish Club, and is a member of the Interact Club, Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Future Teachers of America, Art Club, and is a member of Student Government. She has also taken part in Intramural Volleyball, Powder Puff Football, Hoops for Heart and AYSO Soccer. IN addition Jess was chosen as a member of the Homecoming Court in 1999 and Field Day Court in 2000 and was voted as Homecoming Queen in 2000. Stelma currently ranks 5th in her class of 120 with a 97 plus average and has scored just under 1200 in her SAT’s. She will attend Bucknell University in the fall to major in biology with her sights set on Veterinary Medicine. She is the daughter of Darlene Stelma, Mount Carmel.

MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE & SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT During the 90’s, the Mount Carmel Area football program has seen the record books rewritten by a group of athletes from 1994 thru 2000. Jon Veach has rewritten the rushing records all by himself. Without a doubt, one of the greatest to ever wear the Red and White, #25 leaves as the all-time leading rusher in Tornado history with 7,103 yards, good enough for 4th on the all-time list in the state of Pennsylvania. He also established new marks with 8,370 all-purpose yards, 592 points scored, 96 touchdowns, 45 games scoring a TD, 35 games rushing for over 100 yards, 10 games over 200 yards, and 6 games with 4 touchdowns. Veach also owns new season marks with 2,834 yards rushing, 42 TD’s, 3,105 all-purpose yards, and 260 points scored. He also set a new single game record with his 296 yard effort vs Lakeland in the eastern semi-final. During his career, Jon has started in 57 consecutive games and has a 49-8 record as a Red Tornado. His teams have won two State Championships (1998 & 2000) and have one Eastern Title in 1999. Defensively, Jon had 127 career tackles, 11 interceptions, 9 passes broken up, and more touchdown saving tackles than one could count. For all of his accomplishments, Jon was named Pennsylvania Small School Player of the Year in 2000 after being named AP First Team for the third consecutive year. He is the only Mount Carmel Area athlete ever named first team for 3 consecutive years. Recently, Jon has been chosen to play in the 2001 Big 33 game scheduled for July in Hershey, PA. He becomes the 19th Mount Carmel Area player to be chosen to play in this prestigious classic. This season saw the end of a 145 game streak where a Veach was a member of the Red Tornadoes – brother Bob from 1990 thru 1993, Brett from 1993 thru 1996 and Jon from 1997 thru 2000. Veach has also been an outstanding track performer as a sprinter for the Tornado thinclads. He won three Dost IV gold medals in the 100, 4 x 100 meter relay and 4 x 400 meter relay team. As a student, Jon ranks 3rd in his class of 120 with a 97.4 average and is a member of the National Honor Society and National Athletic Honor Society. He has recently joined the 1300 Club at MCA with his 1320 SAT scores. He serves as a Sgt at Arms of the Art Club, Treasurer of the Spanish Club and has been a member of Student Council for four years. Jon was named Rotary Student of the month for October and currently is an Altar Server at Divine Redeemer Church in Mount Carmel. Jon, who is the son of Donna and Robert Veach, will continue his studies and take his outstanding football abilities to Princeton University in the fall.