SPECIAL HONOREE The bus had just pulled into the field house at the Silver Bowl following the 1971 loss to Shamokin at Kemp Memorial Stadium. The Tornadoes had just completed a 6-5 campaign after having gone 62-6 during the six previous seasons and felt that their performance was simply unacceptable. Oddly enough, the 1972 season began that afternoon in the field house when the underclassmen, with the encouragement of the seniors, vowed to never lose another football game at Mount Carmel Area. Led by co-captains Dirk Berezovske and Johnny Muolo, the Big Red kicked off the ’72 season with a 28-0 drubbing of a good Panther Valley squad. They followed that up with 33-6 and 42-8 routs of Tamaqua and Mahanoy Area. That set up a trip to Crispin Field where the Tornadoes avenged a 1971 36-0 loss to Berwick with a solid 42 to 12 victory. They were paced in that game by a 55 yard interception return by Bill Joraskie, a 60 yards punt return by John Muolo, a 75 yard run by Ken Diminick and two TD passes from Joe Diminick to Rich Greco and Joe Antico. Mix in a 5 yard run from Lou Cole and 6 extra point kicks from Glenn Adams and the rout was on. The next week saw the Big Red demolish West Hazleton by a 48-0 score with the help of 2 interception returns for TD by Ken Diminick and Joe Fatz. The 147 yards in INT returns and 2 TD ‘s in a game still remain as single game records today. Wins over Minersville and Pottsville would lead up to a game that was much closer than the score indicated at North Schuylkill, where the Tornadoes came away with a 21-3 victory. It was in that game that Carson Long kicked a 54 yards field goal for N.S. – a state record until just recently. Big Red concluded its undefeated season with wins over Shenandoah, a game that ended with 2:37 left to play following a bench-clearing brawl, Shikellamy and Shamokin. During the Shamokin game, the Tornado defense held the Indians to minus 83 yards rushing; a mark which still stands today. The Tornadoes then traveled to Valley View where they avenged their 1970 loss with a 20-12 victory over Frank Pazzaglia’s Cougars. They were led in this contest by Ken Diminick’s 85 yard kick off return for a TD and John Muolo’s clutch 4th quarter running and 12 yard TD run. The 72 team outscored their opponents that season 400-78 and had 14 touchdowns of 50 yards or more. The 400 points scored still ranks 7th all-time, however 3rd among teams who have played 12 games or less. They also returned 6 interceptions for TD’s and 497 yards in return. Both still stand as records today. In addition, the 72 squad returned 2 kick-offs (K.Diminick and Rawa) and 1 punt (Muolo), as well as 2 fumbles (K.Diminick and Greco) for TD. The 11 returns ranks second only to the 12 put up by the 76 team. The 12 wins are part of the 25 game winning streak put together by Big Red until 1974. The 72 team also sent 16 of 18 seniors off to college and saw 47 of 51 players earn varsity letters. Offensive tackle Joe Grey represented Mount Carmel Area in the Big 33 game, while second team all-state honors went to cat quick nose guard Rich Ferri, as well as honorable mentions to Ken Diminick and Joe Grey The 72 team will be remembered as a true TEAM with contributions coming from the defense, offense and special teams The seniors on this team had lived up to their vow and left the juniors to hold up their end in 1973. They had also left a legacy as one of the all time greatest football teams in Mount Carmel Area History.

MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE This year’s male scholar athlete is Justin Pachuski, son of Valerie and Pete Pachuski, Kulpmont. He is the grandson of Helen Pachuski, Atlas, and Louise and Mickie Stello, Kulpmont. Justin certainly fits the mold of previous winners of this prestigious honor. Justin was ranked # 1 in his class following his freshman, sophomore and junior years and remained there following the first half of his senior year. He has been placed into the 1300 Club at Mount Carmel Area with his 1370 SAT score. He has been honored by the Mount Carmel Rotary Club as its Student of the Month for January, and was recently named the Voice of Democracy Award winner. He participates as a member of the Chess Club and Latin Club and as a Developmental Studies Student. He is also a Fall Sports Reporter for WKMC – the school’s morning news show. Athletically, Justin has managed to earn 9 varsity letters in 3 different sports during his high school career. The hardest part was managing to earn two of those letters during the same fall season. This past year, Justin played soccer and ran cross country at the same. His play earned him All Area honors by the News Item and Bloomsburg Press-Enterprise for his work as a defensive player with the MCA Soccer team in only its second year of existence. As a cross country runner, Justin was part of a 9-0 team as a freshman that went on to win a Schuylkill League Division Title. Following his sophomore season, he was named MCA’s “Most Valuable Runner” and Schuylkill League All Star. This past season, Justin , as a senior captain, led his team to an 8-2 record and another Division II Schuylkill League Title. He capped off his senior season by winning the “Chef’s Award’ and concluded with a fine 27-8 record as a Tornado harrier. In the spring, Justin takes to the track as a member of the Mount Carmel Area track team. During his career, Pachuski has run the 200 meter dash, 110meter high hurdles, 300 meter intermediate hurdles, 400 meter dash, 800 meter run, long jump, 100 meter relay, shuttle hurdle relay and 4 x 400 meter relay. He has won District gold medals as a member of the 4 x 400 meter relay team in 2000 with a time of 3:25.6 and 4 x 100 meter relay team in 2001 with a time of 43.9, going on to the state meet in Shippensburg following both victories. In 1999, Justin was part of the Tornado squad which went on to win its 3rd consecutive Dist IV Title. Following the 2001 season, Justin was recognized as the teams leading point scorer. Justin will take his many talents to either Bucknell University or Lafayette College to major in Bio-Chemistry.