JAMES M. BACH SCHOLAR ATHLETE The 2013 recipient of the James M. Bach Scholar Athlete Award is Tyler Holleran, a son of Dennis and Kathy Holleran of Kulpmont. Tyler is a senior student-athlete at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School where he has been a member of the football, basketball and baseball teams. For the past two years, he has been an integral part of the varsity football and track and field teams at Mount Carmel Area through the very successful cooperative sports programs. As a freshman and sophomore, Ty played football at Our Lady of Lourdes under Head Coach Mike Klembara and was an important member of the 2009 All-American Football Conference Championship team. During the past two seasons, Holleran played for MCA’s Red Tornadoes under the direction of Coach Carmen DeFrancesco. Tyler contributed greatly on special teams or the Big Red and also saw plenty of playing time in the defensive secondary at cornerback. He received the Ed Romance Award following the season recognizing him as MCA’s Most Improved Senior football player. Tyler helped the Tornadoes to a District IV Championship in 2011 and a District IV silver medal in 2012. In addition to football, he has been a guard for coach Pete Long’s Red Raider basketball team. His hard work and determination has helped the Red Raiders secure a spot in the District IV Single A playoffs. He has also contributed to Red Raider baseball for Coach Dave Olsheski’s Red Raider baseball team as a catcher and second baseman. His athletic versatility became apparent as he has run track for Coach Mike Farronato and Tornado track team. In addition to athletics, Tyler is an exemplary student who has maintained honors status throughout his high school career. He serves as the treasurer of the National Honor Society and is a member of the Spanish Honor Society. He is also involved as a Student Ambassador, Student Council Vice-President, Boys Service Club, Respect Life Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions and is active with the Prom Committee. He has volunteered his time for Children’s Miracle Network and Manna for the Many. He is an active member of Holy Angels Parish, where he has been an altar server for 10 years and assisted with various parish fund raising projects. In addition, he has been bestowed the 2nd Degree from the Knights of Columbus. Tyler is employed at Walmart Pharmacy, Elysburg Gun Club, and Knoebel’s Amusement Resort. Following graduation, Tyler plans to attend Wilkes University School of Pharmacy to pursue a doctorate in pharmacy.

SAINT PAULINE VISINTAINER SCHOLARSHIP It should come as no surprise that this year’s St. Pauline Visintainer Scholar Athlete is Eric Joraskie, senior student-athlete from Mount Carmel Area High School. Eric’s total accomplishments on the athletic fields, in the classroom, and in his church enabled him to earn the award. Joraskie has certainly distinguished himself as a three-year player for Coach Carmen DeFrancesco’s Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes. He established himself as one of the most dominant players in our region and the state of Pennsylvania. Eric’s play helped the Tornadoes into the District IV playoffs three times, winning the District IV Championship in 2011. He totaled 184 tackles, including 59 for loss during his career as a defensive tackle and registered 18 quarterback sacks for 124 yards lost – good for 7th place on MCA’s all-time list. His play allowed him to be a two-time Associated Press first team selection in 2011 and 2012. He is only the 7th player in MCA history to be so honored. He also became MCA’s 22nd Big 33 player since its inception in 1957. He will play in this year’s game in Hershey in June. Eric was also tabbed to play in the 3rd annual Chesapeake Bowl in Landover, Maryland, but declined due to game restrictions. In addition to being named to every local all-star team, Joraskie was also named to the prestigious WNEP-TV Dream Team. After being recruited by schools such as the University of Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Maryland, West Virginia and many others, Eric has decided to accept a scholarship to play for Coach Pat Fitzgerald at Northwest University in Evanston, Illinois. Eric also participates for MCA track in both the shot and discus, where he has was a District medalist in 2012. Suprisingly for someone 6’4” and 260 lbs, Eric was quite the swimmer as a freshman and sophomore and was a District IV qualifier in the butterfly. Eric has also been a distinguished honor roll student and is a National Honor Society member. He is very involved with the WKMC TV studio and is a member of the Spanish Club. Eric has the lead roll of Jesus in Godspell and will assume the roll of Danny Zuko in this year’s MCA production of Grease. Joraskie is also a member and altar server at Grace Lutheran Church in Shamokin. Eric is one of 4 Joraskie brothers, who have played for the Red Tornadoes; Bill, a student at Carnegie Mellon, Adam, a student at Bucknell University, and Austin, currently a sophomore at MCA. He is the son of Nancy and William Joraskie and the grandson of Marie and William Joraskie and Dorothy and the late Harry Przekop.

JOSEPH D. WASILEWSKI FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE Cathy Fletcher, a senior student at Mount Carmel Area Jr/Sr High School has been named the Joseph D. Wasilewski Female Scholar Athlete for 2013. She is the daughter of Michael and Susan Fletcher of Kulpmont. A four year varsity letter winner, she has participated in cross country, swimming, and track and field. To date, she has earned 10 varsity letters. She has traveled each year to the district level of competition in all three sports. Cathy has served as captain of the Cross Country team for coach Ben McConnell and has been recognized as a First Team All Star for the Heartland Conference during her junior and senior years. She earned an 11th place finish in 2011 and a 12th place spot in 2012 at the District IV Track Meet. In addition to cross country, she has been awarded the “second in points earned” and “first in points earned” awards among female swimmers at MCA for coach John Backes. Cathy has earned points at the District IV Championship meet in the 100 free, 200 free and 200 meter freestyle relay. Cathy also participated in Powder Puff Football during her junior and senior years, serving as captain her senior year. Cathy currently serves as vice president of the senior class and participates in the Advanced College Experience (ACE) program at Bloomsburg University. She has participated in Odyssey of the Mind, a worldwide creative problem solving competition, for three of her high school years. Her team made it to the World’s level of competition during her sophomore and junior years. Cathy has participated in the Young Scholar Program at Luzerne County Community College, and has taken college courses at MCA and the Shamokin LCCC campus. She is a member of the SAT 1300 club, a National Honor Society member, and is a consistent Distinguished Honors student. She participates in the Developmental Studies Program at Mt. Carmel Area and is currently ranked 3rd in her class. Outside of school, Cathy is an alter server at Holy Angels Church in Kulpmont. She also serves as a volunteer each year at Holy Angels’ annual church picnic. During July, 2012, she attended the University of Pittsburgh’s Health Career Scholars Academy, an advanced summer program focused on providing student learning opportunities in various health fields. As her senior project, Cathy has collected, sorted, labeled, and data-based over 500 books in support of the Kulpmont Lending Library. Over the past three summers, she has worked at Knoebel’s Amusement Park. In the fall of 2013, Cathy will attend a four-year college to major in Biomedical or Mechanical Engineering.

JOSEPH “JAZZ” DIMINICK MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE Over his four-year career at Mount Carmel Area High School, Rob Varano has built a strong resume that has earned him the Jazz Diminick Male Scholar Athlete for 2013. He is a three sport student athlete who has participated in football, basketball, and track and field. Robert has excelled at a number of positions for Coach Carmen DeFrancesco’s Red Tornadoes. He has played quarterback, wide receiver, safety and punter. During the 2012 season, Robert smashed a 46 year old receiving record with his 6 catch, 227 yard performance in the win over North Schuylkill. The old record was held by Dabby Niglio in that famous 178 yard performance vs Carlisle in 1966. Only four players in MCA history had more receptions in a season than Rob’s 46 during 2012. Rob also averaged 37.4 yards per punt and was named to the First Team of the Pennsylvania Football News AA All State team for his efforts. He was also named to the Heartland Conference, Daily Item, News-Item, and Press Enterprise all star teams. Robert also earned the Chapter’s Athlete of the Month Award for October. On the hardwood, Rob helped the basketball team back into the District playoff picture for the first time in 4 years. Rob served as co-captain and is a three-year letterman. In tack and field, Rob is a three-year District qualifier in the javelin. He added the pole vault to his resume in 2012. He jumped 13’6” in 2012 and won the silver medal at the District IV meet. This qualified him for the PIAA state meet where he finished tied for 11th place in the state. Following the season, he was named to the Heartland Conference II First Team. Rob currently serves as the president of the senior class and was also a member of Student Council. He is currently enrolled in the Advanced College Experience (ACE) program at Bloomsburg University, where he attends class full-time. He also has completed classes as part of the Young Scholar Program at Luzerne County Community College. He was a member of the MCA Odyssey of the Mind Team that advanced to the World’s level of competition in his junior year. He is a National Honor Society member and currently ranks 5th in his class. He is also a 6-year member of the MCA marching band and Symphonic band as a trumpeter. Outside of school, Robert is active in Hope Community Church where he serves as the video coordinator. In the fall of 2012, he will attend a four-year college to major in Business/Pre Law. He is the son of Lisa and Rob Varano.