Cody Shustack
- Post by: mcalibrary
- January 12, 2024
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JOSEPH “JAZZ” DIMINICK MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE
This year’s Joseph Jazz Diminick Scholar is Cody Shistack. Cody certainly fits within the blue print established by previous winners of the award. Cody has excelled on the playing fields for Mount Carmel Area and is currently ranked #3 in his graduating class and also the highest ranking male. Shustack has made his biggest impression as a football player for the Red Tornadoes. He has been a four-year letter winner for the Tornadoes and has been tutored by 3 coaches; Mike Brennan, Bob Chesney, and Carmen DeFrancesco. Cody became a starter at linebacker as a sophomore and has lead the team in tackles for three consecutive years. He has registered over 100 in each of those years and recently completed his career with 358, fifth all time in MCA history. He has registered over 10 tackles in 7 of our 14 games in 2011 and has recovered 5 enemy fumbles to tie the all time season record.
Cody was also the starting fullback for the Tornadoes and was able to go over the century mark on 5 occasions, highlighted with a terrific 31 carry 202 yard performance in a 33-24 win over Central Columbia. Against West Perry, Cody toted the football 7 times for 124 yards for a 17.71 yard average. He finished the season with 1092 yards on 143 carries for a 7.64 yard average. He added 12 receptions for 165 yards and would tie Meyrick Lamb for the team lead with 188 points scored. He and Lamb would both amass 1000 yards, becoming the first set of backs to accomplish the feat since Henry Hynoski and Carm DeFrancesco did it in 1970. He was part of 2 District Championship teams in 2008 and 2011 and one Eastern Conference Crown in 2009. For his efforts, Cody was named to the WNEP TV Dream Team. He was also recognized as their Scholar Athlete. In addition to serving as the captain for the “11” edition of the Red Tornadoes, Cody has also lettered in baseball for 3 years and is one of the leading hitters for the MCA nine.
As a student, Cody was recently inducted into the SAT 700 Club at MCA for achieving a 760 on the Math portion. He has been a four-year member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Chemistry Club, and Future Teachers of America. Cody has served as a volunteer for four years for the Relay for Life, the Special Olympics, and the Dance for Hope. Shustack was recognized as the Elks Student of the Month for March, 2011 and was named the Ed Romance Chapter’s Athlete of the Month for September 2011. Cody was also an integral part of the MCA team competing in the Mathematics Competition at Lock Haven that placed third.
Cody plans to continue his playing career at a four year institution and major in engineering. He is the son of Erika and John Shustack of Kulpmont.