Lawrence J. Czeponis

• Post by: mcalibrary
• January 12, 2024
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INDUCTEE

Larry Czeponis joins two other Mount Carmel Area football linemen as members of the 35th class of the Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Larry was certainly the biggest with his 6’4” 280 pound frame while playing for the Bison of Bucknell University. Czeponis was a member of the Bison from 1987-90 and worked his way into a starting guard position during his junior and senior seasons. Bucknell football would go 12-9 during Larry’s 2 years as a starter under head coach Lou Maranzano, who succeeded George Landis after his resignation following the 88 season.

Larry was part of a very athletic offensive line that was nicknamed the “Beast” based on their style of physical play. Larry chose to attend Bucknell after having interest from schools such as Rutgers, Duke, Lehigh and William and Mary.

Larry began his playing career at Mount Carmel Area for Head Coach Joe “Jazz” Diminick as a rare 4 year player at the time. Larry was a three-year starter at offensive tackle and two-year starter at defensive tackle for the Red Tornadoes. Larry served as a co-captain of the 1986 team that would win a wild card slot and defeat the 11-0 Valley View Cougars by a 21-14 score. Big Red would eventually lose in the Eastern Conference Championship game to Gary Brown’s Williamsport Millionaires. That 86 team would be the first Tornado squad to play 13 games in a season. Larry was named to the Reading Eagle All Anthracite team following the season. He was also awarded Honorable Mention Associated Press All State following his junior season. MCA football appeared in 4 playoff games during Larry’s career in 1983, 1984 and 1986, after not having achieved that status since 1972.

Larry also participated in track at MCA, qualifying for the District IV championships in both the shot and discus.

Following graduation from Bucknell in 1991, Larry served as a graduate assistant football coach at California University of PA from 1991-93. He coached running backs, tight ends, special teams and helped establish the strength and conditioning programs.

Czeponis completed his MBA at Cal and eventually took a position with Nationwide Insurance, where he works as a Field Casualty Claims Specialist. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Business/Economics Department at Luzerne County Community College. He and his wife Ann (Polites) make their home in Mount Carmel and are the proud parents of four children, Larry (Bip), 14, Frances (Yummy), 12, Meryl (Bizzy), 9 and Jelena (Jelly), 6.