Father Patrick Devine

  • January 12, 2024
  • Comments off

INDUCTEE As football became the dominant sport in this, the Anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania, the running back position was always considered the glamor position. After all, Diehl, Eshmont, Filipowicz, Pezelski, Diminick, Darrup and others were the players that were looked up to by youngsters waiting in line to play. Pat Devine helped to change all of that by playing the quarterback position at Mount Carmel Catholic High like no one had done before. He not only handed off or threw once in a while, he ran the ball and made the Ram offense so difficult to defend. Thrust into the starting job by coach Frank Ulicny as a sophomore, Patrick would help the Catholic High team develop into one that had to be reckoned with. As a senior in 1960, Devine would throw for 10 touchdowns and add 8 more on the ground in leading that team to a fine 7-3 record and Catholic High’s first winning season since 1949. That Ram team would score 243 points, surpassed only by the 256 put up by Catholic’s 1940 team. They would finish as the runner-up in the Anthracite Catholic League to Shamokin Catholic, a team it lost to by a 6-0 score in a real slugfest. That 1960 team would mark a turn in the road for Catholic High fortunes, as they would lay the groundwork for the fine Ram teams of the future. Pat Devine would put himself in the middle of any quarterback discussion including Joe Buchinski and Greg Doviak as the greatest of all time. For his efforts, Devine was named to the first team of the Anthracite Catholic League all star team for the second year running, and also placed second as the league’s MVP. On a larger scale, Devine was given honorable mention to the Associated Press All State team, as well as, the 1960 Big 33 team. By the way, the quarterback on those teams was Joe Willie Namath. Father Pat also starred on the basketball court and the baseball diamond for the Rams for 4 years running. His efforts were responsible for his being named the Student Athlete of the Year at the annual banquet at the Elks lodge in 1961. Following graduation in 1961, Pat would enter Resurrection College in Kitchner, Ontario, completing his Bachelor in Philosophy Degree in 1965. He would then enter Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland and graduated in 1959 with his M.A. in Theology. He was ordained into the priesthood on May 23, 1969 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Harrisburg, Penna. His assignments as an Asst Pastor from 1969-1980 included St. Francis of Assisi, Harrisburg, St. Joseph’s in Mechanicsburg, St. Leo’s in Rohrerstown and St. Francis Xavier in Gettysburg. He became Pastor of St. John Neumann in Lancaster from 1980 to 1994 and moved on to St. Columba’s in Bloomsburg until 2009. He currently serves as the Chaplain at Maria Hill in Danville.

Read More

Brian J. Bubnis

  • January 12, 2024
  • Comments off

INDUCTEE Brian began his athletic career as a defensive tackle for legendary coach Mike Terry from 1959-61. He immediately was recognized as one of the strongest players to ever pay for the Tornadoes at that time. Brian would end his career on the field as Coach Terry succumbed to a fatal heart attack after a terrific come-from behind win over Shamokin. He moved on to Fork Union Military Academy where he dominated opponents from his defensive tackle position. He was a teammate and roommate of fellow classmate and hall of famer, Norb Bonjo. His play earned him a full scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh to play for the Panthers and Head Coach John Michelosen and later, Dick Hart. He would play all four years ta DT, playing a major college schedule against such noted foes as Roger Staubach (Navy), Floyd Little and Larry Czonka (Syracuse), Rocky Bleier, Jim Lynch, and Alan Page (Notre Dame, Ted Kwalick, Glenn Ressler, and Mike Reid (Penn State). Although they struggled at times, the Panthers did manage wins over Penn State, Miami, and West Virginia. Brian would graduate in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He continues to be an avid supporter of the University of Pittsburgh Athletics and Alumni Associations including Pitt Alumni Association, Pitt Golden Panthers, Pitt Varsity Letterman’s Club and the Pitt Club of Philadelphia. Following graduation, Brian played offensive guard for the Pottstown Firebirds, a Philadelphia Eagles Farm Club at the time. In addition to his athletic career, Brian also has a wealth of experience having worked in the financial industry since 1973. He began with Hornblower Weeks; then Kidder Peabody in 1976; moved to Shearson American Express; and then to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Brian is currently a Senior Vice President with MSSB in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. He has been recognized with his selection to the President’s Council from 1996-2008 and the Century Club from 2009 to the present; thus demonstrating long-term and consistent achievement for his clients. Bubnis is a passionate supporter and lover of the arts and his surrounding community, donating his time serving as Board President of the Community School of Music (CSMA) since 1991 as well as several other organizations including: The Goggle Works, Berks Art Council, Reading Public Museum and Historical Society of Berks County. A resident of Reading since 1970, he and his wife, Carol are the proud parents of three daughters: Stefanie, Natalie and Caroline all who reside in New York City.

Read More

1991 DISTRICT XI CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL TEAM

  • January 12, 2024
  • Comments off

SPECIAL RECOGNITION Heading into the 1990-91 basketball season, Mount Carmel Area High School had gone through over 1500 games and 76 years without ever having won a District Championship. The Tornadoes had played in 3 District playoff games, only to come up short for the gold. As the new season approached, MCA had lost 6 of their top 8 players from back to back 18 win teams, so breaking that streak was not on anyone’s mind. At least not until the Tornadoes opened the season with a thrilling 64-55 victory over the defending PIAA State Champion Lourdes Red Raiders. Big Red sealed the win with 6’10” Chris McCarthy’s 14 of 14 performance from the line. The Tornadoes would then come back to earth going 6-4 in a tough exhibition schedule, designed by Coach John McKay to better prepare the team for post season play. One of the early wins included a 68-65 win over rival Shamokin Area in the K of C Tournament. The Indians would go 22-1 in the regular season and would eventually win the District IV title going 26-3. The Tornadoes would also register MCA’s 700th basketball win with a 56-52 win over the Spartans of North Schuylkill. McKay would use a rotation including McCarthy, Mark Vottero, John Christian, Jerry Delaney, Aaron Jayman, Mike Kaleta, Rocco Scicchitano, Shawn Zarkoski, Steve Katch, and Bob Veach. Each was asked to step up based on the game and situation – and they did. The Tornadoes, playing in the always tough Division I of the Schuylkill League, posted double wins over Pottsville, North Schuylkill, Tamaqua and Pine Grove, but would lose to West Hazleton, Blue Mountain, and Shamokin to finish 8-6 in the League. That tough exhibition and league schedule were about to play off as the Tornadoes headed into District XI play for the third consecutive year. They opened with a convincing 61-50 win over Wilson and followed that with an offensive explosion (shooting 71% from the field) in an 88-72 win over Salisbury. The Tornadoes were paced in that game by McCarthy’s 35 points and 19 defensive rebounds, as well as, Vottero’s 13 assists. They would finally get over that District hurdle by defeating Northwest Lehigh 41-36 in a defensive struggle with their lowest scoring game of the season. They would go on in state play to defeat Columbia 53-52, before being eliminated by Archbishop Kennedy by a 62-61 score. McCarthy would establish a new season record for scoring with 597 points, as well as, a new season record 520 rebounds. Vottero would register 406 points and 129 assists, while Christian lead the team with 30 3’s. This team certainly goes down in history as the first ever to win a title, but also provided future Tornado teams with a formula to do it.

Read More

Nick Dusendshine

  • January 12, 2024
  • Comments off

SPECIAL RECOGNITION Nick Dusendshine recently added his name as only the 10th wrestler in MCA history to pass the 100 win mark. He would record his 100th win in a victory over Warrior Run on Jan 6, 2011. Nick would be a four year District IV Qualifier for the Red Tornadoes and coach Randy Reidler. He would post 30 wins as a freshman and sophomore in going 30-16 and 30-8. Nick would qualify for Districts as a senior and would move on to Regionals by virtue of his 5th place finish in District IV. He would also represent MCA at Regionals for the first time since 2008, entering with a 33-9 mark. He would come back from an opening loss to eventual Region Champion Cody Wheeler to place third in the Northeast and earn his first trip to the State Championships. He would go 1-2 in the state meet and finish with a 121-46 record. His 167 matches would represent the second most ever wrestled at MCA. Nick is the son of Kathy and Ed Dusendshine.

Read More

Dylan Hornberger

  • January 12, 2024
  • Comments off

SPECIAL RECOGNITION Dylan Hornberger has become only the 9th wrestler at MCA to achieve 100 wins in his varsity career, posting his 100th win during District meet in his junior season. Dylan has done it consistently by winning during all four years of his career. He was the first MCA wrestler in history to record 40 wins in a season as a freshman by going 41-14. Dylan would finish 5th in District’s as a freshman (and qualifying for Regionals) and 6th as a junior. Dylan would ear a fourth place spot at District’s as a senior, marking the first time Tornado wrestlers have made it back to Regionals since 2008. His 130-41 career record and wins ranks 4th behind Mike Garcia (140), Josh Malick (140), and James Haynes (137). His career match total of 171 is the most ever wrestled at MCA. Dylan was also chosen as the Romance Chapter’s Athlete of the Month for March. Hornberger is the son of Cheryl and David Hornberger.

Read More

Michael Stutzcavage

  • January 12, 2024
  • Comments off

SPECIAL RECOGNITION Michael Stutzcavage has recently become the 40th Mount Carmel Area High School football player to be named to the first team All State team by the Associated Press. Stutz established himself as a two way player during the 2010 campaign as tight end and defensive end. Michael caught 12 passes for 185 yards and 2 scores, many of them for key first downs in big games. His mere presence on the field forced defenses to play the Tornadoes differently, especially in the red zone. He also chipped in on defense with 50 total tackles – 15 for loss – and 6 quarterback hurries. Statistics do not show how many plays he stretched out and forced the running back inside for others to make the tackle. Mike was also named to the third team by the Pennsylvania Football News and found his way on the Heartland Conference and News Item all star teams. Michael is the son of Wendy and Frank Stutzcavage and is being recruited by a number of Division II schools to play football.

Read More

Christine Mrozek

  • January 12, 2024
  • Comments off

SAINT PAULINE VISINTAINER SCHOLARSHIP This year’s St. Pauline Visintainer Scholar is Christine Mrozek, a senior at Mount Carmel Area High School. Christine’s accomplishments will serve as a blueprint for all future winners of this award. Christine is on track to become the valedictorian of her 2011 class at MCA. Mrozek is president of the National Honor Society, Future Nurses of America, and the Art Club. Her involvement with the Odyssey of the Mind helped her MCA team to a 6th place finish at the World Finals in 2010. She has also been recognized as the Sisters of Cyril Methodius Servant Leadership Award in 2010, has won the local Voice of Democracy competition, and received the National Language Arts Achievement Award from the United States Achievement Academy. She is also involved with the Gifted Program, Science Club, Envirothon team, homecoming float committee, and the Scholastic Scrimmage team. Christine has been named the Elks Student of the Month, as well as, a Rotary Student of the Month for September. She has also earned her way into the prestigious 1300 Club. Athletically, Christine is a four-year letter winner with the girls track team as a thrower and has qualified for District’s as a freshman, sophomore, and junior in the shot. Her throw of 34’1/2” was good enough for 4th place in the 2010 District IV meet. She was with the District qualifying girls soccer team in 2007 and 2008, and switched to volleyball as a junior. She was named a captain as a senior and was the recipient of the Coach’s Award. Mrozek has also been a part of the resurgence of girls basketball at MCA when she was a player on the 2009 and 2010 District playoff teams. At MCA, Mrozek organized an created the Haunted High School during her freshman year, and it has served as a fundraiser for the gifted program at MCA ever since. She is also very involved with the Interact Club and has helped with food and toy drives for those less fortunate in our local area. Mrozek’s many interests also include art, for which she has been named artist of the month by the News Item. She has been named Best in Show at the annual MCA Art Show and was nominated to be a WVIA Artist of the week. Christine has also been an active member of Holy Angels Parish, where she has been an altar server and lector, and has helped with CCD classes. She has also donated many hours to the parich picnic at Holy Angels. Christine is the daughter of Ray and Maribeth Mrozek of Kulpmont and plans to attned Elizabethtown College in their premedical and honors program with the hopes of becoming a surgeon.

Read More

Brigid Demko

  • January 12, 2024
  • Comments off

JOSEPH D. WASILEWSKI FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE Brigid Demko will most deservedly take her place as the Joseph D. Wasilewski Female Scholar Athlete for 2011. Brigid has managed to excel both in the classroom, as well as, the athletic fields for Mount Carmel Area High School. When she graduates in June, Demko will have earned 11 varsity letters in 3 different sports. She has been a huge part of the girls soccer program at MCA, starting for four years as a mid fielder. The girls have won 49 games in the last four years while qualifying for District IV play in each of those years. Demko, a three year captain, would be named to the second team all area soccer team in 2010 after n honorable mention in 2009. In addition to soccer, Brigid has been an integral part of the success of the girls basketball program at MCA. The girls recently won the Division II Championship of the Heartland Conference, while going 19-3 in the regular season. The 86.4 winning % is the best ever for girls basketball in the modern era. They also had a 14 game win streak which was the most ever in MCA history. They would highlight the season winning the District IV Championship for only the second time in school history. In addition to the championship this year, the girls placed third in 2010. Demko also participates in track for Coach Angela Farronato, running the 400 meter and the 4 x 400 meter relay. She was part of the 4 x 4 team that placed 6th in the Coach’s Invitational in 2009. Brigid has been the Ed Romance Chapter Athlete of the Month for September. As a student, Demko is currently ranked 3rd in her class while serving as class president for her junior and senior years. She is the Secretary of the National Honor Society and was recently named a member of the 1300 Club and Rotary Student of the Month for October. She is also the Editor of the Tornado Times, as well as, WKMC’s MCA Live. Demko has also appeared in Anything Goes, West Side Story, and Into the Woods, and will be a part of the Stage Crew for this year’s Kiss Me Kate. Brigid is also a member of the MCA chorus and is an altar server at Holy Angels Church. She has also been chosen to represent Mount Carmel Area at the annual Laurel Festival in Wellsboro as the MCA Laurel Queen. Demko is planning to attend either Syracuse University or the University of Maryland to study Broadcast Journalism. She is the daughter of Peggy and Tom Demko, Kulpmont.

Read More

Ian Kanezo

  • January 12, 2024
  • Comments off

JOSEPH “JAZZ” DIMINICK MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE Ian Kanezo has been announced as the 2011 Jazz Diminick Male Scholar Athlete at Mount Carmel Area High School. He has accomplished the fete by earning 13 varsity letters in four different sports. Ian has been a four-year member and letter winner for the boys soccer program at MCA. He has been named a captain during his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, and has been the leading goal scorer in each of the four years. He was an honorable mention News Item Soccer player as a junior and was named to the All Area Soccer Team in 2010. During the fall campaign, Ian was convinced to “double” as a kicker for the 2010 Red Tornado Football Team. He did more than double as he converted on his first 25 PAT’s to start out the season and finished with an amazing 43 out of 44 conversions. He also added a field goal for good measure. He would also handle kick off duties averaging 44 yards per kick on 58 kicks. Following the season, Ian was named the Joseph F. Greco Scholar Athlete. Kanezo has also been a 4 year player with the Tornado basketball team for coach John Lazicki. He has been a two year starter and was the captain during the 2010-11 season. Ian is also a high jumper for the Tornado thinclads and has been a District IV qualifier for the past three years. Kanezo has also proven himself in the classroom where he is a National Honor Society student. He has distinguished himself as a member of the prestigious 700 Club for attaining over a 700 on his math SAT’s. Ian was also named an MCA School Board Merit Award winner for November 2009, and has served as the captain of the Scholastic Scrimmage Team in 2010. In addition, Ian has been a member of the school chorus, Spanish Club, Tech Club and has taken part in the annual school musicals in the spring. Ian is the son of Chsir and Dawn Kanezo and plans to attend Bucknell University to study Engineering.

Read More

George A. McFee, Jr.

  • January 12, 2024
  • Comments off

INDUCTEE The Mount Carmel Area football program, in addition to having the most wins in the state of Pennsylvania (785), has generally been recognized as a forerunner in things needed to make a program successful. Weightlifting, off-season conditioning, and booster club involvement were all important to the success of the program. The use of film also became an important ingredient in the success of Tornado football, and no one was more instrumental than George McFee in making it available to Tornado coaches. McFee began filming games for Jazz Diminick in 1962 and used the “Crow’s Nest” to give Diminicl a perspective that very few coaches had available to them. George also gave the Mount Carmel Area program a “face” when he began broadcasting games in the fall of 1968. The first cable-cast was made from the cable system’s antenna head-end building atop Locust Mountain. It was a game between MCA and Tamaqua, and used the team’s analytical film with commentary by Coach Jazz Diminick. The broadcast gave the Mount Carmel Area school district the distinction of being the first high school in the United States to have its own cable casting station to provide educational and sports programming via television cable. Under the direction of McFee, the station – WJPM-TV – would grow to provide educational and informational programming such as school board meetings, borough council meetings and local election results. The station has also broadcast special events, such as the Annual Rotary Football banquet, art festivals, proms, graduations, and band concerts. Sports coverage would also expand to include boys and girls basketball, wrestling and track. With the completion of the new high school in 1977, a state of the art color TV studio was located on the campus of the Mount Carmel Area High School. As a result of an agreement between MCA and Service Electric, WKMC-TV was established on the Service Electric Cable System, where subscribers in a fifty-mile radius can now receive programming. Because of McFee’s effort and guidance, many students have gone on to careers in engineering, electronics, movie production, photography, computer programming, and teaching as a result of what they learned at WJPM and WKMC. During the 1999 graduation, a plaque was presented by the school board to the McFee family in memory of George, who had taught at MCA since his graduation from Kutztown University in 1956. The work started by Mr. McFee continues today under the capable direction of his son David, and the students and residents of Mount Carmel Area are the true beneficiaries. McFee’s induction today recognizes his 40 year contribution to the sports programs at Mount Carmel Area.

Read More