INDUCTEE The year was 1963 and Sunbury had only to defeat Mount Carmel to claim the Southern Division Crown and go on to the Eastern Conference Championship. Due to a driving rainstorm, the game had been postponed from Friday night. After a slow start, the Braves had just scored a touchdown to bring the score to 14-7 with 20 seconds left in the half. Momentum had definitely moved over to the Sunbury side of the field. But, in what proved to be a Tornado moment to be remembered, Tom Beierschmitt took the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and all but sealed the 26-14 victory for the Big Red. It was only one of many big plays that TB would make during his football career at MCA. Tom would go 17-1 as a starting quarterback and generated 1853 yards in offense in his career. That 63 team went on to a fine 10-1 record, losing only to Pottsville by a 14-6 score. For his efforts, Tom was given honorable mention all state and was named to the All Anthracite football team and won the Mike Terry Award following the Shamokin game. Tom also lettered in baseball as a freshman, and basketball as a sophomore, as well as track for 3 years. Tom represented Mount Carmel at the state track meet following his junior and senior season as half miler and as a member of the mile relay team at the prestigious Penn Relays. Tom also acted as a tournament caddie for local golfers Millie Balon – a previous inductee in the Romance Chapter -Leona Grossman and Norm Ackley, While in high school Tom was recruited by the Ivy League and many Division I schools but he chose to follow in the footsteps of older brother Jim and enrolled at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Tom played freshman football and JV football as a defensive back and place-kicker. He then continued as a member of the 150 lb lightweight football team for 2 years as an offensive end and place-kicker. That 1966 team went on to claim the Lightweight National Championship against teams from the other service academies and Ivy league representatives. While at Army, Tom had the privilege of “rubbing shoulder” with the likes of Arthur Ashe, Paul Dietzel, Tom Cahill, Bob Knight, Bill Parcells, Frank Gantz, Norv Cross, Stan Smith, Danny Ford, Pete Dawkins and Gen. Norm Schwarzkop. Following graduation from West Point in 1968, Tom served as the head coach of the U.S. Army European Championship Aschaffenburg Cardinals in 1969. He returned as the head coach of the St. Lawrence University Small Bore Rifle Team, and then proceeded to the conflict in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronz Star for heroism 3 times and the Army Commendation Medal as a member of the famous B-Company 3rd Battalion 22nd Infantry. Tom now works for the Ford Motor Company as a governmental liaison on environmental issues. He and his wife Mary reside in Farmington Hills, Michigan and are the parents of two sons; Thomas, now a junior at West Point, and Stephen, a freshman at Okland Community College.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT Making all state as a linebacker at Mount Carmel Area has become an annual expectation since 1994 where seven of the 9 starters at the position during that time have been named to some sort of all state team. Vince Yasenchak has moved the bar one step higher by becoming the all-time tackle leader at MCA with a career total of 412. A three- year starter, Yasenchak became only the second player in MCA history to record over 100 stops in 3 separate seasons. Vince also has the distinction of being the only Red Tornado to win a championship in each of his four varsity seasons – State Championships in 1998 and 2000, District Championships in 1998,1999, and 2000, and an Eastern Conference Crown in 2001. During his career, Vince also chipped in with 8.5 QB sacks, 7 interceptions,4 fumble recoveries, 12 passes broken up and 24 receptions for 392 yards and 6TD’s. Yasenchak served as a co-captain during the 2001 campaign and finished his career with a 47-10 record on the gridiron. Vince was named a first team all state linebacker by the Associated Press following the 2000 and 2001 seasons and was recognized as a Toyota Fab 85 player by PA Sports Fever. Vince has also been a baseball starter since his freshman year as a pitcher , when in his first varsity start, pitched a 3 hitter with 13 K’s in a win over Shamokin. He was named to the All Area team and All Schuylkill League teams in 2000 as a pitcher and has a .375 batting average, 14 HR’s and 58 RBI’s so far in his career. His teams have made it into the Dist IV playoffs in 2000 and 2001. He has served as a captain during the 2001 season and will do the same during the upcoming season. Yasenchak also spends his winters as a member of the Tornado wrestling squad where he has posted a 39-12 record in 2 years. He finished as the Schuylkill League runner up at 189 lbs in 2001 and posted a fourth place finish in the heavy weight category in 2002.Vince also captains the 2002 grapplers. Yasnechak has also served for four years as a member of the Student Council at MCA and has been elected as his class vice president for four consecutive years. He has also been active in MCA productions of “Annie” and “Once Upon a Mattress”. Vince is also a member of the National Honor Society and National Athletic Honor Societies. Following graduation, Yasenchak will take his talents to Temple University, where he has been awarded a full athletic scholarship by Coach Bobby Wallace. Vince is the son of Sherry and Vince Yasenchak, Denmar Gardens.

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.

INDUCTEE How many athletes out there can say that they only lost one football game during their high school career? Walt Wywadis can! As a member of the Red Tornado football team from 1972 through 1974, Walt’s teams were 33-1-1. They were 24-0 in 1972 and 1973 when they won 2 consecutive Eastern Conference crowns and 9-1-1 during Walt’s senior season when they lost out on points to OLOL. Walt was a devastating blocker from his offensive tackle position and was rewarded following the season with All Conference and All Anthracite Honors and was named honorable mention by the Big 33. He was nominated to and played in the 1975 All Stars vs. MS Football game. During the winter Walter took his talents to the mats as the heavyweight wrestler for the Tornado grapplers and won the coveted D’Angelo Award as the outstanding senior wrestler, and was voted the most improved wrestler and won the Juniata Holiday Wrestling Tournament Championship. In the spring “Bear” set a new indoor shot put record at MCA and went on to win both the shot and discus at the District IV Track and Field meet. For his accomplishments Wywadis was named MCA Male Athlete of the Year and won the Babe Ruth Memorial Award as the outstanding senior athlete at MCA. Walter won a scholarship to Kansas State University after being recruited by Jim Bates – current Dallas Cowboys defensive coach. As a freshman, Walt won the red Raider Award for outstanding JV player at K State. He then lettered for 3 years at offensive right tackle and won game balls for outstanding play against Nebraska, University of Missouri and the University of Tulsa. After graduation Walter had tryouts with the Houston Oilers of the NFL and Montreal Allouettes of the Canadian Football League. Walt has remained active in sports, coaching the Highland Park PAL Queens 19 and under fast pitch softball team to a second place finish at the Kansas State ASA Tournament in 1996 and a first place in 1997. Today Bear remains active in AAU track and in 1996, he and his three daughters all won the shot put and discus in their respective age groups in an AAU competition. Walter now resides in Topeka, Kansas with his wife Reva Jo and three daughters. He is presently a Lieutenant with the Topeka Police Department.

INDUCTEE Kulpmont High School’s period from 1937 through 1951 saw 15 consecutive years without a losing season. Four of those seasons, the Wildcats went undefeated – 1938, 1944, 1945 and 1951. Frank Nicola played on three of those teams from 1942 to 1944 and served as captain of the 1944 squad, which went 11-0 under head coach Mike Terry. During his three years with Kulpmont High, Frank’s teams won 22 games while only losing 5 with 5 ties. So dominant were the defenses on those teams, that 18 games were won via shutout – 8 of those during the 44 campaign. In only 5 of those 32 games did teams score more than one touchdown. One of their leaders at linebacker was Frank Nicola. Frank was responsible for eight interceptions during his career – one of those a 65 yard touchdown vs. Mount Carmel Catholic in 1944. Coach Mike Terry once said that “I coach them all week and now (game time) they are in Frank’s hands”. So important was he to have on the field that in 1943, he was only off the field for one minute the entire season. Although he had scholarship offers from Penn State and Villanova, Frank was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1945. Frank was named to the All-Regiment Team at Fort Bragg as a basketball player. After his service obligation, where he served as a tank commander, Frank played professionally with the Tri-Boro Eagles for on year and with the Anthracite Maroons for eight years until the team folded. Frank also played basketball at Kulpmont High, winning the Keystone League Championship in 1943. He was named an all star when playing for the American Legion Team and also played with the Kulpmont AC Basketball Team. Frank served for eight years as a member of the Kulpmont Borough Council and was its president for two years. Frank then worked for 20 years as an investigator for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Boogie continues to be a local sports enthusiast while currently living in Shamokin.

INDUCTEE Ed “Duke” Narcavage was born one of eight choldren of John and Josephine Narcavage and has lived in Mount Carmel all of his life. He attended Mount Carmel High School and was one of the few four-year lettermen in football at that time. Duke played on the 42, 43, 44 and 45 Tornado football teams under head coach Joe Ambrose, posting a 28-10-7 record. Duke played both fullback and guard for those teams and was elected captain for the 1945 squad. That team would be the first team in Mount Carmel history to play 12 games in a season with the addition of a post season benefit game with Mount Carmel Township that ended in a 0-0 tie. One of the highlights of Duke’s career came in 1944 when in a game with Shenandoah, Duke threw a 43 yard touchdown pass to Ed “Smokey” Kobilis with less than 2 minutes to play to give the Tornadoes a 14-12 win. Ed also won three varsity letters for Coach Gerald Breslin’s track teams and was the 155 lb. Intramural wrestling champion as the war canceled the varsity season. Following graduation, Ed played with semi pro Anthracite Maroons in 1948 and the Tri-Boro Eagles in 1949. He also served as a line coach at Mount Carmel Catholic High School during the 1948-1950 seasons. Although he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1950, Ed never lost the taste of athletic competition. He played football with the U.S. Army 43rd Division as a starting guard and won the European Championship in 1951. He was discharged from the army as a Master Sargent in 1952 and returned to coaching at Catholic High from 1953 through 1955. In 1963, he was encouraged to start a Little League for Football at Holy Spirit School and became the team’s first coach. An unfortunate accident in 1964 cut short a promising coaching career for health reasons. Ed continued his interest in sports when as a Mount Carmel Area School Director in 1969, he was instrumental in obtaining the funding for the new field house, new press box, rest room facilities and the first “new” goal post in the region at the time. Narcavage was also instrumental in obtaining the funding and the purchase of the property now occupied by the current Mount Carmel Area School District. Ed is married to the former Marie Trocki and is the father of five children: Mary, Joseph, Edward, Judith and Celine and is the grandfather of nine. All that he ever asked of his players was to “share your talents, pass them on to the young: if not by your words, then by your actions”. Duke certainly has followed his own words, especially by his actions.

INDUCTEE Henry “Kelly” Fesniak received his elementary education at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School in Marion Heights and then attended Roosevelt High School in Kulpmont for three years. As a high school athlete, Kelly played both JV and varsity football with the Kulpmont Wildcats during the 1941, 42 and 43 seasons for Coach Mike Terry. He excelled in his position as right guard and was acclaimed “outstanding” during the Kulpmont/Mount Carmel 0-0 classic in October 1942. The Tornado offense was stopped not once, but twice, bumping into a stonewall – the hardest stone in the wall being Fesniak. He was a defensive stalwart and was an integral part of two goal line stands during that game. Kelly was a valuable defensive asset to his team throughout his football career with the Wildcats. Fesniak also excelled in basketball while in high school and was often the high scorer for the Wildcats and finished second in scoring in the Keystone Basketball League following the 1943 season. Baseball was also on Fesniak’s agenda. As a 16-year old, Kelly could be found playing catcher and left field with the Marion Heights Adult Baseball Team. As a high school junior, Kelly was inducted into the Marine Corps, and prior to being shipped overseas was selected as honorary captain of the Kulpmont-Shenandoah football game. Kelly was involved in sniper action during WWI with assignments in Guam, Spain and Tinian. His outfit was the first to land on Nagasaki, Japan after the atomic bomb had been dropped there. Following his tour of duty, Kelly remained active in sports. He played semi-pro ball with the Anthracite Maroons, Shenandoah Presidents, and Shamokin Indians and was one of the original members of the Tri-Boro Eagles semi-pro football team. He had offers to play with the professional Wilmington Delaware Clippers and Bethlehem Bulldogs but could not because of his contract with the Presidents. His greatest achievement was the opportunity to play with the Mansfield NJ semi-pro team against the Hamilton Tigers in Ontario, Canada. He was named the Outstanding Player of the Game by his teammates as well as the Mayor of Mansfield. No doubt that today’s induction into the Romance Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame will also rank high on Kelly’s long list of achievements.