INDUCTEE Jack Brennan played at Mt. Carmel Catholic from 1942 through 1946. He played varsity football four years and was a captain in 1945 when the Rams won the Diocesan Championship with a 7-3 record. He enlisted in the Army after graduation and was part of the 7th Calvary Regiment in Japan with the U.S. Army of Occupation. While there he played with the Regiment’s football squad. After being discharged from the Army, Jack enrolled at Georgetown University from where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1952. He spent the majority of his business career in the computer industry, working at various times in technical, marketing and management positions. He founded a computer software firm in Spring House, PA and worked there until retirement in 1995.

INDUCTEE Ed Augusiewicz’s story sounds like a dozen others you’ve heard regarding terrific Coal Region athletes whose lives and careers were cut short by the intervention of World War II, or family pressures. After a bang-up career at Mount Carmel High, where he led his team to a 9-1-1 record as a senior, Augusiewicz enrolled at Wake Forest University. He did well as a frosh for Coach “Peahead” Walker and was counted on to be part of the starting defense as a sophomore. There was a war going on, though. And like so many other patriotic young men of the time, Eddie Augusiewicz heard the call to arms. He enlisted in the Army and was assigned to one of the glamour groups as a paratrooper. Within a year he was far from Mount Carmel…serving as part of a regiment chosen to attack Anzio Beach. You historians will know that this battle was one of the most important and fiercely-fought of the War. Practically his entire regiment was annihilated at Anzio. Very few returned unscathed; and many like Eddie had wounds so severe their lives were altered forever. He had a leg wound that kept him from ever playing football again, even though he re-enrolled at Wake Forest to give it a try. Since he was unable to play football, he dropped out of Wake Forest and took a job with the Postal Service in Washington, DC. He remained there until his death of a heart attack.

INDUCTEE Mike was an outstanding defensive tackle for the 91 and 92 Red Tornadoes and was named to the Reading Eagle All Anthracite team following each of those two seasons. But as a shot putter he was in a class by himself. He won the silver medal in the PIAA Championships in ’91 and then came back to win the Gold Medal with a heave of 56 feet 3 inches in ’92. Mike was a little bit of a late bloomer and really began to hi his athletic stride when he entered Kutztown University. His freshman year at Kutztown he led the football team in tackles, putted the 16 pound college shot a school-record 53 feet 5 inches; and was named the University’s Male Athlete of the Year.

INDUCTEE George Homiak was a member of the 1927 State Championship Football Team. His play as a tackle on that squad drew the attention of the legendary Lou Little, who at that time coached for Georgetown University. Little later became famous as coach of Columbia University which ended a long win streak of the US Military Academy in what was considered one of college football’s all tie upsets. Homiak attended Georgetown on a football scholarship and lettered twice as football player and a boxer. But like in so many other instances, George was needed at home by his family and so he left Georgetown after his sophomore season. He was a fun-loving guy who loved sports and a good time. His family bar became legendary and a Mt. Carmel landmark. People who had merely driven through Mt. Carmel would remember the town for “Homiak’s Bar.” George Homiak loved Mount Carmel and its sports heroes. It’s a nice thing to have him included among the best athletes we’ve ever had.

INDUCTEE Frank Pinamonti was a guy who “put his money where his mouth is.” From 1951 until his death in 1995, Pinamonti was actively involved, either as a player or sponsor, as Mt. Carmel’s patron saint of fast-pitch softball. Many of the kids who played for Pinamonti over the years are members of his Hall of Fame. He attracted the best and treated them accordingly. His teams competed for 33 years in the now defunct Intercity Softball League. When that league folded Frank began to look around for a place closer for his team to play. They competed for 7 years in the Sunbury-Danville league before moving closer to home in the Anthracite League for the past three years. Ed Romance would be thrilled at the induction of Frank Pinamonti. He felt anyone who was doing something for the Coal Region Sports was doing a great service. And not many did more than Frank Pinamonti.

INDUCTEE Paul was a standout 3-Sport star at Mt. Carmel. As a football player he played quarterback, defensive end, tight end and kicker. He made the Reading Eagle All Anthracite Team as both a junior and senior and was All State Honorable Mention. He also started for 3 years as a basketball player to chalk up both 1000 points and 1000 rebounds. He was a Schuylkill League All Star, a member of the Harrisburg Patriot top 10 and a member of the Reading Eagle All Stars. He was also MVP of the Schuylkill County-Berks County All Star Game. In track he lettered 4 years and was a consistent winner in both high jump and the triple jump. He set a new school record of 6 feet 6 inches in the high jump; and was a District and Schuylkill League champion in the triple jump. After high school, Paul attended West Point Prep and received a Senatorial Appointment to the US Military academy. But he opted for a football scholarship to the University of Virginia where he participated in 28 of the 34 games played during his three years there. He was an All ACC honorable mention for academics. He also played in Virginia’s first post season game ever: the 1984 Peach Bowl.

INDUCTEE Andy Siket was one of Kulpmont’s all-time greats. He starred in both basketball and baseball for three years at Kulpmont; and as an All-League player led the Wildcats to Susquehanna Valley League Championships and in 1939 to the District 4 Finals. He entered Villanova University in 1939 on a basketball scholarship and played there for two years before leaving. He played for a number of semi-pro teams including the Sunoco Oilers which once won 66 games in a row. In 1945 he and John Barr formed a semi-pro team called Star Lane which played 17 exhibition games against touring professional teams and won all 17 games. In 1946 he played for Sunbury Mercuries in the newly-formed Easter Pro Basketball League. One of the players n that league was the legendary “Sonny” Hill a Philadelphia player who is considered the “Godfather” of basketball in Philadelphia. He played in the Eastern League for three years, and was named MVP in a number of Gold Medal tournaments. After retirement he became a basketball official and continued in that capacity for years. He died in 1995.

INDUCTEE According to his coach, Jazz Diminick, Bob Hamernick was “the quickest off the ball of anybody I ever coached.” When you think of all the great backs Jazz coached during his 30-year legendary career that is quite a statement, but Jazz makes this statement with little doubt in his voice. He started the parade of great “pony backs” at Mount Carmel. He stood out as runner, pass receiver and kick returner and was part of a team that was one of the most exciting ever to play for the Tornadoes. The 1966 squad featured Bobby, Greg Doviak and Dabby Niglio and they scored points in bunches. That team defeated Carlisle at the Silver Bowl in a shootout that many Mt. Carmel fans still call the greatest game ever played in the Silver Bowl. When he graduated in 1967, Hamernick was in the top 10 in practically every offensive category. He was Co-Captain of that squad and was an All State Honorable Mention…back in the days when there was only 1 All State Team; and most of the spots were occupied by players at the big schools who were supported by big newspapers. He was also a solid track man as a sprinter and pole vaulter. He was District IV Champion in the pole vault in 1966. Bob started as a running back for C.W. Post College on Long Island. He had a solid career there and won several post season honors.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT Coach Dave “Whitey” Williams Since coming to Mt. Carmel, Coach Williams has a record of 46 wins and only 8 loses. Overall as a head coach he is 74-23-1. In his 4 year stint with the Tornadoes they have won 2 State Championships, 1 Eastern Conference Championship, 1 District 11 Championship, and 1 District 4 Championship. He has produced 13 All State Players. Twice he was named Nike Pennsylvania Coach of the Year; Twice Pa. Football Coaches Coach of the Year; Associated Press Small School Coach of the Year and Reading Eagle Coach of the Year. CHARLES “CHICK” CONNELY Chink has been the architect of the devastating defenses of the Tornadoes over the past 4 years. Previous to coming here, he was a defensive coordinator at Marian Catholic for 17 years. In the 46 victories posted by the Tornadoes during Connely’s tenure 16 have been shutouts and another 15 only one score allowed. 10 of the 13 All State players in the last 4 years have been linemen or defensive players. BRETT VEACH Brett is the Tornado’s all time leading rusher with 5261 yards and the leading all-purpose yardage leader with 7323 yards. His career has been one of solid outstanding consistency. Game in and game out he was marvelous. When they stacked defenses he still got the yards…when they broke in new linemen it still didn’t matter. He played both ways, carried the ball inside and outside and still showed us his remarkable, even performance game after game. He was the 1996 “Small School” Player of the Year in Pennsylvania. He was one of 5 finalists for Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year…and he will play in August’s Big 33 Game against the best in Ohio. It will be a long time before you see another one like him. JOE COSTELLO Joey was the defensive version of Brett Veach. Someone once said “a great defensive player sighted the ball early and arrived in ill humor”. They certainly had Joe Costello in mind. He was twice First Team All State Linebacker and you could make a good case for him doing it three times. He started a record 54 consecutive games for the Red Tornadoes. During his Senior year alone he had 138 tackles…35 of them for losses. He was Reading Eagle defensive player of the year in 1996. DAVE EVANS Dave was named 1st Team All State as a defensive back, and defensive back of the year by both Reading Eagle and Bloomsburg Press Enterprise. He led the team with 10 interceptions…and was also the leading receiver with 29 catches. He is class President and ranked #8 in his class. He will play at Bucknell University. JOE SCICCHITANO Joe Shick made Second team AP All State as a linebacker. He was second on the team with 104 tackles. During his career he made 223 tackles good for eighth place on the all-time Tornado list. He was named Reading Eagle offensive lineman of the year in 96. He is the last of 5 brothers who wore 66 for the Big Red. His grandfather Sam Scicchitano is a member of the Ed Romance Hall of Fame. ERIC HIGGINS Eric saw action in all 54 varsity games in his career. As a three-year starter at Tight End he finished 12th on the all time list with 49 receptions for 6 touchdowns. Made Reading Eagle All Anthracite as tight end for the past two years, and this year made Third Team All State at tight end. In top 5 in his class. Will play at Bucknell. MIKE BOYER A relative late-bloomer. Mike came on like gangbusters to be voted First Team All State offensive lineman. He was a large part of the reason the Tornado offense was able to run up 5227 yards this year. Probably the best part of Mike’s career is still ahead of him…and apparently Boston University agrees since he’ll go there on a 4-year grant in aid.