William H. Joraskie Jr.
- Post by: mcalibrary
- January 12, 2024
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INDUCTEE
Bill Joraskie began his athletic career as a defensive end for legendary coach Jazz Diminick at Mount Carmel Area. He was a major component in the back to back 12-0 seasons in 1972 and 1973 when the Tornadoes would win consecutive Eastern Conference Championships over Valley View and Dunmore. Bill’s 55 yard interception return helped to spark Big Red to a convincing win over Berwick 42-6. In 1973. He would have another INT vs Berwick and going 17 yards in aiding the 33-22 win. Bill also took over kicking duties from fellow hall of famer Glenn Adams and added 2 field goals and 8 Pat’s. Bill contributed 32 solo and 16 assisted tackles as a senior and added 42 kick offs. Both the 72 and 73 teams gave up only 78 points in their seasons, one of the main reasons that they were so successful. He was named a first team defensive end in the Susquehanna Valley Conference and a 2nd team DE All-Anthracite.
He then went on to Lebanon Valley College and immediately contributed as a kicker, booting field goals against Dickenson, Weidner, Swarthmore and 2 against Albright. He added 2 more field goals in 1975 along with 21 PAT’s and was given Honorable Mention MAC as a place-kicker. Bill also started for three years at outside linebacker for Coach Lou Sorrentino and earned Honorable Mention MAC at outside linebacker. Although the Flying Dutchmen were ranked either 2nd or 3rd defensively in the MAC, they could never get the offense to the same level in going 17-19 from 74-77.
Joraskie also competed in the pole vault and high jump at MCA and would win a District IV Championship in the pole vault and a 2nd place in the high jump in 1974. Bill also participated as a pole vaulter at LVS and collected a 4th place finish at the MAC Championships as a freshman with a jump of 13’ and moved up to a third place finish in 1976 with a 13’6” jump. The 13’6” height would establish a new Flying Dutchmen record that would last until 1990.
Following his time at LVS, Bill worked for 18 years in the residential and commercial construction business until moving to the Pa. Dept. of Corrections, where he would spend the next 23 years before retiring. He continued to give back to his community as a coach for the JETS for 13 years and MCAJBL for 15 years. He is currently a volunteer coach for John Darrah’s Red Tornadoes, working mainly with the kickers.
He is the son of William and Marie Joraskie and is married to Nancy (Przekop) Joraskie. They are the proud parents of four boys – William III, Adam, Eric, and Austin, all of whom played football for the Rd Tornadoes. Today he joins Adams and 15 other teammates as a member of the Ed Romance Chapter.