CONTINUING: THE WHITE HAVEN JOURNAL ESTABLISHED 1879–147th YEAR, NO. 2
QUILTS OF VALOR was one of the organizations taking part in the the White Haven Area Community Library’s Quilts and Crafts Show on Saturday, December 6. Shown above are Debbie Kessel and Marie Shulenski of the Cranberry Quilt Guild, and QOV, with some of their projects. Turn to page 6 for more Quilts and Crafts Show photos.
New ownership for Heritage Hill
Viva Senior Living expands footprint with transition of four Heritage Communities across south NJ and PA
Viva Senior Living proudly announces its continued growth with the management and operations transition of four senior living communities previously managed under the Heritage Senior Living portfolio, including Heritage Hill in Weatherly. Effective December 10, these communities officiall join the Viva Senior Living family.
Heritage Hill executive director Lisa Perla said that staffing and operation will remain the same at the
Weatherly location.
This growth marks another milestone in Viva’s mission to deliver vibrant daily living and empower employees across its communities. The four Heritage communities—offering varying levels of support, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care—are located throughout South New Jersey and Pennsylvania and will benefit from Viva’s commitment to vibrant living,
CONTINUING: THE WEATHERLY HERALD ESTABLISHED 1880–146th YEAR, NO. 29
WASB re-elects Walters as prez
by Ruth Isenberg
Magesterial District Judge Joseph Homanko administered the oath of office to re-electe Weatherly Area School Board members at the reorganization prior to the caucus meeting on December 3. From left are Barbara Sipler, Ryan Binder, and Nancy Mulvaney. Gerard Grega, who was elected to both a 4-year and a 2-year term, attended electronically. He has chosen to accept the 4-year term, so the board will appoint someone to the vacant 2-year term. Expressing interest were Bill Gerhard, Suzanne Hines, and Jacob Kunkle. Interviews were scheduled for December 10, prior to the regular board meeting.
During the reorganization, April Walters was re-elected as president, though Grega nominated Tyree Harris as well. Voting for Walters were Bonnie Barbush, who also attended electronically, Binder, Harris, Bill Knepper, Mulvaney, Sipler, and Walters. Harris
was unanimously elected as vice-president.
Knepper was named PSBA liaison, Walters was named to a 3-year term on the CCTI board, Binder was named CCTI alternate, Grega was named as CCTI Authority board member, and Mulvaney was named TCC voting dlegate, with Harris as alternate.
Meeting dates for 2026 were established, and will be advertised in next week’s issue.
One item them will be discussed at the December 10 regular board meeting will be revisions to the board policy regarding attendance at meetings remotely. Grega proposed revisions to the board’s policy, which currently limits electronic attendance to two occasions per year. His suggested revisions would eliminate that limit. In comments, he also recommended using Zoom.
THE JOURNAL-HERALD
(USPS 277-440) Published weekly at 211 Main Street, White Haven, PA 18661
Telephone (570) 215-0204
Subscription Price—$40 per year in Luzerne & Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania, payable in advance. $45 per year elsewhere, payable in advance.
Periodicals postage paid at White Haven, PA 18661. POSTMASTER, send address changes to: THE JOURNAL-HERALD
211 Main Street, White Haven, PA 18661
(JAY E. HOLDER, Co-Publisher 1954-1997; CLARA HOLDER, Co-Publisher 1954-2014)
Seth Isenberg, Advertising Sales
Ruth Isenberg, Editor
Steve Stallone, Sports Editor
Member, Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce Carbon County Chamber of Commerce
Whether or not attendance at Weatherly Area School Board meetings remotely is expanded is a matter of board policy, to be decided by the majority of the board. Revisions to the current policy were to be discussed at a meeting after the printing of this issue. Newly installed board member Gerard Grega is asking that the present limit of two uses of electronic attendance per year be removed, so board members such as himself with physical or other barriers to in-person attendance can participate regularly.
No matter what the board decides, there is a very good case to be made for providing not just the board, but also the public, with a way to see and hear meetings remotely. And to its credit, the Weatherly Area School Board provides a broadcast of its meetings on youtube. com, usually about a week after the meetings are held.
Other boards and councils also offer ways for the public to see them in action without making a trek to their physical meetings. Crestwood School Board has a youtube presence; so does Weatherly Borough Council. White Haven Borough Council provides a Zoom link, so people can watch the meetings in real time.
Making meetings available on-line helps boards in a couple of ways. Not only does it provide an opportunity for members who are ill or traveling to keep up with the business of the board, it also offers a transparent window for the public to see what the board is doing. Theoretically, this should help tamp down on rumors and conspiracy theories.
On-line discussion can easily get out of hand, so most boards do not allow public comments on the official recordings or broadcasts. B making sure their meetings are available to the public, they let their actions speak for themselves.
From The Journal-Herald December 1, 2005
Clara R. Holder, Publisher
Santa Claus arrived in White Haven by helicopter, then was taken to the Community Building on Main Street by fire engine, in a visit sponsored by the White Haven Recreation Commission.
Santa was also planning a visit to the Weatherly Area Community Pharmacy later in the week.
Penn Lake Borough’s Planning Commission turned down a curative amendment asking for the rezoning of a property the Basler family had purchased, and wanted to subdivide to build homes on. Borough council accepted their recommendation at their regular meeting.
A front page photo showed the lighting of the decorations in Weatherly’s newest park at the corner of Wilbur and Main, aglow with trees and lighted fountains.
Packer Township was awarded a $2,350 sewage enforcement grant with the state Department of Environmental Protection, paying 50% of the township’s eligible expenses.
Charles O. Velzy of Golden Oaks was awarded an honorary membership in the Americna Society of Mechanical Engineers, recognizing his career of over 40 years in the area of pollution control, and air and wastewater treatment. His innovations led to leadership roles in World Health Organization meetings in Europe and South America.
The 5th grade Language Arts students at Weatherly Area Elementary School had a lesson on the digeridoo by Kurt Hurd, who spoke on the development and use of this instrument in the Outback of Australia. The students were taking part in a distance learning experience entitled Exploring Literature Through Photojournalism.
The Emergency Management Offices of White Haven Borough Dennison Township and Penn Lake Park Borough offered their residents a chance to purchase a bettery-operated WX Radio with alert tones for $39.95 in conjunction with the Luzerne County EMA and the National Weather Service.
From The Weatherly Herald
December 1, 1955
R.V. Faust, Publisher
The improvements underway at the Ernest L. Williams property at Second and Carbon streets are progressing. The store room is being enlarged and modernized and an apartment is being added.
Weatherly Borough Council at a special meeting held at the borough electric plant took action toward increasing the generating capacity of the plant…N.L. Kiser, Weatherly plant manager of Tung-Sol Electric, was present and informed the group that his firm definitely would use at leas 15 percent above their present electric demands in about six months.
Ritz Theatre advertised Walt Disney’s Lady & The Tramp, and Unconquored starring Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard.
From The Journal
December 2, 1976
Jay & Clara Holder, Publishers
A new marker with everything spelled correctly was received last Saturday and placed at the Bicentennial Time Capsule site east of the Borough Honor Roll. “Now if English is still being read in 2076, it will be fine.
A recent state bureaucratic order decreed that henceforth Pennsylvania residential institutions will be known as “centers.” Accordingly, the former White Haven State School & Hospital is now to be called White Haven Center.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following Ordinance will be enacted at a meeting of the Borough Council of Weatherly Borough, Carbon County, Pennsylvania to be held on Thursday, December 22, 2025 at 7:00 p.m., prevailing time, at the Weatherly Borough Hall located at 61 West Main Street, Weatherly, PA the ordinance is entitled “AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF WEATHERLY FIXING THE TAX RATES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026. A summary of the contents of the Ordinance is as follows:
1. The tax rate for the general Borough purposes shall be 11.55 mills on each dollar of assessed value.
2. A continuation of the ordinance imposing a real estate transfer tax of one percent (one-half of one percent effective rate) of the selling price or value on the transfer or real property situate within the Borough of Weatherly.
3. A reenactment of the per capita tax ordinance imposing a per capita tax of $5.00 on each and every resident and inhabitant of the Borough of Weatherly 18 years of age or over.
4. A re-enactment of the Earned Income Tax imposing a tax of one percent (One half of one percent effective rate) on salaries, wages, commissions and other compensations earned during the year 2026 by residents of the Borough of Weatherly and for work done or services performed or rendered in the Borough by non-residents.
5. A re-enactment of the Local Services Tax providing for the assessment levy and collection for police, fireand emergency services, road construction and /or maintenance, and the reduction of property tax in the amount of $52.00 for the year 2026
The full text of the Ordinance in its entirety may be examined at the Weatherly Borough Municipal Building located at 61 West Main Street, Weatherly Pennsylvania, Monday through Friday during regular business hours. A copy of the full text of the proposed Ordinance has also been provided to Weatherly Journal-Herald at 211 Main Street, White Haven, Pennsylvania and the Carbon County Law and may be examined there.
BOROUGH OF WEATHERLY
HAROLD PUDLINER, Borough Manger Weatherly Borough 61 West Main Street Weatherly, PA 18255
JAMES R. NANOVIC, ESQUIRE
Borough Solicitor
57 Broadway
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letters Testamentary have been granted to Roland Lowery, Jr., of Drums, Pennsylvania, in the Estate of Jean Lowery, late of Drums, Pennsylvania, who died on October 25, 2025. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make payment and those having claims or demands to present the same without delay to the Executor named or to:
Conrad A. Falvello, Esquire
THE FALVELLO LAW FIRM, P.C.
641 State Route 93 Sugarloaf, PA 18249 12/11
NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LETTERS OF TESTAMENTARY have been granted to SEAN C. O’DONNELL of the Estate of Richard J. O’Donnell, deceased and late of Weston, Luzerne County, Blackcreek Township, Pennsylvania, who died on September 19, 2025. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make payment, and those having claims, present same to: Susan Sernak-Martinelli, Esquire Law Office o Susan Sernak-Martinelli 199 North Church Street Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18201 12/18
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letters Testamentary have been granted by the Register of Wills of Luzerne County, PA, on November 6, 2025, in the Estate of Dolores R. Falatko, late of Freeland Borough, who died October 4, 2025, to Robert Falatko, Executor.
All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make payment and those having claims to present them immediately to: SENAPE LAW
James V. Senape, Jr., Esquire
Catherine A. McGovern, Esquire
Michael B. Senape, Esquire 612-614 Main Street, P. O. Box 179 Freeland, PA 18224-0179 570-636-3133 12/11
NOTICE
Notice is given that the Zoning Hearing Board of Dennison Township will hold a public hearing at the Dennison Township Building, 76 Walnut St, White Haven, PA on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM to consider the following applications: Christopher Keil, Owner for the property on 120 Middleburg Road, White Haven, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania located in an R-2 Zoning District. This application constitutes a variance request to allow the construction of a deck in the back yard within required 15’ side yard setback from the property lines. The request is to allow the relief from the regulation from 15’ to 5’.
The above referenced requests, applications and plans submitted by the foregoing applicants/owners may be examined by the public at the officeof the Dennison Township Zoning Officerin Wilkes Barre during regular business hours. Suzanne M Popko Zoning Officer and Building Code Officia
Dennison Township 12/11
ROGER (BOOMER) JAMES LEGG JR.
obituAries
DONNA M. CASTIGILONE
Donna M. Castigilone, beloved wife, sister, aunt of Bear Creek Township, White Haven, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at home while in the care of her husband, Paul R. Castigilone.
Born Wednesday, April 30, 1958 in Queens, New York, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Bernice (Wozniak) Mariano. Donna was also predeceased by her sister, Laura Jean Mariano.
In addition to her husband Paul, Donna is also survived by sisters, Mia P. Buell, wife of Gary, and Nancy VanMehren, wife of Rex; brothers, Joseph Mariano and his wife Carol, and Daniel Mariano and his wife Julie; nieces and nephews Laura, Brent, Ryan, Karlie, Jason, Shaina, Lauren, Kayla, Albie, Anthony, Danielle and
A Coconut Creek Florida High School graduate, Donna retired from the Long Island Jewish Medical Center after a long and distinguished career. Catholic by faith, Donna and Paul shared a magical life on the lake in White Haven where Paul built Donna her dream home. Donna enjoyed tending to the grounds and looked forward to snow birding to their home in Florida.
Donna enjoyed the constant companionship of her dogs Pizza and Rudy.
Private arrangements have been entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Weatherly.
Online condolences or a fond memory may be made to the family at www. griffithsfuneralhomes.c
Atty. Cindy Yurchak
Roger (Boomer) James Legg Jr., 56, of White Haven, passed away suddenly on December 2, 2025. Born on August 5, 1969, he was the son of Mary Lou Prye Legg and the late Roger J. Legg. Boomer was a graduate of West Hazleton High School. In July of 1990, he began what would become a remarkable 35-year career with Wolks Landscaping. Faithful, loyal, and hardworking, Boomer was more than an employee; he was a trusted friend, a dependable teammate, and an integral part of the Wolks family.
Thirty-three years ago, Boomer married the love of his life, Sherry McCluskey Legg, with whom he shared a partnership full of teasing, devotion, and unwavering love. Together, they built a beautiful family grounded in faith, humor, and love.
Boomer served his community with great pride, holding positions as both president and vicepresident of the Mountain Top Blitz, and coaching them for 8 years, and as a dedicated and proud member of the Crestwood Wrestling Club, as well as the Crestwood Marching Band Parents Association. In his younger years, Boomer was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America. He was a longtime member of Conyngham United Methodist Church and later attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with his family.
cruises, cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, Penn State, especially wrestling, and rooting for the Atlanta Braves. Above all, he cherished time with his family. He had a special gift for making people feel valued, welcomed, and loved. His quick wit and classic “dad jokes” will continue on in the hearts of those who knew him.
Boomer is survived by his devoted wife, Sherry McCluskey Legg; his children, Roger James Legg III and his wife Carly of Danville, Michael Robert Legg and his wife Ashley of Mountain Top, Samantha Lorraine Legg of White Haven, and Grace Elisabeth Legg of White Haven and her boyfriend Jack Nixon of Mountain Top; and his adored grandchildren, Rhett, Magnolia, Eliana, and Adelyn Legg. He is also survived by his mother, Mary Lou Prye Legg; siblings Sharon (Michael) Farver and Eric (Cortni) Legg; several nieces and nephews; and his faithful furry friend, Stella.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roger J. Legg, and his devoted canine companion, Bubba.
Boomer’s work ethic, humor, and love will forever be remembered by his family, friends, coworkers, and all whose lives he touched. His legacy lives on in the countless memories he created and the people he cared for so deeply.
Funeral service will be held on Friday, December 12, at 7 pm in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 418 Berwick St., White Haven with Pastor Janell Wigen officiatin Friends are invited to join the family from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to the Crestwood Football booster club, venmo is @CrestwoodFootball or Crestwood Wrestling booster club - checks can be made out to Crestwood Wrestling booster club and given to Roger at the service.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Lehman Family Funeral Service, Inc. White Haven.
Visit www. LehmanFuneralHome.com for additional information.
obituAries
JEAN L. KIDDISH
Jean L. Kiddish, 78, a beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton Campus in Hazleton. She resided on Kline Street in Weatherly.
Born in Hazleton on Tuesday, December 3, 1946, Jean was the daughter of the late William and Annabelle (Rimshaw) Helker. Jean was also predeceased by by her loving husband of 53 years, Francis S. Kiddish; sons, Jonathan M. and Michael E. Kiddish; twin sister, Joan L. Sorrels; brother, Merritt D. Helker; and grandson, Kyle D. Kiddish.
Jean was a devoted member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Weatherly. She found joy in life’s simple pleasures: gardening, bowling, and cooking excellent meals for her loved ones. A 1964 graduate of Weatherly High School Jean had worked at Tung-Sol as a line operator prior to attending The Computer and I.B.M. School of Allentown where she trained as an I.B.M. Key Punch Operator. After completing her training, Jean worked for the Department of the Navy in Washington D.C. as a secretary for Special Operations. Upon her return
home to Weatherly, Jean worked at Erdman’s Dairy as a secretary, RCA of Mountain Top, before dedicating her career to caring for others, retiring as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) from the former Weatherwood Nursing Home of Weatherly after 20 years of service.
Above all, Jean cherished her roles as a wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, prioritizing time spent with her family.
Jean is survived by her son, Steven A. Kiddish; her brother, William Helker and his wife Carol; her sister, Margaret “Peg” Jancewicz; her grandchildren, Dillion and Brianna; and her daughter-in-law, Lee Ann Kiddish, as well as many nieces and nephews. Her warm presence and nurturing spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral home & Cremation Services of Weatherly.
A Celebration of Jean’s Life will be held on Saturday, December 13, at a.m. from Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 335 Third Street, Weatherly. Friends and family may call in church from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Private Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Weatherly. Online condolences or a fond memory of Jean may be made to the family at www. griffithsfuneralhomes.c
Breakfast Sunday at Silver Ridge
Silver Ridge Hunting Club, 2200 East Main St., Weatherly, will hold its all-you-can-eat breakfast from 7 a.m. to Noon this Sunday, December 14, at the clubhouse.
The menu includes eggs (any style), home fries, bacon,
sausage, ham, pancakes, toast and creamed chipped beef. Drinks include coffee, tea, hot chocolate, orange and tomato juice. Take-outs are available. Children under 6 are free.
Santa Run set in Weatherly
Weatherly Police will be escorting Santa all through the town for everyone to see, starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 19. There will be several stops along the way for anyone who wishes to meet him and get a treat. Find the full route on the Weatherly Police Department’s Facebook page.
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 360 will be participating
in the Weatherly Police Department’s Santa Run. It will start from the Police Station and end at the Legion at 6 p.m. There will be free hot dogs, cookies, hot cocoa, and coffee. Children will receive a small gift and reindeer food and be able to write a letter for Santa. There will be a special mailbox for Santa letters. The public is welcome to join the American Legion Auxiliary for a night of fun.
Quilts & Crafts Show dazzles senses
Get your Journa l-H erald in the mail each week. Or send it to
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Heritage Hill
Continued from page 1
aging in place, and creating communities residents can truly call their forever home.
In addition to Heritage Hill Senior Community in Weatherly, this acquisition includes the following communities:
• Belle Reve Senior Living, Milford, PA
• Cardinal Retirement Village, Sewell, NJ
• Traditions of Cross Keys, Glassboro, NJ
Viva Senior Living will assume full management operational leadership for all four communities and has been working closely with existing team members to ensure a smooth, transparent, and supportive transition. The organization remains committed to maintaining the strong programs, services, and local relationships that residents and families value— along with the high-quality care for which these Heritage communities are known.
“We are honored to welcome these wonderful Heritage communities into the Viva Senior Living family,” said
Chris Metternich, Chief Operating Officer, Viva Senior Living. “This is not only an exciting expansion of our footprint we already have in New Jersey and Pennsylvania— it reflects our long-term commitment to serving seniors where the need is growing most. We look forward to supporting the dedicated teams already in place, partnering with families, and investing in meaningful enhancements that elevate the resident experience across each community.”
About Viva Senior Living
Viva Senior Living manages more than 40 senior living communities across the East, Southeast, and Midwest. Offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and adult day services, Viva was founded by healthcare professionals committed to creating vibrant, compassionate environments where seniors and staff can thrive. Viva’s mission is to reimagine the aging experience through excellence in care, innovative lifestyle programming, and an employee-driven culture.
For more information, visit www.vivaseniorliving.com
ABOVE, Santa was an honored guest at the Tree Trimming Contest and Open House at Heritage Hill on December 6. At left, one of the festively decorated trees that lined the driveway.
JH: Ruth Isenberg
Santa visits Penn Lake
Story & photos by Suzanne Winters Cookies, snacks, hot chocolate and crafts awaited the children of Penn Lake Sunday afternoon when they arrived at the Community House to see Santa and light the community Christmas tree.
Santa was delivered to the event via White Haven Fire Department’s shiny new fireengine, where dozens of excited youngsters waited to sit with him for a photo and relay their Christmas wishes.
The event was sponsored by the Penn Lake Association.
Hickory Hills hosts Santa
Santa dropped into Hickory Hills with gifts and treats for every child. Refreshments, cotton candy, a craft, and writing letters to Santa made the party extra special.
Photos by Alice Lachewitz
librAry corNer
WHACL open house set
The White Haven Area Community Library Holiday Open House will be held on Friday, December 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join us for light bites and refreshments as we celebrate a year of exciting, fun and educational programming. Musical entertainment will be provided by Frank Balon. No registration is required.
Are you looking for something new to try and enjoy reading? Our book club might be just the thing. This month’s book is In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren. We meet next on Wednesday, January 7, for some fun and lively discussion. Join us in the John Murphy Room at 6:30 p.m.
There will be a meeting of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren on December 16 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The group is facilitated by Joan Gower and is open to all who are looking to receive or offer kinship support. Light refreshments will be offered.
The Gertrude Hawk Chocolate Fundraiser is still underway. Remember chocolate bars make great stocking stuffers and help support library programs throughout the year.
If you are interested in volunteering at the library, we would love to meet you. There are a variety of opportunities
available for you to share your skills and experience. Please call 570-443-8776 or stop in during library hours.
We would also like to remind everyone that the library follows the Crestwood School District for weather related closings. If
the school is closed, the library is closed. For weather events on days when school is not in session, the decision to close the library will be made at least one hour prior to its scheduled opening and posted on the library Facebook page.
Puzzle Solved: It took almost three hours to complete a 500 piece puzzle of an octopus at the Weatherly Area Community Library’s puzzle competition. First to complete the puzzle was the team of Eva Labanoski, Mikayla Tom, Javier Solis, and Crystal Solis. They won a $20 gift card to the iHop in Wilkes-Barre to celebrate their victory.
Weatherly Boys Basketball Roundup
Colts overwhelm Wreckers in Schuylkill boys basketball showdown
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
HOMETOWN - Round 1 to Marian.
An early-season meeting between Schuylkill League boys basketball rivals with big aspirations became a one-team show, when the host Colts galloped away with a 54-30 victory over Weatherly Area last Thursday.
The Colts used a suffocating defense to keep them in the game early, then caught fire offensively in the second half to avenge a homecourt loss to the Wreckers the last time they met last January.
Rocco Griguoli powered in 11 of his 14 points during the second half, and Justin DeLacruz scored all 10 of his points in a 21-12 fourth-quarter finish that gave Marian its second win in as many games to start the season.
The Wreckers slipped to 1-1 after the setback.
Marian head coach Paul Brutto said defense has been the focal point from the get-go, and so far he likes what he’s seen.
“We work hard on (defense),” Brutto said. “(Weatherly’s) a pretty talented offensive team. They’re small but they’re hard to guard.
“Our non-starters yesterday did a phenomenal job of pushing our starters and I think that was reflected a lot today That’s the kind of stuff people don’t see tha a team and a coach take a lot of pride in that, that they came in and worked that hard. (Allowing) 35 and 30 points to start, two good starts to the season for sure.”
For Weatherly Area head coach Luke Medico, Thursday’s game was an eye-opener for his team.
“I told the guys if you’re relying on shooting 3-pointers the whole time and not driving to the basket or running plays through, this is what you’re going to get. It was poor shot selection the entire game,” Medico said. “Since I’ve been coaching this is the worst I’ve ever seen them, summer league or anywhere. I don’t know what really happened except for lack of execution. They looked flat. It was tough to be a part of”
Marian scored the game’s first eight points before Corbin Wagner ended the run with a free throw at the midway point. Up to that point, Weatherly was 0-for-4 from the floor 0-for-3 from the 3-point line, and already had two turnovers.
Weatherly didn’t get its firs basket until Ian McKeegan buried a 3-pointer at 2:23 of
the opening quarter. He added another triple with 45 seconds left in the quarter to keep the Wreckers in touch, but it was during that time when the Colts were getting a big lift from one of their reserves.
Center James Cannon entered the game at the 2-minute mark and immediately made his presence felt, scoring in the lane on his first touch, adding a tip-in seconds later, and then opening the second quarter with another basket as Marian moved on top 14-8.
“He has nice footwork for a big guy,” Brutto said. “He’s another high basketball IQ guy, understands the game and sees the floor pretty well. That was big spurt. Those six points were big at that time.”
Weatherly answered with a Niko Saldukas runner in the lane and two Matt Adler free throws, but Greg Tirpak scored four points and Yaniel Nunez added a late basket as the Colts closed the half with a 21-12 lead.
Dominic Kokinda caught fire for the Wreckers in the third quarter, scoring six points in the paint to keep his team close. Kokinda’s stickback early in the fourth, and Wagner’s fast break basket off a McKeegan feed cu Marian’s lead to 13 (35-22) with 5:42 to play.
The Wreckers would get no closer, as Justin DeLaCruz scored all 10 of his points in the fourth to help the Colts close out the victory.
Wagner finished as the Wreckers’ leading scorer with 12 points, and Kokinda scored eight. The Wreckers shot just 20 percent (10-of-50) from the field.
“The only silver lining is that it’s a realization of the amount of work that has to go into practice and following through with stuff and not just going out there and saying we beat them last year, we’re going to beat them again,” Medico said. “We’re going to use it as a wake-up call.
“If you’re going to get (beat bad) it’s nice that it happens now,” he continued. “We are
good, but we can’t play like that. We can’t go out and street-ball it and see what happens.
Today, the amount of lessons to be learned, showing up unprepared.”
Medico said he is anxious to see how the Wreckers respond to their first loss.
“Life’s going to kick you in the face sometimes. It’s all how you respond to that. You only can control how you respond,” he said. “I’m interested to see how they are going to control how they respond.”
WEATHERLY AREA (30) - Adler 0 2-2 2, D. Kokinda 4 0-1 8, I. McKeegan 2 0-0 6, Cuddeford 0 0-0 0, J. McKeegan 0 0-0 0, Saldukas 1 0-2 2, Davis 0 0-0 0, W. Kokinda 0 0-0 0, Wagner 3 5-8 12. Totals: 10 7-13 30. MARIAN CATHOLIC (54) - Shigo 1 0-0 2, Tom 1 1-1 3, Nunez 2 2-5 6, Paulino 0 0-0 0, Ju. De La Cruz 2 4-4 10, Ja. De La Cruz 3 0-2 6, Acosta 0 0-0 0, Da. Rodino 0 0-0 0, Tirpak 2 2-3 7, Knock 0 0-0 0, Griguoli 6 2-6 14, Cannon 3 0-1 6. Totals: 20 11-22 54. Weatherly Area.....7 5 6 12 - 30 Marian Catholic...12 9 12 21 - 54 3-FG: I. McKeegan 2, Wagner. Ju. De La Cruz 2, Tirpak.
Schuylkill Haven 60, Weatherly Area 58Trailing by 10 points (34-24) at halftime, visiting Schuylkill Haven rallied with a 16-7 third quarter and outscored the Wreckers 20-17 in the fourth to steal the Schuylkill League Division II road win on Monday. Alan Evans topped four Hurricanes in double figures with a game-high 19 points. The Wreckers (1-2 overall, 0-2 league), who were playing without star point guard and scoring leader Ian McKeegan, received double-figure scoring from Dominic Kokinda (17), Niko Saldukas (14) and Corbin Wagner (10).
In junior varsity action, Weatherly topped Schuylkill Haven 58-54 behind Wyatt Kokinda’s 19 points and Jacob Hinkle’s 12.
Wreckers, Colts stand shoulder to shoulder to salute ‘Murph’
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
When it comes to the Coal Region, it’s one of the fiercest rivalries going.
Located 20 minutes apart, Weatherly Area High School and Marian Catholic High School are separated by a 14-mile stretch of Quakake Road and little else.
The two schools battle one another twice each year in Schuylkill League play, and oftentimes again in the postseason, depending on the sport.
They’ve also competed for students and student-athletes for decades, with many from Weatherly and its outlying areas matriculating to the private school in Hometown.
Orange and Black.
Blue and Gold.
When it comes to Weatherly and Marian, those colors don’t mix. They don’t even look good together.
Last Thursday evening, the colors blended perfectly together. And for one night, the Wreckers and Colts stood together as one.
They were honoring Scott Murphy, Marian’s boys basketball coach. “Murph” passed away during the summer after leading the Colts the past two seasons and into the playoffs just 10 months ago
Longtime Marian girls basketball coach Paul Brutto, who was assisting Murphy last season, was named the head coach to replace him.
On Thursday, the Colts were playing their first home game without their fallen leader.
“First time at home without Coach Murph, you know...,” Brutto said, pausing and reflecting. “I watched th Linville Christian playoff gam again over the summer and he was walking off the court, an I was saying to myself that was hard to believe that was his last game.”
But as Brutto looked around the Marian gym, he felt “Murph” wasn’t far away, and certainly not far from the minds of those gathered there.
“His spirit is alive and present,” Brutto said, “especially at a home game.”
Weatherly third-year head coach Luke Medico had developed a special bond with Murphy in the two years they went head-to-head on the basketball sideline. They both began their head coaching stints in 2023.
He came up with a special way to honor his friendly coaching rival. With the help of Weatherly assistant coach Rob Bryan, they designed T-shirts for both teams to wear during warmups. The blue shirts simply had “MURPH” in bold white letters, with the “U” replaced by a gold horseshoe.
“I couldn’t think of many things to do, and this came to me a month or two ago,” Medico explained after the game. “Rob’s good with the graphics, and I said I want a Murph thing. He said, ‘Let’s put a horseshoe in there.’”
Brutto and the Colts were moved by the gesture, and both teams wore them throughout warmups, and while they were on their respective benches.
“Weatherly did a great job with the shirts. They did that on their own,” Brutto said. “It was a nice way to honor him.”
In addition, it was announced that Marian’s Christmas tournament will now be known as the Coach Scott Murphy Christmas Classic.
Medico said the T-shirts were a small way to honor his friend, even if wearing Marian’s colors was a bit painful.
“Do I like wearing the blue and gold? Not ever. Makes me sick,” Medico, himself a Weatherly grad and former player, said with a half-smile. “But, my relationship with Murph over the past two years,
Weatherly Area basketball players warm up prior to last Thursday’s game at Marian Catholic High School. The Wreckers wore special blue warm-up shirts they designed to honor Marian head coach Scott Murphy, who passed away prior to the season. The Colts also wore the shirts, which simply said “Murph” with a gold horseshoe placed in his name.
that was more important to me. We had a lot of late-night phone calls about things. Our teams kind of don’t like each other, but there was a lot of love there between Murph and me. We’d be like ‘Well, why don’t you try this with this guy?’ and vice-versa.
“His was a big loss for this community for sure, because Murph really gave a crap about the kids, man. That was one thing,” Medico added. “We kind of connected through basketball, and I love
JH Photo by Steve Stallone
basketball. But this is life. They say you can teach life through basketball, right?”
Thursday’s program also included a moment of silence prior to the game, as the large crowd stood together to honor a good young coach and an even better person.
Most importantly, the evening stood as important reminders of how short life is, of how to act with class and dignity, and how to even stand shoulder to shoulder with your fiercest rival.
Journal-Herald Classifieds
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THEME: AT A BAR
ACROSS
1. Slovenly ones
6. To do this is human?
9. Not fli
13. Mistress or lover, arch.
14. Precedes de Rivoli
15. Lift a hefty load
16. Sheep-like
17. Invoice qty.
18. Republic on Arabian Peninsula
19. *Aromatic additives
21. *Beer with Bloody Mary, e.g.
23. Major Uziel Gal-designed gun
24. Clarified butte
25. Although, for short
28. Distressed cry
30. Bamboozled
35. What a willow did?
37. J in B. J. King
39. Raspberry drupelets
40. Pelvic bones
41. Birch family tree
43. Banned apple spray
44. Impolite dinner sound
46. Left, Latin prefi
47. Dissenting clique
48. a.k.a. chickadee
50. Four seasons
52. Abode for #1 Down
53. Do, re or mi
55. Buddy Holly’s “Peggy ____”
57. *Measuring tool at a bar
60. *Not shaken
64. Dough or cabbage
65. “Gross!”
67. Lacking guile
68. “The Day the World ____ Still”
69. Intelligence org.
70. Ruhr’s industrial center
71. Job for a body shop
72. Finish
73. Condemn DOWN
1. #1 Across, sing.
2. Jeans maker Strauss
3. Leave out
4. Swahili and other languages
5. One of the seven dwarfs
6. Victorian one and Elizabethan one, e.g.
7. *Liquor in Hurricane and Painkiller
8. *Verb related to hangover
9. Fine print add-ons
10. Feeble
11. Above and beyond
12. Mightier than sword
15. Shenzi of “The Lion King”
20. *Spanish dry red wine
22. “For ____ a Jolly Good Fellow”
24. Seductive stare (2 words)
25. *Citrus peel
26. Greeting
27. Laudanum ingredient
29. *Same as rail at a bar
31. South American wood sorrels
32. Trickeries
33. Roleplay
34. *Like martini with olive brine
36. Queen of Hearts’ pastry
38. Campbell of “Scream” fame
42. Cook in the oven
45. Sent a modern message
49. Ballerina’s support
51. Decayed or disintegrated
54. Cease-fir
56. Use other end of pencil
57. Burlap fibe
58. Desktop picture
59. Small cave
60. Herring’s cousin
61. Microprocessor design, acr.
62. “____ and anon”
63. Controvert
64. Psychedelic drug
66. *Liquor in Tom Collins and Gimlet
Scholastic Schedule
WED., DEC. 10
Boys Wrestling
Wilkes-Barre Area at Crestwood
Girls Wrestling
Wilkes-Barre Area at Crestwood
THURSDAY, DEC. 11
Boys Basketball
Weatherly Area at Nativity
Williamsport at Crestwood
Girls Basketball
Nativity at Weatherly Area
Crestwood at Williamsport
FRIDAY, DEC. 12
No events scheduled
SATURDAY, DEC. 13
Boys Basketball
Weatherly Area at Millville
Crestwood at Bethlehem Catholic, 1 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Crestwood vs. St. Thomas Aquinas at Lackawanna College Shootout, 2 p.m.
Girls Wrestling
Crestwood at Honesdale Tournament
MONDAY, DEC. 15
Boys Basketball
Weatherly Area at Shenandoah Valley
Girls Basketball
Loyalsock Township at Crestwood
TUESDAY, DEC. 16
Girls Basketball
Shenandoah Valley at Weatherly Area
WED., DEC. 17
Girls Basketball
Crestwood at Pittston Area
Boys Wrestling
Crestwood at Wyoming Valley West
Girls Wrestling
Crestwood at Wyoming Valley West
THURSDAY, DEC. 18
Boys Basketball
Lourdes Regional at Weatherly Area
Pittston Area at Crestwood
FRIDAY, DEC. 19
Girls Basketball
Weatherly Area at Lourdes Regional
Crestwood at WilkesBarre Area
SATURDAY, DEC. 20
Boys Basketball
Wilkes-Barre Area at Crestwood
Girls Wrestling
Crestwood at Hanover Area
MONDAY, DEC. 22
Boys Basketball
Crestwood at Scranton
Girls Basketball
Crestwood at Wyoming Valley West
TUESDAY, DEC. 23
No events scheduled
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24
No events scheduled
THURSDAY, DEC. 25
No events scheduled
Crestwood Girls Basketball Preview
Lady Comets have pieces in place to run it back in 2025-26
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
The Crestwood High School girls basketball team treated itself and its fans to a season like none other in 2024-25.
The Lady Comets captured the program’s first-ever district championship and won three state tournament games on their way to the PIAA semifinals, also a first.
The good news is that four regulars from last year’s record-setting 24-5 run are back, making for plenty of optimism. And with three victories to open this season, the Crestwood girls are poised to make some more noise in 2025-26.
“Experience is definitely on our side as we have four
players back that played in all 29 games last year,” head coach Mary Mushock-Namey said to the media in preseason. “We also have a lot of athleticism and speed that we are looking to use to our advantage.
“Making it to the final four in states was a ‘tested’ experience for all.”
Starters Jackie Gallagher (16.2 ppg, 64 3FG), Charlie Hiller (12.9 ppg) and Jordan Andrews (4.1 ppg), and key “sixth player” Cameron Vieney (5.4 ppg) return to make up four-fifths of this year’s starting rotation.
“Jackie is a lights-out shooter who had 64 threes last year, and is now an inside threat as well,” MushockNamey said of the 5-foot-11 guard-forward, who will be
Crestwood Girls Bball Roundup
Lady Comets storm their way to Selinsgrove tournament title
The Crestwood girls soared past Jersey Shore (79-17) and then Southern Columbia (74-20) last week to capture the Angela Wolfe Memorial Girls Basketball Tournament at Selinsgrove High School.
The Lady Comets improved to 3-0 moving into this week’s action against Wallenpaupack (Tuesday) and at Williamsport (Thursday). On Saturday afternoon, they will take part in the Lackawanna College Shootout, facing St. Thomas Aquinas.
Crestwood 79, Jersey Shore 17 - Jackie Gallagher and Keira Dougherty each rimmed 23 points to share game honors, powering the Lady Comets past Jersey Shore on the opening night of the tournament.
Charlie Hiller joined her teammates in double figures with 14 points.
getting plenty of attention from college coaches.
Hiller, a junior who is also in the six-foot range, is the team’s leading returning rebounder and second-leading scorer from a year ago, whom Mushock-Namey describes as a “D-1 prospect that is a threat from both inside and outside.”
The 5-foot-4 Andrews, a senior, is the team’s defensive catalyst, often guarding the opposing team’s top backcourt scorer. She is also an added ballhandler for the Lady Comets, and a capable scorer.
“Jordan is a tenacious defender who has unbelievable athleticism,” noted Mushock-Namey.
Vieney provided the spark off the bench last season with her defensive prowess and offensive abilities. The 5-foot-7 guard slides into a starting role this season, giving MushockNamey “a tenacious defender who is very good at getting to the basket.”
She pointed to sophomores Addison Korpusik and Sydney Van Dusen as two of those young players who are stepping up.
“Addison is an all-around athlete who can play great defense and see the floor well, and Sydney has worked extremely hard all off season to become a threat from the outside and inside,” she said.
Ella Sorber, Lia Lapsansky, Isla Centak and Abigail Hinkle are also battling for varsity minutes and providing depth for the Lady Comets.
Mushock-Namey doesn’t have to look far to see who the teams to beat in the Wyoming Valley Conference’s first division. Three of their five losses last season came at the hands of Hazleton Area, including 63-51 in the WVC championship game. Hazleton Area went 26-1 and won the District 2 6A crown enroute to the state quarterfinals.
Jersey Shore....3 10 1 3 - 17
3-FG: Hiller 2, Gallagher, Dougherty. Depasque.
Crestwood 74, Southern Columbia 20
- Jackie Gallagher led a trio of Lady Comets in double figures with 22 points as Crestwood smothered Southern Columbia for the tournament title.
Keira Dougherty scored 19 and Jordan Andrews 11 for the Lady Comets, who opened up a 34-6 lead after one quarter and never looked back. For a second straight night Crestwood held its opponent to just seven field goals.
Olivia Jones paced runner-up Southern Columbia with 10 points.
While Crestwood lost key starters Kate Gallagher and Kendall Petrosky to graduation, they get one in return with senior point guard Keira Dougherty. A two-time WVC All-Star as a freshman and sophomore, Dougherty missed her entire junior season due to an ACL injury.
Like Andrews a star on the girls soccer team, Dougherty can score from the perimeter and get to the rim, and is the team’s “true floor general” according to her coach.
Mushock-Namey is also expecting contributions from Norah Sklarosky, who saw limited varsity action last season and who “put in a lot of work this offseason and is ready to take on a big role this year.”
Past those six players, the Lady Comets are untested.
“Unfortunately, numbers are not on our side this year, so we have a very, very limited bench,” said Mushock-Namey. “We are hoping some of our younger girls can step in a give us a few minutes here and there to ease the workload on our top six.”
“Our division is one of the toughest around,” stated Mushock-Namey. “We know Hazleton and Dallas are two top notch teams this year, but to be honest, there’s not one team to take lightly in our division. We will prepare just as hard for each and every team we play.”
Dallas, Abington Heights, North Pocono, Wallenpaupack, Berwick and Pittston Area are the teams that will be Crestwood’s chief rivals when it comes to defending its District 2 Class 5A Tournament title.
“We want to compete at a high level throughout the season, challenge for the division and challenge for a district championship,” said Mushock-Namey.
The Lady Comets have the tools to do just that.
2025-26 SCHEDULE
December 1 - at Scranton (W, 63-41); 4 - vs. Jersey Shore (W, 79-17); 5 - vs. Southern Columbia (W, 79-20); 9 - Wallenpaupack; 11 - at Williamsport Area; 13 - vs. St. Thomas Aquinas at Lackawanna College Shootout; 15 - Loyalsock Twp.; 17 - at Pittston Area; 19 - at Wilkes-Barre Area; 22 - at Wyoming Valley West; 27 - at Pleasant Valley; 29 - at Nanticoke Area.
January 5 - Hazleton Area; 8 - Berwick; 10 - at East Stroudsburg North; 14 - at Dallas; 16 - Pittston Area; 19 - Wilkes-Barre Area; 22 - Wyoming Valley West; 26 - at Hazleton Area; 29 - at Berwick. February 4 - Dallas.
Crestwood Boys Basketball Roundup Comets lean on their defense for three more victories
The Crestwood Comets soared to their fourth straight victory on Monday, beating North Pocono 61-41 for their third consecutive road win of the young basketball season.
Coupled with last week’s 46-38 road win at Hanover Area and Saturday’s 69-37 drubbing of Danville on Saturday, the Comets took a 4-0 record into Thursday night’s home game with Williamsport.
A roundup of the Comets’ three most recent games follows: Crestwood 61, North Pocono 41 - The Comets turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, breaking away from a 25-all halftime tie to pull away from the Trojans.
Crestwood outscored North Pocono 19-9 in the pivotal third quarter, then finished the game on a 17-7 run in the fourth to seal the non-league triumph.
Ayden Agapito scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half to key the Comets’ push. Gio Barna
also finished with 20 points, including four triples, while Miles Metz chipped in with three 3-pointers and 11 points for the night.
Crestwood shot just 15-of-28 from the foul line, but still outscored the Trojans (3-of-6) by 12 points at the stripe.
Through four games, the Comets are allowing just 42 points per contest.
3-FG: Barna 4, Metz 3, Wagaman. Ruddy, West, Maros, Turk.
Crestwood 69, Danville 37 - Gio Barna poured in 18 of his team-high 19 points in the opening half, including four of the team’s eight 3-pointers, to lead a trio of
Weatherly Girls Basketball Roundup
Comets in double figures as they reached a season high in points.
Miles Metz and Ayden Agapito each scored 14 for Crestwood, which took control with a 27-point second quarter. Barna drilled all four of his 3-pointers in the period, helping the Comets extend an 11-9 lead to a 38-21 advantage by intermission.
Suton Dudinskie scored 19 of the Ironmen’s 37 points, including five of Danville’s nine 3-pointers. No other player had more than six points.
Crestwood limited the Ironmen to just four 2-point field goals, and held its second straight opponent to under 40 points.
Crestwood 46, Hanover Area 38 - The Comets grinded out a defensive win earlier in the week at Hanover Area, keeping the Hawkeyes to just 13 field goals in the non-conference victory. Jack Rodgers stepped up with a team-high 12 points for the balanced Comets, who also received 10 points from Ayden Agapito and nine each from Gio Barna and Miles Metz.
Fillies top Weatherly Area in Schuylkill League basketball opener
Addy Marek and DeAnna Pugh combined for 43 of their team’s points and 10 3-pointers as visiting Marian Catholic defeated Weatherly Area 52-16 in the Schuylkill League Division II girls basketball opener for both teams.
Marek finished with a game high 25 points and six of the triples, while Pugh contributed 18 points and four 3-point baskets for Marian (2-1, 1-0).
Freshman Maci Kane scored a varsity-high nine points, and Kelly Reiner pitched in with seven for the Lady Wreckers (1-2, 0-1).
Lincoln Leadership 59, Weatherly Area 33Lincoln Leadership Academy jumped on Weatherly early, and used a 20-7 second-quarter blitz to take control for the nonleague win.
Arielle Taylor showed the way with a game-high 20 points to lead LLA. Chloe Henigan scored seven of her eight points in the opening quarter.
For Weatherly, Kelly Reiner
hit three 3-pointers and finished with 17 points. Alexia Kehler and Cortney Snyder combined for 11 points.
Mackenzie Graham poured in a game-high 19 points as the Weatherly Area junior high girls basketball team took down Panther Valley 45-11 to open the season with a victory at home last week.
Mikayla Pugh added eight points for the Lady Wreckers.
Lacy Uher had five of Panther Valley’s seven points.
Weatherly Area 29, Panther Valley 4 - In the rematch played on Monday at Panther Valley, the Lady Wreckers held the Panthers to four points on their way to a 2-0 start to their season.
Mikayla Pugh scored 10 points and Helena Williams added six to help key the Weatherly attack.
Lacy Uher and Zoe Alabovitz had two points apiece for PV.
Crestwood Wrestling Preview
Crestwood wrestling teams low in numbers, high on talent
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
The loss of two state qualifiers to graduation and the inability to fill a complete lineup card for dual meets would be tough for most wrestling teams to deal with.
Crestwood boys head coach Martin Bibla and the Comets are in such a situation, but they won’t let that keep them from another meaningful season on the canvas.
“Our team will be missing some weights, which may make duals challenging, but that is the most negative aspect of our situation,” Bibla said. “We are an experienced group with talented wrestlers who will undoubtedly impress other competitors in the district.”
The Comets certainly did that in Bibla’s first season at the helm in 2024-25, posting an impressive 11-7 overall record and a fifth-place finish in th 12-team District 2 Class 3A Tournament.
That squad was fueled by seniors Lincoln Bibla (215) and Kyle Draina (heavyweight). Draina won a district championship and Bibla was a district runner-up, and both qualified for the state tournament.
With Draina now wrestling at Bloomsburg University and Lincoln Bibla competing at the Coast Guard Academy, those wrestlers who are returning will be tasked with carrying on the winning tradition at Crestwood.
“Our strength lies in our experience and senior
CFP Rankings Review
by Ethan Barilla
The final CFP rankings were announced Sunday with some questionable decisions. The #1 team in the rankings is the Indiana Hoosiers who beat the previous #1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. Ohio State only fell down 1 spot after losing on Saturday against Indiana. At the 3 seed is Georgia, who crushed Alabama 28-7 in the SEC Championship and has good chances at making a run. In the four spot is the Big 12 champion Texas Tech, who took care of business vs BYU in the championship. All those teams will play the winners from the first round.
Starting off the first roun is #5 Oregon vs #12 James Madison. You might be wondering how James Madison is in the playoff. There is a rule that there has to be 5 conference champions in the playoff and JMU is one of them. Oregon is a 21-point favorite vs James Madison.
Next we have #6 Ole Miss
GIRLS
vs #11 Tulane. It is the same story with Tulane, who also won their conference. Ole Miss lost its head coach Lane Kiffin bu is still a 17-point favorite over Tulane.
Then it gets questionable with #9 Alabama vs #8 Oklahoma. Alabama is the first three-loss team ever to make it to the CFP. Alabama started the season by losing to Florida State. More recently they lost to Oklahoma, who they are playing in the first round. Their most recent loss was against Georgia on Saturday. I don’t see Alabama making it past the second round. The last game in the first round is #7 Texas A&M vs #10 Miami. There was a lot of talk about whether it should be Notre Dame or Miami in the playoff. It came down to the head-to-head matchup where Miami beat Notre Dame 27-24. Now that Notre Dame is out of the playoff, for some reason they are also withdrawing their name from a bowl game.
The CFP is going to be good but with lots of surprises.
leadership, while our weakness is the gaps in our lineup,” noted Bibla, who has 16 wrestlers in the room and will look to the veterans to keep the Comets competitive, and also to make some noise come postseason.
“Anson Jumper is a returning senior who placed fourth in the district tournament last season,” Coach Bibla said. “Anson has a lot of heart and determination, and we expect he will have a successful season building on his accomplished previous years.”
Senior Thomas Stravitski returns with 61 career wins and three district place finishes under his belt, while classmate Nathan Wisniewski has 27 victories and a pair of district place finishes to his credit.
Junior Mason Ford also returns, as does Bibla’s son Mariusz, who picked up 14 wins as a freshman and won 23 matches last season enroute to a sixth at districts.
Bibla is also high on incoming freshman Micah Engleman at 152 pounds. Engleman has enjoyed success at the elementary, junior high and travel wrestling levels.
Bibla, who is being assisted by coaches Mark Bellas, Michael Wisniewski and Kevin Engleman, knows the competition in the Wyoming Valley Conference and District 2 will again be tough.
“Pittston and Wilkes-Barre will be our tough rival matches in the district where we will see all too much of each other from dual to conferences to districts,” he said.
Expect the Comet wrestlers to battle for six full minutes each and every time out on the mat, Bibla said.
“What I ask of our kids is to be tough regardless of the outcome. I want other teams to wrestle us and the outcome whether it’s win, lose or draw, to feel like they’ve been broken and beaten up,” he said. “Toughness and grit are the backbone of any wrestler, and we get there by building ‘strength through struggle.’”
Head coach Shevaun Ambrose Olshefski and assistant Clint Kakalecik continue to build this young program, which is still just a few years old but is gaining strength and numbers. Headlining the 2025-26 squad are seniors Rachel Shoemaker, a returning district champion, and Alexis Richmond, a fourth-place finisher at districts. They will be counted on for their wrestling and their leadership.
Juniors Samara Bailey, Emma Selfe and Taryn Kakalecik also return with talent and experience. Selfe placed fifth as a freshman and third as a sophomore at districts, and has 34 career victories. Bailey won 15 matches last season on her way to a district runner-up finish, while Kakalecik finished fourth at districts last season.
Freshman Emmersyn Seltzer is one of the young wrestlers who are expected to make a splash for the Lady Comets. Through the help of boys head coach Martin Bibla and the wrestling club, sponsorships and donations, the Crestwood wrestlers will be competing on new mats and have new lighting for their home matches. They will debut those on Wednesday of this week, when the Comets and Lady Comets entertain WilkesBarre Area in a girls-boys dual meet double-header that marks the home debut of both Crestwood teams.
2024-25 SCHEDULES
BOYS
December
3 - at Hanover Area; 5-6 - at DKI Tournament, Bloomsburg; 10 - Wilkes-Barre Area; 17 - at Wyoming Valley West; 29 - at Bob Rohm Memorial Tournament, Bloomsburg.
January
3 - at Wyoming Valley Conference Tournament; 7 - Nanticoke Area; 10 - at Big Red Duals, Souderton H.S.; 14 - Pittston Area; 17 - at Mayhem at Montrose Tournament, Montrose H.S.; 21 - at Hazleton Area; 23-24 - at Coal Cracker Invitational, Lehighton H.S.
February
11 - Scranton Prep; 20-21 - at District 2 3A Individual Championships.
GIRLS
December
3 - at Hanover Area; 8 - at Wallenpaupack; 10 - Wilkes-Barre Area; 13 - at Honesdale Tournament; 17 - at Wyoming Valley West; 20 - at Hanover Area; 29 - at Bob Rohm Memorial Tournament, Bloomsburg.
January
3 - at Wyoming Valley Conference Tournament; 7 - Nanticoke Area; 16-17 - at Coal Cracker Invitational, Jim Thorpe H.S.; 21 - at Hazleton Area; 31 - at Williamsport.
February
11 - Lake-Lehman; 20-21 - at District 2 3A Individual Championships.
