©2026, THE JOURNAL-HERALD. All Rights Reserved
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 • Volume 45 – No. 25 (USPS 277440)
CONTINUING: THE WHITE HAVEN JOURNAL ESTABLISHED 1879–147th YEAR, NO. 11
CONTINUING: THE WEATHERLY HERALD ESTABLISHED 1880–146th YEAR, NO. 37
by Ruth Isenberg
Some people breath a sigh of relief when they complete their formal education, graduating from high school or college. Other people sigh, because they will miss the stimulation of a learning environment.
For the past 30 years, those people have had an opportunity to continue their lifetime learning. CACE, the Crestwood Area Community Education program, got its start in 1996, and has been offering a variety of courses at the high school ever since.
As the organization opens its anniversary season, two White Haven women are guiding the process. Coordinator Linda Kiesel and registrar Denise Weiss put in many hours with the help of a team of volunteers to set up the 20+ courses each semester, publicize the courses, collect the money, and make sure that the courses happen as advertised.
This semester 23 courses are offered, everything from Make Your Own Hot Sauce to Genealogy: Family History Research Methods. The Adult Basketball Program is always
popular—it features pickup full-court basketball games on Mondays and Thursdays.
The American Red Cross Babysitter Training with Pediatric First Aid CPR/AED is one of three You and Me programs open to those under the age of 18.
CACE is affordable, and also self-sustaining. Course prices were recently raised from $5/ hour of instruction to $9/hour of instruction. Some courses also have materials costs. Every year the team offers one course that is free to the community. This semester the topic is Defying Deer in the Garden.
The program got its start when in 1995 Eleanor Nash, a newcomer to the area, approached the Crestwood board about setting up a program similar to those in the part of New Jersey she had moved from. They agreed, and the first courses were offered i the fall of 1996.
Over the years, the program has been a great way for new people in the community to get to know others and make friends, Weiss said.
See CACE, page 3
by Ruth Isenberg
The Weatherly Area School Board’s voting meeting on February 11 included two items of discussion not covered at the February 4 caucus session reported on last issue. Added to the agenda was a request to Weatherly Borough, asking them to delay vacating the piece of property along Blakeslee Avenue that borough
council approved at its January meeting. School director Gerard Grega asked for the motion, saying that the parcel could be the only possible ingress and egress from district property between 6th and 8th Streets. That property, he said, had the potential for up to 15 building lots.
Solicitor Christopher Slusser said that since the petition had been approved by the school
board and signed by the board president, it might not be possible to stop the area from being vacated by the board, but that it would not hurt to ask for a discussion. The board voted unanimously to ask the council to delay taking final action
Football for WASD?
The second item of discussion was brought up by school director Ty Harris, who asked
about talk he had heard “on the street” about Weatherly Area School District coopting with Hazleton Area about having students interested in playing football eligible to play on the Hazleton team. He felt it was a good idea, and a way to keep
See WASB, page 3
(USPS 277-440) Published weekly at 211 Main Street, White Haven, PA 18661
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(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
© Copyright 2026, The Journal-Herald
by Ruth Isenberg
The White Haven Recreation Board is looking for volunteers. So are the local libraries, sports associations, fire companies, and ambulance. Every church could use more hands to provide service to the community.
People sometimes hesitate to volunteer, because they think they will need to commit too much time. And sometimes that is an issue. But if you are right up front when you begin your volunteering about how much time you can affordto devote, most organizations will work with you to design a volunteer schedule that works for you, and for them. Other people don’t volunteer because they feel as though the group already volunteering isn’t open to new ideas, or to new people. And sometimes that is also an issue. But most organizations are facing the same issue—the graying of the volunteer community. The groups that fail to welcome new, younger members will soon fade out of existence. That would be a shame, because the needs these groups formed to address will still exist after they are gone. New groups will form to solve the same problems, and because they will have to start from scratch, precious time and wisdom will be wasted.
It’s understandable that long-time volunteers are protective of the programs and policies that they developed over the years. It’s also understandable that new volunteers may want to try new things. In healthy organizations, the new volunteers absorb the knowledge, and the love of their mentors, and the old volunteers are inspired by the energy of the new volunteers.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities. Over the years, volunteer groups have sparked personal growth, attracted new businesses, and provided vital safety services.
You can keep this community spirit alive, by volunteering your time and talents to causes that you care about. Don’t hold back. You will make new friends, and find new purpose when you volunteer
From The Journal-Herald February 21, 1991 Jay & Clara Holder, Publishers
Homecoming was back on in White Haven, the front page announced. First-year chairman Pearl “Chickie” Gower and the White Haven Business Improvement Committee came to an understanding, with the BIC pledging support and volunteers. The event was set to include a parade, and new ideas (and volunteers) were welcome.
The Save the Portrait Committee asked for help funding a mailing to alumni of Weatherly/Weatherly Area High School. They were working to obtain address lists of all graduating classes.
A photo showed three Fairview Elementary students and one teacher whose relatives were serving in the Persian Gulf. The PTA distributed over 900 yellow ribbon bows to students and staff, and 90 red, white and blue ribbon bows to be used with the yellow bows for students and staff with family members serving in the Gulf. Teachers made additional yellow ribbon bows to decorate the windows and doors of the school for the program when the bows were distributed.
Crestwood School District honored its Guidance staff with a breakfast in honor of National School Counselor week. A photo showed the district’s four counselors, administrators, and school board members.
The editorial space in this issue was captioned: NO EDITORIAL. It must have been a rough week, because the space is used to emphasize the Monday deadline that applied even on weeks with holiday Mondays, and urged people to leave written items through the door slot even when the offic wasn’t open. It also suggested they mark them with their names and phone numbers in case of questions.
The First Presbyterian Church of Weatherly opened an organ restoration drive. A new flower committee announced that a single flower would be placed on the Communion table every Sunday; it could be named in honor or in memory of a loved one by anyone wishing to make a minimum donation of $5 to the organ fund. Members of the church who passed away in 1914 and 1915 were honored for helping with the purchase of the then new organ in 1915. The Sunday School students were working on a banner of Lenten and Easter symbols.
Students at St. Jude’s School in Mountaintop held a talent show in Father Nolan Hall. Acts included dance, gymnastics, singing, comedy routines, and piano, violin, clarinet and guitar.
The Crestwood High School Future Homemakers of America chapter held a Valentines Day luncheon for faculty, staff and administration. A picture showed six of the seven FHA members scheduled to attend the annual FHA state convention in March in Lancaster.
The Friendship Bible Club was pictured following a program at the White Haven Free Methodist Church.
Richard Garber of Weatherly announced his candidacy for Carbon County Controller. Tom Gerhard announced his candidacy for the office o Carbon County Commissioner.
The annual Fifth and Sixth Grade Basketball Classic, sponsored by the White Haven Center Lions Club, added a new sponsor, the White Haven Area Sports Association. Competing in the Center’s Keystone Hall gym were teams from St. Jude’s in Mountaintop, Weatherly, Freeland YMCA, St. Anthony’s of Freeland, Pittston Area, St. Nick’s/St. Mary’s, Northwest Area, and the White Haven Aces. Trophies and a drawing for half-scholarships to Pocono Invitational Sports Camps concluded the four-day event.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION have been granted to PHYLLIS A. REINMILLER of the Estate of Carl James Reinmiller, A/K/A Carl J. Reinmiller, deceased and late of White Haven, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, who died on May 8, 2024. 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
Sealed bids will be received until March 23, 2026 at 4:00 P.M. in the Officeof the Borough Secretary, Weatherly Borough Building, 61 West Main Street; Weatherly, Pennsylvania 18255 and publicly opened and read at the Weatherly Borough Council Regular Meeting, Monday, March 23, 2026 at 7:10 P.M. at the Municipal Building, 61 West Main Street; Weatherly, Pennsylvania for the following.
Furnish all labor, equipment and materials necessary with the application of approximately 3,762 square yards more or less, Superpave Asphalt Mix Design, WMA Wearing Course, PG 64-22, <0.3 million ESAL’s, 9.5mm Mix Design, SRL-L, 180 lb./sy.
As well as tack coat and sealer in all areas and curb line road milling at intersections, driveways and around manholes/water valves.
A Pre-Bid meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at Borough Hall at 61 West Main Street, Weatherly, PA 18255, all interested bidders should attend. This is not a mandatory meeting however this is the only fieldview to be conducted by the Municipality and only questions presented at this meeting will be addressed prior to award unless the Municipality feels additional items or explanations need to be presented. After the pre-bid meeting these will be in the form of a written notice to all bidders. For further information contact Donny Weston at 570-427-8640, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.
Detailed specificationsmay be obtained from the Officeof the Borough Secretary at the address listed above, Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Proposals must be on the forms furnished by the Borough of Weatherly.
Bids must be clearly marked “Sealed Bids - Road Repairs”. Materials and application shall meet specificationof the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Pub. 408). The supplier must also furnish a Form TR-465 “Daily Bituminous Mixture Certification”
No bids may be withdrawn from sixty (60) days after the schedule closing for receipt of bids.
Bid must be accompanied by a certifiedcheck or bid bond in the amount of 10% of the bid, made payable to the Borough of Weatherly. The Borough of Weatherly reserves the right to accept or reject any or all parts of bids and to waive informalities in any bid for the best interest of the Borough of Weatherly.
BOROUGH
MANAGER
Tracy Grover
The White Haven Ministerium will be holding ecumenical mid-week services during Lent in addition to their regularly scheduled weekly services. Midweek Lenten services will be held at a different church in the White Haven area each week. Each service will start at 6 p.m. and is open to everyone.
February 18 (Ash Wednesday) — St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Continued from page 1
The program continued to grow steadily, until March of 2020. All the brochures had been printed and were ready to go out when everything shut down for the pandemic. There were no CACE courses for three semesters, and when it was over, it came back slowly.
Volunteer Mary Ruzzi was instrumental in putting together a survey about the kinds of program people would be interested in taking. Among them was a course offered for the first time this semester in stained glass. Another volunteer, Anthony Frask, has gotten the program online for registration and publicity.
Kiesel and Weiss have served in their current roles for about three years. They were recruited by former coordinator/registrar
Continued from page 1
Weatherly students from leaving for other schools that offer a football program, but objected to not hearing about it as board business.
February 25 — White Haven
United Methodist Church
March 4 — White Haven
United Methodist Church
March 11 — St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
March 18 — Presbyterian Church of White Haven
March 25 — Presbyterian Church of White Haven
2/26
Robin Golden, who is also from White Haven.
Kiesel first learned about CACE when she took a pickle class Golden was teaching. Weiss hasn’t actually ever taken a CACE course—instead, she’s taught a macrame course since 2022 when Golden talked to her about it at a garden club event.
Their goals for the program? Kiesel summed it up, “To see the program continue for another 30 years, and grow and succeed.”
To learn more, scan the QR code below, or visit https:// pdflink.to/d4595632/ to view the brochures, or https://forms. fillout.com/t/5cTm44MGAYus to register for a class.
School director Ryan Binder, who chairs the athletic committee, said it had been discussed in the past when other members served on the committee. Athletic director Scott Zoscin had also talked with Jim Thorpe and Panther Valley about the possibility, he said, but it was all informal at this point.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Croop made it clear he had not discussed the issue with Hazleton Area superintendent Dr. Robert Urban. He also suggested that the board re-organize its committees and committee procedures, beginning operations as a committee of the whole to meet following the March 4 caucus meeting.
The board has also scheduled a workshop to discuss various issues on Wednesday, February 25, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Deborah Gale Tirico, 72, of White Haven, passed away on February 11, 2026, after a long illness, with family by her side. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, she began her early career in ballet at the Hartford Ballet and danced her way into Juilliard. After graduating from San Francisco State University with a BA in Fine Arts, she began her career as an entrepreneur opening Gemini Graphics in Montclair, NJ. which she ran successfully for 40 years.
Deb enjoyed a lifetime of creativity—commercial arts, dance, music, quilting, stitching, and historical reenactments. While running Gemini, she still found time to be an avid needle artist, instructor, and later the author of three books on her unique style of stitching and wool
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applique. Post retirement, she opened Pemberly.com, where she taught and sold kits of her original designs. She was a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America and taught many workshops nationally.
Deb’s ability to sit quietly for hours stitching balanced her otherwise energetic personality: fierce, passionate, confident, gregarious, engaging, able to tackle anything, and generous to a fault. She’d give you the shirt off her back She will be missed.
Deborah was a devoted wife and a loving mother. She was predeceased by her husband, Frank Tirico, and her father, John J. Gale. She is survived by her son, Frank L. Tirico (Alyssa); stepchildren Jamie Tirico and Dana Adamson (Ron); her mother, Doris Gale; her siblings, John Q. Gale (Tracy), Cynthia Arruda (Bruce), Carol Gale (DJ Horn), Janet Aaronson (Rande), Robin Keil (Gordon) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be at Lehman Family Funeral Service, 403 Berwick St., White Haven, on Friday, February 20, 5-7 p.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church, 411 Allegheny St., White Haven, February 21, 11 a.m.
Patricia A. Gerard of Drums passed away peacefully at home on December 18, 2025 after succumbing to a nearly 8-year courageous battle against ovarian cancer. She was born on May 25, 1952 in New York City, New York.
Patricia was raised in the Bronx, New York. She graduated from Preston High School and earned her Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing from the City University of NY Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing. Patricia dedicated her professional life to caring for others as a Registered Nurse of 28 years, a role that reflected her compassion, strength, intellect, and devotion to service. She fondly reflected, “Caring is the essence of nursing.”
Outside of her career Patricia found great joy in traveling abroad, dancing, music, and spending time with her family. She was a devoted Mimi to her grandchildren and was overjoyed by attending their activities and creating cherished memories with them.
A woman of great unwavering faith, Patricia was a member of
St. Jude’s Church, Mountain Top. Patricia gained great peace, strength, and comfort by reading and sharing her daily devotional prayers.
Patricia was the beloved daughter of the late Edward and Catherine Gerard. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Patrick Lovett.
Patricia is survived by her loving daughter Kristen Domin and her husband, Lawrence; her treasured grandchildren Gavin James and Paisley Raine; her siblings Linda Gerard and her spouse, Ivan Woodhams, Edward Gerard, Stephen Gerard and his spouse, Carmen Geeslin, Michael Gerard and his spouse, Sheila, and Robert Gerard; also her cherished in-laws Gerald Lovett and his spouse, Randi. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews who will fondly remember her warmth, laughter, and kindness.
Funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, February 21, at 9:45 a.m. from the Desiderio Lehman Funeral and Cremation with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated in St. Jude’s Church, Mountain Top, at 10 a.m.. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
At Patricia’s request in lieu of gifts or flowers, please donate to OCRA-Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance to help continue research and support women fighting ovarian cancer. Go to ocrahope.org.
Obituary Policy: The ournal-Herald does not charge for the publication of obituaries. They ae treated as news articles, and edited to fit our equirements, as are all news items. Pictures may be included when available. Obituaries with special wording may be published as Tribute advertising, at regular rates. Call 570-215-0204 xt2 for more information.
Patricia’s family would like to thank all of the nurses, therapists, aides, social worker, and chaplain of Lehigh Valley Home Health and Hospice for their unending support and care provided throughout her final days. Patricia found solace in connecting with her fellow nurses, reminiscing on her past career, and being able to stay in her own home with dignity and respect.
Arrangements are under the direction of the DesiderioLehman Funeral and Cremation, Mountain Top.
ACROSS
1. UPS competitor
5. “The One I Love” band
8. Prior to, pref.
11. Gin flavo
12. ____wig or ____ winkle
13. Command to Fido
15. ____ Grey of tea fame
16. Policemen’s surprise
17. Brunch offering
18. *Explorer Amerigo’s last name
20. Rock opera version of “La Boheme”
21. Gossipmonger, in Yiddish
22. Ballet step
23. *Henry the Navigator’s title
26. Chicken pox pimples
30. Poetic “even”
31. Demosthenes or Cicero
34. “The ____ on the Floss”
35. Stories “from the Crypt”
37. Rank above maj.
38. Sore spot
39. “Happily ____ after”
40. Familiar routine
42. “Wow!”
43. Retina, pl.
45. *Explorer Shackleton’s first nam
47. New on the block?
48. Barbara Eden’s TV character
50. Rumple
52. *First one to circumnavigate globe, almost
55. *Lewis’ or Clark’s vessel
56. Fictional giant
57. Plaintiff
59. Shrovetide dish
60. Zig or zag
61. Dunking cookie
62. “____ and the City”
63. “C’____ la vie!”
64. Backgammon predecessor
1. Take drugs
2. Bohemian, e.g.
3. Skin opening
4. Short for self-synchronous
5. Don’t just stand there!
6. “Fear of Flying” author Jong
7. Skirt length
8. Part of a hammer
9. Wholly engrossed
10. Obtain, but just barely
12. Gardening tool
13. Junk yard stuff
14. *”Dr. Livingstone, I ____?”
19. Fictional cowboy
Bill
22. One better than bogey
23. J.M. Barrie’s
Pan
24. Plunder
25. *Geographical feature named for Ponce de Leon
26. *Inspiration for hide-and-seek game
27. City in Belgium
28. North Pole workers
29. Winter driving hazard
32. Homesteader’s purchase, sing.
33. Likewise
36. *Possibly America’s first European Leif ____
38. Jeopardy
40. Horse poker
41. Tooth cover
44. One born to Japanese immigrants
46. Willie of country
music fame
48. Dashboard windows
49. Type of heron
50. Gender checkbox
51. Windows alternative
52. Change address
53. Mystique
54. Not ever, poetically
55. TV network
58. “Maggie May” singer
Visit our website at pocononewspapers.com for in-between-issue stories and events
Weatherly Area Elementary School announces their Students of the Month for December. Shown from left, first row- First Grade- Isabella Peters and Evie Brown, Second Grade Laila Kochin and Josephine Hall, second row - Third Grade - Carrie Blackwell and Jaxon Jacoby, Fourth GradeCheyenne Harker and Natalee Ritter, Fifth Grade- Myla Malt and Roman Robertson.
McKenna Gerhard, daughter of Shari and Cory Gerhard, Weatherly, has been named Senior of the Month for January at Weatherly Area High School.
McKenna serves as secretary of FBLA, and treasurer of SGA. She is also a member of the Science Club, the Science Olympiad team, the Interact Club, and the Weatherly Area High School chapter of the National Honor Society, as well as the soccer and golf teams.
In the community, McKenna serves as student chair of the CAN-DO Action Committee. She is involved in the CAN-DO Community Christmas, Hazleton’s Christmas in the Park, Wassail Fest, and the CAN-DO annual dinner, where she delivered a speech. She also volunteers her time with various activities for the Class
of 2026. McKenna is employed at Skip’s Dairy Bar and Grill, Tamaqua.
Sponsor for the month of January is the Weatherly Area High School Alumni Association.
Centenary United Methodist Church hosted the Community Ash Wednesday Service with the distribution of ashes and holy communion. Weekly Lenten services continue at 7 p.m. at the following locations.
February 25–First Presbyterian Church of Weatherly.
March 4–Zions Evangelical Lutheran Church.
March 11–Salem United Church of Christ.
March 18–Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
March 25–St. Matthew’s Union Church.
The
Community Lenten Services on February 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25 will be followed by a time of fellowship and light refreshments. All are welcome.
The Garden Club will meet on Thursday, February 19, at 1 p.m.
The White Haven Area Community Library will be offering a 10-week afte school program at the library sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley YMCA. It will begin on March 2 and go through May 7. Hours are 4 to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The program is available for students in 4th - 8th grades. A snack will be provided. Receive help with homework, and STEM activities will be available.
The new reading program at White Haven Area Community
Library continues through the end of February. Stop by the library to pick up a sheet to keep track of your reading time. Program is open to children of all ages.
The solicitation for bids has been published for construction of the upstairs at the library.
A Senior Information Center located in the front of the library offers informatio for seniors in the White Haven area and extended areas.
Western Pocono Trout Unlimited is having a literature discussion night on the topics of fishing and conservation at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, at the WHACL. The public is invited.
Carbon Career & Technical Institute recently recognized students for Student of the Marking Period for the second quarter.
Students of the Marking Period are nominated by a faculty/staff member for one or more of the following areas: student serves as a ‘role model’ for his/her peers, academically motivated, attendance, demonstrates leadership in and out of the classroom, involved in extracurricular activities, performs school and community service activities. They were recognized with certificates from Administration and a hot chocolate & cookie event in the Harvest Café.
Students for the second marking period are:
Weatherly: Alexander Best, Parker Knight, Kyle Reiner, and John Thomas.
Jim Thorpe: Stacy Bos, Arianna Check, Morgan Coyle, Gaven Goff, Jared Mantilla, Jocelyn Montefour, Leah Pena, Joseph Pfluke and Maddison Sakasitz.
Lehighton: Devan Curran, Jesse Lichtenwalner, Hailey Sauchinitz and Nathan Sheckler.
Palmerton: MaKayla Dana, Emily Dorward, Chloe Klotz,
Jared Lanier, Julia Maupin, Ethan Seidel, Owen Seidel, Kaitlynn Stepp, Savannah Theisen and Kadence Tully. Panther Valley: Keltie Brubacker, Autumn Green, Asia Lee Guzman, Joseph Hernandez, Elianna McDermott and Madeline Weaver.
Most of us are, at least mentally. Our homes and gardens? Not so much.
You don’t have to do it all alone. Lots of local businesses are ready to help. We will be printing a special section early in March to help you find the businesses that can help you with the services you need.
Tell us what spruce-ups you’re planning this Spring, and we’ll enter you in a drawing for $50 toward the services of any of the businesses that advertise in the section. We won’t share your information with them or anyone else, but we will use your answer to help us write a story about what local Spring prep is going to look like. Send an email to journalruth@gmail.com or mail to The Journal-Herald, 211 Main Street, White Haven PA 18661. Include your name and a phone number, and a brief description of your plans.
Almost as delightful as fishing for wild trout on a balmy summer’s evening is reading about fishing for wild trout on a cold winter’s night. Join Western Pocono Trout Unlimited on Thursday, February 19 at 6 p.m. at the White Haven Area Community Library for its 3rd Annual Trout Literature Night.
Trout fishing has been
associated for centuries with great writing. Early authors like Izaac Walton and Charles Cotton passed the literary torch to other luminaries such as Theodore Gordon, Sparse Grey Hackle, Gifford Pinchot Arnold Gingrich and Ernie Schwiebert , just to name a few. Literary giants like Hemingway and presidents Carter and Hoover wrote of their accounts adding and preserving
the poetry and lyricism that trout fishing has cast to those who have enjoyed its adventure and romance throughout the ages.
The beautifully renovated White Haven Library and Community Center located so close to legendary trout water like the Lehigh River amidst the Pocono Mtns is the perfect venue to enjoy an evening with friends and their favorite books and passages.
Bring your favorite flannel shirt, enjoy some hot chocolate and treats, and kick back for an enjoyable evening with WPTU friends and even some who have locally added to trout lore and literature. The public is invited free. Call Mike at 570-926-2535 or 570-454-4862 or the library at 570-443-8776 for cancellations or inclement weather.
Fans of classic country are in for a special night when the Original Kenny Rogers Band featuring Don Gatlin takes the stage as the fifth concert of the Greater Hazleton Concert Series’ 2025–2026 season.
The concert is set for Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at the Hazleton Area High School Auditorium, 1601 W. 23rd St., Hazleton. The venue offers plenty of free, lighted parking.
Led by Don Gatlin, the band that toured with Kenny Rogers for more than four decades brings audiences the music exactly as it was performed on stage night after night around the world. This is not a tribute act — it is the original touring band that shared the spotlight with Rogers for more than 5,000 shows and
entertained millions of fans worldwide.
Get your Journa l-H erald in the mail each week. Or send it to a friend.
The Journal-Herald costs $45 per year outside of Carbon and Luzerne Counties; $40 in Carbon & Luzerne Counties—less than buying at the store. Send the form below with your check, or call 570-215-0204 xt2 to order and pay with a credit card. Make check payable to: CANWIN
Mail to: 211 Main St., White Haven PA 18661
Send The Journal-Herald to:
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If a gift, sign the card from:
Concertgoers can expect an authentic, behind-the-scenes musical experience, featuring the songs and stories that defined Rogers’ legendary career across country, pop and beyond. It’s a rare opportunity to hear the music the way it was meant to be heard — from the musicians who knew him best.
The Greater Hazleton Concert Series offers professional highquality performances throughout the season. Individual tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for students. For ticket information, call Cynthia at 570-4366615 or Shirley at 570-384-1226. More information about the full concert series is available at hazletonconcertseries.org or on the series’ Facebook page.
Thursday, February 19—
Trout Lit Night (Western Pocono Chapter Trout Unlimited), 6 p.m., White Haven Area Community Library
Saturday, February 28— Chicken & Waffles Take-Ou Dinner, 4-6 p.m., Salem UCC, Weatherly
Saturday, March 7—The Original Kenny Rogers Band featuring Don Gatlin (Greater Hazleton Concert Series), 7:30 p.m., Hazleton Area High School auditorium, tickets 570-436-6615
Friday, March 13—Designer Purse Bingo & Basket Raffle 4 p.m., Carbon Career & Technical Institute, Jim Thorpe
Friday, March 13—Storytime, 4:30 p.m., Weatherly Area Community Library
Saturday, March 21—Easter Bunny visit, 2-4 p.m., Citizens Fire Company Hall in Weatherly
Saturday, March 21—The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (Greater Hazleton Concert Series), 7:30 p.m., Hazleton Area High School auditorium, tickets 570-436-6615
Friday, March 27— Homemade Easter Egg Candy Sale pickup, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Centenary United Methodist Church, Weatherly (order deadline March 15)
Friday, March 27—Spring Raffle, 8-11 p.m., Citizens Fir Company, Weatherly
Saturday, March 28—Youth Fishing Event, sponsored by Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce
Saturday & Sunday, April 11 & 12—Weatherly Area Museum opening, 1-4 p.m.
Saturday, April 25— Rummage Sale & More, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Emmanuel UCC, Mountain Top
Sunday, April 26—Runegades 7-Miler start, 7 a.m., Main Street, White Haven
Sunday, April 26—Purse Bingo, sponsored by Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, May 2—Cemetery Walk, sponsored by Weatherly Area Museum, 1-4 p.m. (rain date May 9)
Saturday, May 30—Art Walk, sponsored by Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce
Friday-Sunday, June 12-14— NASCAR Weekend, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond
Saturday, June 20—Plant Swap, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Weatherly Area Museum
Saturday & Sunday, June 6 & 7—Weatherly Spring HillClimb
Saturday & Sunday, July 25 & 26—Jam Below the Dam, White Haven
Saturday, September 12—Car Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Lehigh Park, White Haven
Saturday & Sunday, September 19 & 20— Weatherly Fall HillClimb
Friday & Saturday, October 2 & 3—Weatherly Area Community Library Basket Auction
Saturday, November 28— Christmas at the Museum, Weatherly Area Museum
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 360 recently made a generous monetary donation to the Lady Wreckers basketball team’s Dear Hero collection for the holidays being sent to deployed military. Shown from left are Lexi Kehler, Maci Kane, Georgia Farrow of ALA Unit 360, Abbey Weston, and Kelly Reiner.
(Editor’s Note: Last week the caption for this photo was incorrect. This is the right order and spelling for those shown.)
Ryan Covelens of White Haven earned a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from PennWest University at the conclusion of the Fall 2025 semester.
Covelens, who studied at PennWest’s California campus,
was among nearly 900 students who received undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees. Commencement ceremonies were held Saturday, Dec. 13, at the PennWest California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses. Atty.
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
With their playoff hopes and season hanging in the balance, the Weatherly Area girls took care of business last week and will be headed back to the district playoffs
Needing a victory in their regular-season finale at Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech, the Lady Wreckers put together one of their better offensive performances of the season in a 47-21 runaway that clinched a playoff berth
The Lady Wreckers not only secured one of the four playoff spots available, they were able to move up to the third seed and avoid top-seeded Bethlehem Christian in the semifinal round
Instead, Weatherly (7-15) will face No. 2 seed Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (also 7-15) in the District 11-2 Class A Subregional semifinals set for Wednesday, Feb. 25, at a site and time still to be determined. Notre Dame (.310873 rating)
finished just ahead of Weatherly (.304902) for the second seed, while the Lady Wreckers edged out Salem Christian (.302692) for the 3-seed.
Defending champion
Bethlehem Christian (16-3) and 4-seed Salem Christian (8-11) will meet in the other semifinal. The winners then play on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The top two teams advance to the PIAA Class A Tournament in March, meaning a victory in the semifinal round gets the Lady Wreckers out to states.
In their high-stakes finale
against CMVT, the Lady Wreckers left nothing to chance, jumping out to a 17-3 first quarter lead and stretching it to 25-9 by halftime.
Senior Kelly Reiner scored nine of the Lady Wreckers’ first quarter points and 11 of her 12 points in that opening half.
A 14-3 third-quarter burst powered by Maci Kane’s eight points left the Rams in the dust, and had the Lady Wreckers celebrating a playoff berth to extend their season.
Kane finished with a game high 13 points, Reiner had 12
and Alize Way-Heffner eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Cortney Snyder and Alexia Kehler each pitched in with six points in the balanced Lady Wrecker win.
Taylor Nevius scored 10 points to pace CMVT.
Pennsylvania Game Commission Northeast Regional Director Michael Beahm announced that a big game scoring session will be held on Saturday, March 21,
at the Northeast Regional Headquarters building in Dallas.
“It’s been over a year since an organized, official scoring event was held in the region, and due to the success and popularity of last year’s scoring event, this will be another great opportunity for someone who harvested a Pennsylvania deer, bear or elk that has record book potential to have that rack or skull scored. The Northeast Region has three game wardens who are certified by the Boone and Crockett Club as official scorers, and they’ll be on hand for the day’s event,” said Beahm.
The Boone and Crockett Club is an American nonprofit organization that advocates fair chase hunting in support of habitat conservation and is North America’s oldest wildlife and habitat conservation
organization, founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt.
“Since racks and skulls will be measured for possible inclusion in the Pennsylvania Big Game Records Book, only those white-tailed deer, elk and black bears that were lawfully harvested in Pennsylvania through fair chase methods will be accepted for scoring,” said Beahm.
Because of the expected turnout, reservations are required, and whitetail racks must have a minimum of eight points to be scored at this session.
The scoring event will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and reservations can be made by registering online at https:// bit.ly/3LOQQHP. Limited space will be available, and reservations will be accepted until full.
The Northeast Regional Office is located at 3917
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
Playing some of their best ball over the last month of the season, the Weatherly Area Wreckers enter the District 11-2 Class A Boys Basketball Tournament a confident bunch.
The Wreckers won seven of their final eight games of th season to lock up the No. 2 seed for the tournament, behind only defending subregional champion Bethlehem Christian.
At 15-7, the Wreckers have already surpassed last season’s win total of 14, when they captured their first district playoff win in two decades an came within a few points of a state playoff berth
Now the 2025-26 Wreckers want to go that extra step, compete for the subregional title and get into the PIAA tournament next month.
The road to that quest begins next Tuesday evening, Feb. 24, when the Wreckers take on Schuylkill League rival Nativity (11-12) in the District 11-2 Class A semifinals. The third-seeded Hilltoppers edged out the Wreckers by one game to get into the Schuylkill League playoffs, then fell to crosstow rival Pottsville in the opening round.
The Wreckers defeated Nativity in both head-tohead meetings this season, overcoming 2,000-point scorer Trey Keating and the Hilltoppers both home (69-68) and away (75-60). It was these same Hilltoppers who edged the Wreckers in last year’s district third-place game, taking with it the final PIAA playoff berth an ending Weatherly’s season.
The Wreckers have been in preparation mode since a 57-54 win over Palmerton on Feb. 5. Nearly three weeks will have passed when the Wreckers return to the court for next Tuesday’s semifinal showdown. Medico was happy for the time off
“Now we’ve got over two weeks off to prepare so it’s kind of nice,” Medico said following the Palmerton win. “We’ll allow these guys a few days to get really healthy, because we’ve got some nagging injuries. And then I’ve got 9-10 practices to prepare for one game, that’s fantastic. The schedule doesn’t allow for that during the season. We have plenty of time to prepare, and I’m happy about that.”
Lincoln Leadership Academy (12-10) and Salem Christian (11-11) play in the 4-5 game this Friday to start the Class A subregional. The survivor of that gets top seed Bethlehem Christian (20-2) in next week’s semifinal round. The semifina winners advance to the championship game on Friday, Feb. 27, and both qualify for the state tournament.
A consolation game between the semifinal losers will determine the final state qualifier from Districts 11-2. Although it is a combined subregional, District 2 did not have a qualifier to this year’s tournament.
The Wreckers’ rags-to-riches story centers around three seniors who, through their own perseverance and the guidance of one-time Weatherly basketball star Medico, helped prop the program back up and return it to some of its past glory.
With sophomores Ian McKeegan, Corbin Wagner and Niko Saldukas thrust into the spotlight, the Wreckers endured a 2-win season together in Medico’s first as head coach at his alma mater in 2023-24. The foundation they built helped propel the Wreckers to a 12-win turnaround last season. Now those three are in their fourth season of varsity ball together, and are in their final run as Weatherly’s “Big 3” a trio whose credentials would stand up favorably to any trio in the program’s storied history.
Despite a leg injury that cost him one game and limited him in a few others early on, the 5-foot-6 McKeegan has enjoyed a strong senior season as the Wreckers’ point guard and leading scorer. Over 21 games, he is averaging 19.8 points per game and has hit 38 3-pointers.
McKeegan went over 1,000 points for his career in the season’s 10th game, and has been steadily rising up the school’s all-time scoring chart ever since. With 1,264 career points entering the playoffs he’s already passed a dozen 1,000-point scorers on his way up that list this season, including his head coach, and currently sits seventh all-time in points.
With 16 more points McKeegan will move past both Ed O’Donnell (1,271) and Brian Sartori (1,279) and into the top-5 in program history.
The second member of the Wreckers’ “Big 3” is, like McKeegan, not that big. At 5-foot-7, Corbin Wagner and McKeegan make up the Schuylkill League’s smallest backcourt duo and one of its best. And they are proof that big things can come in small packages.
Wagner enters the playoff averaging 14.1 points per game with 27 triples in 22 starts. He’s been a double-double and even triple-double machine of late and is averaging 22.7 points per game over his last four starts, with 12 3-pointers.
With 10 more points, Wagner will become the 21st member of the program’s 1,000-point club.
Niko Saldukas is the third member of the Wreckers’ high-scoring trio. A 6-foot-2 forward with ability to score inside and knock down the perimeter shot, Saldukas is averaging 12.5 points per game with 24 3-pointers this season, even while battling shin splints. He enters the playoffs wit 932 career points in a Wrecker uniform.
With added pressure certain to follow the Wreckers’ “Big 3” the team will need the others in the rotation to be at their best and contribute in their roles for postseason success.
Juniors Dominick Kokinda (11.1 ppg) and Matt Adler (7.7 ppg) have had starters minutes for much of the season, and have enjoyed some big games along the way. Kokinda has three 22-point games to his credit while Adler has had 16and 15-point games and been in doubles eight times.
Senior Brendan Davis (4.1 ppg) has also been a starter or key reserve all season, and provides defense and rebounding to go with his scoring. Junior Jacob Hinkle gives additional depth to the Wreckers’ front line.
Next week’s semifinal showdown with Nativity will be a tough act to follow after the Wreckers overcame a 20-point second-half deficit and a 35-point effort from Keating fo a 69-68 win in Weatherly.
McKeegan scored 15 of his team-high 32 points in the pivotal fourth quarter and Kokinda scored 12 of his 22 points in that last period as Weatherly outscored Nativity 30-15 down the stretch to win it.
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by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
HAZLE TWP. - Going scoreless for nearly a full quarter and surrendering a 15-0 run are never recipes for success in basketball.
Yet that was the exact hurdle the Crestwood girls nearly overcame in Saturday’s WVC championship showdown at Hazleton Area.
The Lady Comets recovered from that disastrous second quarter to throw a huge scare into their division rival, who eventually had to sweat out a 60-55 win to successfully defend their conference championship.
“It’s kind of the same exact story that happened last year in this tournament: one bad quarter and it cost us the game,” stated Crestwood head coach Mary Mushock-Namey. “I’m just really impressed with my team for fighting back and continually pushing even though it could have gotten away from them.”
It was Crestwood (21-3) that took charge early, grabbing an 11-6 lead on the strength of two Charlie Hiller baskets in the lane, a Keira Dougherty floate and pull-up jumper, and Jordan Andrews’ fast-break score at 2:22 of the opening quarter.
Dougherty made it 13-6 on a steal and breakaway before Hazleton Area (22-2) stormed back with an 8-0 spurt in just over a minute as 3-point baskets from Kaitlyn Bindas and Mariah Marolo put the Lady Cougars in front 14-13.
But Andrews fed Jackie Gallagher for a basket and Hiller nailed a 3-pointer late in the quarter as Crestwood took an 18-14 lead to the second quarter.
The Lady Comets extended that to eight points when Andrews hit two free throws and Gallagher added a stickback at the 6:18 mark of the second period. They would not score again in the half. Nine turnovers - most coming off Hazletons full court pressure - and five straight missed field goals kept the ady
Hazleton Area’s Mariah Marolo finds herself surrounded by Crestwood twin towers Charlie Hiller, left, and Jackie Gallagher during Saturday’s Wyoming Valley Conference girls basketball championship game, at Hazleton.
Photo courtesy of Bob Gaetano
doubles for Crestwood, while Andrews (9) and Dougherty (8) were close behind.
“I just said to them in the locker room, we didn’t lose anything,” said MushockNamey. “But to me, it’s better than a practice. You can look at this game and the Nanticoke game as two scrimmages to help us prepare for districts because you’re not getting that type of 5-on-5 competition when you’re in practice.”
Crestwood will host either Abington Heights or Pittston Area in the District 2 Class 5A semifinals on Saturday at 1 p.m., and a win there will punch the Lady Comets’ ticket to the district final and the stat tournament.
“I’m super excited for districts,” Mushock-Namey said. “This is what you play for. When you write down the goals at the beginning of the year, it wasn’t a WVC Tournament championship, it was a district championship. That’s what we’re focused on from now on.”
Comets off the board whil fueling Hazleton Area’s big 15-0 run.
Bindas scored seven points in the run and Marolo had four as the Lady Cougars made their move with star forward Sophia Benyo on the bench with two fouls. They led 29-22 at intermission.
“They were a little more exhausted today than I thought we were in the last game, so that was kicking us in the butt,” Mushock-Namey said, referring to a 63-51 win over these same Lady Cougars a few weeks ago.
But there was no quit in these Lady Comets, who refused to let their rivals get away.
Dougherty started the second half with a long jumper, Gallagher hit a two inside and a triple from the perimeter, and Hiller added a putback and a free throw as Crestwood rallied to within two (34-32) early in the third quarter.
Norah Sklarosky and
Andrews hit back-to-back 3s to keep Crestwood in touch, but with Benyo starting to catch fire, the Lady Cougars began stretching their lead once again, up to 11 points (50-39) after Benyo’s driving basket to end the third. She scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half.
Still, the Lady Comets refused to fold.
A Hiller 3-point play, Gallagher’s second triple, and eight straight points from Cameron Vieney had Crestwood back within four points (57-53) with 3:02 still to play.
With Hazleton playing keepaway, the Lady Cougars got the clock down to 58 seconds before Bindas’ two free throws made it 59-53. Vieney scored again for Crestwood, but the Lady Comets would get no closer as Hazleton closed out the five-point victory.
Hiller (13 points, 7 rebounds), Gallagher (12) and Vieney (10) all scored in
CRESTWOOD (55) - Korpusik 0 0-0 0, Vieney 4 1-1 10, Hiller 5 2-3 13, Gallagher 5 0-0 12, Andrews 2 4-6 9, Sklarosky 1 0-0 3, Dougherty 4 0-0 8. Totals: 21 7-10 55. HAZLETON AREA (60) - Marolo 3 2-2 10, Benyo 7 3-5 17, Silva 1 0-0 2, Rodgers 0 0-0 0, Bindas 7 4-4 20, Fritz 1 0-0 2, Temchatin 1 0-0 2, Lagowy 0 0-0 0, Reimold 3 1-2 7. Totals: 23 10-13 60. Crestwood..........18 4 17 16 - 55 Hazleton Area.... 14 15 21 10 - 60 3-FG: Gallagher 2, Vieney, Hiller, Andrews, Sklarosky. Marolo 2, Bindas 2.
Crestwood 48, Nanticoke 18 - Last Wednesday evening in WilkesBarre, Crestwood limited Division 2 champion Nanticoke Area to just five baskets on the evening, and methodically pulled away to the 30-point victory at Holy Redeemer High School.
Keira Dougherty scored a game-high 19 points while Jackie Gallagher hit for 10.
CRESTWOOD (48) - Vieney 2 0-0 6, Hiller 2 0-2 4, Gallagher 4 2-2 10, Andrews 0 3-6 3, Dougherty 7 1-2 19, Sklarosky 2 0-0 4, Korpusik 0 0-0 0, Lapsansky 0 0-0 0, Nealon 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 6-12 48. NANTICOKE AREA (18) - Atkins 1 2-4 4, Ceruti 1 0-0 2, Reed 2 0-0 6, Baran 0 1-2 1, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Verazin 0 2-2 2, Lovallo 0 1-2 1, Welch 1 0-2 2. Totals: 5 6-12 18. Crestwood......10 13 21 4 - 48
Nanticoke........ 4 7 4 7 - 18
3-FG: Dougherty 4, Vieney 2. Reed 2.
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
HAZLE TWP. - The Crestwood boys entered the 2025-26 basketball season with three freshmen in their projected eight-man rotation, only two seasoned starters returning, and plenty of questions on whether they could survive - or possibly thrive - in the Wyoming Valley Conference.
Three months later, the Comets answered any doubters by not only thriving, but coming within a few bounces of a WVC championship.
On Saturday afternoon at Hazleton Area High School, the Comets made their first WVC title game appearance since 2020 and gave two-time defending champion Dallas all it could handle for four quarters. In fact, the Comets led by four (37-33) with 3 1/2 minutes to play before things unraveled. Dallas finished the game on a 10-1 run over the final 3:26 to rally for a 43-38 victory and its third consecutive conference championship.
“I’m proud of my guys. They fought hard,” Crestwood head coach Mark Atherton said in the locker room afterward. “I thought we executed a lot of stuff. They’re a good team, they defend, they have some big strong kids in there. They made one or two more plays than us, that’s what it came down to.”
Perhaps what it ultimately came down to was a controversial call against the Comets with 51 seconds to play. Down a point (38-37) with the ball and 1:12 remaining, the
Crestwood’s Ayden Agapito (24) goes up for a shot in the lane against Dallas’ Chris Flanagan (4) and Pat Flanagan (10) during Saturday’s Wyoming Valley Conference boys basketball championship game, at Hazleton Area High School. Photo courtesy of Bob Gaetano
Comets were working the clock and looking for an offensive opening when freshman point guard Miles Metz was whistled for a carry. Instead of going for a potential winning shot, the Comets instead had to foul Dallas three times in order to get the Mounts to the foul line, taking the clock all the way down to 22 seconds.
Dallas’ Chris Flanagan hit 1-of-2 free throws, then Pat Flanagan stole the ball after the rebound to give the Mounts the ball back. Tyce Mason then hit two free throws with 19 seconds left to make it a two-possession (41-37) game.
Crestwood hit 1-of-2 free throws with 11 ticks left, but Dallas iced it with two more free throws in the closing seconds.
The carry call was a tough pill to swallow for the Comets.
Agapito led the Comets (16-8) with 12 points, Wagaman had 10 and Barna eight. Metz finished with six points on a pair of triples.
Mason paced Dallas (21-3) with 13 points and Kael Berry had 10. The Comets limited Joey Nocito to five points
“I told our guys we got two good games in this (tournament),” stated Atherton. “If we could learn from a few mistakes, when it comes down to a couple of possessions, and we take care of those moving forward, then obviously it was worth it.
“It’s very unusual for a called carry when you’re not going to the basket, 40 feet from the hoop when you have two hands on you,” Atherton lamented. “It is what it is. To me it’s a very difficult call, a tough call for m to handle, but it is what it is.”
The back-and-forth battle had Crestwood up two (31-29) early in the fourth on Metz’s 3-point swish from the corner. After Mason tied it with a basket, Ayden Agapito drove the lane for a basket, and then found Connor Wagaman on a back-door cut that had the Comets up four (3531) with 6:20 to play.
Later, Jack Rodgers scored on a rebound basket at the 3:43 mark as the Comets still led by four (37-33) with 3:43 left.
But Mason came right back down the floor and buried a 3-pointer that ignited Dallas’ game-ending 10-1 run.
“Everything we wanted to do I thought we did well,” Atherton said. “I thought we got the ball to the basket even though they do have some size. We hit a couple of threes. We weren’t spot-on, but we hit just enough I thought. I thought we competed hard. I’m proud of my guys.”
It was a physical game, but the Comets didn’t benefit from that fact. They were awarded just two free throws, those to Gio Barna with 11 seconds remaining in the game. Dallas shot 8-of-11.
“A couple of our guys got banged up in there, so we just hope we’re not limping into (districts). It’s a good thing we have a bye because it would be very difficult to play on Tuesda with a lot of energy after these two games.”
Crestwood opens District 2 Class 5A play Friday evening, hosting Nanticoke-Pittston Area winner in the semifinal round. A win assures the second-seeded Comets a spot in the PIAA Tournament.
CRESTWOOD (38) - Barna 3 1-2 8, Metz 2 0-0 6, Wagaman 4 0-0 10, Sechleer
Crestwood 55, Wyoming Area 41 - Last Thursday evening at WilkesBarre Area High School, the Comets withstood a hot start from Division 2 champion Wyoming Area and star player Luke Kopetchny to pull away for the semifinal win
Kopetchny made his first six shots, and the Warriors were 7-for-7 until Kopetchny missed a heave at the buzzer as they raced to a surprising 16-7 lead. Kopetchny scored 14 of those points.
“Kopetchny’s a great player,” said Crestwood’s Mark Atherton, who ultimately switched 6-foot-5 Ayden Agapito onto Kopetchny. “I thought we
Continued from page 14
missed some helps, and the initial stagger screen we didn’t do a good job of helping. It’s about taking away some angles, and we missed some angles. I thought we did a much better job of taking away some of his drives with better angles, but I think also Agapito’s length bothered him a little bit more.”
Kopetchny finished with 25 points, but had just 11 points after that 14-point first quarter. Meanwhile, Crestwood held the Warriors to just 25 points after that opening quarter.
Crestwood eventually caught fire offensively, and final moved in front for the first time at 25-23 on Brady Johnson’s inside score with 2:04 left in the half. The Comets never trailed again, gradually pulling away to the double-digit win.
“First quarter we struggled defensively and looked a little stale offensively, and then all of a sudden we picked it up. We’ve been down a little bit before. We’re 23 games in, there’s no reason to panic,” Atherton said of the slow start. “But there’s got to be a little bit of a sense of urgency.”
Agapito finished with 16 points, and Miles Metz added a dozen - including 5-for-5 at the foul line in the last 1:09. Jack Rodgers added nine points and nine rebounds and Gio Barna scored eight.
“Ayden played great, he got the ball in the basket, his mid-range game was working for him, and he got a couple big defensive rebounds in there for us,” Atherton said.
CRESTWOOD (55) - Barna 3 2-2 8, Metz 3 5-5 12, Wagaman 2 0-0 5, Rodgers 4 1-3 9, Agapito 8 0-0 16, Johnson 2 0-0 5, Brace 0 0-0 0, Sechleer 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 8-10 55. WYOMING AREA (41) - Pepe 1 0-0 3, Kopetchny 8 5-6 25, Keating 4 3-8 11, Rusinchak
0 0-0 0, Pizzano 0 0-0 0, Casterlin 1 0-0 2, Kostik 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 8-14 41. Crestwood...........7 20 13 15 - 55
Wyoming Area...16 8 10 7 - 41
3-FG: Metz, Wagaman, Johnson. Kopetchny 4, Pepe.
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
This weekend on their home court, the Crestwood girls and boys basketball teams begin what they hope will be deep postseason runs that don’t end until sometime in March.
The Crestwood boys begin their quest for a District 2 Class 5A championship Friday evening at 7, when the second-seeded Comets (16-8) play host to the Nanticoke-Pittston Area winner from Tuesday’s quarterfinal round. If Crestwood wins the semifinal game, it would secure a spot in the Feb. 27 final a Mohegan Arena, and also punch its ticket to the state tournament.
Meanwhile, the Crestwood girls (21-3) have earned the top seed as they defend their District 2 Class 5A crown starting Saturday afternoon. The Lady Comets will host the Pittston Area-Abington Heights survivor in a 1 p.m. semifinal game at Crestwood. A semifinal win puts the Lady Comets into the state tournament, and into the district final on Feb. 28 at Mohegan.
Both Crestwood teams are coming off strong regular season in which they finished second i the WVC Division 1 standings, then won a playoff seminal and took their opponents to the wire before five-point setbacks in the WVC championship games.
The Crestwood boys have been outstanding on defense and efficient on offen winning most games while holding opponents under 40 points.
Ayden Agapito, Jack Rodgers, Connor Wagaman, Gio Barna and Miles Metz have started throughout the season, while senior Brady Johnsons and freshmen Zach Sechleer and Avery Brace have been the first head coach Mark Atherton has called upon to spell the regulars and provide a spark off the bench
in the backcourt, an added ball handler and a 3-point threat when he comes in. The 6-foot-2 Brace has spelled the Comets’ front-line players.
“Zach Sechleer has come off the bench and played a pretty big role, 8-10 minutes a game for us this year,” Atherton said. “The kid’s probably 120 pounds or whatever, but (freshmen Sechleer and Miles Metz) are tough kids. They competed, they’re basketball players, and I’m proud of them this year.”
Although the Comets have three freshmen in their eight-man rotation, they have meshed well with the veterans in the lineup and have formed a mix that Atherton is happy with.
“I think we have a great mix, older and younger players,” Atherton said. “At some points we’ve had three freshmen out there at the same time getting minutes. You’re proud of those guys stepping up. And of course, the senior leadership and so it’s a nice mix.
“I’m super proud of where we are. (In the preseason) I didn’t know how the season was going to go, but it’s going well,” he said. “A couple times the kids started swaying, but we reeled them in and I’m really happy for them.”
The Crestwood girls have been lights-out on defense, and have plenty of offensi e firepower to go with that in the likes of senior guards Keira Dougherty and Jordan Andrews, junior forwards Jackie Gallagher and Charlie Hiller, and junior wing Cameron Vieney.
Norah Sklarosky has played a key role in the success of the Crestwood girls basketball team this season, coming off the bench while helping the Lady Comets to the WVC championship game and the top seed for the upcoming District 2 Class 5A Tournament.
who I’m coming in for, I just kind of try to come in and pick up where they leave off,” Sklarosk explained. “I try to do whatever I can, whether it’s passing, getting rebounds, playing defense; anything I can do to just help.”
In Saturday’s WVC title game against Hazleton Area, she came off the bench and buried a hug 3-pointer in the third quarter to help fuel a Crestwood rally against Hazleton Area. She hustled her way to five rebounds, a block, a steal and a basket off the bench i the semifinal win over Nanticoke
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Johnson gave the Comets a huge lift in the WVC semifinals, hitting an early 3-pointer and then the go-ahead basket as Crestwood gained control and pulled away to beat Wyoming Area.
Sechleer has been a huge spark plug, providing a defensive jolt
When Vieney moved into the starting lineup this season after coming off the bench in 2024 25, the sixth-man slot went to junior Norah Sklarosky, who has flourished in the role this season She saw spot duty on varsity as a sophomore during the Lady Comets’ run to the district title and the state semifinals. This year, that role has expanded.
As the first off the bench she has provided energy on defense and seamless play on the offensive end She’s often found hustling down loose balls and long rebounds, and setting up teammates on offense
“When I come in, no matter
“Last year it was definitely nerve-racking because I went from playing no varsity at all, to getting in here and there. And this year, being first off the bench, she said. “Over the summer my coaches did a great job of kind of helping me with skill work, and over the summer playing with my teammates and getting used to playing that higher level.
“Over the summer when I was playing against teams like Hazleton and Dunmore in the Scranton league, I was seeing that I have to kind of step it up a little bit,” she continued. “I realized
See RESERVES, page 16
The Crestwood Comets and Lady Comets will have their sights set on district hardware and extending their seasons when the District 2 Wrestling Championships take place Friday and Saturday at WilkesBarre Area High School in Plains Twp.
Wrestling gets under way Friday afternoon at 4:30 in the Girls Tournament and both the Boys Class 3A and Class 2A Tournaments. Wrestling will resume Saturday morning at 10, and conclude later in the afternoon with the championships. Weigh-ins are Friday at 3 p.m. and again Saturday at 9 a.m.
Tickets for Friday’s wrestling are $6, and Saturday’s tickets are $10.
Continued from page 15
in my head I’m not playing at a lower level any more, I kind of have to step it up. I think that’s what kind of set it in gear for me.”
Sophomore guard Addison Korpusik has also moved up the line, and is the second player off the bench for the Lady Comets. She has provided solid minutes with her ball handling and defensive ability.
“They are giving me good minutes,” noted Crestwood head coach Mary Mushock-Namey. “We always say you don’t have to be a starter or a star, but you have to be a star in your own role, and that’s what they do. I think they really come in and they spark you, especially Addie because she’s so quick, and Norah because she’s so full of energy and talks a lot.
“They’re all so close, so it doesn’t matter who’s on the court,” she added. “They’re all going to give you 100 percent effort. It goes back to the rest o the team as well. Even the girls that don’t get into the game help prepare us so much in practice.”
Sklarosky not only appreciates the starters’ talents, but their ability to make things easier on her.
A seeding meeting was held on Monday to determine seedings for each wrestler, and the first-round matchups. Those seedings were not yet released as of Tuesday’s press time.
The top three boys finishers in each weight class of Class 3A, which Crestwood competes in, will advance to the Northeast Regional Tournament the weekend of Feb. 27-28 at Liberty High School, Bethlehem.
The top four finishers in each of the girls weight classes advance to the Girls Central Regional, Saturday, Feb. 28 at Milton High School.
The PIAA Wrestling Championships are slated for March 5-7 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
“I’m on the bench and I’m watching this great group of girls and what they’re doing out there and how well they’re playing together,” Sklarosky said. “They do a really good job of accommodating whoever comes in, whether it’s me or Addie Korpusik, whoever’s coming in, they do a really good job of noticing who’s on the floor an what they need to do. It’s really just a team effort in the end They do a good job of helping me not feel nervous out there.”
After coming up just short of a trip to Hershey for the state championship last March, Sklarosky and her teammates are shooting for the stars once again.
“A perfect ending” Making it to the state championship,” Sklarosky said with no hesitation. “Last year was bitter sweet. We were the first team in Crestwood history to make it that far, making it to the state semifinals. We played against Archbishop Wood, and they were a great team. We definitely didnt lose in the best way possible. We got our butts kicked, to be honest.
“But we won a district championship and went far. I think just making it to Hershey would be amazing.”
The journey begins this weekend.
Crestwood Lady Comets wrestler Rachel Shoemaker, top, shown on her way to a win by fall against Lake-Lehman in a recent match, is once again a top medal contender at the District 2 Girls Wrestling Championships, set for Friday and Saturday at Wilkes-Barre Area High School.
