Tie SALLASCP0ST Vol. 103 No. 7 Wednesday, February 19, 1992 Sports\Week HB School news BW Calendar BH Classified Wrestling action of it Saturday, Feb. 15, when the Knights faced Line Moun- tain, ranked 5th in the state, in an exhibition match at Lehman. At right, Charlie Roper pro- glided a bright spot by winning major decision at 130. (Post photo/Ron Bartizek) Lake-Lehman had a tough time Lori Warneka takes first step to Olympics FLORENCE FINN Sports Correspondent @R1s settle in around 8 p.m. each evening to enjoy the international competition and the aura that surrounds its. We listen to ecstasy and heartbreak as stories unravel of the time, dedication, money and sacrifice from both the athlete and his or her family. The stories seem remote because they are young men and women who are on the TV screen, miles away and so we listen, smile and nod our approval and admiration for the fortitude that is exhibited even when it has been an anthete’s Ene to be a victim of the flu. As ti fever is in the air. Most st of us are not aware that we have a story right here amidst us in our own Back Mountain, a story that has just begun the long and arduous road to the 1996 Olym- pics in Atlanta. Lori Warneka, the former Dal- las and Temple field hockey super- star, has jut been selected for the United States National Elite Field Hockey Team. The first lap of the road to international competition began in early January, 1992, at Rutgers University in New Jersey, when 33 women were selected to remain an additional week at Rutgers for the final cut. “It was a rough two weeks,” Warneka commented. “There was enough pressure just being there, but I had the flu and I knew I wasn't playing well. My body just asn't letting me give my peak ‘W@rformance.” Lori's desire to make that team persisted, though, and she was among the final 21 who would survive the pressure both men- tally and physically. “I watched as incoming, strong young players tried out for the team. I seemed to be fighting in all directions.” Lori beat the bout with a poor- timing flu and those incoming players to enable her to move on to the next lap. “In the beginning of the final weeks at Rutgers, Coach Anders told us that the team was pretty much decided unless we really messed up,” Warneka com- mented. Messed up as Canada's Kurt Browning who was the world champion, assured a Gold medal if he didn't “mess-up”, but he fell in the medal round and was out of the running for any medal. Pres- sure, and it doesn't just happen in the final round. Warneka has just survived one pressure situation to move into the next lap. Now there will be endless practices in which one may be cut at anytime and the prac- tices will be held at Old Dominion University, where Beth Anders coaches the NCAA Division I Na- tional Champions. So, on Feb. 26, Warneka has to travel to Norfolk, VA to practice from Wednesday to Sunday in preparation for The Intercontinental Cup Competition which will be held in 1993. This will be the qualifier for The World Cup Competition in 1994. Lori will be able to travel from her home in Dallas to Norfolk and then back for this and future monthly practices at her own expense. “There will be a mandatory relo- cation in May of '93,” Lori ex- plained,” but Beth prefers that we relocate in May of '92. We will have to find our own housing then.” Suddenly all of the stories that we've heard in the past week on CBS become more significant to NATIONAL TEAM MEMBER - Lori Warneka, former Dallas High star, has been selected for the United States National Field Hockey team. us. The personal sacrifice becomes a more immediate matter, for now it is one of our own champions. And the pressure on the athlete continues while the decisions are relentless. Not only does Lori have athletic decisions, but she has life considerations. Since the field hockey program at Temple was so demanding, she still has a year before she finishes her degree which is not uncommon among Division I athletes. Lori must de- cide whether she defers her degree for a possible four years or whether to end the pursuit of a dream and get on with life-after-sports. Fur- thermore, there is the commitment of traveling, finances, work, and time to consider when it could all end by a cut or a loss. Lori may stay on the roster and team may not qualify for the "96 Olympics. Keep in mind, the U.S. didn't qualify for this year's games. You can bet that Beth Anders will be obsessed with improving that for '96, therefore, practices will be more demanding and cuts more ruthless. “It’s really hard to look at '96. It seems so far away,” Warneka said. Coach Anders will be demanding blood, sweat, and tears from all of her players. One may comment that international athletes have made these choices, therefore, they must live with them, but truly dedicated athletes can only make one choice. They must play until the have reached their optimum level whatever sacrifices it takes, wherever the road may lead, and what obstacles must be removed. A champion can never look back and wonder “What if..." Sports roundup GIRLS' BASKETBALL GAME CHANGED The game between Lake- Lehman and Northwest Area has been rescheudled to Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Lake-Lehman. Junior varsity begins at 6:30 p.m., varsity at 7:45 p.m. LINE MOUNTAIN CRUNCHES KNIGHTS The Lake-Lehman wrestling team, ranked 10th in the state, was tested by fifth ranked Line Mountain on February 15 at the Knights'school. The Lehman grap- plers, undefeated in the Wyoming Valley Conference, came up with only 11 points while a powerful Line Mountain had 50. Charlie Jacoby, ranked first in the state at 140, took on first-ranked Daren Keim and drew with him; however, Keim, usually wrestling at 145, came down one weight to meet Jacoby. Lehman's Mike Geurin scored a technical fall at 171 and Charlie Roper had a major deci- sion at 130. They will take on . Hazleton today at the Mountain- eers for the last league match. They will go into that match with town GAR, the Knights have lost crucial games in a topsy-turvy five unbeatens in conference wres- Meague which sees many upsets. tling: Mike Geurin, Justin Good- win, Charlie Jacoby, Jason Naugle and Rick Finnegan. BLACK KNIGHTS LOSE TWICE ON COURT After coming out of the chute like a house on fire the second half, Lake-Lehman boys basketball team lost to Meyers 57-40 Friday, Feb. 14, in Wilkes-Barre. The Knights, having a tough night with outside shots, had the Meyers lead cut to five in the third quarter with a trey by Rich Davis who had nine points for the night, but the Mo- hawks countered to keep the lead. Mark Shisson also had nine for the Knights. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Lehman lost to Seton Catholic on their home court 53-39. Although Rich Davis scored 22 points, Lehman is expe- riencing an offensive slump. Dur- ing the first half, their defense saved them in several games, but that hasn't been the case the sec- ond. Since their upset of home- Lehman will challenge first-half champions Northwest on Thurs- day, Feb. 20, away. LADY KNIGHTS BEAT MEYERS AND SETON The Lady Knights beat Meyers to remain in playoff contention. Lehman outscored the Mohawks 38-4 Thursday, Feb. 13, at home. Jen Smith and Heidi Wenrich combined for 24 points with a game high by Smith who had 14. Jen Gable also contributed to the cru- cial win with eight. Cherub Honeywell well scored a game high 18 points to lead the Knights over Seton on Monday, Feb. 10, 52-32. She hit eight of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter while Jen Gabel added 10 more points. Jen Smith and Heidi Wen- rich had eight each. Lehman is enjoying a 6-1 record in the second half of the season and will play Northwest tonight at home at 7:45 preceded by the J.V.'s at 6:30 in a rescheduled game. CAVE STARS IN LADY MOUNTAINEER WIN At the other side of town, the Dallas girls enjoyed a win over West Side Tech, 59-47 on Thurs- day, Feb. 13. Wendy Cave gave a farewell performance in her last home game by scoring a career- high 27 points. She also dazzled the crowd with three treys and helped her team overcome a three- point halftime deficit. MOUNTS BEAT UP ON TECH AFTER LOSS The Dallas Mountaineers beat West Side Tech on Friday, Feb. 14, on the losers’ court by a score of 80-49. Six players scored in double figures: Dave Puz 15, Todd Paczewski 13; Mark Medura 12; Charles Siglin 14; Jim Moran 12 and Jeremy Van Orden 10. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Dallas lost to Bishop Hafey 79-65. Dave Puz led Dallas at home with 21 points, followed by Todd Paczewski with 19 and Mark Medura with 16. Medura and Paczewski had two three-pointers apiece and Jere- miah Van Orden added one. Cherub Honeywell shows her talents By FLORENCE FINN Sports Correspondent There is life after ‘the bench- warming sophomore year, but as an athlete endures the frustra- tions of the high school novice, she often thinks that she can do noth- ing right, that the coach hates her and that she will never break into that starting lineup. But it does happen, as Cherub Honeywell, a Lake-Lehman junior can confirm. Cherub plays on Lehman's basketball team and was instru- mental in Monday's win against Seton Catholic 52-32. Cherub was high scorer with 18 points and has been a consistent force in the Lady Knights’ success this season. However, basketball isn't the only sport in which this powerful athlete particiates. Honeywell's talents go back to Little League softball where she was a powerhouse, hitting one homerun after another. “When 1 was younger, I could hit homeruns without good technique because I was bigger than everyone else. My aggressiveness also made up for lack of fundamentals, but, when I moved up to the high school, ag- gressiveness and power weren't enough.” In hockey, for example, Cherub had played three years of varsity in junior high school on a champion- ship team, but she didn't make the starting lineup as a sophomore in senior high school. “It was hockey that taught me I needed skills, so I decided to work harder. I love the pressure and competition of working to win a position,” Cherub commented. “Once I decided that it was me who wasn't as skilled as some older players and stopped making ex- cuses for myself, I began to learn.” Cherub did go on to letter that year and then went right into basketball where she was a starter as sophomore. “Being a starter in basketball sort of made up for what I didn't accomplish the previous season,” she added. According to Honeywell, one's sophomore year, is the most diffi- cult one in high school. Whether an athlete is starting, substitut- ing, or sitting, being the youngest on the team puts pressure on the rookie. “As a freshman, coming into senior high school, people knew us, knew our athletic repu- tations, so there is pressure to keep that reputation and to suc- ceed, Due to friendships, competing for a friend's position is difficult also because you want to keep them as friends, but you also want to beat them out for a position.” One word which is not in Cherub’s vocabulary, however, is quit. “Whether I sit or not, I won't quit. That's not me. It's not part of my goals, quitting instead of work- ing.” Perhaps this is the reason why her coaches admire Cherub’s team approach and work ethic. “Cherub is a great team mem- ber who keeps the spirit up. She makes practice fun whether she starts or not. Cherub stays after practice, spending extra time to GOING FOR THE SCORE - Lake-Lehman junior Cherub Honeywell is pouring in the points this season. develop her skills. I expect a pro- ductive senior year from Cherub,” commented field hockey Coach Jean Lipski. Being a three sport athlete doesn't allow Honeywell much time to prepare for the next season. “I try to concentrate on one sport at atime. That is Idon't participate in any clinics or practice for another sport while I'm in another season. In the summer, though, I try to keep it equal and do whateverlcan in all of them.” During the spring Cherub is a windmill pitcher and her sopho- more year was a bitter-sweet one for her. She was experiencing control problems as many novice pitchers do, but she hung in, play- ing the role of relief pitcher and third base player while helping her team with a strong bat. “As a freshman, Cherub had pitched a no-hitter, then struggled in her sophomore year but she accepted the role change and helped at third base and became a positive team leader. Cherub wants everyone to do the best she can for the team. She does and she makes coaching easier. It would nice to have everyone like her,” Coach Rose Ragnacci praised Honeywell. Cherub Honeywell always gives 100 percent. When she’s pitching, she’s doing her best and, if it’s not good enough, she wants to be replaced by someone who can help better. “If I'm not throwing strikes, I want to come out. Let someone | throw strikes and help us to win.” | And that is Cherub’s main inter- est-winning! As a junior, she has put the sophomore year behind her and is a better player and person for having endured it. The Back Mountain Wrestling Club attended the Abington Heights Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 8. The following boys placed: First row, Marc Shaw, 45 Ib. Bantam, 3rd place; Nick Harris, 60 Ib. Bantam, 3rd place; Andrew Shaw, 40 Ib. Bantam, 1st place; Lewis Spurlin, Midget 55 Ib., 2nd place; Aaron Kubasik Bantam 40, 1st place; B.J. Lewis, 45 Ib. Bantam, 2nd place; Gary Long, 55 Ib. Midget, 4th place. Second row, Dennis Brown, 65 Ib. Midget, 4th place; Geoff Rittenhouse, 65 Ib. Midget, 2nd place; Jake Walter, 85 Ib. Midget, 4th place; Jonathan Bird, 60 Ib. Midget, 4th place; Brett Larson, 97 Ib. Midget, 2nd place; Richie Harris, Junior 65 Ib., 2nd place. Third row, Matt Gingo, Junior Hwt, 1st place; Damien Temperine, 70 Ib. Midget, 2nd place; Roger Park, 96 Ib. Junior, 2nd place; Brock Raspen, 130 Ib. Junior, 2nd place; Matt Sill, 110 Ib. Midget, 2nd place. Not shown but also placing: Nick Rackowski 65 Ib. Junior, 1st place.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers