The Dallas Post Dallas, PA August 15, 2003 9 Tue DALLAS POST .. Sports ‘Nark’recalled for kindness, inspira By KEVIN KAZOKAS Post Correspondent He always had a kind word for everyone, and his encouragement in- spired people to bring out the best in themselves, said his friends and col- gues. is calm demeanor and gentle ap- proach served to comfort and reassure those who studied under him, both in the classroom and on the athletic field. At home, he was a devoted father of three children and a loving husband — “somebody who always had time for you,” his wife of 33 years said. But those attributes represented only a few of the positive qualities Back Mountain residents saw in Ed Narkiewicz, who died August 4 at the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville at the age of 62. A science teacher at Lake-Lehman High School from 1963 through 2000, Narkiewicz — commonly referred to by students as “Mr. Nark” — also coached three different sports during his teaching career and touched the lives of many athletes and students within the Back Mountain community. He served as head coach of the Lake-Lehman track-and-field team from 1971 until his retirement in 2000. He also coached football as an assis- tant under George Curry on the Lake- Lehman teams of the late 1960s. In addition, Narkiewicz began the Huntsville Golf Club 2003 Member-Guest Championship Flight Tod Vonderheid/Art Brunn Jr. Lester Smulowitz/Bill Lawler 37 pts. 1st Flight Chad Rado/John Olszewski 47 pts. John Bevevino/John Mulhern 38 1/2 pts. 2nd Flight Lee Eckert/John Saba, Jr. 42 1/2 pts. Jay Armory/Drew marner 40 1/2 pts. d Flight ott Dagenais/Brian Rich 40 1/2 pts. Scott Henry/Dan Kluger 39 pts. 4th Flight Tony Gallis/Ed Gallis 40 pts. Lee Ellman/Michael Last 37 pts. 5th Flight Armond Mascioli/Mike Paul 42 pts. John Kennedy/Tom Sitzer 40+1/2 pts. 6th Flight Steve Grossbauer/Louis Stranzl 41 1/2 pts Charles Kasco/Victor DePhilips 41 pts. 7th Flight Steve Salka/John Sorber 39 1/2 pts. Bob Murphy/Gary Siegel 38 1/2 pts 8th Flight Randy Mark/Bill Race 43 1/2 pts. Alby Albert/George Ferenchik 39 1/2 pts. oth Flight Steve Ubaldini/Paul Ubaldini 45 1/2 pts. John D. McCarthy Jr./Robert Higdon 39 1/2 pts. 10th Flight Bob Mugford/Gary Kornfeld 50 pts. Joe Schaub/Joe Schaub Jr. 48 pts. oke Play dd Vonderheid/Art Bunn Jr./ -13 Chad Rado/John Olszewski -12 Brian Corbett/Bob Gill -10 Dom Castrignano, Jr./Greg Pieczynski -9 Matt Cuddy/Mike May -9 Santo LaFoca/James Bihn -7 Lester Smulowitz/Bill Lawler -3 Tom Bevevino/Mike Metz E Albert Hazzouri/James Gardas +3 John Bevevino/John Mulhern +4 Rich Herman/Tim Harpster +6 Charles Brand/Jim Blinn +11 Jeff Ranck/Jim Cotner +12 David Kluger/Rich Alcavage +15 Jim Bozzuto/Tom Bozzuto +22 Kevin Smith/Pat Sheffer +29 “He had a way of just talking to someone and making them believe in themselves.” Ed Radzinski Lake-Lehman track-and-field coach 43 pts. Lake-Lehmarn cross-country program in 1977 and coached the team each year until 2000. He spent the last three years of his life as an assistant coach with College Misericordia’s new track-and-field pro- During his four-plus decades in coaching, Narkiewicz mentored a host of notable athletes, including current Lake-Lehman track-and-field head coach, Ed Radzinski. Besides competing under him, Radzinski said he coached track along- side Narkiewicz as an assistant for 10 years prior to Narkiewicz’s retirement from Lake-Lehman. “He was quite an affable man. He had a huge impact on me from the time I met him,” said Radzinski, who competed under Narkiewicz in high school track-and-field from 1986 through 1989 and in cross-country in 1987 and 1988. He was also enrolled in a science class taught by ‘Narkiewicz while in ninth-grade. “He never had any negativity to- wards anyone. He was a very, very pos- itive man, usually the voice of reason. And he was so well-liked by so many people.” Narkiewicz enjoyed a great deal of success in his coaching career. His cross-country teams won conference titles in 1996, ‘97 and ‘98 as well as a district title in 1985. He also led Lake-Lehman track-and- field teams to four Wyoming Valley Conference titles (1981, ‘97, ‘98 and ‘99) and coached four track athletes who went on to win individual state championships. Several of those who coached along- side Narkiewicz attributed his accom- plishments to his steady and relaxed disposition. “Ed was a very calm person, whose calmness was infectious,” said John Oliver, who, like Narkiewicz, became an assistant football coach at Lake- Lehman in the late 1960s. “He had the ability to take difficult situations and deal with them in a pro-active and pro- ductive way without becorning emo- tional.” However, the qualities people re- member most about Narkiewicz don’t revolve around championships. “It wasn’t about the winning,” said his wife, Karla. “That was important and he liked that. But that wasn’t the reason he did it.” Instead, those who knew him say Narkiewicz’s primary goal was to bring out the best in his athletes and students. “He had a way of just talking to someone and making them believe in themselves,” Radzinski said. “He would just say these words that would just inspire you.” One person who Narkiewicz deeply inspired was Brad Dieffenbacher, a for- mer Lake-Lehman track star and win- ner of the individual state high-jump championship in 1997. “He was more like a friend than a coach sometimes,” Dieffenbacher said. “He would see me as a person and not as an athlete.” Dieffenbacher wasn’t the only ath- lete to experience such a close bond with Narkiewicz. Whether involved in a head coaching capacity at Lake- Lehman or working as an assistant at [1 e came to school whistling with a smile on his face in the morning, and left at the end of the day whistling and with a smile on his face.” Bob Roberts Lake-Lehman superintendent. Kubis Tournament. pitcher. BMT National 7, Mountain Top 3 gun start. a.m. start. 639-1535. Brian Corbett watched his putt approach the 9th hole cup at Huntsville Golf FOR THE DALLAS POST/MADALYN RUGGIERO course during the member-guest tournament. Konrad Kraszewski hit a three-run homer and Hunter Englehart had two hits as Back Mountain National de- feated Mountain Top, 6-4, in the championship game of the Cameron was the winning AUG. 8 — Hunter Engle- Ed Narkiewicz Misericordia, where he specialized in throwing, Narkiewicz always made certain not to neglect anyone, col- leagues said. “Ed was the kind of guy who related to every athlete, no matter what that person’s level of ability was,” said Michael Mould, College Misericordia athletic director. “He used athletics as a tool to make young people better persons.” Narkiewicz carried that inspira- tional tone beyond the playing fields. Those who had him as a teacher or See NARKIEWICZ, pg 10 Back Mountain National wins Kubis hart threw a three-hitter and struck out seven to lead Back Mountain National to a 7-3 victory over Mountain Top to force.a second and deciding game in the Kubis Tourna- ment. Konrad Kraszewski went 2- for-2 with a two-run homer and a double, Jonathan Thomas had two singles and Englehart doubled for Back Mountain National. Eric George Appel Memorial Golf Tournament September 19 Our Lady of Victory Church, Harveys Lake, will hold their 10th annual “George Appel Memorial Golf Tournament” on Fri- day, September 19, at Mill Race Golf Course, Benton. The $70 fee includes green fees, cart, lunch, social hour, buffet dinner and beverages. The format of play will be Captain & Crew. Lunch and registration will be held at noon with a 1 p.m. shot- Due to the overwhelming response last year, there will also be a morning shotgun start with registration at 7 a.m. and an 8 First hole-in-one on #8 wins a trip for two to Cancun. Hole sponsorhips are available. To register call the church office at Dallas Rotary Charity Golf Classic set for September 22 would like to make it 100 this year to add to the success of our event.” The sponsorship fee is $100. Each advertiser will re- ceive a sign prominently dis- played near a green or a tee. The Rotary is also looking for players. The format is a captain and three crew members. Indi- viduals are invited and will be teamed up with others in a group. The entry fee is $100. The 21st annual charity golf classic sponsored by the Dallas Rotary to support Dallas Rotary Charities will be held at the Irem Temple Country Club on Monday, Sept. 22 beginning with a shotgun start at 12:30. ‘We are looking for hole spon- rs and players,” said Kevin Smith, returning chairmen for the event. “Last year we had more than 90 sponsors, and we All proceeds will help the Ro- tary Club of Dallas Charities sponsor and contribute to ‘the Back Mountain Library, the an- nual Christmas Shopping Spree for underprivileged children, the Dallas/Lehman Book Scholar- ships and Essay Contests, the annual boys and girls leadership camps, Luzerne County Fall Fair, Dallas Youth Basketball, Rotary youth exchange pro- gram, Back Mountain Food Pantry and more. Call Kevin Smith at 696-5420 for more information and an en- try form. Sponsors must re- spond by September 7 to allow for proper sign printing. Players are urged to respond as soon as possible to determine how many will be in attendance at a steak dinner and awards cere- mony at the close of the day. Back Mountain girls win Newport softhall tourney Back Mountain All-Stars went undefeated in the Newport Township Softball Tournament by knocking off District Champion Nanticoke 15-13 in the championship game. From left, bottom row: Alex Decker, Ally Jayne, Emily er), Emily Spring. Prater, Sara Kohli, Sara Skammer. Standing: Ruth Skammer (coach), Danielle Shaver, Meghan Martin, Sarah Konopki, Greg Kohli (coach), Mary Kate Osick, Tori Cramer, Donna Konopki (manag- Send your sports reports by dallaspost@leader.net ————_— RS
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