Tue POST Sunday, February 6, 2005 7 Sports Mountaineer swimmers are surprising success By CHRIS BELL Post Correspondent Despite being swept by perennial powerhouse Bishop Hoban earlier this week, the Dallas High School boys and girls swimming teams are both enjoying successful campaigns. Now in their 10th varsity season, head coach Matt Stretanski says the best part about this year’s success is that the Mountaineers have taken sev- eral teams by surprise. “Before the season, there weren't many people who expected us to be where we are at this point,” said Stretanski. “We've beaten a lot of teams that we weren’t supposed to, at least according to the pre-season polls.” Stretanski credits the team’s suc- cess to the swimmers hard work and competitive drive. “We have a great group of kids,” he said. “They are win- ners and thrive on the competition.” He singled out a recent girls meet against Abington Heights where the Mounts rallied to win the final two events and pulled out a victory. “We trailed throughout the entire meet, but our kids never gave up,” explained Stretanski. “We didn’t take the lead until we won the last two events. That’s a testament to our kids’ dedication.” Stretanski feels another key factor to the team’s success is its senior leadership. “We have a great group of seniors. They know what they need to do to be successful and they do a great job of setting an example for the younger kids.” Whitney Bolton, Sarah Rupert and Samantha O’Brien are the only seniors on the girls team, while Andrew Van Loon and Allen Gonczol are the only seniors on the boys squad. With the regular season winding down, the Mountaineers are looking forward to the district championships where both teams have their sights set on a top three finish. Stretanski expects the Mounts to excel in the relay events as well as div- See SWIMMERS, pg 9 Tina Watkins attempts a shot for Lake-Lehman early in the Back Mountain rivalry game. Defending for Dallas are Cassie Snider, left, and Melissa Gorski. BOYS BASKETBALL Dallas 52, Hanover 39 Feb. 1 — The Mountaineers were in control from start to finish, led by Brad Fagula’s 12 points and Robbie Myers’ 10. Ryan Nemetz and Matt Kelly each scored eight points and Matt Wilson added seven. Bishop O'Reilly 34, Nanticoke 32 Feb. 1 - Josh Aciukewicz scored 11 points and Tim Crossin added 10 as Bishop OReilly held off an upset bid by Greater Nanticoke Area. O'Reilly, the defending Class A state champion led 21-20 entering the fourth quarter. Aciukewicz scored seven of his points in the final quarter. Seton Catholic 54, Lake-Lehman 37 Feb. 1 -Caleb Piatt led the Knights with 11 points and Chris Boyle chipped in 10. Alan Sheridan scored six points, going 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Wyoming Area 64, Tunkhannock 57 Feb. 1 - Spencer Lunger racked up a game-high 25 points, which included seven three-pointers, to lead the Tigers. Brendan Mulhern had 15 points for Tunkhannock, including two three-pointers. Nanticoke 63, Dallas 53 Jan. 29 — Matt Wilson led Dallas with 16 points, followed by Ryan Nemetz with 11 and Matt Kelly with 10. Wilson hit three 3-point shots, while Kelly and Nemetz made two apiece, ...” Bishop O'Reilly 55, GAR 52 Jan. 29 — Junior center Josh Aciukewicz scored 20 points, includ- ing the 1,000th of his career to lead the Queensmen. Tim Crossin added 17 points for O'Reilly. Wyoming Valley West 74, Tunkhannock 56 Jan. 29 — Tunkhannock’s Spencer FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Dallas’ Megan Savage tries to battle her way to the basket. Lunger led all players with 26 points. Colin Hopkins and Brendon Mulhern scored 11 apiece. Lake-Lehman 39, Wyoming Seminary 38 Jan. 29 — Chris Boyle and Allen Sheridan scored 13 points each and Lake-Lehman held off a fourth-quarter rally by Wyoming Seminary. Dylan Seeley scored eight for Seminary, which trailed 29-22 after three quarters. Coughlin 63, Tunkhannock 56 Jan. 27 — Spencer Lunger paced Tunkhannock, which led 42-41 after three quarters, with 25 points. Brendan Mulhern added 10. Lunger hit three 3-point shots. Nanticoke Area 56, Wyoming Seminary 50 Jan. 27 — Dylan Seeley connected on four three-pointers in leading the Blue Knights with 16 points. Bishop O'Reilly 51, Meyers 45 Jan. 27 — Tim Crossin scored 20 points and Bishop O'Reilly held off a strong comeback bid by Meyers in the third quarter. Josh Aciukewicz added eight points for O'Reilly. Northwest 49, Lake-Lehman 48 Jan. 27 — Lake-Lehman scored 22 points in the fourth quarter, but fell one shy of forcing overtime. Chris Boyle hit five 3-pointers on the way to scoring 19 points for the Black Knights, who trailed 41-26 after three quarters. Alan Sherican scored 10 points. GIRLS BASKETBALL Dallas 52, Lake-Lehman 50 Jan. 31 — Dallas trailed by seven points at halftime, but outscored Lake-Lehman 32-23 in the second half to pull out the win in a hard-fought game decided at the charity stripe. The Lady Knights were up by two at the end of the first quarter, and stretched the lead going into the half See ROUNDUP, pg 9 MVPs at Sem Wyoming Seminary Upper School recently named the athletes from the Back Mountain who received Most Valuable Player awards for the fall season. Shown in photo: senior Nina Shah, Shavertown, left, MVP, girls ten- nis, and junior Laura Eckman, Shavertown, defen- sive MVP, field hock- ey. Harveys Lake Little League registration Registration for the 2005 season of Harveys Lake Little League KILLER BEES AWARDS Boris, Byron win top honors Several local student-athletes in the running for honors Caroline Byron of Dallas, a senior at Bishop Hoban High School, was : == scholastic female division winner of the Joe Hoinski Memorial Award for Excellence in Athletics, present- “ed Jan. 30 by the Killer Bees Athletic Club. As a junior, she became the first area female swimmer to be named Outstanding Swimmer at the PIAA Class 2A Swimming and Diving Championships after winning gold in both the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events at the 2004 meet. Lake-Lehman senior Traci Ragukas was a semifinalist for the award. Lake-Lehman senior Allison Boris won the Student-Athlete Award, given to a student who maintains an “A” average in the classroom and earns a varsity let- ter for any sport. A three-sport athlete who was named all- state in field hock- ey, Boris ranks eighth in a class of 176, with a 98.25 grade average. The award is sponsored by the Times Leader. Byron was a finalist for the award, and Wyoming Seminary senior Nina Shah was a semifinalist. Other local contenders included Tim Crossin and Brian Ostrowsky, F finalists for the scholastic male Hoinski Award; Alaric Eby, a semifi- nalist for the scholastic male Hoinski Award; Lake-Lehman grad- uate Tracy Hudak, semifinalist for the Hoinski Award in the open female division; and Dallas graduate John Simonitis and Lake-Lehman grad- uate David Walters, semifinalists for the Hoinski Award in the open male divi- sion. Caroline Byron Allison Boris Brian Ostrowsky will be held on Saturday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Harveys Lake Borough Building, across from the police station. Children ages 5 to 16 who live within Harveys Lake Borough and Lake Township Little League boundaries are eligible to enroll to play baseball or softball. Registration is required even if the child has played in the past. At least one parent or legal guardian must be present with three proofs of residence and an original or state-certified copy of the child’s birth certificate. The documents will be inspected and returned at registration. For more information, including a descrip- tion of the boundaries, call Harveys Lake Little League at 639-1988 or visit www.harveyslakell.com. Dallas Jr. Football board meeting The Dallas Junior Football / Cheerleading Association will hold a monthly board meeting on Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Dallas Township Municipal Building. All board members are asked to attend. “Take a Kid to Misericordia games College Misericordia’s “Take A Kid To The Game” promotion has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 12 when the Cougars take on Cabrini. Children under the age of 12 will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult and will receive a coupon for a free hot dog and soda courtesy of the College Misericordia Alumni Association. The women’s game is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the men’s game to follow at 3. Misericordia is one of more than 500 institutions across the nation that are participating in this campaign focused on attracting more of the nation’s youth to college games. The program is in its 10th year in the pro- motion of NCAA athletics and this is Misericordias fourth year of participa- tion. For more information, contact the Misericordia athletic department at 674-6374. Youth basketball tournament North American Youth Sports is holding a spring basketball tourna- ment at the University of Scranton for boys and girls in grades five through 12. Games will be held March 11, 12, and 13. There will be a $100 entry fee, per team, and each team is guaranteed two games. Medals will be awarded for first and second place. Call Lew Thomas at 814-5477 for entry forms.
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