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Friday, June 19, 1998     Page:

Hoban star Dourand to swim for Division I Wagner
   
Beth Dourand, a recent graduate of Bishop Hoban High School, accepted a
scholarship to continue her academic and athletic pursuits at Wagner College,
    an NCAA Division I school in Staten Island, N.YA four-year member of the
girls swimming team, Dourand was named an NISCA All-American and was also
named All-State during her high school career.
   
A state qualifier every season, Dourand received a bronze medal as a member
of the 200 medley relay at the PIAA Class AA state championships. She is a
seven-time District 2 champion, taking the gold all four years in her
specialty, the 100-yard breaststroke.
   
Elected co-captain this past season, Dourand was also a school record
holder, named to Who’s Who in American High School Athletics and in Education,
was selected to the Times Leader All-Star swimming team all four years and was
an honor student.
   
She is the daughter of Bob and Margie Dourand of Mountaintop.
   
* * *
   
Former Bishop O’Reilly High School standout Tom Stambaugh has joined the
Lackawanna Junior College men’s basketball program.
   
The 6-foot-5-inch, 185-pound Stambaugh, a 1997 graduate of Bishop O’Reilly,
did not play last season after committing to Bloomsburg University.
   
A two-year starter for the Queensmen, Stambaugh averaged 11 points and
eight rebounds per game as a junior. He was selected a first-team Wyoming
Valley Conference all-star as a senior after averaging 21 points and 12
rebounds per game.
   
A resident of Plymouth, Stambaugh also participated in football and
baseball in high school.
   
* * *
   
Wilkes University assistant men’s basketball coach Dave Macedo has accepted
the position of head coach at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk. He also
will serve as men’s tennis head coach and assistant sports information
director.
   
Macedo, who played for the Colonels before becoming an assistant coach, has
been the top assistant for Wilkes for the past two season. During his six-year
span at Wilkes, the Colonels produced a 135-33 record and advanced to four
consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
   
* * *
   
Old Forge resident Tony DiMattia, a former King’s College baseball player,
has been appointed head baseball coach at Lackawanna Junior College.
   
DiMattia served as the Falcons’ assistant coach the past two years under
Mike Bertoletti, who recently resigned.
   
DiMattia was awarded a bachelor of science degree in elementary education
by King’s in May. He played one year for the Monarchs and one year for
Lackawanna after starting at Old Forge High School, where he helped the Blue
Devils win the state championship in 1992.
   
DiMattia’s other coaching experience includes two years as an assistant
with the Old Forge American Legion team and four years as field manager and
business manager with the Old Forge entry in the Collegiate Summer Baseball
League.
   
Lackawanna compiled a 27-11 record last season.
   
* * *
   
D.J. Greeley, former Coughlin High School football standout, will continue
his academic and athletic pursuits at NCAA Division II Lock Haven University
this fall.
   
An offensive and defensive lineman for the Crusaders, Greeley was a captain
of the team this past season. He started the past two seasons, playing tackle
on defense and center, guard and tackle on offense. Greeley also handled the
snapping duties for punts, extra points and field goals.
   
Lock Haven, under the direction of third-year coach Nick Polk, will return
15 starters to a squad that compiled a 3-8 record in the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference Eastern Division last season.
   
* * *
   
Brian O’Hearen and Dan Patterson, standouts on the Pennsylvania state
champion Central Bucks West High School football team, will continue their
academic and athletic pursuits at King’s College.
   
O’Hearen (5-10, 175) was a two-year starter at Central Bucks West, where he
starred as a defensive back.
   
Patterson (5-6, 155) was a kicker for Bucks, where he was named to the
Suburban I National All Star Team. As a senior, he was 50 of 60 on extra point
kicks, while converting three of three field goals, with a long kick of 35
yards. He is also an honor roll student.
   
* * *
   
Wes Kovach, a basketball standout at Hillsborough High School in New
Jersey, will continue his academic and athletic pursuits at Wilkes University.
   
The 6-8, 220-pound forward averaged 14.5 points and nine rebounds this past
season for the Raiders, which finished with a 12-10 record.
   
Kovach was named to the All-Conference first team and was an All-Area
honorable mention selection. He was also named by New Jersey Hoops Magazine as
one of the top 50 players in the state.
   
* * *
   
Liz Rizzo, a volleyball and softball standout at Stevensville High School
in Maryland, will continue her academic and athletic pursuits at King’s
College.
   
Rizzo was an outside hitter/defensive specialist during her volleyball
career at Stevensville, where she led the team to a 15-0 regular season record
and the Bayside Conference championship as a senior. In her final year, Rizzo
posted 105 kills, 69 digs and 40 service aces.
   
In softball, Rizzo completed her senior year with a .418 batting average,
six doubles, three triples, and 32 runs. She also drew 26 walks and had an
on-base percentage of .891.
   
She was named her team’s most valuable player as a senior after being named
the offensive most valuable player as a frashman and junior. Rizzo, who was a
four-time All-Mid Shore Conference All-Star, was also selected to play in a
USA vs. Canada All-Star Game. She was also an all-conference basketball player
at Stevensville.
   
Academically, Rizzo was an honor roll student. She received the Army
Scholastic/Athletic Award after posting a 4.0 grade-point average.
   
* * *
   
Morrisville-Eaton (N.Y.) High School field hockey standout Amy Mitchell
will continue her academic and athletic pursuits at King’s College.
   
Mitchell led Morrisville to a 14-3-1 record as a senior, where she started
at link and center halfback. On the year, Mitchell scored four goals with six
assists for one of the premier teams in the Center State Conference.
   
In her three years as a starter, Mitchell helped Morrisville to three
sectional finals, two regional finals and one New York State championship
contest.
   
She will join a Lady Monarchs program that finished 9-11 last season and
returns eight starters.
   
* * *
   
Chris Perugino, a former Wyoming Valley West and Luzerne County Community
College basketball standout, will continue his academic and athletic pursuits
at Lock Haven University.
   
While at Wyoming Valley West, Perugino was a two-time Wyoming Valley
Conference All-Star and was the Division I leading scorer his senior season
(19.6 points per game).
   
At LCCC, he was named the team’s most valuable player for 1996-97. He
missed the past season because of an injury.
   
Perugino, who will major in physical education, is the son of Tony and
Cheryl Perugino, of Edwardsville.
   
* * *
   
Wyoming Valley Conference baseball standouts Justin Kotarski and Ed Piekara
will continue their academic and athletic pursuits at College Misericordia.
   
Kotarski is an outfielder from Wyoming Valley West. He was a two-year
starter for the Spartans, and was a first-team all-star as a senior after
batting .417. As a sophomore, he was a member of a Spartan team that reached
the state championship game.
   
Piekara, who is a pitcher/infielder from Dallas High School, was a
three-year starter and served as team co-captain as a senior. He was a
second-team all-star after batting .389 and finishing second in the league
with three home runs. He also played basketball and football and was the only
three-sport letterman at Dallas during the 1997-1998 season.
   
* * *
   
Wyoming Valley West High School graduates Jim and Joe Casey will continue
their academic and athletic pursuits at Wilkes University. The identical twins
are both candidates for the Colonels baseball team.
   
Jim earned first-team Wyoming Valley Conference all-star honors this past
season as a pitcher after helping the Spartans to a 14-5 record and a berth in
the PIAA District 2 playoffs.
   
A three-year letterman and two-year starter, Jim posted a 4-1 record on the
mound with an ERA under 2.00. At the plate, Jim, who played outfield when not
pitching, had a batting average of .346.
   
Joe was a second-team WVC all-star his senior season. A member of the
Pocono Region scholastic team at the Keystone State Games along with his
brother in 1997, Joe also played as a pitcher and outfielder.
   
Joe was the team’s leading hitter as a junior and had a 5-1 record on the
mound this spring.
   
The boys’ parents are Thomas and Linda Casey, of Kingston.
   
* * *
   
Ryan Blazier, a wrestling standout at Bellwood-Antis High School in Western
Pennsylvania, will continue his academic and athletic pursuits at Wilkes
University.
   
Blazier, of Altoona, was a three-year starter at 140 pounds. A team captain
his senior season, he posted an overall record of 22-10. He was named the
team’s Most Improved Wrestler, while also garnering Tri-County League All-Star
honors.
   
Blazier placed fourth this season at the District 6 Tournament, while also
finishing as a runner-up at the East/West Tournament. He is a three-time Blair
County placewinner, and also placed twice at the Tri-County meet.
   
* * *
   
Jason Ambrose, a wrestling standout at Crestwood High School, will continue
his academic and athletic pursuits at Wilkes University.
   
Ambrose was a two-year starter and three-year letter winner for the Comets.
He placed fourth at 112 pounds during this season’s District 2 Championships,
while finishing sixth in the PIAA Pre-Regional.
   
During his career, Ambrose posted an overall record of 43-33, with 16
victories coming by pin. He finished w