Warrior Ring of Pride inducts three, honors two

Two former Warriors greats and the Wyoming Area football program’s long-time doctor were inducted into the Wyoming Area Football Alumni’s Ring of Pride on field before a Wyoming game on September 25.

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From left, Ring inductees Eric Speece, Rich Musinski and Dr. Gerald Gibbons and Adam Kowalczyk son of honoree Bob Kowalczyk and Ann Marie Kowalczyk wife of honoree Frank Pizano, Jr.Tom Campenni presents Eric Speece with hsi Ring trophy.Alumni Association president Lou Ciampt congratulates Dr. Gibbons.

Photos tony callaio

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Photos tony callaio

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Also honored with special recognition were two benefactors of Wyoming Area football and youth sports who died in 2008, the late Bob Kowalczyk and Frank Pizano.

A lot of people close to WA sports knew Bob Kowalczyk as the father of three-sport WA star Adam. What they don’t know about the union carpenter who died in 2008, is what he did for WA sports behind the scenes. In the now-it-can-be-told department let it be known that Bob helped start the Wyoming Area Diamond Club and build the Wyoming Area baseball press box. He rehabilitated the field after the infamous Diversified fire. He designed and built the program’s batting cage. Frank J. Pizano Jr. was a graduate of Exeter High School where he was a 4-year starter in both football and basketball in the 1950s. Frank produced two sons who are among the Warriors all-time greats -- Jim the school’s all-time leading rusher and Joe a two-time Falcone Trophy winner who was an NCAA National Champion at UMass.

But his contributions to Wyoming Area and local youth sports are even greater than that. He helped reconstruct Wyoming Area’s football field after the merger and build the Exeter Little League Field and was a founder of Exeter Panthers Junior Football

As junior at Wyoming Area in 1997 Richie Musinski was an all-conference defensive back. As a senior wide receiver he caught 64 passes for 1,032 yards and 10 touchdowns and scored five rushing touchdowns and another by punt return. He had 11 catches for 126 yards in a come-from-behind win over Montrose in the District 2 2A championship game and nine for 120 in a loss to Mt. Carmel in the Eastern regional. Rich went to William & Mary on a ride and set the Tribe’s all-time marks in receptions (224), receiving yards (4,168), receiving touchdowns (31), 100-yard receiving games (21) and yards per reception (18.6). He is one of just three players in Division I-AA history to record more than 4,000 receiving yards, joining Florida A&M’s Jacquay Nunnally and Miss Valley State’s Jerry Rice.

Eric Speece was one of Warrior football’s all-time great running backs. He was a three-year letterman from 1981 to 1983. As a junior he rushed for 600 yards and seven touchdowns. As a senior he was second in the Wyoming Valley Conference in rushing with 1,100 yards, first in scoring with 20 touchdowns, a multiple first-team all-scholastic, and Citizen’s Voice offensive player of the year.

Eric went to Lock Haven on a scholarship where as a freshman he led the team in rushing and touchdowns. As a sophomore he was second in the same categories. He transferred to Bloom but had to give up football after an accident which cost him part of a kidney.

Wyoming Area sports fans know “Doc Gibbons” as the dedicated Wyoming Area football team doctor who prowled the sidelines as much or more than any player or coach since 1979. And they may know him as the father of two all-time great high school athletes, J.P. and Brett Gibbons.

Dr. Gibbons work behind the scenes as a benefactor of American Legion baseball and Wyoming Area athletics is legendary among those who need to know.