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By AMBER WALKO-RAY Times Leader Student Reporter
Thursday, March 20, 2003 Page: 12A
-ray/meyers Take a step outside and look around you. The snow is almost
melted and vibrant-colored flowers are beginning to pop up and take its place.
The weather has taken a turnaround, stimulating people of all ages to go out
and become a little more active. So what does this all mean? It means that
spring is here, and it’s time to play outside in the grass or dirt instead of
inside on the hardwood floor. It seems almost inappropriate for one to talk
once again about winter athletics, programs or clubs, but when a team carries
out their season until the snow is gone and the grass is green, now, that’s
something worth mentioning!
Reaching the state finals in any type of activity is always the ultimate
goal of every organization out there, but it is not an easy task to
accomplish. This year, Meyers is proud to boast two basketball teams (girls
and boys), a diver from the swim team, two varsity wrestlers and the senior
high and junior high chess teams, who made the road to the state finals a
little more within their reach.
The girls and the boys varsity basketball teams had amazing seasons. The
boys went to the first round of state playoffs and the girls made it to the
state quarterfinals.
Junior Dana Miskin represented our swim/diving team at states for the first
time ever in school history. Dana flipped, twisted and of course, dove her way
to a No. 23 finish.
Senior Carlo Mercadante and junior Joe Rovelli took a trip to Hershey and
wrestled their way to silver medals. Though they finished second in the state,
there is no doubt in everyone’s minds here at Meyers that, although a silver
medal hung around their necks, these two gentlemen are what we like to call
true champions.
While the weather outside may have been frightful, the senior and junior
high chess teams were inside, turning up the heat while scorching their
opponents one by one. The junior high team was able to outsmart their
opposition all the way to a second-place finish, coming up a half point behind
the first-place team. Outstanding individual efforts were turned in by Brad
Elias, who won unrated. Adam Iseman finished in third place overall. Both were
victorious in four out of five matches.
In the senior high competition, Matt Considine earned 3.5 points, followed
by Katie Kelly who received three points. Frank Gibbs and Jannette Foy each
came up with 2.5 points apiece. These individual scores, which are taken out
of a total of five points, led the team to an overall fifth-place title.
Many times, while a team or a club’s members may receive special
recognition for their accomplishments, the coach or adviser may remain behind
the scenes, with all of their hard work and dedication becoming overlooked.
Katie Kelly, a senior member of the chess team, wants to change all that. She
notes that the chess team is different from chess teams at other schools and
says none of this would be possible without the guidance of Mr. Sam Elias.
Says Katie: “What makes the program run really well is that it leaves time for
us to develop in other area – athletics, music, social. It’s very laid back.
Mr. Elias does a really good job with it. We appreciate him very much.”
Amber Walko-Ray is a senior at Meyers High School, Wilkes-Barre.