Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Before the three Wilkes-Barre city schools unite their athletic programs for the 2019-20 school year, some of their seniors will get a chance to join forces on the football field.
Coughlin, GAR and Meyers will all be part of the Pioneers team in the annual UNICO All-Star Football Classic on Friday, May 31. The charity game will be played at Wyoming Area’s stadium in West Pittston, with the start time to be announced.
Only two Wyoming Valley Conference teams won’t have a player participating. Pittston Area will miss the game for a second consecutive year, as the school’s prom is once again on the same day. Williamsport is a football-only member of the WVC and plays in a senior all-star game in District 4.
Here’s a look at the two teams.
PIONEERS
The Pioneers will also be coached by Jeff Labatch, who ran the Meyers program for its final four seasons.
Meyers will be heavily represented with eight players — RB/LB Kevin Dessoye, RB/DB Nazir Dunell, WR/DB Najese Hood, OL/DL Michael Horvath, OL/DL Ryan Maffei, WR/LB Reese Patronick, WR/DB Darrian Tyson and P Dave Kasper.
Coughlin and GAR had three players selected. Coughlin will be represented by FB/DL Jervone Young, WR/LB Xayvion Proctor and TE/DE Ben Yozwiak. Selected from GAR were K Rafael Amigon, WR/DB Peter Genao and DE/LS Juan Vicioso.
Wyoming Area landed 10 players on the Pioneers roster, the most of any school. Two-way linemen Mike Amato, Cameron Carr, Jacob Mikolychik, Pat Nelson, Stephen Sokach-Minnick and Matt Wysocki are part of the Warriors contingent. Other Wyoming Area players are WR/DB Jacob Busch, WR/DB Dimitri DePietro, K Aleah Kranson and DL Anthony Scalzo.
Berwick will have seven players on the team — TE/DE Will Decker, QB/WR Alex Force, WR/DB Jarret Groshek, DL Ben Peck, DB Jake Seeley, RB Owen Shoemaker and DL JJ Snyder.
Representing Hanover Area will be OL/DL Matt Beecham, QB/LB Aaron Hummer, WR/DB Jared Kishbaugh and RB/DB James McCabe.
Quarterback Dave Piestrak and TE/LB Lucas Acornley were picked from Northwest. Holy Redeemer linemen Gavin Fincke, Tom Hajkowski and Josh Kodish round out the roster.
MINERS
Hazleton Area coach Mike Brennan will have eight of his players on the Miners squad, including Times Leader Player of the Year Damon Horton. Joining the running back will be QB Sparky Wolk, WR Jacob Hunsinger, WR/DB David Smith, OL Mike Fuchick, OT Josh Hedrington, OL Jefferson Luna and DL Dallas Solomon.
Lake-Lehman and Wyoming Valley West will have seven players each.
Lehman’s selections were FB/DL Matt Kurtz, OL/DL TJ Meehan, TE/DE Josh Durling, WR/LB David Horgerbe, LB Fanke Kutz, OL/DL Elmer Souder and K/P Justin Timonte.
Valley West will be represented by RB/LB Carson Canavan, QB Jake Shusta, TE/DE Harunah Jallow, LB Jayden Watkins, WR/DB Nate Baranski, OL Dave Wildey and RB/LB Quaid Braddy.
Tunkhannock will have linemen Tyler Peterson and Sergy Montross, WR/DB Garrett Hopkins, FB/DE Matt Rayme and TE/LB Zack Rogers on the Miners roster.
Nanticoke Area landed RB/DE Joe Ammons, WR/DB Dylan Szychowski, LB John Shoemaker, WR/DB Trevor Grohowski, TE/DE Shane Repasky and LB Austin Cheslaw.
Offensive linemen Michael Anderson and Matt Ferrara and DB Christian Motley were chosen from Dallas. Crestwood will have QB Chase Passman and OL/DL Kevin Frisbee on the roster.