Category Archives: Sports

Dishin’ the Dirt: April 2025

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Congratulations to Dunmore Lady Bucks senior point guard Sophia Talutto selected NEPA Hoops small school girls Player of Year…Committed to play at University of Scranton next year under former Lady Bucks coach Ben O’Brien, Sophia led Dunmore to 24-3 record, division title, District 2 Class 3A championship and PIAA Elite 8 appearance…Sophia scored 1,523 career points, including 494 this season averaging 19.0 points per game and shooting 84.6 percent from foul line and adding 4.0 rebounds per contest…Sophia also named Lackawanna League girls first-team All-Star, first-team girls All-Defensive team and Player of Year…

Congratulations to senior guard Michael Hughes of Holy Cross named NEPA Hoops small school boys Player of Year…Michael led Crusaders to Lynett title, division 2 title, district runner-up and three straight appearances in PIAA state semifinals…He finished career with 1,210 points, including 459 this season averaging 15.3 points per game…Congratulations to Dunmore’s Jackie Brown named Lackawanna League first-team All-Defensive team and honorable mention for all-star team…Dunmore’s Amanda Dempsey named second-team all-star..

.Dunmore native Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator of Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, appeared in Scranton’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade last month…Fangio was in Dunmore visiting his mom and friends, including former Dunmore Mayor Patrick “Nibs” Loughney….Dunmore’s Claire Duncan and fiancé Joe Budnovich among lucky ones who met Fangio at parade…Congratulations to Michael Hughes and Matt Lyons of Holy Cross named first-team boys Lackawanna League coaches all-stars…Congratulations to Lyons and C.J. Thompson of Holy Cross named first-team All-Defense…Sophomore Thompson also named Times-Tribune Defensive Player of Year…

Dunmore’s Claire Duncan, at right, is shown with Vic Fangio, at left, and her fiancé Joe Budnovich at Scranton’s Saint Patrick’s Parade in March. Fangio, who is defensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, was in the parade as a special guest.

Congratulations to former Dunmore Bucks basketball standout Ciera Toomey and her University of North Caolina women’s basketball team who advanced to Sweet 16 in NCAA Tournament by defeating West Virginia, 58-47…Dunmore’s William Trip O’Malley announced Borough-wide cleanup for Saturday, April 26, from 9 to 11 a.m., with rain date Sunday, April 27…Congratulations to Dunmore senior football standout Izaiah Parker who will continue academic and football careers at Albright College…

Congratulations to Dunmore senior football star Jack McNeff who will continue academic and football careers at University of Rochester…Emily McGowan was three-for-four with three RBIs and two runs in Dunmore Lady Bucks softball win over Montrose, 10-8…Dunmore’s Rachel Walsh picked up second win of season, added three hits, two runs and RBI…Dunmore’s Kylie Farr went three-for-three with double and three RBIs…Paige Ancherani went two-for-three with double, RBI and earned her second save…

Dunmore Bucks baseball coach Sid Hallinan, Jr. has team off to quick start with four straight convincing wins…Jamie McMynne pitched four strong innings of one-run ball striking out four and walking none while hitting three-run homer in fourth straight win, 16-1 over Montrose…Matt Iezzi went three-for-four with homer in Bucks first win…Former Dunmore fullback/linebacker and track and field athlete Josh Malone became new indoor 60 Meter Hurdles record holder for King’s College…Congratulations to Mollie Urban and Ava Schmidt of Holy Cross named second team Lackawanna League coaches all-stars…

Congratulations to former Holy Cross basketball and softball standout Kaci Kranson, now key member of Landmark champion University of Scranton Lady Royals, who earned CSC Academic All-District Honors and was named Second Team All-American, Region 5 Player of Year and Landmark Conference Player of Year while leading team to Elite Eight of NCAA playoffs…Do you remember Terry Schoen?…Congratulations to Marywood University baseball product Dylan Svetovich named assistant Dunmore Junior High baseball coach under Frank Spager…It was 10 years ago when Bishop O’Hara graduate and then University of Scranton sophomore Taryn Mellody was named NCAA Division III first-team All-American by Kodak and Women’s College Basketball Association…

Condolences to family of colorful former boxing heavyweight champion George Foreman who died last month at 76…Foreman boxed to near age 50 and was mastermind of the Foreman Grill…He became oldest heavyweight champion at 45 in upset over Michael Moorer, reclaiming title he previously held over a decade prior…He was 76-5, with 68 knockouts…

New York Yankees and entire baseball world mourning tragic passing of Miller Gardner at 14, son of former Yankees baseball star Brett Gardner who was vacationing with family in Costa Rica last month…Miller apparently died in his sleep from an apparent allergic reaction while being treated for food poisoning after the family dined in a Costa Rica restaurant…Penn State women’s basketball guard Moriah Murray, former Dunmore Lady Bucks standout, entered transfer portal…She stepped up as a team leader in her junior season averaging 10.4 points per game and sinking 71 three-pointers at close to a 38 percentage…

Condolences to family of beloved Judith Marichak Kich, an avid walker daily in Dunmore and Green Ridge and proud grandmother, who died unexpectedly at 69 last month…One of six, her one brother is John Marichak, superintendent of Dunmore School District…Condolences to family of Atty. Mike Miller, an avid antique automobile writer, who died last month at 61…Condolences to family of former beloved Green Ridge resident Mary Theresa Booth, former dietician at Scranton’s Mercy Hospital and world traveler who visited 50 U.S. states, who died last month at 89…Condolences to family of well known local sax player Jack Garvey who died last month at 72…He performed past five years at Dunmore Bucktown Fest…Do you remember Kurt Skaluba?…Whatever became of Dan Schatzeder?…

Dunmorean of the Month: Vic Fangio

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Dunmore’s Vic Fangio gets his Super Bowl ring

By Steve Svetovich

Vic Fangio is making Dunmore proud.

He started his coaching career at the age of 21 in 1979 as a linebacker coach for late Dunmore legendary football coach Jack Henzes.

Two more years as a defensive coordinator under Henzes, one year as defensive coordinator at Milford Academy in Connecticut, a year as a graduate assistant at North Carolina, and two seasons as defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL got him ready for the NFL.

At age 28 in 1986 he was hired as linebackers coach for the New Orleans Saints where he spent nine years.

The coaching jobs never stopped. He served as either linebackers coach or defensive coordinator from 1995 through 2018 for the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears before becoming head football coach of the Denver Broncos from 2019 through 2021.

After a season as consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles, he became defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins in 2023.

In 2024, at age 66 he returned to the Philadelphia Eagles as defensive coordinator, leading the team as the No. 1 defense in the NFL.

And this past February 9, at age 66, Fangio earned his first Super Bowl ring as the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was Super Bowl MVP, completing 17-of-22 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 71 yards on 11 carries and another touchdown.

But there were more than a few who were calling Fangio the MVP as the Eagles tough defense held down Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes for most of the game and limited Kansas City to only 49 yards on the ground. 

At one point, the Eagles held a convincing 40-6 lead.

Mahomes managed three touchdown passes, but two came late when the game was out of hand. Mahomes was intercepted twice, including one in which Eagles defensive back Cooper De Jean returned 38 yards for a touchdown. A visibly frustrated Mahomes was sacked six times and hit 11 times by a relentless Eagles defense.

Eagles kicker Jake Elliott contributed field goals from 29, 48, 48 and 50 yards out.

With 46 years of coaching experience, including 39 in the NFL, Fangio has been a defensive coordinator for about half of those years.

He reflected on earning his first Super Bowl ring.

“It was very satisfying and a sense of accomplishment,” he said. “Many great coaches and players have never been to a Super Bowl, so to be a part of the winning team is a blessing.”

He talked about stopping the Chiefs running game.

“They didn’t have many running attempts,” he said. “They called some RPO’s that turned into passes. They only had one first down in the first half, so they didn’t have the normal amount of plays to get the running game going. But first and foremost, our guys did a good job playing the run against them.”

Fangio said the defensive scheme used to stop the passing game of Mahomes was “our pass rush and a mix of different coverages.”

Winning Super Bowl defense coach Vic Fangio is shown as one of the backfield players for the Dunmore Bucks in the 1970s (back row, second from left). Shown kneeling from left are teammates Tony Valvano, Mike Loretti, Ricky Caglia, Bob Mesko, and Bill Butler. Standing, same order: Frank Gianzanti, Vic Fangio, Joe Marrazzo, Corey Meade, and Bob Judge.

Earning the Super Bowl ring is something Fangio started thinking about when he entered the NFL in 1986.

“I never thought about it until reaching the NFL. Then you have to be good enough to qualify for the playoffs and advance. At that point it becomes more realistic. There are many great players and coaches who never make it to the Super Bowl, let alone win one.”

The 1976 Dunmore graduate both played and coached under Henzes. Fangio spoke of the influence Henzes had on him. “Coach Henzes passion for the game, along with his knowledge, is what first turned me on to football and the coaching side of it.”

Fangio last month was named NFL defensive coordinator of the year. “I wasn’t aware of that,” he said. “Awards are more special when it’s with a team that won the Super Bowl.”

Fangio praised Hurts, the Super Bowl MVP. “I thought Jalen played a great game in all the ways that make him a special player.,He had a good day throwing to multiple players. He ran the ball, he scrambled and ran. It was a vintage Jalen game.”

Former Dunmore councilman Paul Nardozzi is a former classmate of Fangio. “Knowing Vic all these years,” he said, “he probably is not basking in the glory he so rightfully deserves. He’s a master defensive strategist, and being from Dunmore, where he was a star defensive back in high school, makes all of us proud in Bucktown. We called him Hector years ago. So congratulations to Hector on his first Super Bowl ring.”

Former Dunmore councilman Joe Tomko praised Fangio. “Vic’s success is a combination of his vast knowledge of the game and the hard work he puts in on a daily basis. His work ethic is clearly a reflection of where he grew up and the coach he learned from.”

Former Dunmore Mayor Patrick “Nibs” Loughney, now a Dunmore councilman, is a close friend of Fangio. “I would like to congratulate Vic and the rest of the Eagles on a great Super Bowl win. Vic is very knowledgeable about the game and it really showed.

“I’m thrilled he got his first Super Bowl ring. He is so deserving of it. He is a great Dunmorean and friend.”

Athlete of the Month: Anthony Bonavoglia

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By Steve Svetovich

Dunmore senior Anthony Bonavoglia last month became the first swimmer in school history to reach 1,000 points.

Son of William and Christine Bonavoglia, Anthony reached the 1,000-point swimming milestone during a recent meet against Wallenpaupack.

“It was electric,” Anthony said. “It was a pretty good feeling being the first to do it.” Anthony is a four-year member of the Dunmore swimming team.

The stalwart swimmer’s older sister, Savannah Bonavoglia, now a sophomore at the University of Scranton, is a former member of the swimming team at Scranton Prep.

“I saw my sister swimming in high school, so I figured it would be a good idea for me to try it out at Dunmore. And it’s worked out.”

Anthony said he started swimming at age six, then did it competitively in middle school at Dunmore. He then decided to continue at the high school level.

Anthony said he works hard to be a good swimmer and takes extra swimming practices at the CYC in Wilkes-Barre. “Going there has helped me become a better swimmer.”

He is a two-time district medalist in the 100-fly. “It takes a lot of hard work and practice to excel at that,” he said. “You need to work on your technique. There are a lot of good swimmers in this area, so you need to keep working hard.”

Anthony has a 3.7 grade point average at Dunmore. His best academic subject is math.

He is also a two-year member of the Dunmore golf team and three-year member of Dunmore’s track and field team. He throws the discus on the track and field team.

Diane Pegula is Anthony’s swimming coach at Dunmore. “She tells me to work hard and be a good teammate. She tells me to make sure everyone is upbeat.”

Anthony said he learned a lot from his parents. “My parents tell me to be responsible. Go to practice and go to school and work hard.”

The standout swimmer talked about what it takes to excel at his favorite sport. “You need to work hard and really dedicate yourself to the practices.”

Anthony said he is not sure where he will attend college, but he knows he wants to continue swimming. “That will be a factor as to where I go,” he said. “I would like to study business in college and continue my swimming career.”

He likes listening to music in his spare time and would like to see Metallica in concert.

The multi-talented senior said he has enjoyed his four years at Dunmore High School.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “I have learned a lot from all of the different athletes here.”