Tag Archives: Athlete of the Month

Defense is Name of Game for Dunmore Senior Joey Marzzacco

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By Steve Svetovich

Dunmore senior defensive end Joey Marzzacco takes pride in his game, but being a good teammate is his biggest asset.

“He’s just a great kid and a very good teammate,” said Dunmore head football coach Kevin McHale after the Bucks 17-8 win over Carbondale Area in a Lackawanna Football Conference Division III game at Dunmore’s Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday, Oct. 1.

The Bucks ran the ball 51 times using a ball control offense and tight defense to seal the win.

Son of Jennifer and Joe Marzzacco, Joey had eight tackles from his defensive end position. 

Dunmore’s scores came on a 20-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Thomas Bowen to Brayden Reuther, a one-yard touchdown sneak by Bowen and a 37-yard Max Hunt field goal. Hunt also kicked two extra points.

Nico Ruggerio, who also had an interception, led Dunmore with 67 yards on nine carries. Ruggerio rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries in Dunmore’s 34-0 win over Riverside Friday, September 24. 

Dunmore is now 3-2 (2-0 in Division III).

“We are really happy with these last few wins,” said Marzzacco. “We started the year rough, but things are coming together now. We are coming together as a team. We are starting to play teams our own size. We are feeling pretty good about ourselves right now.”

The senior defensive stalwart is a three-year member of Dunmore’s football team. He also has been a member of Dunmore’s track and field team for three years. He runs the 400 and throws the javelin.

The senior scholar-athlete has a 3.1 grade point average and is a member of TACT, the Art Club and the French Club.

His best subject is history and he is an aspiring teacher. “I would like to study Education in college and eventually become a high school history teacher and football coach,” he said.

An honor student at Dunmore, he is leaning towards studying Education at East Stroudsburg, Wilkes, or Bloomsburg Universities. 

Joey enjoys listening to music in his spare time and would like to see Kanye West in concert.

The hard-working senior talked about what it takes to excel at the defensive end position. 

“It takes a lot of hard work,” he said. “You need to have a big year in the weight room. You need to stay home. You need to know your assignments.”

He has learned a lot from coach McHale. “He teaches us to be a class act. Pick your teammates up. Don’t argue with officials.”

Joey said his parents teach him similar values.

“They tell me to always be respectful. They tell me to always give 100 percent no matter what you choose to do.”

Joey said he and his teammates are excited about the strides the team is making. “It feels like we are really playing together now. The defense is clicking and the offensive line is coming along very well.”

Joey said the team goal is to win its eighth consecutive district title and then go as far as possible towards a state championship.

He talked about his future goals. “I want to get a college degree and become a high school history teacher and coach football. I might play football in college. We will see.”

Team-oriented and humble, Joey said his dad has always been his biggest mentor. “My dad taught me all about football. He got me into it. He was a running back for Carbondale Area.”

Joey is enjoying his Dunmore experience. “I love it here at Dunmore High School,” he said. “Because of COVID, my last full year in school was my freshman year. I am glad to be back with my friends as a senior this year. I want to enjoy every minute of it.” 

Athlete of the Month: David Day

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By Steve Svetovich

David Day finished off his Dunmore High School career as class valedictorian.

So what does he do for an encore?

He gets picked as a Lackawanna League Tennis Coaches first-team all-star for Class 2A as a No. 1 singles player.

Well versed and well spoken, David played four sports at Dunmore. 

Besides being the No. 1 singles player on the tennis team, he was a wide receiver for the football team one year, participated in swimming for two years and goal keeper for the soccer team three years. He was a Lackawanna League Soccer Coaches first-team all-star as a goalkeeper in his junior year.

Son of Bobby and Karen Day, he credits his parents for the work ethic he learned. “My parents taught me the value of hard work. It is what drives you to do well in life and succeed.”

David is a driven young man who likes to keep busy. He was a member of the Spanish Club, Engineering Club, Earth Club and Service Club at Dunmore. He was Dunmore student body president and yearbook staff editor. He was president of the National Honor Society. The scholar-athlete finished with a 3.8 academic grade point average as class valedictorian.

David will study astrophysics at the University of Florida in the fall. 

He talked about what it takes to excel as a high school tennis performer. “You need determination,” he said. “You can’t get down on yourself. You need to be consistent. A lot of it is mental.”

He praised Dunmore tennis coach Chris Phillips, the Lackawanna League coach of the year. “Coach Phillips told us that with the right mind set, anyone can play tennis. With hard work and the right mind set, anyone can do what they want.”

David said he likes listening to rap music in his spare time. He would like to see rapper Notorious B.I.G. in concert.

He talked about his future goals. “I would eventually like to earn a Ph.D in astrophysics,” he said. “I want to get into independent research. Hopefully, I will have a family and live a very normal life.”

David said he may play recreational tennis or bowling at the University of Florida. 

A four-year member of the Dunmore Bucks tennis team, the intellectual athlete said he thoroughly enjoyed his experience at Dunmore High School. “Everyone at Dunmore is very caring and welcoming. Everyone at Dunmore wants to see you do your best and succeed. The teachers, coaches, students and administrators all want to see that. It’s a very caring atmosphere.” 

Athlete of the Month: Carly Wywoda

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By Steve Svetovich

Carly goes Yardy.

That was the case when Holy Cross junior shortstop Carly Wywoda came to bat in the bottom of the eighth of a 7-7 game against the Dunmore Lady Bucks. 

The junior stalwart fouled off the first two pitches and then slugged a deep walk off homer to left center to beat the rival Lady Bucks, 8-7, on Thursday, April 22, in a Lackawanna League Division III contest at a cold, windy Saint Anthony’s Playground, Dunmore. 

It was her second homer of the season. 

With two strikes on her, Carly said she was not looking to hit a homer but made good contact and the ball traveled. 

“I felt really happy to help my team out,” she said. “But I have to admit, it felt really good inside.”

Daughter of Georgann and Pete Wywoda, Carly at press time has three homers and is hitting a robust .520.

She has been a key member of the Holy Cross Lady Crusaders softball team since her freshman year when she hit .368 with five homers.

Carly, 17, has an impressive 3.89 academic average at Holy Cross. Her favorite subject is Spanish.

Carly said she would like to have a dual major in Education and Spanish in college and “definitely” wants to continue her softball career. Carly is unsure where she will attend college.

Joe Ross is her softball coach at Holy Cross. “He teaches me to always keep my head up and keep fighting. Never give up. Even when you make an error or an out, keep your head up.”

The slick fielding, hard hitting shortstop said her parents are a big influence. “My parents teach me to respect everything I have, including the game, people, coaches, teammates. They tell me to never give up on anything.”

Carly is a member of the Foreign Languages Club and Service Club at Holy Cross. She is a member of the National Honor Society. She is a huge fan of Kenny Chesney who she saw in concert and would like to see again.

At press time her team only had two losses. “We do not let up,” she said. “We just keep fighting.”

She talked about what it takes to be a good shortstop in high school softball. 

“You need to have a good attitude and show leadership. You can’t get down or hang your head after a missed play.”

She talked about her future goals. “I want to keep and maintain my academic strengths. I want to do well all around, both on and off the field and outside of school too. I want to learn about different cultures and never stop learning. I want to learn about all different people. I want to become a teacher and continue playing softball in college.” 

Soft spoken and articulate, Carly beamed when asked about her Holy Cross experience. “It has been absolutely amazing,” she said. “The faculty, staff and coaches always put the student first. They really care about the students and it shows. I love it here.”