Lady Bucks Win 2020 Intraborough Girls Championship

Posted on March 4, 2020 by The Dunmorean

Intraborough Lady Bucks

The Intraborough Girls Basketball Championship Game between Dunmore and Holy Cross High Schools was recently held at Dunmore High School.

This year the Dunmore Girls defeated the Holy Cross Girls by a score 49-23 and finished the regular season with one loss.

The game sponsored by the Dunmore Lions Club to help defray the cost of their College Scholarship Program is now in its 39th year.

Pictured are members of the Dunmore Lady Bucks team with members of the Dunmore Lions Club. Kneeling from left: Alexis Chapman, Elisa Delfino, Adriana Pacewicz, Nora Haggerty, Katherine Hopkins, and Molly Zimmer.

Standing, same order: Assistant Coach Mike O’Malley, Lion Mike Colangelo, Lion Leo Wentline Jr., Alexis Santariero, Assistant Coach Carrie Toomey, Sophia Mandarano, Lion Jim Colangelo, Coach Ben O’Brien, President Jim Aita, Ciera Toomey, Mia Blume, Moriah Murray, Anna Talutto, Cadie Lewis, Lion Rich Green, and Lion Angelo Martarano.

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Intraborough Lady Crusaders

Pictured are members of the Lady Crusaders basketball team and members of the Dunmore Lions Club. Kneeling from left: Cate McGovern, Kaitlyn Farrell, Emily Ferguson, Meghan McDonnell, Kaci Kranson, Rachael Hosie, Carsyn Cole, Kaitlyn Idhaw, and Guiliana Mazza.

Standing, same order: Lions Rich Green, Jim Colangelo, Angelo Martarano, Bob McCormack, with team members Ellie Williams, Molly White, Abby Lentowski, Erin McGee, Lauren Hegedus, Ashley Capone, Coach Barry Fitzgerald, DLC President Jim Aita, Morgan Quinn, Samera Burrier, Krista Carachilo, Julia Goetz, Caitlyn Bestrycki, Sarah Lyons, Ryan Geoffroy, Katie Purcell , Lions Leo Wentline Jr. and Mike Colangelo.

Kaci Kranson Igniting Holy Cross Crusaders as Floor Leader

Posted on February 5, 2020 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Holy Cross Lady Crusaders sophomore point guard Kaci Kranson is a huge spark plug as the floor leader for coach Barry Fitzgerald.

Daughter of Jill and Ryan Kranson, Kaci, 16, helped coach Fitzgerald achieve his 599th career win scoring 24 points to lead No. 7 Holy Cross to a 69-39 win over Lakeland Thursday, January 30.

Kaci scored 12 points in the first quarter as the Lady Crusaders jumped to an 18-6 lead.

Abbey Lentowski scored 21 points and Emily Ferguson added 14 in the win which gave the Lady Crusaders a 12-6 record at press time.

Kaci leads Lackawanna League Division III in scoring average with 22.2 games per game at press time.

Modest in nature, Kaci downplayed her scoring average and instead focused on teammates when discussing the success of the Lady Crusaders.

“We are a young team because we lost a lot of starters from last year’s team,” she said. “But we are a young team with a lot of talent. We work hard at practice and play as a team. We are close unit, friends on and off the court. This team has a special bond. We are really stepping up and making it a great team.”

The sophomore stalwart also plays centerfield on the Holy Cross softball team. She was named to the Times-Tribune all-star team as a freshman for her softball exploits.

Well versed, Kaci is president of student council for her sophomore class. She is a member of the Biology Club, Service Club and Pro Life Club. She has a 3.6 academic average and her favorite subject is biology.

The scholar-athlete hopes to attend Bucknell University and study physical therapy. “I have an aunt who studied physical therapy. She likes it. I like helping people and think it would be a nice profession to do that. I also hope to play basketball in college.”

Kaci, who scored a season high 31 points in a win over Lakeland this year, talked about what it takes to be a good point guard in high school basketball.

“You need to have a high basketball IQ. You need to know where to pass the ball and when to get it inside. You need to set your teammates up for a shot. You need to be able to dribble under pressure while making a play.”

Well spoken and intelligent, Kaci said her has learned a lot from coach Fitzgerald and her parents.

“Coach Fitzgerald teaches me how to handle pressure, be calm and play your game,” she said. “My parents always teach me to work hard at all times. Push hard on the basketball court and on the softball field.”

Kaci said she enjoys listening to music in her spare time and would like to see Shawn Mendez, a pop artist, in concert.

She talked about her future goals. “I want to help my team continue to win games. I hope to earn a college scholarship for basketball. And I want to become a physical therapist and help people.”

Kaci said she loves going to school at Holy Cross.

“It’s been great. I love it here. It is like one big family. We are all friends here. We go to class and all know each other. It’s the best experience.”

Athlete of Month: Olivia Krupski

Posted on July 3, 2019 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Olivia Krupski was one of the leaders as the Holy Cross Lady Crusaders won a district softball title and advanced to the state semifinals, but now she is taking her star to Kings College in Wilkes Barre.

Olivia, a Times-Tribune all-star second baseman, batted close to .400 with five homers, 34 RBIs and a team leading nine doubles.

Daughter of Donna and Tim Krupski, Olivia, 18, graduated from Holy Cross High School at the end of May and will now hone her softball skills at Kings where she will major in biology.

She credits her late grandfather, Paul Krupski, former sports writer for the defunct Scrantonian Tribune, for getting her interested in sports. Her grandfather was a local basketball referee and baseball and softball umpire.

“He died when I was seven,” said Olivia. “But he and my dad were always talking about sports and got me interested. My grandfather is the primary reason I started playing sports. He got me into sports,”

Olivia played four years of both softball and soccer at Holy Cross. She was an all-star soccer player as a senior when she suffered a torn meniscus in the middle of the season.

She was a second team all-star in softball as a junior.

Olivia said she would like to use a biology degree to get into lab research or possibly eventually become a nurse anesthetist.

Holy Cross lost the state semi final game, 9-0, to Brandywine Heights after defeating Conwell Egan, 11-0, in the opening round at Arcadia.

Status-FastPitch-Game-Leather-Softball Holy Cross won its third straight District 2 title, 10-3, over Northwest Area, Thursday, May 30, at University of Scranton Magis Field.

Olivia hit a clutch sacrifice fly in a five-run first inning to start the game as star junior pitcher Jenna Bradley cruised with a complete game five-hitter, striking out 11 and walking none.

Holy Cross finished the season with an 18-6 record.

Olivia, who participated in the Field of Dreams softball game last month, had a 3.3 grade point average at Holy Cross. Her favorite subject is math.

“I loved my four years at Holy Cross,” she said. “It was honestly great. I came from a public school at Mid Valley, so I went from a very large school to a small school. Holy Cross is so loving and caring. We are all like family. There are no clicks. We are all friends with each other. Everyone knows you, but like a caring family.”

Olivia, well spoken and articulate, said her parents taught her a lot about composure. “They taught me about preparation and having a positive attitude. In the beginning during games, I would get hard on myself. They would tell me to pick myself up. I would look into the stands and they would give me a signal to pick it up. I could see them telling me to take it off and pick it up. That meant the world to me.”

Olivia, full of enthusiasm, said she attributes the success of the Holy Cross softball team this year to coach Joe Ross. “Coach Ross coached the seniors during our entire four years. He took over after XE McAndrew died, so my senior class was his first team. I remember like it was yesterday when he came in to talk to us. He wanted to carry on the softball tradition at Holy Cross in the memory of XE McAndrew.

Holy Cross Softball Team

“Coach Ross gives the best speeches. He is a great coach and is carrying on the XE McAndrew legacy. He is starting his own legacy in memory of XE McAndrew.”

Olivia loves listening to music in her spare time and is hoping to see Fleetwood Mac in concert soon. “I was supposed to see them recently, but it was postponed until the fall. I am supposed to go with my parents.”

Olivia looks to her future with great anticipation. “I will be playing softball and studying biology. It will not be easy studying a science in college, so I need to stay on top of things. I need to find the right balance between softball and my school work. I want to stay organized and stay on top of both. I have to balance my time well. I am looking forward to it all, but will certainly miss my great times at Holy Cross.”