Athlete of the Month: Kaci Kranson

Posted on April 2, 2025 by The Dunmorean

Former Holy Cross standout is Landmark and Region 5 player of year

By Steve Svetovich

Kaci Kranson is a former Times-Tribune Athlete of the Year and standout basketball and softball performer at Holy Cross High School.. Her accolades were lengthy in both sports.

President of her class with a 4.0 grade point average, Kaci surpassed over 1,500 points breaking the school record.

So what does she do for an encore?

She enrolls at the University of Scranton, where by her junior year she becomes a three-time First-Team All-Landmark Selection in basketball. Even more impressive this season, Kaci was named Landmark Conference Player of the Year and Region 5 Player of the Year.

But more important to Kaci, she helped lead the Lady Royals to a 29-2 record, including another Landmark Championship and trip to the Final 8 of the NCAA playoffs before a 81-77 loss to Wisconsin-Stout on Saturday, March 15.

A second-team All-American, Kaci scored 536 points this season. She averaged 17.3 points per game. She was named Landmark Athlete of the Week a half dozen times.

Daughter of Jill and Ryan Kranson, she is a criminal justice major at the University of Scranton with aspirations to become a police officer like her mom. A Dean’s List student, she has a 3.6 grade point average.

Hard working and humble, Kaci, 21, said it’s nice to receive awards but her goals are more team oriented.

“Sure, I was excited to receive the awards,” she said, “but it’s a reflection on the team. My team has been preparing hard for this season since September. We were very excited to get as far as we did, but it was expected. We did not want to settle for less. We were very excited to win the Landmark, but we wanted to get into the Final Four in the NCAA playoffs.

“This team worked hard from day one. It means everything to the whole team to go as far as we did.

“We made ourselves the best possible version of a team. In the back of our minds, we could win every game and go as far as possible. We took it game by game.

“We strived for this. We showed who we are.”

Kaci excelled at both softball and basketball at Holy Cross, so it was a tough decision regarding which sport she would play in college.

“I was blessed with two great high school coaches in Barry Fitzgerald and Joe Ross, so I was unsure what I wanted to do. Originally, I was going to,play softball. Then I had a chance to play basketball for former Dunmore coach Ben O’Brien. It became a no brainer for me.”

Always team-oriented, Kaci said she learned a lot from her parents over the years.

“They always tell me to live in the moment, have fun and enjoy each day. Always work hard for what you need to do. Nothing is ever handed to you. You need to work for it.”

Well-spoken and articulate, Kaci said she has learned so much from Coach O’Brien. “He is just a tremendous coach,” she said.

“He taught me about so many different aspects of the game, including the mental approach. He taught me about the confidence you need in order to,play this game. You always need to think you are going to make your next shot even if you miss a few.”

The standout forward-guard said she misses softball. “I do miss it,” she said. “I was fortunate to play travel ball and in high school for both softball and basketball. I was even more fortunate to have two great high school coaches. I keep in touch with both. Coach Ross came to a couple of my college games. Coach Fitzgerald is often there for my college games. I was blessed to have both of them.”

Kaci, always positive, talked about her future. “I want to get this team to the Final Four next year,” she said. “It’s going to be my last year playing a competitive sport. The Final Four is the main goal. I want to savor everything and win as much as possible in my senior year. It’s hard to believe my last year is coming up. I will cherish the moments.

“Time will tell if I play any more basketball after college. I want to focus on school and get into law enforcement. I want to become a police officer like my mom. She has been a great inspiration to me. I might want to eventually get into coaching, starting out as an assistant. I’ve been involved with sports my whole life.”

Kaci Kranson Leads Holy Cross into District Finals

Posted on March 2, 2022 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Holy Cross senior guard Kaci Kranson in her final home game scored 19 points to help the Lady Crusaders defeat Blue Ridge, 68-21, in the District 2 Class 2A semifinal Saturday, Feb. 26.

Kaci scored all of her 19 points in the first quarter before injuring her lower left leg after taking an outlet pass in the second quarter from Julia Getz. She took a jump step to avoid a Blue Ridge defender and hit the floor.

“The trainer said it is just a bruise and I will be fine,” the senior stalwart said.

Kaci said she will be more than ready to play in the District 2 Class 2A title game against Elk Lake at Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, March 4.

Holy Cross had a commanding 51-11 halftime lead in the win over Blue Ridge.

Getz added 10 points in the win.

Daughter of Jill and Ryan Kranson, Kaci scored her 1,500th career point early last month against Riverside at home.

“It was special because it came on a night Kylie Lavelle scored her 1,500th point for Riverside. She and I go way back playing in different travel leagues together. So that was kinda nice.”

Both Kaci and Kylie have added to their career totals and both now have over 1,800 career points.

Kaci earlier this season broke the all-time Holy Cross career scoring record.

Well-spoken and articulate, Kaci has a 3.9 academic average at Holy Cross. She was president of her junior class last year.

A four-year starter on the basketball team, she played tennis two years and will play softball for a fourth season at Holy Cross. She is a centerfielder

The senior student-athlete is a member of the National Honor Society.

Kaci was a Lackawanna League first-team all-star three years for basketball entering her senior season. She was also first-team All Regional and first team All-State for basketball as a junior.

She was named Athlete of the Year for 2020-21 as a junior.

The hard working and driven senior talked about what it takes to excel as a guard in high school basketball.

“You need to be able to look up the floor and know who to pass to,” she said. “You need to see the floor well.”

Kaci said she was not surprised with her team’s success over Blue Ridge. “The team just came out strong playing great offense and defense. We played our best basketball in the first quarter. It was the best quarter we ever had as a team.”

Kaci has been accepted to 16 colleges but has not made a decision on where she will attend next year. Her plan is to major in physical therapy. “That’s been my long standing plan,” she said. “I want to become a physical therapist.”

Polite and humble, Kaci said she learned a lot from her parents. “They tell me to work hard in life and have confidence. Nothing is ever handed to you.”

She said Holy Cross veteran basketball coach Barry Fitzgerald has been a strong influence.

“He taught me a lot about the game. He taught me to believe in myself and showed confidence in me.”

Kaci enjoys listening to music and would like to see Sean Mendez in concert.

She and her teammates have strong expectations. “We will go game by game and go after another district title. Then we will take a run at the state title.”

As she enters her final months at Holy Cross, she will savor the moments. “It is going to be so sad to leave,” she said. “These were the four best years of my life. I love my classmates, teachers, the coaches and the principal and staff. I love the school.”

Kaci Kranson of Holy Cross Named Female Athlete of Year

Posted on July 7, 2021 by The Dunmorean

Kaci Kranson, Times-Tribune female Athlete of the Year, poses with Brandon Reed who was named Male Athlete of the Year.

By Steve Svetovich

Kaci Kranson, a junior basketball and softball player at Holy Cross, was named female Athlete of the Year last month by the Times-Tribune.

Brandon Reed of Riverside was named male Athlete of the Year.

Both were honored last month at a dinner and ceremony at the Theater at North. A total of 35 student-athletes, who were chosen as Athlete of the Week and 23 athletes who were Times-Tribune Performers of the Year, were also honored.

It marked the 71st Times-Tribune and ESPN Radio Annual Athlete of the Week ceremony.

Kaci averaged 21.5 points per game for the Holy Cross Lady Crusaders basketball team. She has 1,225 career points at Holy Cross. She is closing in on the school record heading into her senior season.

She batted .485 with 12 homers, four doubles, three triples and 28 RBIs for the Holy Cross softball team.

“When I heard my name being recognized as female Athlete of the Year, well I was in complete shock,” Kaci said to The Dunmorean. “When they announced my name it was definitely one of the best moments in my life. It was very special having my two high school coaches support me. I am honored.”

Kaci’s softball coach at Holy Cross is Joe Ross. Her basketball coach is the veteran Barry Fitzgerald.

The hard working junior, who aspires to become a physical therapist, was a first-team, all-state selection for basketball this past season.

She was second in the Lackawanna League in homers to Maranda Runco of Mid Valley who had 19 this past year.

A point guard on the Holy Cross basketball team, Kaci had multiple 30-point plus games as she led her team to a District 2 basketball title and a close run at the state championship.

She helped lead the Holy Cross softball team to the District 2 Class 2A championship, a 2-1 loss to Elk Lake.

Not just a hard hitter on the softball diamond, Kaci also shows great athleticism, speed and range in the outfield catching every ball in sight.

She is considered a strong Division 1 college candidate for both basketball and softball.

Known for her character and team play, she has a strong knowledge of both sports.

Driven to success, Kaci also excels in the classroom and is currently spending her time working out with a cast due to a broken wrist she suffered making a dive in the outfield in the district title softball loss to Elk Lake.

She is driven to be the best despite a quiet demeanor and often deflecting credit to her teammates.

“This really is a great honor,” she said. “I had great support.”