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OLYPHANT – There was a buzz of excitement in the air Tuesday as some of the top athletes in the Lackawanna Football Conference gathered for the league’s 17th annual media day.
The Regal Room catering hall again played host as players and coaches from all 20 teams convened for the event that signifies the official start of the new season.
Going forward, this tradition will be named in honor of the man who got it all started in 2010 — Stan Kucharski, the former head coach who, in addition to his storied career as a player and mentor, was instrumental in organizing the teams to promote the conference’s athletes and coaches.
“Stan was the president (of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association) in 2007,” Lackawanna Trail head coach Steve Jervis said in addressing those in attendance Tuesday. “It really brought up not only the District 2 representation but also, particularly, the Lackawanna Football Conference representation. In doing so, Joe Repshis (Abington Heights coach) has been heavily involved since 2010. He was the president in 2016 of the statewide coaches’ association. Through Joe, I was able to get involved and also serve as president in 2024, so we have great representation from District 2 and the LFC, and it all stems from coach Kucharski.
“He is the one, and it was his idea with all the things that he saw at the East-West games and the media and how the Big 33 handles stuff, and he started the media day here with the LFC. In doing so, it is only right to, from now on, call it the Lackawanna Football Conference Stan Kucharski Media Day.”
The longtime advocate of the area was overcome with emotion at the surprise announcement.
“I am a little overwhelmed,” Kucharski said in his remarks. “We didn’t want District 3, District 11, and District 4 to get all the goodies. We wanted to step up and get this group recognized and given an opportunity. To see this type of thing ahead of the season is great.”
A decorated athlete at Archbald High School, Kucharski also dominated as a multi-position player at Bloomsburg University, where he is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. He also had an outstanding career in semi-professional football and served as an assistant coach for the Scranton Eagles in the Empire Football League.
Kucharski coached high school football at Scranton Prep, Mid Valley and Wallenpaupack, earning 123 career wins in 29 years. One of his crowning achievements came when he guided Wallenpaupack to Suburban Conference championships in 1993, 1996, and 1997.
Kucharski became active in the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association, where he served as one of two representatives from District 2 and was president of the organization.
During his time, Kucharski dedicated himself to promoting athletes and coaches from District 2, and particularly from the Lackawanna Football Conference.
Newcomers
Four new head coaches were introduced at media day.
Jack Miles, a longtime defensive coordinator at Scranton and his alma mater, Dunmore, begins his first season at Scranton High School.
“I am really looking forward to this,” Miles said. “We had a lot of young kids who showed up throughout the summer for workouts and were devoted to the program. We have a lot of teaching to do. I am happy with my staff. The kids are showing up, which is very good.
In Division II, Riverside and Western Wayne also turned to assistant coaches to take over as head coaches.
Jimmy Tucker, a former standout receiver and assistant on former head coach Harry Armstrong’s staff, is the new head coach at Riverside.
“Everything has gone relatively smoothly,” Tucker said. “You are always going to have speed bumps along the way. A big advantage for me is that the kids have really bought into what I want to do and the way I want to shape the program.”
Dave Shimkosky, a defensive coordinator, is leading Western Wayne.
“I am seeing the amount of paperwork there is involved in being a head coach,” Shimkosky said. “I have coached for 19 years and never saw that side of it.
“What I am most excited about is having a chance to put my footprint on a program. I have had some tremendous mentors from whom I picked up things along the way, and I am excited for that. But most of all, I am excited about the kids. We played young kids last year, and I am excited to see how far they have come through the hard work they have put in this offseason.
Brett Stage is the new coach at Montrose, which is in its first season back as an LFC full-time member after competing as an independent for the last four seasons.
“Things are going well,” Stage said. “We have a good core group of kids coming in for workouts since February. The kids are learning a ton, and I am happy with their progress so far. I have a good group of coaches around me.”
Helmet unveiling
Each team brought helmets to media day.
Riverside debuted a new, but familiar look. After two seasons with a red wing decal, the program will return to its Viking wing, resembling an old Philadelphia Eagles wing.
It is red, outlined in blue, on the white helmet. In the past, Riverside had a red helmet with a white Viking wing, outlined in blue.
“It meant a lot to the community,” Tucker said. “I have been working on a history project on the program that includes the number of different helmets the program has had. This logo seems to be the one that stood out the longest. That style of wing has been around the program. We couldn’t go back to the red helmets, so we put a fresh take on an old tradition.
“The kids are liking it; I hope the community does as well.”
Continue reading...
The Regal Room catering hall again played host as players and coaches from all 20 teams convened for the event that signifies the official start of the new season.
Going forward, this tradition will be named in honor of the man who got it all started in 2010 — Stan Kucharski, the former head coach who, in addition to his storied career as a player and mentor, was instrumental in organizing the teams to promote the conference’s athletes and coaches.
“Stan was the president (of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association) in 2007,” Lackawanna Trail head coach Steve Jervis said in addressing those in attendance Tuesday. “It really brought up not only the District 2 representation but also, particularly, the Lackawanna Football Conference representation. In doing so, Joe Repshis (Abington Heights coach) has been heavily involved since 2010. He was the president in 2016 of the statewide coaches’ association. Through Joe, I was able to get involved and also serve as president in 2024, so we have great representation from District 2 and the LFC, and it all stems from coach Kucharski.
“He is the one, and it was his idea with all the things that he saw at the East-West games and the media and how the Big 33 handles stuff, and he started the media day here with the LFC. In doing so, it is only right to, from now on, call it the Lackawanna Football Conference Stan Kucharski Media Day.”
The longtime advocate of the area was overcome with emotion at the surprise announcement.
“I am a little overwhelmed,” Kucharski said in his remarks. “We didn’t want District 3, District 11, and District 4 to get all the goodies. We wanted to step up and get this group recognized and given an opportunity. To see this type of thing ahead of the season is great.”
A decorated athlete at Archbald High School, Kucharski also dominated as a multi-position player at Bloomsburg University, where he is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. He also had an outstanding career in semi-professional football and served as an assistant coach for the Scranton Eagles in the Empire Football League.
Kucharski coached high school football at Scranton Prep, Mid Valley and Wallenpaupack, earning 123 career wins in 29 years. One of his crowning achievements came when he guided Wallenpaupack to Suburban Conference championships in 1993, 1996, and 1997.
Kucharski became active in the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association, where he served as one of two representatives from District 2 and was president of the organization.
During his time, Kucharski dedicated himself to promoting athletes and coaches from District 2, and particularly from the Lackawanna Football Conference.
Newcomers
Four new head coaches were introduced at media day.
Jack Miles, a longtime defensive coordinator at Scranton and his alma mater, Dunmore, begins his first season at Scranton High School.
“I am really looking forward to this,” Miles said. “We had a lot of young kids who showed up throughout the summer for workouts and were devoted to the program. We have a lot of teaching to do. I am happy with my staff. The kids are showing up, which is very good.
In Division II, Riverside and Western Wayne also turned to assistant coaches to take over as head coaches.
Jimmy Tucker, a former standout receiver and assistant on former head coach Harry Armstrong’s staff, is the new head coach at Riverside.
“Everything has gone relatively smoothly,” Tucker said. “You are always going to have speed bumps along the way. A big advantage for me is that the kids have really bought into what I want to do and the way I want to shape the program.”
Dave Shimkosky, a defensive coordinator, is leading Western Wayne.
“I am seeing the amount of paperwork there is involved in being a head coach,” Shimkosky said. “I have coached for 19 years and never saw that side of it.
“What I am most excited about is having a chance to put my footprint on a program. I have had some tremendous mentors from whom I picked up things along the way, and I am excited for that. But most of all, I am excited about the kids. We played young kids last year, and I am excited to see how far they have come through the hard work they have put in this offseason.
Brett Stage is the new coach at Montrose, which is in its first season back as an LFC full-time member after competing as an independent for the last four seasons.
“Things are going well,” Stage said. “We have a good core group of kids coming in for workouts since February. The kids are learning a ton, and I am happy with their progress so far. I have a good group of coaches around me.”
Helmet unveiling
Each team brought helmets to media day.
Riverside debuted a new, but familiar look. After two seasons with a red wing decal, the program will return to its Viking wing, resembling an old Philadelphia Eagles wing.
It is red, outlined in blue, on the white helmet. In the past, Riverside had a red helmet with a white Viking wing, outlined in blue.
“It meant a lot to the community,” Tucker said. “I have been working on a history project on the program that includes the number of different helmets the program has had. This logo seems to be the one that stood out the longest. That style of wing has been around the program. We couldn’t go back to the red helmets, so we put a fresh take on an old tradition.
“The kids are liking it; I hope the community does as well.”
Continue reading...
