The Mike Terry Awards &
Football Banquet
The 61st Annual Mike Terry Awards were presented as part of the Lions' Sponsored 104th Annual Mount Carmel Football Banquet on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the Brady Banquet Hall.
Since 1962, the Mount Carmel Lions Club has sponsored the celebrated Mike Terry Awards, which are given to the outstanding back and lineman of the regular season contest between the Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes and the Shamokin Area Indians. The award winners are chosen by a committee of Lions Club members based on the players' efforts during that game.
We congratulate both players on being awarded this prestigious
honor.
The 61st annual award recipients for the 2022 season are:
Xavier Diaz and Matt Scicchitano
(CLICK ON NAME FOR STATS COURTESY OF MAXPREPS)
From left: Terry Awards Chairman Lion Robert Lapinski, Xavier Diaz (Outstanding Back), Xavier's Mother, Yadi Diaz, MCA Head Coach John Darrah, Laurel & Dr. Mike Scicchitano accepting the Outstanding Lineman Award for their son, Matt Scicchitano
The awards are given in memory of the legendary Mount Carmel Tornado football coach Mike Terry, who tragically passed away moments after his team won the annual Thanksgiving Day game between Shamokin and Mount Carmel in 1961.
The 60th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 58th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 57th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 56th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 55th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 54th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 53rd Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 52nd Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 51st Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 50th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 49th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 48th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 47th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 46th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 45th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 44th Annual Mike Terry Awards
The 43th Annual Mike Terry Awards
A History of Winners
Mike Terry Award Winners
2021 - P. Feliciano, M. Kelly 2020 - Not awarded 2019 - S. Weidner, R. Witkoski 2018 - M. Hood, S. Weidner 2017 - J. Ayers, M. Hood 2016 - B. Anderson, J. Ayers 2015 -J. Ayers, M. Duran 2014 - G. Barwicki, D. Farronato 2013- J. Jones, Z. Wasilewski 2012 - V. Candelora, L. Klingerman 2011 - E. Joraskie, C. Shustack 2010 - C. Shustack, M. Stutzcavage 2009 - J. Pellowski, M. Sinopoli 2008 - T. Demko, M. Wasilewski 2007 - S. McCollum, J. Pellowski 2006 - J. Goins, J. Pachuski 2005 - J. Dowkus, D. Pellowski 2004 - D. Letcavage, A. Parkansky 2003 - D. Letcavage, T. Wargo 2002 - D. Letcavage, S. Matzura 2001 - S. Matzura, D. Shinskie 2000 - S. Matzura, J. Veach 1999 - J. Veach, V. Yasenchak 1998 - J. Parisella, N. Sebes 1997 - R. Leshinski, S. Sinkovich 1996 - J. Scicchitano, B. Veach 1995 - J. Costello, B. Veach 1994 - S. Sheptock, B. Veach 1993 - M. Higgins, S. Sheptock
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1992 - M. Kogut, J. Sinkovich 1991 - M. Kogut, J. Sinkovich 1990 - T. Kulick, J. Sinkovich 1989 - D. Fantini, T. Mazzatesta 1988 - T. Mazzatesta, M. Merlo 1987 - B. Kaminski, K. Shedleski 1986 - M. Ahrensfield, T. Glowatski 1985 - M. Ahrensfield, M. Ficca 1984 - M. Diminick, R. Varano 1983 - L. Guarna, J. Keating 1982 - L. Guarna, R. Varano 1981 - M. Kraynak, F. Sheptock 1980 - B. Kent, R. Zaleski 1979 - E. Diminick, G. Zimmerman 1978 - J. Corbaccio, G. Meredith 1977 - G. Kent, B. Zavarick 1976 - B. Bolick, C. Else 1975 - D. Chucoski, R. Savitski 1974 - J. Girolami, B. Williams 1973 - L. Cole, K. Diminick 1972 - J. Ahrensfield, J. Muolo 1971 - P. Pachutski, L. Zlocki 1970 - J. Halcovich, H. Hynoski 1969 - G. Diminick, M. Semicek 1968 - D. Lentini, R. Veach 1967 - J. Ambrose, J. Shirmer 1966 - J. Haffey, B. Hamernick 1965 - J. Buchinski, B. Wanzie 1964 - W. Altomire, J. Kovach 1963 - T. Beierschmitt, A. Zielinski 1962 - R. Grossman |
Outstanding Lineman Award Winners
(Defense/Offense)
2021 - D. Moser/M.Keer 2020 - Not awarded 2019 - C. Herb/L. Wills 2018 - Z. Artman/B. Anderson 2017 - C. Krakowski/H. Rees 2016 - Not awarded 2015 - Bartos/Duran 2014 - not awarded 2013 - J. Jones/B. Zosh 2012 - V. Candelora/S. Nicola 2011 - G. Matukaitis, E. Smerlick 2010-M. Stutzcavage/T. Karycki 2009-A. Abuomar/J. Amarose 2008-J. Goins/Z. Lutz 2007-B.Joraskie/D.Tomtishen 2006-L. McCracken/M. McCollum 2005 - J. Dowkus/J. Toolen 2004 - J. Boyer/S. Fracalossi 2003 - M. Mirarchi/J. Novack 2002 - N. Birster/N. Cuff
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The awards were named after Mount Carmel Coach Mike Terry who succumbed to a heart attack after the Thanksgiving day football game against Shamokin in 1961.
Legends of the Fall - Mike Terry
By Ken Culton
For The News-Item
"Most of us knew Mike Terry as Mr. Football. He established great fame for Mount Carmel as a town for football. Every coach whose team played against Mount Carmel had the greatest respect for him and his ball club. They would marvel in amazement at how he would manage to achieve such success, season after season, in turning out winning ball clubs for years. His position as head coach for Mount Carmel football teams was a tedious job, but he loved it and he really showed us that. He had to take a great deal of ridiculing by grandstand coaches and others. He would always take it in stride, thinking people had a right to their opinion. He was a man who was very thoughtful toward other people and he would do anything in his power to help his boys find places in life. Because he was such a great man, we shall never forget him."
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These are the words of Ron Grossman and Wayne Wrona, Mount Carmel High School class of 1963, written after their beloved coach's death in 1961.
The '61 Thanksgiving Day game between Mount Carmel and Shamokin had just ended. Mount Carmel came from behind to defeat the host team, 19-13, and Coach Terry was boarding the team bus to take his victory back home.
But Coach Terry would never make it onto the bus, suffering a fatal heart attack. Just like that, an already legendary coach was gone at the age of 52.
He may have died on that cold, crisp afternoon, but his memories will live on as long as Mount Carmel Area High School plays football.
Terry's football days started at Mount Carmel High School. He led his team to the 1927 state championship, scoring the touchdown and throwing for the extra point in beating Bellefonte, the Western Conference champs, 7-6. He was selected to the Big 33 team after that senior season.
After graduating in 1928, Terry enrolled to play football at the University Pittsburgh. Not wanting to be an interior lineman, he left Pittsburgh and went to play at Villanova. His decision to leave Pittsburgh for Villanova was a good one. He was a two-time All-American as an end.
Back then, they called it the All-America Board of Football. On the board at that time were several prominent names. Three of those names were Christy Walsh, Glenn Warner and Knute Rockne. To be selected by the likes of these men would have been quite an honor.
Immediately after graduating from Villanova in 1932, where he played baseball and participated in track as well, Terry took over the position of head football coach at Kulpmont High School. He coached at Kulpmont for 15 years before taking over the program at Mount Carmel in 1947.
At Kulpmont, he coached the legendary 1938 team that won the state championship, defeating Ferndale, 50-19. He compiled a 94-40-9 record for those 15 years.
In his 15-year tenure at Mount Carmel High School Terry won 102 games, lost 54, and tied 10, winning the Eastern Conference Championship in 1954.
Not only did coach Terry win football games, but he produced many great football players as well. And the list is long: Ed Kaminski, 1940, first-team All-State; Stan Maddish, '42, second-team All-State; Joe 'Jazz' Diminick, '44, honorable mention All-State; Clem Tromascewski, '45, first team all-state; Bernie Berkowski, '45, second team all-state. All of the aforementioned players were from Kulpmont.
And at Mount Carmel: Glen Adams, '48, second-team All-State; Bob Pollock, '52, first-team All-State and All-American; Tom Vershinski, '54, first team All-State and All-American; Dan Ficca, '56, two-time first team All-State and All-American; and Jim Darrup, '58, third team All-State.
But coach Terry didn't gain the respect of everyone he met because of his wins on the football field or the number of all-staters he coached. He won everyone's respect because of the man that he was.
In the era in which he played football he was considered a huge man, 6'2" tall, 200 pounds. But his kindness and heart were much, much bigger. "He was a mild, kind, soft-spoken man," said his wife, Binnie Terry. "Never was there an unkind word from him or even an unkind thought. That's why everyone respected him so much."
Jazz Diminick put it this way: "He was the epitome of coaches. We respected him so much that we would have run through a wall for him. When he coached, he didn't tell you what to do, he showed you what to do."
Diminick added, "Before I was to coach my first game at Coal Township, coach Terry called me on the phone to wish me luck. Here was my old coach, who I respected greatly, calling me to wish me luck. That's the kind of man he was."
The respect and admiration that players, coaches and fans had for coach Terry was most evident when he was laid to rest. Letters from representatives and senators were received at his home. Players, coaches and many fans, not just from Mount Carmel and Shamokin but from many schools and towns in the surrounding area, came to pay their respects.
So when the next Mount Carmel Area football player receives the Mike Terry Award, surely we will be reminded of the words of Ron Grossman and Wayne Wrona, and remember the man.
Mike Terry, a coal region legend.
Used by permission of the News-Item.