By Tom Fox
MaxPreps.com
It's a win-win situation for Mike Brennan.
First, the former Mount Carmel Area head coach gets an opportunity to return home to Schuylkill County.
Secondly, he'll continue to do what he loves – coaching high school football.
Brennan, who led Mount Carmel Area to a District 4 Class AA championship in 2008, resigned his post Wednesday and accepted the head coaching spot at Blue Mountain High School in Orwigsburg.
The Pottsville Nativity graduate replaces former coach Chuck Kutz, an 11-year head man for BM with an 81-45 record.
In nine seasons at Mount Carmel, Brennan finished with an 84-26 mark.
"The last nine years, we accomplished a lot at Mount Carmel," Brennan told the Pottsville Republican and Herald. "When Chuck stepped down … with our growing family, it’s no longer an option to move out of the area. That made the job more appealing. I have a heavy heart leaving Mount Carmel. But times change; we all know that."
This is Brennan's second coaching stint in Schuylkill County.
He coached his alma mater, Nativity B.V.M., in 1998 and 1999 before heading to Mount Carmel.
The Red Tornadoes have had a number of successes under Brennan.
MCA won three district championships and also won two PIAA Class AA titles in 2000 and 2002.
In 2008, the Northumberland County team was 13-1 and advanced into the state AA quarterfinals. He was also named the district's coach of the year.
"We had a little bit of a down stretch, which every program goes through, and our ability to fight back the way we did this year, winning the district title, it almost came full circle," Brennan told the Pottsville newspaper. "I felt we got the program back where it needed to be.
"It was a great nine-year run. Mount Carmel has wonderful people, and it was a great experience. But it was time for a change for me. When a job like Blue Mountain opens up … certainly I truly felt that if there was sometime I was going to make a move, this was the opportunity."
There are now two openings in the Coal Region as Shamokin Area is still searching to replace its football coach as well.
West Scranton also needs a coach
One of the most successful programs recently in District 2 is also in need of a new coach as West Scranton's Michael DeAntona recently stepped down as leader of the Invader football program.
A head coach or assistant coach for the better part of 22 seasons, DeAntona cited the need to "take a step back and take a breather" for his sudden resignation.
He coached the Invaders for six years and compiled a .500 record.
Recently, the West Siders have been rolling. DeAntona won back-to-back district crowns and had a state quarterfinal appearance in 2007.
West Scranton has also produced several Division I recruits recently with Hubie Graham (Illinois), Matt McGloin (Penn State), Eric Shrive (Penn State) and Shawn Bodtmann (Nebraska).
"I’m very proud of what the program has been able to accomplish," DeAntona told the Scranton Times-Tribune. "We have had a lot of kids dedicate themselves to the program and we’ve had a great staff that was also extremely dedicated. We were able to win district titles and a league title and advance in the state playoffs."
Boys Basketball: Abington boys win showdown with Prep
In a battle of two of the top three squads in the Scranton Times-Tribune boys basketball poll, it was Abington Heights that was able to top Scranton Prep.
Ross Danzig, Eric Hardaway and Dan Smith accounted for more than 40 points and 25 boards as the Comets won, 63-57, in a key Lackawanna Division I contest.
"This is a very important win," Abington's Cory Spangenberg told the Scranton newspaper. "They are a great team that can beat you on any given day. I knew that we were going to have to make free throws at the end of the game."
Scranton Prep, facing a huge height disadvantage, couldn't contend on the boards and trailed 40-29 before rallying to within five points in the fourth quarter.
But Abington made free throws down the stretch and kept the 10-3 Cavaliers from mounting any type of comeback.
"We definitely responded in the fourth quarter," Scranton Prep coach Joe Ferguson told the Times-Tribune. "We didn’t have that sense of urgency in the first three quarters. I think Abington Heights is a very good team. I think this game will make us a better team."
Girls Basketball: Tri-Valley wins Schuylkill League battle
For years, Nativity's Golden Girls have been the class of girls basketball in the Schuylkill League.
Someone forgot to tell Tri-Valley's Aubrey Schwalm.
The Bulldog scored 14 points, 10 in the second half, as Tri-Valley knocked off Nativity, 35-29. It was only the Golden Girls' second loss of the season, while the Hegins school improved to 11-2.
The six-point win also secured a spot in the District 11playoffs for Tri-Valley.
"It was very important. This was a very big win for us," Schwalm told the Republican and Herald in Pottsville. "We're on the right track. It's Nativity. You always have to be up for these games."
Tri-Valley's defense was tough, forcing 25 turnovers and holding Nativity to a dismal 12-of-41 night shooting.
"You know coming out there, defensively, it's two teams going at each other with solid defense," Nativity head coach George Forney told the Pottsville paper. "We had way too many turnovers. We didn't shoot well."
Wrestling: Northampton rolls past rival
The Konkrete Kids of Northampton are still undefeated after cruising past a local rival.
The team won eight of the 14 bouts as Northampton cruised past Easton, 33-21,
Northampton, ranked in the top five nationally, is still undefeated and handed Easton its first dual loss of the year.
Trey Daubert (103), Jordan Glykas (125), Josh Yurasits (130), Austin Sommer (135), John Lambert (152), Jimmy Sheptock (160), Seth Csaszar (171) and Joe Piro (189) all got wins in their respective bouts.
Easton's wins came from Mike Fleck (112), Patrick Corpora (140), Mark Hartenstine (145), Chris Wilson (215) and Justin Grant (285).
Wrestling: Central Dauphin knocks off Cumberland Valley
In what could be a preview of the District 3 championship, the reigning PIAA Class AAA champ put on another spectacular performance
Central Dauphin picked up key victory in spotlight bouts, and earned a 30-22 victory at the Cumberland Valley Duals.
Central Dauphin, undefeated this season, won two huge matchups with state implications.
At 160, sophomore sensation Kenny Court defeated Cumberland’s Tristan Warner, 5-1, in a rematch from earlier this season.
At 152, Marshall Peppelman beat Bryce Busler for the fourth time in five meetings, all coming in a two-year period.
Cumberland Valley got a big win at 189 when Mike Evans decisioned Tony Dallago, 3-1.
"I love wrestling them," Cumberland Valley head coach Dave Heckard said to the Harrisburg Patriot. "I love looking over at their bench and seeing Swags [CD head coach Jeff Sweigard] all wound up and putting Courts in a headlock. I loved the way the fans were into it. I would have loved to win today, but our focus is the postseason. It's all practice for the end of the season."
Wrestling: Central Mountain wins Escape the Rock
For the second time this season, Central Mountain edged out Pennsylvania prep power Wyoming Seminary in a tournament.
The Wildcats had three individual champions, and won the annual Escape the Rock Tournament over the weekend at Council Rock South High School.
Twin standouts Andrew and Dylan Alton won individual championships, while junior 125-pounder Jordan Rich won as well. As a team, CM had 227.5 points, while Seminary was second with 216. Council Rock South, Phillipsburg (N.J.) and Paulsboro (N.J.) rounded out the top five.
Central Mountain, ranked No. 6 nationally, finished third at the Walsh Ironman, and won its own tournament, King of the Mountain.
Andrew Alton was awarded the Most Outstanding Wrestling with a 44-second pin of Absegami’s Shane Robinson in the final. Brother Dylan edged Middletown’s Bo Candelaria in the finals.
In a rematch of a Walsh Ironman match, Rich was able to reverse the decision and beat Seminary’s Simon Kitzis, 4-2.
Seminary had four champs in Dominick Maione (103), Kyle Johnson (112), Donald McNeal (189) and Michael McMullan (285).
Week’s Top Performers
* Wade West scored a game-high 20 points for Honesdale, but the Hornets lost to West Scranton, 54-36.
* Jeff Madrak netted 23 points as Elk Lake knocked off Blue Ridge.
* Rod Persun hit eight field goals and hit all seven free-throw attempts in a 23-point effort as Bishop Neumann beat rival South Williamsport, 75-41.
* Brantley Osbourne had 20 points to lead 9-2 Shikellamy past Montoursville 54-33. Osbourne also joined the 1,000-point club in the victory.
* Noah Martz dropped 24 points through the hoop Tuesday night, but his Central Columbia Bluejays lost to Lewisburg, 65-45.
* Tyler Erhard and Tyler Dressler each had big double-doubles on the same night, leading East Juniata past Belleville Mennonite, 61-56. Erhard had 20 points and 16 boards, while Dressler had 19 and 12.
* Curtis Klein had 24 points and 14 rebounds as Danville knocked off Mifflinburg. Entering Friday's game, Klein was two points away from netting his 1,000th.
* Mike Eckman racked up a game-high 22 points in Lake-Lehman's 54-50 victory over MMI Prep.
* Ryan Womack netted nine points in the third quarter, and 20 total for the game as Wilkes-Barre GAR cruised past Nanticoke 66-45.
* Peter Alexis hit the game-winning bucket with 11 seconds left, and tallied 22 points as Holy Redeemer beat Crestwood, 55-54. Crestwood's Adam Fazzini had 24 points in the loss.
* Sami Himlin scored 23 points as the Wyoming Valley West Lady Spartans walked past Crestwood at home, 71-36.
* Katarina Chapman became the 10th player in Lourdes Regional basketball history to go over the 1,000-point mark in a 57-33 victory over Weatherly.
Tom Fox is Sports Editor at The Lock Haven (Pa.) Express andcovers Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania for MaxPreps. He can be reached attfox@lockhaven.com
