Carbondale Chargers

Eight minutes. That’s all it took for Dunmore to flip the switch from contender to controller. 23 straight points, relentless defense, and an intense home gym watching the defending champs hit cruise control early.

The first annual Peace, Love and Inclusion Game was about more than basketball as Forest City and the Chargerettes met in a rivalry matchup centered on unity and support for special education. With a packed gym and strong community presence, the Lady Foresters set the tone early while the night highlighted how sports can bring people together for a greater purpose.

Leonard, a Class of 2026 senior, competes in Unified Bocce and Unified Track and Field, and his impact on the Carbondale Area athletic community goes far beyond the stat sheet. Last week, the school celebrated Leonard during a special senior day that perfectly captured who he is as an athlete and teammate. He began the day by singing the National Anthem, then took the court and helped lead his team in a tightly contested match against Mt. View. From start to finish, it was a moment that reflected his confidence, heart, and commitment to his team.

Mountain View and Carbondale Area turned a Unified Bocce match into a celebration of teamwork and inclusion. With SportzWire’s Jillian Loff capturing every moment, athletes and families cheered each roll and celebrated each others success. Mountain View earned the match win, while Carbondale Area honored senior Leonard DeMarco in a day filled with pride, encouragement, and community spirit.

Tuesday night at Carbondale Area Jr./Sr. High School was about more than baskets and buzzer-beaters. With green filling the gym and a powerful message at center court, basketball became the backdrop for something bigger, awareness, support, and community.

Mid Valley used a 19 to 9 second quarter and a combined 39 points from seniors Landon Pratt and junior forward Zack Buza to turn an early deficit into a 48 to 39 home win over Carbondale Area, improving to 2 and 1 behind late free throws and balanced guard play.

Carbondale’s annual “Salute to Service” game is more than football. Head coach Jeff Arthur and the Chargers honored veterans, first responders, and military families with a special Thursday night dinner that unveiled new jerseys and celebrated the deep ties between service and community.

The District 2 preseason coaches’ poll has arrived, and the message is clear: this isn’t one person’s opinion, it’s the collective voice of coaches across the region weighing in on who’s ready to bring the heat. Delaware Valley leads the Big School rankings, while Scranton Prep tops the Small Schools, both programs seen as steady systems built for long runs. Backed by the insight of those who know the game best, these rankings act like a finely tuned HVAC unit balanced, efficient, and powerful. Thanks to sponsor Kleinbauer Mechanical, family owned and operated, for reminding us that whether it’s football or HVAC, reliability and honest work always rise to the top.

Legacy Under the Lights: 91st Dream Game Media Day Unites Past and Future of NEPA Football VALLEY VIEW — The scent of summer grass and the echo of cleats on concrete set the stage under the bleachers of Valley View’s football stadium, where dozens of the region’s top high school football players gathered for the 91st Annual Dream Game Media Day. It was more than a press event. It was a reunion, a farewell, a coming-of-age story all in one. Hosted by longtime broadcaster Tony Sibila and Honesdale’s new head coach George Howanitz, Media Day was filled with stories from players on the cusp of adulthood and from coaches whose roots run deep in Northeastern Pennsylvania’s football soil. “It’s like a family reunion,” Howanitz said. “There’s history in every name on the roster.”

The rosters for the 91st Annual Dream Game have been released, featuring standout senior athletes from across the region. Representing the City team under head coach Jake Manetti (West Scranton) are top talents like Treyvon Dickey (Scranton Prep), Gabe Franek (Dunmore), and Drew Kiesendahl (Wallenpaupack). On the County side, head coach Mike Schuback (Old Forge) leads a loaded roster highlighted by Zach Cwalinski (Valley View), Richie Kostoff (Riverside), and Mason Avery (Honesdale). The game is scheduled for July 23 at John Henzes Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Carbondale Area came through in the clutch on Friday afternoon, securing a dramatic 5-4 walk-off win over Honesdale in eight innings in a back-and-forth battle.

Kayleigh Graham and Sienna Baker each went deep, but it was Forest City’s five-run second inning and steady effort from Adrianna Stokes that sealed a 9–5 win over Carbondale Area.

Forest City couldn’t climb out of a deep second-inning hole, falling 7–4 to Carbondale Area on Wednesday afternoon. A five-run outburst by Carbondale in the second inning created early separation, and despite a strong push late, Forest City came up short

“Limits exist only in the mind.” For Matt Marcinek, these aren’t just words—they’re a way of life. Born with cerebral palsy, Matt could’ve let the world define him by his condition. Instead, he forged a path no one saw coming. Through sweat, science, and sheer will, he became a respected grappling coach, a mental performance expert, and the founder of No Limits Grappling Academy—Scranton’s powerhouse of No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu. His journey isn’t just about martial arts. It’s about refusing to be boxed in. About transforming pain into purpose. About proving that greatness isn’t reserved for the lucky or the able-bodied—it’s earned by those who keep showing up, even when it’s hard. In every class he teaches, every student he guides, and every story of struggle he helps rewrite, Matt’s message rings loud and clear: You are not your limitations. You are your mindset.

Jules Galella continued her flawless start to the season, going 3-for-3 Thursday to improve to 6-for-6 overall as Holy Cross blanked Carbondale Area, 12-0. The Crusaders piled up 10 hits and stole six bases in the shutout win.