Pittston Area Patriots

OLD FORGE — The Pittston Area girls basketball team surged past Wyoming Area, 52–28, on Saturday, December 27, at Old Forge to advance to the championship game of the Anthony D. Badger Marseco Memorial Tournament.

Pennsylvania high school football excellence has a long memory and once again, District 2 talent is etched into it. Six local standouts have earned Mini Maxwell recognition, placing them among the state’s elite and one step closer to football immortality.

District 2 was well represented on the 2025 Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class 5A All-State Team, led by Pittston Area athlete Lucas LoPresto and Abington Heights wide receiver Gavin Anders, both earning statewide recognition among Pennsylvania’s top large-school performers. The Class 5A honors were headlined by Roman Catholic quarterback Semaj Beals, who was named Player of the Year, while Rick Prete earned Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Cahillites through another championship-caliber season. The All-State roster highlights elite talent from across the Commonwealth, spanning every phase of the game.

Valley View set the tone early and never looked back, building a first quarter lead and cruising to a 60 to 40 home victory over Pittston Area. Cash Roe led all scorers with 18 points, while Michael Muto and Jagger Roe added 14 apiece as the Cougars used balanced scoring and efficient shooting to control the game from start to finish.

The state’s biggest stage brought out the best in District 2’s top girls cross country teams and runners. Abington Heights senior Anna Pucilowski blazed her way to an 18th-place state medal, while Crestwood’s Katie Kozich and Delaware Valley’s Grace Holderith followed close behind with top-25 finishes. Elk Lake’s young core impressed in “Single A,” finishing just 41 points out of first with standout sophomore Kendyl Weisgold earning a 9th-place medal. Montrose, Wallenpaupack, and Valley View added strong team efforts in a day that showcased the depth, talent, and future promise of girls distance running across Northeast Pennsylvania.

Wyoming Area overcomes early 15-0 hole with dominant second-half performance to close regular season 9-1.

Delaware Valley took care of business to finish with a .500 record and secure the No. 3 seed in the District 2 5A playoffs. Devin Estevez and Mike Iuzzolino both ran for two touchdowns, and Warriors Quarterback Colin McGarvey had one passing and one rushing touchdown.

Quiet confidence meets Friday night dominance. Pittston Area’s Lucas LoPresto might speak softly, but his game talks loud. In one record-shattering night, the junior wideout etched his name into school history - three times over - cementing his place among the Patriots’ greats. Whether it’s football, basketball, or track and field, LoPresto’s drive for excellence never lets up. A 3.9 GPA student and community volunteer, he’s proof that true leaders shine just as bright off the field as they do under the lights.

On a night overflowing with pride and purpose, Pittston Area’s Lucas LoPresto made history, breaking records for career receptions, touchdowns, and receiving yards as the Patriots captured their first Division 1 title in over 20 years. The Senior Night celebration at Charley Trippi Stadium was a true return to glory for Pittston football.

DALLAS TWP. — Pittston Area defeated Dallas for the first time since 2013, earning a dramatic 36-35 overtime victory on Friday night in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 play.

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.”

Abington broke open a close game with a six-run sixth inning and rode strong pitching from Evan Ross to defeat Pittston 13-3. Murphy Lyle delivered 3 RBIs, and the Abington announcer brought constant energy to every at-bat, fueling a dominant team effort at home.

Silvio Giardina closed out his decorated career at Pittston Area by being named The Citizens’ Voice Male Athlete of the Year, an honor earned through years of consistent excellence in both basketball and baseball.

A five-run fifth inning proved to be the difference as Palmyra used timely hitting and flawless defense to defeat Pittston 7–3 on Monday in playoff action.

In a tightly contested battle between two strong arms, Pittston’s Elijah Barr delivered a complete-game gem while his teammates made the most of limited opportunities to seal a 3-1 win over Abington Heights.