TN gridders to be honored at 50th affair
The Schuylkill County Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will hold its 50th annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet on Sunday, April 3, at 5 p.m. at Pine View Acres, Mill Creek.
Carl Wittig of Tamaqua, Dominick Richards of Marian and John Owens of Panther Valley will represent TIMES NEWS Area schools at the affair.
Dominick Richards
Richards, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound tight end and defensive end, was a four-year starter and team captain for the Colts. He earned Lehighton Times News second-team all-star honors.
He is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and ranks in the top 10 percent of his class. He is also a Eucharistic Minister.
Dominick is the son of Ralph and Jeanette Richards, Jim Thorpe, and he will continue his academic and athletic careers at James Madison University.
Carl Wittig
Wittig, an offensive guard and nose guard, was a four-year member and three-year starter for the Blue Raiders. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder earned Anthracite Football League second-team honors. He was the recipient of the Thomas Butterworth Memorial Award.
Wittig is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish, English and Science National Honor Societies, and ranks sixth in his class. He is a Meals on Wheels and Cancer Society volunteer.
The son of Larry and Karen Wittig, Andreas, Carl has been accepted at the University of Pennsylvania.
John Owens
Owens, a 5-foot-6, 190-pound offensive and defensive tackle, was a four-year member and one-year starter for the Panthers. He received the Delrose Sportsmanship Award.
John is vice president of Student Council and a member of the National Honor Society. He ranks second in his class. Owens hosts The Panther Report, a school radio show aired on WLSH radio.
Other Schuylkill Scholar-Athletes include Matthew LaScala of Blue Mountain, Jordan Mroczka of Mahanoy Area, Austin Schultz of Minersville, Thomas Leganza of Nativity, Edward Pavalko of North Schuylkill, Adam Soltys of Pine Grove, Martin Melochick of Pottsville, Roy Bensinger of Schuylkill Haven, Adam Macker of Shenandoah Valley, John Slater of Tri-Valley and Todd Schorr of Williams Valley.
