On Sunday night, the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame held their 65th Annual Scholar-Athlete dinner at Northampton Community Center.
The dinner recognizes student athletes 34 high schools and six local colleges from the Poconos and Lehigh Valley region.
This year’s main speaker was former Bethlehem Catholic, Penn State and Los Angeles Rams stand out, Mike Guman. He was one of many former past “overall” Scholar Athletes in attendance last night.
The full list is below.
After his speech, the president of the Chapter, Tony Cocca announced the winners.
First up was the Mike Gurdineer Memorial “Coach Guut” Lineman of the Year Award. The winner of the Lineman Of the Year Award was Parkland’s Mason Marcks.
The Small School Scholar Athlete award went to Northwestern Lehigh’s Eli Zimmerman. Eli finished his career rushing for 3,469 yards and 50 touchdowns. He also had 328 yards receiving and 5,304 All Purpose yards. On special teams he had 978 punt return yards and 251 kick return yards. He set and/or tied several records at Tiger stadium. Eli has committed to Bloomsburg University.
– Single Season Rushing Yards (2656)
– Single Season TDs (38)
– Single Season Punt Return Td (6)
– Single Season Ints (10)
– Single Game Rushing (337)
– Single Game All Purpose (472)
– Career Int (19)
– Career Punt Return TDs (7)
The Big School Scholar Athlete award went to Emmaus’ Will Buck. Will, an EPA all-state kicker, helped lead the Hornets to a 10-3 record and to the District finals. As a punter, he averaged 42 yards (long 71), 38 net punt average and 10 punts inside the 20. As a kicker, he was 9 of 13 field goal attempts. Will has committed to Cornell.
Here is the list of high school and college athletes:
Sorted by School Name
Kyle Fleshman, Allentown Central Catholic
Gianni Goodrich, Bangor
Michael Onotato, Bethlehem Catholic
Braden Bartholomew, Catasauqua
Jack Herter, Dieruff
Zachary Dereskey Martinez, East Stroudsburg North
Nasir Blount, East Stroudsburg South
Hargun Jaswal, Easton Area
Will Buck, Emmaus
Christian Navarro, Executive Education Academy
Ryan Roeder, Freedom
Justin Yescavage, Jim Thorpe
Deven Armbruster, Lehighton
Cole Daignault, Liberty
Luke Schmidt, Nazareth Area
Billy Stuhldreher, Northampton
Reese Edward Lipsky, Northern Lehigh
Eli Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh
Antonino (Nino) Morici, Notre Dame GP
John Haubert, Palisades
Aidan Ortiz, Palmerton Area
Leo Doberman, Parkland
Michael Thomas, Pen Argyl
Benjamin Coury, Phillipsburg
Brady Cerrone, Pleasant Valley
Rocco DelGiudice, Pocono Mountain East
Robert Eannuzzi, Pocono Mountain West
Andrew Nemeh, Salisbury
Caleb Grim, Saucon Valley
Christopher Fritts, Southern Lehigh
Austin Herman, Stroudsburg
Brandon Bird, Whitehall
Da’Shaun Simpson, Wilson Area
Kemahni Wimberly, William Allen HS
John Siggins, East Stroudsburg University
Jalen Depose, Kutztown University
Dallas Holmes, Lafayette College
George Padezanin, Lehigh University
Jared Jenkins, Moravian University
Andrew Franklin, Muhlenberg College
Past “Overall” Scholar Athletes in Attendance at 2025 Banquet
Allentown Central Catholic High School
Andrew Guman 2001
Bethlehem Catholic High School
Mike Guman* 1976
Easton High School
Thomas Heilman* 1972
Scott Deschacaine* 1975
Liberty High School
Mrs. Tom Donchez 1970
Notre Dame GP High School
Anthony Ingraffea* 1965
Palmerton High School
Matthew Falcone 2009
Phillipsburg High School
Ken Greene 1983
Chris Troxell 1984
Ned Bolcar* 1985
Pocono Mountain High School
Ed Watto Jr. 1989
Saucon Valley High School
John Killar* 1991
Joseph Killar* 1996
Whitehall High School
Steve Gerencser* 1982
* Spouse in attendance.
