W-b's Representative To Wvsa To Step Down After End Of Term

Blaum Not Seeking Re-election/ The State Representative From Wilkes-barre
Wants To Spend More Time With His Family.

By KURT KNAPEK kknapek@leader.net
 Tuesday, December 20, 2005 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B 





Wyoming Area football coach Paul Marranca says he knew Lou Falzone could be
a great football player. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He just couldn't get him to play for the Warriors. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I tried to get him to come out for years," Marranca said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Falzone, also a baseball and basketball player, finally joined the football
team two summers ago. On Monday, the 6-foot-5, 280-pound senior learned he was
voted to the first team as an offensive lineman on The Associated Press
Pennsylvania Class 3A all-state team selected by sports writers and
broadcasters. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I was very surprised," Falzone said. "I knew I was half decent, but this
was only my second year out. I worked pretty hard coming into this year. I
knew I was one of the top linemen on the team. I just wanted to do well and
help the team do well." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Falzone was one of three Wyoming Area players, and one of five from the
Wyoming Valley Conference, to earn a spot on the Class 3A all-state team. Matt
Rynkiewicz and Ryan McDonnell of Wyoming Area were voted to the second team
along with Crestwood's Derek Moore. Berwick's Tristan DiPippa was selected to
the first team. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I can't remember ever," Marranca said of having three players selected. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Falzone said he never played football growing up because he couldn't make
the weight requirements in mini football. But after a few soon-to-be teammates
and Marranca asked him to join the team in the summer of 2004, Falzone
couldn't resist. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "All of my buddies were pushing me to play," Falzone said. "Every year,
Coach came up to me and asked me to play, he never forced me to. He said I'd
help the team and if I worked hard I'd get a full ride (scholarship) someday.
I've grown to like it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Marranca said that Falzone's best is yet to come. In fact, Marranca said
that during the 2004 season, Falzone only started a handful of games because
of injury and "didn't know a lot about the game." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Falzone admitted, "I really needed to learn a lot." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now, NCAA Division I colleges such as Syracuse, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Temple
and Maine, are showing interest in Falzone. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "For a kid who has played only two years, he has made great strides,"
Marranca said. "He had an outstanding year. He has such an upside, people
don't realize how good he can be. He's going to make an outstanding college
lineman." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Falzone is unsure of what he'll do in college, admitting that his first
love is baseball. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's not that I don't love football, but baseball is my first love,"
Falzone said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Rynkiewicz was selected as a defensive lineman. The senior also played
tight end and led the WVC at the position with 24 receptions for 342 yards and
five touchdowns. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He was dominating in games, the Berwick game in particular," Marranca
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McDonnell was an all-purpose selection. The senior led the team in
interceptions. As a quarterback/running back, he led the Warriors with 941
yards and 10 TDs, caught eight passes for 124 yards and a score, and threw for
318 yards and 2 touchdowns. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He was probably the glue that held us together this year," Marranca said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 DiPippa was voted to the first team as a defensive lineman. The senior had
seven sacks and three fumble recoveries, despite playing injured most of the
season. As a quarterback, he threw for 288 yards and five touchdowns, and also
rushed for 332 yards and four TDs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Moore was chosen as a defensive back. He had six interceptions, returning
one for a touchdown. Moore also returned a punt and kickoff for a touchdown.
As a receiver, Moore caught 29 passes for 348 yards and a touchdown. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 West Allegheny senior Dorin Dickerson, a Pitt recruit, was selected the
Class 3A player of the year. Franklin Regional's Greg Botta was chosen as the
coach of the year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "For a kid who has played only two years, he has made great strides. He had
an outstanding year. He has such an upside, people don't realize how good he
can be. He's going to make an outstanding college lineman." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Paul Marranca Wyoming Area football coach on Lou Falzone &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
/credit&gt; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

3 Wvc Linemen Make All-state