web1_TTL100515unitedway.jpg

United Way grant supports after school program in Wilkes-Barre

web1_TTL100615redsockhopt.jpg

The NEPA Red Hat Queen’s Council is hosting a 50’s Sock Hop

<p>LEHMAN TWP. &#8212; When the call came, there was no hesitation.</p><p>Lake-Lehman lineman Connor McGovern was going to San Antonio to play in the prestigious US Army All-American Bowl.</p><p>&#8220;About mid-June I got call from one of the representatives who said they had open spot for a center, and if I wanted it it was mine,&#8221; McGovern said. &#8220;So I took it then and there.&#8221;</p><p>McGovern was honored with his selection Monday afternoon during an assembly in the Lake-Lehman High School auditorium. He was also presented awards from State Senator Lisa Baker and Carol Sweeney, a staff member for State Representative Karen Boback.</p><p>The 16th annual US Army All-American Bowl will be played Jan. 9 at the Alamodome. Kickoff is 1 p.m. and the game will be televised live on NBC. Last year&#8217;s game drew over 35,o00 fans.</p><p>Among the former participants currently playing in the NFL include Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck, Kansas City running back Jamal Charles, Buffalo running back LeSean McCoy and Baltimore linebacker C.J. Mosley, who was the runner-up for the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great honor,&#8221; McGovern said about playing in a game that has featured so many future NFL players. &#8220;It&#8217;s a little bit hard to think about that.&#8221;</p><p>McGovern is the only player from Pennsylvania listed on the game&#8217;s roster. He&#8217;ll be the third Wyoming Valley Conference players to participate in the game, joining Williamsport running back Darrell Blackman (2003) and Wyoming Valley West defensive lineman Brian Mattes (2002).</p><p>Blackman went on to play at North Carolina State. Mattes played at Notre Dame. Both, though, headed back to high school after the All-American Bowl. McGovern, who was selected all-state as a junior, won&#8217;t be doing that.</p><p>McGovern has verbally committed to play at Penn State and he&#8217;ll be getting a jump on his college career. He leaves for San Antonio on either Jan. 1 or Jan. 2, will play in the game Jan. 9 and then head to Penn State for classes Jan. 11, bypassing the second half of his senior year in high school.</p><p>&#8220;I can get more work done down there and get introduced to the offense and all the schemes,&#8221; said McGovern, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds. &#8220;I&#8217;ll have a lot more time to pick up everything.&#8221;</p><p>The PIAA allows seniors to participate in two all-stars games during the school year. McGovern said he will only play in the All-American Bowl and will skip the annual UNICO All-Star Classic held locally on Thanksgiving weekend.</p><p>Lehman coach Jerry Gilsky was also invited to San Antonio where he&#8217;ll partake in the US Army Coaching Academy.</p><p>&#8220;Not too many coaches have this opportunity, especially locally,&#8221; Gilsky said. &#8220;To have a player like this, you want to absorb as much as you can in your coaching career. It really sticks to you, especially to your heart, because what he&#8217;s gone through to put himself in this position.</p><p>&#8220;Not just him, but everyone around him. You see the relationship between him and his father and family. You hope to have something like that, especially if you have a son.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_ConnorMcGovern.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lake-Lehman lineman Connor McGovern is presented his jersey for the US Army All-American Bowl by Staff Sgt. Michael Barbagallo (left) and Staff Sgt. Jon Bowman (right) during a ceremony at Lake-Lehman High School on Monday afternoon.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_ConnorMcGovern.jpg</photo0><caption0>Lake-Lehman lineman Connor McGovern is presented his jersey for the US Army All-American Bowl by Staff Sgt. Michael Barbagallo (left) and Staff Sgt. Jon Bowman (right) during a ceremony at Lake-Lehman High School on Monday afternoon.  </caption0><photoCredit0>John Erzar | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Gilsky-and-McGovern.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lake-Lehman football coach Jerry Gilsky and lineman Connor McGovern listen to a speaker at McGovern&#8217;s jersey presentation for the US All-American Bowl on Monday afternoon at Lake-Lehman High School.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Gilsky-and-McGovern.jpg</photo1><caption1>Lake-Lehman football coach Jerry Gilsky and lineman Connor McGovern listen to a speaker at McGovern&#8217;s jersey presentation for the US All-American Bowl on Monday afternoon at Lake-Lehman High School.  </caption1><photoCredit1>John Erzar | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Lake-Lehman lineman Connor McGovern honored for US Army All-American Bowl selection