Our Opinion: Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Department can clear the air by embracing best financial practices

web1_Lagoski-Action.jpg

College Corner: Elena Lagoski continues to dazzle at MSU

<p>PLYMOUTH &#8212; Historically, Wyoming Valley West has been one of the most prolific boys soccer programs in all of District 2.</p><p>The program had a little two-year lull about six years ago when it would qualify for the District 2 Class 3A Tournament, but had problems registering a victory.</p><p>Thanks to a group of successful players entering the program, the Spartans not only picked up postseason wins over the last four seasons, they improved each season culminating with their first district title since 2009 as seniors last November.</p><p>It&#8217;s no wonder the squad had a big bounce back because two of those players, Mike Bazadona and Hunnter Maxwell, made collegiate decisions on Tuesday afternoon at the high school that they will be continuing their academic and athletic careers in college.</p><p>Bazadona, who was an All-State player in 2015, will be playing for Division II Bloomsburg in the fall. Maxwell, who was All-State after the 2014 season, decided that he will be staying local and playing for Wilkes University.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad both of us are going to where we want to be and we&#8217;re excited,&#8221; Bazadona said. &#8220;College is going to be a great experience and we&#8217;ll see where it takes us from there.&#8221;</p><p>Wyoming Valley West wrapped up its best season 2009 in November with a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 (Class 3A) crown running away from the pack by six games ahead of second-place Hazleton Area. The Spartans also claimed their first district title thanks in part to Bazadona &#8212; who tallied 85 points consisting of 37 goals and 11 assists &#8212; and Maxwell who not only contributed eight goals and three assists on offense, but was part of a stingy defense that allowed just 12 goals all season until the first round of the PIAA Championships.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve always dreamed of having a signing day like this since I started playing with (Mike). It&#8217;s something that&#8217;s very special to me,&#8221; Maxwell said. &#8220;He&#8217;s happy for me and I&#8217;m happy for him. We&#8217;ve played together all four years playing soccer and I wouldn&#8217;t want it any other way. With Mike going to Bloom, I&#8217;m happy for him, and myself going to Wilkes.&#8221;</p><p>Bazadona, the son of Mike and Kim Bazadona, will major in business at Bloomsburg and, while his parents are glad they will get to see him play since he&#8217;s not going to be too far from home, Bazadona just knew the Huskies were the perfect fit.</p><p>&#8220;I feel like it was the best fit for me for athletics and academics wise,&#8221; Bazadona said. &#8220;I just like the school. It&#8217;s a nice campus.&#8221;</p><p>Maxwell, whose parents are Scott and Donna, chose the Colonels program not only because of the school&#8217;s notoriety for its strong pharmacy program, but also because it is pretty much right in his own backyard.</p><p>&#8220;To be there and play soccer at a local university is great,&#8221; Maxwell said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a pretty proud moment for me and my family.&#8221;</p><p>When the Spartans claimed their championships near the end of the 2015 calendar year, it was coach Charlie Whited&#8217;s first district title as head coach. Bazadona and Maxwell are also Whited&#8217;s first two players to continue their athletic careers at the next level.</p><p>&#8220;I think they&#8217;re both going to be outstanding players and they&#8217;re going to do a great job; their coaches are getting quality players and quality people,&#8221; Whited said. &#8220;I hope I can continue the success and get a few more guys to college. I hope they&#8217;re heading us in the right direction. We need somebody to lead, and they&#8217;re the first.&#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/2016/02/web1_PART_1455046709728_IMG_20160209_134452016.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West boys soccer All-State player Mike Bazadona officially committed to continue his athletic career at Bloomsburg University on Tuesday. Seated (from left): Kim Bazadona, mother; Mike Bazadona; Nick Bazadona, brother; Mike Bazadona, father. Standing: Sandy Mackay, athletic director; Charlie Whited, boys soccer coach; Dave Novrocki, principal; Chris Barnic, assistant principal. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_PART_1455046709728_IMG_20160209_134452016.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wyoming Valley West boys soccer All-State player Mike Bazadona officially committed to continue his athletic career at Bloomsburg University on Tuesday. Seated (from left): Kim Bazadona, mother; Mike Bazadona; Nick Bazadona, brother; Mike Bazadona, father. Standing: Sandy Mackay, athletic director; Charlie Whited, boys soccer coach; Dave Novrocki, principal; Chris Barnic, assistant principal. </caption0><photoCredit0>Dave Rosengrant | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_PART_1455046744445_IMG_20160209_133321014.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West boys soccer standout Hunnter Maxwell chose to continue his academic and athletic career at Wilkes University. Seated (from left): Donna Maxwell, mother with Rorry Maxwell, brother; Hunnter Maxwell; Hannah Maxwell, sister; Scott Maxwell, father. Standing: Sandy MacKay, athletic director; Charlie Whited, boys soccer coach; Dave Novrocki, principal; Chris Barnic, assistant principal. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_PART_1455046744445_IMG_20160209_133321014.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wyoming Valley West boys soccer standout Hunnter Maxwell chose to continue his academic and athletic career at Wilkes University. Seated (from left): Donna Maxwell, mother with Rorry Maxwell, brother; Hunnter Maxwell; Hannah Maxwell, sister; Scott Maxwell, father. Standing: Sandy MacKay, athletic director; Charlie Whited, boys soccer coach; Dave Novrocki, principal; Chris Barnic, assistant principal. </caption1><photoCredit1>Dave Rosengrant | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>All-State players Bazadona and Maxwell committ to play in college</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dave Rosengrant</p><p>drosengrant@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dave Rosengrant at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @tldrosengrant</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wyoming Valley West All-State boys soccer players choose colleges