`wow!' Takes To The Ice Sunday Morning 
This Week, ``wow!'' Visits The Ice-a-rama Skating Rink In Wilkes-barre To 
Learn About Ice Skating. Read ``ice Skating -- From Axels To Zambonis'' By Dan 
Gutman To Learn More.

Anna Wichilla 
Feb. 6, 1996 
Anna Wichilla Of Dellwood Road, Edison, N.j., Formerly Of South Washington 
Street, Wilkes-barre, Died Tuesday Evening At The Rahway Hospital, Rahway, 
N.j.

By MANDY CASTELLINO; Times Leader Sports Correspondent
 Friday, February 09, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





The Wyoming Valley Conference girls swimming season has boiled down to a
battle between Wyoming Valley West and Bishop Hoban the previous 10 years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This season isn't any different. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hoban hosts Valley West at 4:30 p.m. today at the Wilkes-Barre CYC. Both
teams enter the meet undefeated. The winner will have sole possession of first
and is likely to win the league title. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Lady Spartans, who haven't lost a meet since 1989, have won 84
consecutive league meets, including six straight WVC titles. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hoban was the last team to defeat Valley West in a WVC meet, and that came
at the tail end of a stretch in which the Argents won four straight league
titles from 1986 to 1989. Hoban coach Mara Pawlenok said her team is anxious
to rise to the top again. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We've enjoyed a nice rivalry with Valley West for as long as I've been
coaching," said Pawlenok, who has coached high school swimming for 17 years,
the past 12 at Hoban. "It's Hoban's turn to excel for the next couple of
years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It has been a number of years since we have had a Wyoming Valley
Conference title and we'll be working hard to get it back." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hoban has already beaten Valley West this year, that coming at the Wyoming
Valley West Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 27. That setback has motivated the
Spartans, who are determined to repeat as league champs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The kids will have to swim tough," Valley West head coach Nina Wozniak
said. "The kids are excited and ready to swim." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ~~"The girls know what they have to do. Both teams have experience. Both
teams are on an even keel." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bishop Hoban does hold one key advantage, depth, and that would be evident
in a six-lane pool, in which scoring is 6-4-3-2-1 for individual events and
8-4-2 for relays. In fact, depth was a big factor in Hoban's victory at the
Valley West Invitational, which had a format similar to a district
championship meet with nine different teams competing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 However, the CYC is one of the area's two four-lane pools, and the scoring
is 4-3-1 for individual events and 6-3-1 for relays. Thus, the Argents will
have a home pool disadvantage . &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We are very deep and we would much rather be swimming in a six-lane pool,
because a lot of our best swimmers are on the bench," Pawlenok said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "However, we feel we have good enough strength to have strong swims to keep
us on top." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Regardless of who wins, both coaches feel the meet will bring the best out
of their swimmers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The teams are pretty evenly matched," Pawlenok said. "This is going to be
a dogfight. It will come down to who wants it more. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This will be swimming at its best. It's going to be very challenging and
very exciting. The kids are pumped. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Let the best team win." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

As Usual, It's Hoban, Wvw In Title Meet