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Wednesday, January 21, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 2B 





Wilkes-Barre vies for '98 football finals &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 From staff and wire reports &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wilkes-Barre is among four sites in contention to be the host city for the &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's 1998 Football &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ChampionshipsThe finalist is expected to be announced by the PIAA on Jan.
31. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes-Barre Area School District submitted a proposal last month in
regards to hosting the state finals at Memorial Stadium. Others in the running
are Altoona's Mansion Park, HersheyPark Stadium and Pittsburgh's Three Rivers
Stadium. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Altoona has been the host to all four championships since 1992. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Coaches and administrators have praised Altoona's professional handling of
the two-day finals, which did not have a permanent home until moving to the
city's artificial turf stadium. From 1988 to 1992, the finals rotated among
various sites including Hershey, Middletown, Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In making its selection, the PIAA considers the following criteria:
location of the stadium relative to the geographic center of Pennsylvania,
on-site parking, quality and type of the stadium surface, stadium lighting,
seating capacity, size and quality of the pressbox, security, the number of
concession stands and restrooms, and the quality of locker rooms. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Despite Altoona's track record, the PIAA reportedly is leaning toward
moving the championships to the refurbished HersheyPark Stadium. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Several state legislators are lobbying to keep the finals in Altoona, a
factor that could prove important considering the legislature's sudden
interest in the PIAA. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hershey would be a more distant drive than Altoona for the western
championship teams, and its stadium has a grass surface. But Hershey's
location near two interstates and the Pennsylvania Turnpike make it more
easily accessible than hilly Altoona, where the weather in early December is
unpredictable. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fans and teams returning from the Class AAAA finals on Dec. 6, 1997, for
example, ran into a heavy snowstorm that forced many to inch their way home on
treacherous, unplowed highways. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In 1992, the state championships had to be postponed one week because of a
significant snowstorm that blanketed much of Pennsylvania. However, weather
has not been a deciding factor in any of the title games in Altoona. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * * * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WALLER OUT: Mount Pleasant senior Robbie Waller, the state's top-ranked
Class AAA 160-pound wrestler, might not return to the mat until next month
after being injured in an automobile accident. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Waller was riding in a sports car driven by former PIAA champion Brian
Burrows of Hempfield that struck another car Jan. 11 in Hempfield Township.
The accident claimed the life of 4-year-old Scott William Brewer, of
Greensburg, who was riding in the other vehicle. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Authorities said the impact of the crash caused the car driven by Londe Kay
Brewer to split in half. State police are continuing to investigate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Waller suffered a facial laceration and other injuries in the crash and may
not return to competition until the WPIAL (PIAA District 7) team tournament in
mid-February. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Waller is the son of Mount Pleasant coach Rob Waller. Only a week after the
crash, one of the elder Waller's best friends, former Brookville High
wrestling coach Lenny Ferraro, died of a heart attack. Rob Waller gave the
eulogy at Ferraro's funeral. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * * * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 THE STREAK STOPS: This has been a year of streak stoppers in Pennsylvania
high school basketball. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Not only did Simon Gratz's 107-game winning streak in the Philadelphia
Public League en

Wilkes-barre Vies For '98 Football Finals 
From Staff And Wire Reports 
Wilkes-barre Is Among Four Sites In Contention To Be The Host City For The 
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's 1998 Football 
Championships.

Wilkes-barre Vies For '98 Football Finals From Staff And Wire Reports Wilkes-barre Is Among Four Sites In Contention To Be The Host City For The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's 1998 Football Championships.