HS FOOTBALL: Hookey Reap awards go to Lakeland's Wormuth, Dippre

Jan. 15—Lakeland football had its most successful season in almost two decades and did so by dominating the line of scrimmage.

Two of the most physical players in the Lackawanna Football Conference led the Chiefs' offensive and defensive lines. Adam Wormuth had a strong season at left offensive tackle and Lacota Dippre overmatched opponents at defensive end, earning the annual Hookey Reap Awards as the most outstanding linemen in Lackawanna County.

Scranton Prep offensive guard Anthony Nicotera and Abington Heights defensive end Nico Bossi were the runners-up.

The awards are presented by the District 11 American Legion. The winners and runners-up will be honored Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Steiner American Legion Post 411 in Jessup said Bob Pollish, a member of the legion and chairman of the Hookey Reap committee.

Wormuth and Dippre give Lakeland 15 winners of the award, and it is the third time the program won both honors. Chris Borgna (offense) and Chris Bennett (defense) won in 2003, and CJ Dippre (offense) and Cross Douglas (defense) won in 2020.

"Any time you can get two NCAA Division I-caliber athletes and put them side by side in the run game and in the pass game, or on defense where Lacota played the edge and Adam anchored the middle, it makes for a successful season," Lakeland coach David Piwowarczyk said. "I am excited for these guys because they put the work in, and it's nice to see it pay off for them."

Wormuth and Dippre were named to The Times-Tribune All-Region teams and the Pennsylvania Football Writers' Class 2A All-State team after leading Lakeland to a 12-1 record, its first 10-0 regular season since 2004, and the LFC Division II and District 2 Class 2A championships.

In only his second season playing football, the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Wormuth stood out as an athletic pass protector and powerful run blocker. He helped the Chiefs by not allowing a sack for the second straight season. Lakeland averaged 384 total yards of offense per game and had 2,470 yards rushing in 2022. He recently received his first Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offer from Army.

Dippre, who is headed to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to play tight end, earned this season's Times-Tribune Defensive Player of the Year award. He had 61 tackles, including 22 for loss, 11 sacks, three interceptions — one of which was returned for a 75-yard touchdown — and two fumble recoveries. In his career, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound three-year starter had 148 total tackles, 49 for loss, and 20 1/2 sacks.

"I am extremely excited for both of them," Lakeland line coach Dom Esgro said. "They really pushed each other in practice because they were the only two I could matchup physically. They had a great work ethic. Obviously, this is great for Lacota to follow his brother, and for Adam, in only his second year of playing football, this is awesome."

Nicotera earned All-Region honors after leading Scranton Prep to the District 2 Class 3A championship. The Johns Hopkins commit helped the Cavaliers' LFC-best rushing attack, which had 3,004 yards in 13 games.

Bossi committed to Brown University and had 101 tackles, including 10 for loss, three sacks and five passes defended for Abington Heights.

HOOKEY REAP WINNERS

1957: Leonard Kresefski, Old Forge

1958: Leonard Kresefski, Old Forge

1959: Pete Kwolek, Blakely

1960: Marty Marino, Old Forge

1961: Lou Astolfi, Old Forge

1962: Lou Astolfi, Old Forge

1963: William Stetzar, West Scranton

1964: Jim Kane, Dunmore

1965: Gino Merli, Blakely

1966: Ernie Weston, Blakely

1967: Dan Toolan, Blakely

1968: Tom Wascura, Blakely

1969: Charlie Raymond, Dunmore

1970: John Cheplick, Valley View

1971: Charlie Scalamonti, Valley View

1972: O: Jim Walton, Valley View

D: Jim Moran, Valley View

1973: O: Henry Wylam, Old Forge

D: Lou Coviello, Dunmore

1974: O: Chris Matics, Scranton Prep

D: Chris Belardi, Central

1975: O: Ed Bugno,West Scranton

D: Mike Yaworski, Valley View

1976: O: Jim Giombetti, Valley View

D: Steve Hricenak, Abington Hts.

1977: O: Vince Tomasetti, Old Forge

D: Lou Armezzani, Valley View

1978: O: Darrell Frantz, Scranton Central

D: Bob Balkunas, Riverside

1979: O: Doug Davis, Abington Heights

D: Jim Simrell, Scranton Central

1980: O: Jack Miles, Dunmore

D: Pete Giombetti, Valley View

1981: O: Chris Clauss, Lakeland

D: Bob Charette, Scranton Tech

1982: O: Chris Clauss, Lakeland

D: Gary O'Grady, Scranton Prep

1983: O: Brock Edwards, North Pocono

D: Glen Pazzalia, Valley View

1984: O: Len Kresefski, Scranton Prep

D: Ernie Sebastianelli, Valley View

1985: O: Gary Murracco, Dunmore

D: Marc Spindler,West Scranton

1986: O: Rick Bray, Valley View

D: Marc Spindler,West Scranton

1987: O: Rick Bray, Valley View

D: Tom Prawdzik, Lakeland

1988: O: Dan Pidgeon, Lakeland

D: Tim Ruddy, Dunmore

1989: O: Tim Ruddy, Dunmore

D: Tim Ruddy, Dunmore

1990: O: Greg Murphy, Scranton Prep

D: Dave Rebar, Mid Valley

1991: O: Sean Whitelavich, North Pocono

D: Keith Olsommer, North Pocono

1992: O: Jason Sepkowski, North Pocono

D: Kelly Peters, Valley View

1993: O: Derek Forgione, Dunmore

D: Ron Walter, West Scranton

1994: O: Carmen LiBassi, Dunmore

D: Greg Caucci, Lakeland

1995: O: Ben Thomas, Riverside

D: Harry Kirias, Dunmore

1996: O: Dan Kozlowski, Valley View

D: P.J. Spano,West Scranton

1997: O: Kevin Johnson, North Pocono

D: Joe Kowalski, Riverside

1998: O: Kevin Manning, Abington Heights

D: Adam Smith, Abington Heights

1999: O: Joe Boniewicz, Dunmore

D: Bret Leavesley, Abington Heights

2000: O: Morris Jackson, Lackawanna Trail

D: Pat Carrube, Lakeland

2001: O: Morris Jackson, Lackawanna Trail

D: Mark Mushel, Lakeland

2002: O: Mike Boccella, Dunmore

D: Shoaib Tajak, Scranton

2003: O: Chris Borgna, Lakeland

D: Chris Bennett, Lakeland

2004: O: Keith Galinsky, Lakeland

D: Jesse Hinkley, Scranton

2005: O: Stephen Bennett, Lakeland

D: Frank Emmett, Abington Heights

2006: O: S. DePhillips, Abington Heights

O: Joe Lemoncelli, Lakeland

D: Hubie Graham,West Scranton

2007: O: Hubie Graham,West Scranton

D: Hubie Graham,West Scranton

2008: O: Eric Shrive,West Scranton

D: Tom Bennie, Riverside

2009: O: Sal Conaboy, Abington Hts.

D: Evan Craig, Abington Hts.

2010: O: Paul Gaughan, Dunmore

D: Morgan Craig, Abington Hts.

2011: O: Chris Cicilioni, Valley View

D: Mike Galantini, Valley View

2012: O: Mike Boland, Dunmore

D: Mike Boland, Dunmore

2013: O: Ryan Paulish, Old Forge

D: Noah Beh, Scranton Prep

2014: O: Dan Drewes, Dunmore

D: Tim Drewes, Dunmore

2015: O: Corey Christian, Scranton Prep

D: Thor Balavage, Scranton Prep

2016: O: Kyle Polishan, Scranton Prep

D: Nick Shoemaker, Dunmore

2017: O: Jerry Longo, Dunmore

D: Nick Shoemaker, Dunmore

2018: O: Brian Durkin, Valley View

D: Daniel Belardi, Scranton Prep

2019: O: John Shnipes, Valley View

D: Mark Dunckle, Lackawanna Trail

2020: O: CJ Dippre, Lakeland

D: Cross Douglas, Lakeland

2021: O: Tyler Swartz, Valley View

D: Josh Angelo, Mid Valley

2022: O: Adam Wormuth, Lakeland

D: Lacota Dippre, Lakeland

Contact the writer: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9125; @sportsTT on Twitter