Late ‘Joltin’ Joe’ Jacono gets museum treatment
The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing in York Springs will honor the late ‘Joltin’ Joe’ Jacono at its spring open house, which begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 7.
Jacono, a native of Chester and a member of the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame, died at his Florida home in August 2017.
The Eastern Museum will have on display Jacono’s “Rolling Stoned” funny car, along with his helmet, fire suit, and other racing items. A block on the museum wall, which will have his name on it, will be unveiled.
Jacono began his dragracing career in the 1950s and became one of the best Top Fuel dragsters the Northeast, winning several regional and national titles.
In the early 1970s, Jacono switched to driving the Funny Car circuit. He was known as one of drag racing’s most-colorful drivers and a master showman. His spirited Funny Car rivalry with “Jungle Jim” Lieberman of Westtown remains a drag racing legend.
In the early 2000s, the “Rolling Stoned” car was restored, and its new owner asked Jacono to drive it. Even though he was in his mid-70s, he made a number of runs on the Nostalgia Drag Racing Circuit and was the subject of stories in national racing publications. in
Seven Delaware County high school ice hockey players helped the 18AA West Chester Quakers team to its second consecutive Tier 2 district championship last month.
With that title, the Quakers earned a place in the national championship tournament in Green Bay, Wisc.
Among the local players responsible for the Quakers’ success were Geoff Stokes of Bonner & Prendergast, Haverford High’s Johnny Scarduzio and John Gattone, Kevin Brown and Geno Romolini of Springfield, Interboro’s Jake Reifer and Ian Malarick of Marple Newtown.
Emily Mathewson, the 2016 Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year as a Garnet Valley senior, made another successful return to the area with Vanderbilt University.
As a freshman last year, she scored five goals — on five shots — and added three assists to help the Commodores to a 14-12 comeback victory at Villanova.
Last month, Mathewson tossed in four goals, including the game-winner in overtime, in an 11-10 decision at La Salle. Three days later, she scored four goals again, but Vanderbilt lost at Saint Joseph’s, 12-10.
Villanova traveled to Tennessee to take on the Commodores Saturday afternoon, and Mathewson helped Vandy to a 1511 victory by scoring four goals and adding one assist.
The 11th annual Haverford College Joe Schwartz ’83 Memorial 3K Run/ Walk will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 15.
Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female finishers in seven age groups. There also will be a mile walk and kids fun run. Following the race, a free barbecue as well as family games will be available.
Registration begins at 11 a.m. on race day. Additional information is available from race director Cory Walts at cwalts@ haverford.edu.
Schwartz was a member of the cross country and track teams during his four years at Haverford. He was an integral part in building a tradition of athletic excellence at the school.
In 1995, he contracted ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) at the age of 34 and passed away in March 2008.
Proceeds from the Joe Schwartz Memorial Run/ Walk go to the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia Chapter and will be directed toward research and patient services.
Two Delaware County natives were among those inducted into Archmere Academy’s Sports Hall of Fame recently.
Tom Manerchia (Class of 1961), who grew up in Parkside, and Pat McNamara (Class of 1981), a former Brookhaven resident, joined the hall’s Class of 2018.
Manerchia, who retired as a member of Archmere’s faculty in 1999, coached varsity soccer and tennis and founded an intramural ice hockey program at the school. He served as assistant athletic director and was the official timekeeper at basketball games.
“There were a lot of days when we could only get ice time in the morning before we came to school,” Manerchia said. “I really enjoyed working with the many great students I came into contact with.”
McNamara played for football teams that took part in three state championship games under the direction of coaches Bill Doyle, a former St. James High player, and Larry Cylc, a Chester native. As a senior, he became the team’s starting quarterback.
“Winning back-to-back state championships was something special,” said McNamara, who played CYO football and basketball at Our Lady of Charity School.
The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum on Iven Road in Radnor is closing in on the deadline for ads for the commemorative program for its June 2 dedication of a statue of Emlen Tunnell, the Radnor High graduate who saved two lives while serving with the Coast Guard during World War II.
The statue will be located outside the Radnor Township Municipal Building on Iven Road.
Anyone who would like to purchase an ad can visit www.emlentunnell.com or contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919.
The Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame’s awards dinner, which will take place Sunday, April 22, at Concordville Inn, is a sellout. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Hall has sold all available tickets to its dinner.
Among those joining the Hall of Fame are basketball players Clarence Armstrong, Bill Carr, and John O’Reilly; football players Tim Chambers, Dan Connor, and John Esher (deceased); multi-sport athletes Dave Kasarsky, Rachael Becker-DeCecco and Joe Piela; track and field athletes Bo Smart and Jim Tuppeny (deceased); lacrosse players Jenn Cook and Kerri Whitaker; Olympians R. Norris Williams (deceased), Daniel Barrow (deceased), and William Hermann (deceased); body builder Cynthia Anast; and soccer player Sinead Farrelly.
Anyone who would like to join the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame and be eligible to vote for candidates for the 2019 Hall induction can contact Patricia Mescanti at delcohalloffame@ gmail.com or call 610-7937931.
Membership dues $20 per year. are