EXETER — Randy Spencer has been at the helm of the Wyoming Area football program and this season is shaping up to be one of the best over the last 12 seasons.
Since his playing days at Wyoming Area, Spencer eats, sleeps and thinks about Warrior football 12 months of the year — so much so that he puts that first and everything else, including himself, second.
Over the last year, Spencer was diagnosed with diabetes which led to a heart episode in July that required five bypasses, a procedure from which Spencer has been steadily recovering but is not yet at 100 percent.
In fact, since the season started, Spencer has been guiding the team from the press box instead of the sidelines.
The Warriors have had a great start to the 2019 season by downing Mid Valley in the opener and a huge victory over Scranton Prep in week two has opened the eyes of coaching staffs, sports writers and state rankers.
A fundraiser in Spencer’s behalf was held Sept. 1 at Four Seasons Golf Club to help defray medical costs.
“Family and friends and community members associated with the program and parents of the players really felt strongly about doing an event,” Spencer, 48, said of the fundraiser. “Initially, I wasn’t interested and I didn’t want anyone to be put out. But, with the overwhelming support from people that wanted to do something, I welcomed it.”
The party had live music, cheers from the Warrior cheerleading squad, raffles, including raffling of Warrior helmets, and plenty of food.
Wyoming Area football alumni Dr. Bill Prebola, along with former Penn State standout Mark Sickler drove from their Tunkhannock homes to support Spencer.
“I’m an ex-Wyoming Area guy and I found out that Coach Spencer had a little issue this summer so myself and Mark Sickler, another graduate, we came down from the hills of Tunkhannock to support our teammate and coach,” Prebola said. “And we’re happy to be here.”
Prebola and Sickler were not alone. An estimated 100 family, friends, ex-teammates, players and coaching staff members were on hand in support of Spencer.
Also attending in support of Spencer were Pittston Area Head Coach Nick Barbieri and members of his staff.
Ree Ree and Carl DeLuca, Tom Campenni, Lou “Bikes” Ciampi, members of the Warriors coaching staff and Tracy Roche put together the fundraiser in just a few short weeks.
“So many people and alumni were asking what could we do for Randy, so we chatted about what we were going to do and it took a couple of days to get everything in order and everything was completely donated,” Ree Ree DeLuca said.
“Randy Spencer has raised a lot of boys in this area; his whole staff has raised a thousand boys in this area,” DeLuca added. “They have been positive role models in their lives. He’s just a good guy; we wanted to take care of him and we wanted to let him know we are all there for him.”
“I’m so thankful and blessed to have people wanting to do something and to have that kind of feeling coming from people,” Spencer said. “I want to thank my friends and family and community supporters and football parents and everyone around the league. Such an outpouring of support… I’m very humbled.”
