Wayne-Pike Shrine Club to honor the late Ann Marie Simons at Friday night's big game

HONESDALE — On Friday night, the Wayne-Pike Shrine Club will host its 32nd annual high school football classic.

This year's Shrine Bowl will feature archrivals Honesdale and Wallenpaupack Area in a much-anticipated Week 3 Lackawanna Football Conference showdown.

The Hornets come into the game 2-0 for the first time since 2005 and riding a wave of momentum after blowing out Pocono Mountain East in Week 2.

“These boys are focused and excited,” said fifth year skipper Paul Russick. “They know what this game means to the community and to the Honesdale football program. They're locked in.”

Paupack will arrive on the scene with a 1-1 mark fresh off a solid win over East Stroudsburg North.

“The kids are definitely excited for this one,” said rookie head coach Matt Nawrocki. "It's a great game for a great cause. I'm hoping we can ignore all the outside noise, play well and execute the way I know we can.”

Opening kickoff is set for 7:10 p.m. at the Daniel J. O'Neill Sports Complex in Honesdale. The game will be broadcast live on Blue Ridge Cable Channel 13 starting at 7 p.m.

A fitting tribute to the late Ann Marie Simons

In addition to being a key early season test for both teams, Friday's contest will feature a tribute to the late Ann Marie Simons.

A 1984 graduate of Honesdale High School, Simons went on to earn her teaching credentials at East Stroudsburg University. She returned to Wayne County after graduation, embarking on a long and distinguished career in education.

Simons taught for more than two decades at the Wallenpaupack Area Middle School. She also dedicated many years to coaching basketball at the junior high level.

In 2015, Simons became the first female athletic director in Paupack history, a position in which she thrived for nearly a decade.

Sadly, Simons was diagnosed with brain cancer early this year and passed away on Saturday, March 30, at Ellen Memorial. She was 57 years old.

As a tribute to the legacy Simons built as a teacher, coach and administrator, Shrine Bowl XXXII is dedicated to her memory.

“In a world that desperately needs heroes, you only have to look as far as Ann Marie Simons to find one,” said longtime Shriner and event organizer Brian Wilken.

“Any time you needed help, all you had to do was ask Ann Marie and you'd get it … and then some. Ann Marie was a treasure to our community. She was kind, considerate and a genuine advocate for all student-athletes.”

Bob Simons is Paupack's legendary varsity golf coach, the all-time winningest skipper in PIAA history. He and Ann Marie were married for 31 years.

“Ann Marie would have loved this,” Simons said of his late wife being honored at the Shrine Bowl. “She was all about helping and mentoring kids her whole life.

“I'm very grateful to the Shriners for doing this. It's a great tribute to Ann Marie and a wonderful way to honor her legacy.”

Christine Gilhool Collins is Simons' sister. She's a big fan of the local Shrine Club and grateful that Ann Marie's memory will be honored Friday night.

“To the Shriners, both school districts and all of those who will attend the game: Thank you so much for your support and for remembering my sister in such a special way,” Collins said.

Decades-long gridiron series

Honesdale and Paupack have been archrivals on the football field since the early 1970s.

The Hornets held the upper hand in this series during the early years, piling up victories under the direction of Hall of Famer Allen “Butch” Keller.

However, Paupack has owned the series over the course of the last decade. With the recently retired Dr. Mark Watson at the helm, the Buckhorns won 9 of the last 10 and outscored the Red & Black by a cumulative total of 312-138.

It's a trend Honesdale senior quarterback Aiden Collins would very much like to see reversed.

“The last few years, we've been the ones watching the trophy handed to the other team,” Collins said. “That's definitely been motivation for us to work hard and get the job done Friday night.”

Last year's Shrine Bowl saw Western Wayne take home the traveling trophy after dealing the Hornets a 35-20 setback.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wayne-Pike Shrine Club to honor the late Ann Marie Simons at Friday night's big game