North Schuylkill Dedicates Gymnasium to Hope and Cesari

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On Tuesday,  as part of "Meet the Spartans Night", the North Schuylkill School District Gymnasium was named in honor of two of it's past coaches.


The North Schuylkill High School's gymnasium, now known as the "Cesari-Hope Gymnasium" was named after two of it's greatest coaches.

Joseph Cesari was head coach of North Schuylkill Wrestling for 22 years when he retired after the 1988-89 season.  Over those 22 years, he amassed a record of 357-31-1, and never missed one practice.  He also led all three of his sons to become PIAA State Champs a total of 6 times.

Cesari led North Schuylkill to win 19 League, 8 District, 5 Regional, and 2 PIAA State Team Championships.  He was also named the Pennsylvania Coach of the Year 4 times, 8 times the District XI Coach of the Year, and the National Coach of the Year in 1983.

Cesari also coached the Ashland Black Diamonds for 2 years as well as 2 Years at Cuba High School, in Cuba, New York.

Lafay Hope coached the North Schuylkill Lady Spartans Basketball Team for 26 years (1971-1997).  Over those 26 years, Coach Hope led the team to 464 Wins, 10 League Titles, Five District 11 Championships and won the PIAA AAA State Championship in 1992.  His team competed in 8 Eastern PIAA  Finals and won 3 of them.  He was also named coach of the year in 1988 and 1992.

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