Home → Sports ( August 17, 2022 )
Dave Lauriha
Through the years, as atypical Parkinson's Disease was taking its toll on Dave Lauriha's body and mind, a soccer ball landing at his feet often had a way of, at least briefly, taking him back in time.
The Rock Steady Boxing classes, an exercise program that has proved beneficial to many Parkinson's patients, included other athletic activities. When a soccer ball was part of the day's exercises, balance issues and other physical problems seemed to make their way into the background as instinct took over and Lauriha put on a little show for classmates with his wizardry in spinning and controlling the ball in various ways with his feet.
Lauriha, who died Aug. 9 at the age of 57, made his mark around northeastern Pennsylvania in soccer and other sports as an athlete, a volunteer and an award-winning reporter.
The 1983 Forest City graduate earned all-state recognition from the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association, a group that would also honor him in his professional career, for his starring role as high-scoring player with the Foresters.
Lauriha went to Geneva College on a soccer scholarship, then completed his education closer to home at the University of Scranton where he was also a member of the soccer team. While there, he got started in sports media through internships, eventually moving into a career of more than two decades as a sports writer at the Scranton Times-Tribune.
As a sports writer, Lauriha earned multiple honors, including two that recognized his role in promoting and helping with the growth of the Lackawanna Soccer League during its formative years.
Following Lauriha's 2009 departure from the Times-Tribune, his impact was noted by soccer coaches around the area and the state as a whole. LSL coaches honored him for "loyal and dedicated service to the sport of soccer in NE Pennsylvania" and the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association presented him with the Gerald Botdorf Service Award for long-standing and commended service to soccer both on and off the field.
Lauriha also received awards from the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, District 2 of the PIAA and the Minor League Football National Association during his sports writing career.
In later years, Lauriha remained involved as a sports reporter on a freelance basis and served as an International League official scorer for home games of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRaiders, the top farm team of the New York Yankees. He also served as a volunteer youth soccer and softball coach and youth softball league administrator.
Montrose and Blue Ridge won their openers Friday when boys' golf, the first Lackawanna League sport of the fall, got underway.
The Meteors ran their Lackawanna League winning streak to 16 matches with a 9-0 victory over Elk Lake while the Raiders shut out Old Forge, 9-0, in another Class 2A Division match.
Levi Smith and Alex Warriner secured their three points in the minimum five holes in the first foursome to lead Montrose's victory.
James Barbour, Andrew Kowalewski, Morgan Thomas, Noah Martin, Gehrig Dibble and Owen Martin combined for the Blue Ridge sweep.
The Bob Simons Classic girls golf tournament for Lackawanna League teams is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 22, beginning in the morning, at Elkview Country Club.
In girls' tennis, Montrose hosts North Pocono Monday, Aug. 22 in a Lackawanna League opener.
TOM ROBINSON writes a weekly local sports column for the Susquehanna County Transcript. He can be reached online at RobbyTR@aol.com or followed on Twitter at @tomjrobinson.