collegetournament

At the time of her death from leukemia at age 19, Carole Weil was a sophomore at Temple University, where she was stufying computer science on a full-athletic scholarship. She was the second female athlete from Northampton High to receive such a scholarship.

She graduated from Northampton in 1981, where she lettered in field hockey, softball and basketball for three years.

She was made co-captain of her field hockey team in 1981, and was a participant in the East Penn Conference (EPC) first team on offense in her 11th and 12th grade years.

She was captain of the basketball team in her senior year, and was named to the East Penn Conference (EPC) Division 1 all-start team. She was also selected to play in the LARC all-star game.

She was co-captain of the girls' softball team in 12th grade and a member of the AAA District XI Championship team in 1979. She was named to the EPC Division 1 all-start teams in 11th and 12th grades, and first-team all-conference in 12th grade.

In 1979, she played softball for the Patriot Queens, who finished second in the state, third inthe nation and won the Central Atlantic Regional championship. I 1981, she played for the Lehigh Valley Panthers, who finished second in state and regional competitions.

She was an honor student at Northampton High and on the Dean's List at Temple. In 1981, the Northampton Bsiness and Professional Women's Clum honored her as Girl of the Month.

"Speaking of Courage..." was written by Ed Stinner. Mr. Stinner formerly coach of Allen High School, coached Carole two years at the West End Youth Center, four years for the Patriot Queens and one year for the Lehigh Valley Panthers.

In the summer of 1974, I was working my second year as a playground instructor for the City of Allentown. It was a pleasant summer job - being outside, meeting many kids, and keping me involved with athletes. The year before, two girls had asked if they could play on the playground softball team. I figured, "Why not?" It turned out that they did an excelllent job.

That summer they brought a new friend, a big 12 year-old girl, Carole Weil. She rode her Huffy bike to the playground and asked if she could play softball. For the remainder of that summer, and the next two, she was a playground regular.

It was easy to see that, from the very first time Carole was involved in a game, she was a winner. The playgrounds were open at nights back then and usually I had a few friends stop by and play basketball against some of the old playground kids. What usually happened is Carole ended up as one of the players on the team. We'd let her stay outside and take jumpers, or play out front in a zone defense. Did she love it! She loved to play basketball and play against tougher competition.

Another aspect of Carole became more and more obvious those first few summers. Carole enjoyed life and took whatever she could get out of it. She was involved in water balloon battles, paddle tennis matches, volleyball games, picnics, and anything else she could get into. She truly enjoyed herself.

In '74, one of the girls asked me to coach a junior high basketball team for the summer City Leagues. Carole played and worked hard to help the team. I had some assistants, and they really enjoyed helping Carole. Carole played the first half of the year with two dislocated fingers, and then at the end of the year, she broke her index finger on her shooting hand. Do you know that she never missed time because of it?

That summer I was also fortunate to coach a youth softball team. Carole pitched when we needed a pitcher and caught if we needed a catcher. She wasn't the fastest girl on the team, but she was already a heads-up baserunner. If there was going to be a play at the plate, forget it!! Carole won and the catcher always seemed to come up minus the ball.

In 1976 Carole and some of the other young ladies went and played with the Patriot Queens. I went as part of the apckage deal. She played four years for the Queens - four excellent years. Her first year we competed in the 16-18 state tournament and finished second. This team was really a 'melting pot' of players from different areas and Carole fit in well. She was the type that never got involved in petty situations. She wanted to play. She had minor aches and some knee problems that summer, but never even hinted that it bothered her during a game.

That summer the team jelled and won the league (Eastern Pennsylvania) Regional A Tournament, and finished third in Nationals. Carole was such a big part of the success of that team. She played some third, but mainly she was an outfielder who carried a big stick. She startd using her size and strength to her advantage.

The next couple of years the team competed in the AA State Tournament and finished fourth both summers. During her last year with the Pates, Carole did have lump on her thigh for a long time. The doctors operated and found nothing. What a blow it was to her! She missed some games, time with family and friends, and, worst of all, they found nothing! She came back and played - in pain - for the reminder of the summer.

Over the years Carole made friends throughout the Lehigh Valley area. She had that big friendly smile that said hellow before she even spoke a word. She had a dynamic personality and would listen to people when they talked, ginuiniely concerned with what they had to say. Sometimes people were upset with her 'free spirit'. If someting seemed awkward or strange, Carole questioned why. By asking, I feel she was showing how much of an individual she was.

In December of 1981, I was sitting around deciding on Christmas gifts when Carols's mother called and told me how sick Carole was. All I could ask myself was "WHY?" How and why could someone like Carole get this disease?? Perodically that Spring I checked up on how things were going for her, making it a point not to bring up the leukemia too often. Carole was still thoroughly enjoying life and was trying not to be reminded about the disease.

The summer of 1982, Carole played with the Lehigh Valley Panthers and I coached the team. It was quite apparent that the summer heat, along with the chemotherapy treatments, was affecting her play. However, not once did she complain about any treatment she was receiving!

One early night game really strikes my mind. Carole was playing third and making faces once in awhile. She also started limping. She played the whole game, but, during the team meeting afterwards, one of her teammates told me that I'd better check on Carole. I found her sitting behind the dugout, crying and obviously in a lot of pain. Apologizing, I did the best I could to make her feel better. She couldn't walk and needed assistance to reach her car. Carole had a spinal tap that day.

Carole did other things that showed her tremendous desire and inspiration to her teammates. She played against the Patriot Diamonds after having a bone marrow test. After that game, Carole told me that because she wasn't in remission, she couldn't participate in states. She cried hard because she really wanted to play. Carole checked into the hospital for chemotherapy, was released the day before states, and played.

People who knew Carole are better for it. She was more than a great athlete. She was a warm and friendly person. Carole was an inspiration to me. I now think twice before griping about minor injuries and pain. Spritually, Carole is with me and many others, every day of our lives. Although others may talk about courage, Carole Weil was, and is, synonymous with courage.




				CAROLE WEIL STORY


	At the time of her death from leukemia at age 19, Carole Weil was a sophomore at Temple University, where she was stufying computer science on a full-athletic scholarship. She was the second female athlete from Northampton High to receive such a scholarship. She graduated from Northampton in 1981, where she lettered in field hockey, softball and basketball for three years. She was made co-captain of her field hockey team in 1981, and was a participant in the East Penn Conference (EPC) first team on offense in her 11th and 12th grade years. She was captain of the basketball team in her senior year, and was named to the East Penn Conference (EPC) Division 1 all-start team. She was also selected to play in the LARC all-star game. She was co-captain of the girls' softball team in 12th grade and a member of the AAA District XI Championship team in 1979. She was named to the EPC Division 1 all-start teams in 11th and 12th grades, and first-team all-conference in 12th grade. She was the leading hitter in her freshman year at Temple. In 1979, she played softball for the Patriot Queens, who finished second in the state, third inthe nation and won the Central Atlantic Regional championship. I 1981, she played for the Lehigh Valley Panthers, who finished second in state and regional competitions. She was an honor student at Northampton High and on the Dean's List at Temple. In 1981, the Northampton Bsiness and Professional Women's Clum honored her as Girl of the Month. "Speaking of Courage..." was written by Ed Stinner. Mr. Stinner formerly coach of Allen High School, coached Carole two years at the West End Youth Center, four years for the Patriot Queens and one year for the Lehigh Valley Panthers. Speaking of Courage... In the summer of 1974, I was working my second year as a playground instructor for the City of Allentown. It was a pleasant summer job - being outside, meeting many kids, and keping me involved with athletes. The year before, two girls had asked if they could play on the playground softball team. I figured, "Why not?" It turned out that they did an excelllent job. That summer they brought a new friend, a big 12 year-old girl, Carole Weil. She rode her Huffy bike to the playground and asked if she could play softball. For the remainder of that summer, and the next two, she was a playground regular. It was easy to see that, from the very first time Carole was involved in a game, she was a winner. The playgrounds were open at nights back then and usually I had a few friends stop by and play basketball against some of the old playground kids. What usually happened is Carole ended up as one of the players on the team. We'd let her stay outside and take jumpers, or play out front in a zone defense. Did she love it! She loved to play basketball and play against tougher competition. Another aspect of Carole became more and more obvious those first few summers. Carole enjoyed life and took whatever she could get out of it. She was involved in water balloon battles, paddle tennis matches, volleyball games, picnics, and anything else she could get into. She truly enjoyed herself. In '74, one of the girls asked me to coach a junior high basketball team for the summer City Leagues. Carole played and worked hard to help the team. I had some assistants, and they really enjoyed helping Carole. Carole played the first half of the year with two dislocated fingers, and then at the end of the year, she broke her index finger on her shooting hand. Do you know that she never missed time because of it? That summer I was also fortunate to coach a youth softball team. Carole pitched when we needed a pitcher and caught if we needed a catcher. She wasn't the fastest girl on the team, but she was already a heads-up baserunner. If there was going to be a play at the plate, forget it!! Carole won and the catcher always seemed to come up minus the ball. In 1976 Carole and some of the other young ladies went and played with the Patriot Queens. I went as part of the apckage deal. She played four years for the Queens - four excellent years. Her first year we competed in the 16-18 state tournament and finished second. This team was really a 'melting pot' of players from different areas and Carole fit in well. She was the type that never got involved in petty situations. She wanted to play. She had minor aches and some knee problems that summer, but never even hinted that it bothered her during a game. That summer the team jelled and won the league (Eastern Pennsylvania) Regional A Tournament, and finished third in Nationals. Carole was such a big part of the success of that team. She played some third, but mainly she was an outfielder who carried a big stick. She startd using her size and strength to her advantage. The next couple of years the team competed in the AA State Tournament and finished fourth both summers. During her last year with the Pates, Carole did have lump on her thigh for a long time. The doctors operated and found nothing. What a blow it was to her! She missed some games, time with family and friends, and, worst of all, they found nothing! She came back and played - in pain - for the reminder of the summer. Over the years Carole made friends throughout the Lehigh Valley area. She had that big friendly smile that said hellow before she even spoke a word. She had a dynamic personality and would listen to people when they talked, ginuiniely concerned with what they had to say. Sometimes people were upset with her 'free spirit'. If someting seemed awkward or strange, Carole questioned why. By asking, I feel she was showing how much of an individual she was. In December of 1981, I was sitting around deciding on Christmas gifts when Carols's mother called and told me how sick Carole was. All I could ask myself was "WHY?" How and why could someone like Carole get this disease?? Perodically that Spring I checked up on how things were going for her, making it a point not to bring up the leukemia too often. Carole was still thoroughly enjoying life and was trying not to be reminded about the disease. The summer of 1982, Carole played with the Lehigh Valley Panthers and I coached the team. It was quite apparent that the summer heat, along with the chemotherapy treatments, was affecting her play. However, not once did she complain about any treatment she was receiving! One early night game really strikes my mind. Carole was playing third and making faces once in awhile. She also started limping. She played the whole game, but, during the team meeting afterwards, one of her teammates told me that I'd better check on Carole. I found her sitting behind the dugout, crying and obviously in a lot of pain. Apologizing, I did the best I could to make her feel better. She couldn't walk and needed assistance to reach her car. Carole had a spinal tap that day. Carole did other things that showed her tremendous desire and inspiration to her teammates. She played against the Patriot Diamonds after having a bone marrow test. After that game, Carole told me that because she wasn't in remission, she couldn't participate in states. She cried hard because she really wanted to play. Carole checked into the hospital for chemotherapy, was released the day before states, and played. People who knew Carole are better for it. She was more than a great athlete. She was a warm and friendly person. Carole was an inspiration to me. I now think twice before griping about minor injuries and pain. Spritually, Carole is with me and many others, every day of our lives. Although others may talk about courage, Carole Weil was, and is, synonymous with courage.