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PLAINS TWP. — Dennis Karlheim would pace up and down the Meyers’ sidelines on a Friday night.
Wearing the Mohawk head-dress, the alum went to every player and tapped him on the shoulder pads.
“We’re going to win, buddy,” he said.
“Don’t hang your head buddy, we’re going to win,” he said to the next player.
Sunday night, the South Wilkes-Barre native was honored by the Meyers’ Quarterback Club as the Mohawks’ No. 1 Fan during the football team’s annual banquet held at the Woodlands Inn.
“It’s 40-plus years that Dennis has been involved,” said Tracey Hughes, president of the Quarterback Club. “Now is the time. Fortunately, we have people involved that said we had to do this as soon as possible. No one deserves this more than Dennis.”
No doubt, Karlheim exudes Meyers’ blue and gold.
He’s been a fixture on the sidelines since his graduation in 1976 where legendary head coach Mickey Gorham invited him to start attending summer practices.
Add it up, and Karlheim has spent more than four decades associated with the football program.
“Dennis can never be replaced. He was around when I was in school,” said current Meyers’ football head coach Jeff Labatch. “I remember him walking to practices with his backpack and football jacket on. He’s your biggest cheerleader. He knows the players. He knows the coaches. He’s fantastic. He means so much to everyone.”
Michael Horvath, a sophomore tight end/defensive end, has known Karlheim for as long as he could remember. He’ll never forget the words of encouragement when Meyers’ No.1 fan would pace the junior-high sidelines.
He also won’t forget the first time he met Karlheim, either.
“I remember him from the JCC camp when he was working in the cafeteria. The first time I went there, he greeted me with a hug. He didn’t know me, and we just started bonding. And when I left, he hugged me again,” Horvath said. “He always believed that Meyers would be on top. I think Dennis is finally going to feel that everyone notices him. Even when things don’t look good, you don’t have to worry because you are always going to have Dennis.”
Yet, it’s more than just sports. Karlheim was part of the Wilkes-Barre community.
He was often seen walking to Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium or around his neighborhood. He was a fixture in South Wilkes-Barre until he moved to Penn Lake with his brother, Michael, in 2015.
He went to church. He was invited to birthday parties and graduation ceremonies.
Or in Gene Maffei’s case, Karlheim gave the best man’s toast at his wedding.
“Our sons were seven and three at the wedding, and were the best men. But they couldn’t give the toast, so Dennis gave it,” said Maffei, a former quarterback and coach at Meyers. “When I think of Meyers’ football, which is going to be over soon, I think of coach Gorham and I think of Dennis. For him to get an actual award, I can’t explain it. I even get emotional over it.”
Ask anyone in the room Sunday night, and the sentiment echoed around the banquet hall.
It was an award that was long overdue, and something that needed to be done.
With school consolidation in the near future, and uncertainty with the sports programs, there was no time like the present to make sure Meyers’ top fan was honored.
Before the award was handed out Sunday, Horvath read a brief description of Karlheim.
“There hasn’t been one player, coach, water boy, cheerleader, band member, teacher, principal, student, athletic director, referee, doctor, trainer or parent that Dennis Karlheim hasn’t had an impact on over those years,” he read. “Dennis was, is and always will be E.L. Meyers High School’s No. 1 Mohawk.”
And no one in the room would disagree.
“He’s the most positive person I’ve ever met in my life,” Labatch said. “You can talk with him and it would brighten your day. There was always someone who believed in you, and believed in the program.”
