Raymond Yakavonis

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I began my sports career at Hanover High School playing football and track.  As a 16-year-old senior, I was younger than most of my teammates.  Upon graduation, I joined the US Army and the United States Military Academy Preparatory School with the hopes of gaining admission to West Point.  As starting offensive tackle, at 17, I was able to gain valuable experience playing against 4-year colleges.  I came out as the MVP of the” Little Army – Navy” game versus Navy Prep.   Here I first realized my potential.  After West Point Prep, I was assigned to a Hawk missile unit guarding the DMZ in South Korea.  Arriving in May 1975, one month after the fall of Saigon, the state of the military in this impoverished, Third World, war-torn country was nothing less than shocking.  With almost no athletic facilities, I had to become extremely creative inventing a training routine to prepare for a walk-on tryout at Syracuse University.  While my time at Syracuse did not work out, I learned that I was good enough to play at that level.

Coach Denny Douds of East Stroudsburg State College had been recruiting me since high school and had even stayed in touch with my parents as I served overseas.  Finally, the third time was the charm.  East Stroudsburg fit me perfectly.  Immediately, I noted that although an inch shorter or a step slower than D 1 players, and this was very good football.   Armed with the confidence I had gained over the past two years I decided that playing in the NFL might be a possibility for me as I had four years to work.

East Stroudsburg State gave me the opportunity to play tight end, defensive tackle and both defensive ends.  We had championship seasons, including the nation’s number one defense in 1978.  As an All-PSAC, All-East and All-American defensive end, I was honored to be the first player in East Stroudsburg history to be drafted to the NFL in 1980. I played for the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs for five years and retired after several severe injuries.

After football, I attained my master’s degree in education, taught high school English for three decades and coached at various levels.  Athletics has given me many things, these would be, great friends, the chance to achieve difficult challenges, to help develop players to become their best, and finally, to prove myself to myself.  Fifty years since Hanover, I have come full circle.  What a long, strange trip it’s been.