Area erupts with pride as our local star shines

Ain't no party like a Super Bowl party.

Area restaurants and other gatherings provided plenty of opportunities for the local community to share in the appearance of Southern Columbia alum Henry Hynoski and his New York Giants' teammates in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

The Wayside Inn in Weigh Scales played host to a number of red-and-blue clad fans, while Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Elysburg, Hynoski's church, offered just as jubilant a place to watch the game as the Giants beat the Patriots 21-17.

Local fans even checked in from Indianapolis to give an account of the atmosphere surrounding the big game.

It's clear though, that wherever you were, fans were tuned in to Hyno in the Super Bowl.

'Pretty insane'

Dave Fegley, Southern Columbia grad and an assistant coach with the boys basketball team, went to Indianapolis with friends eager to experience part of the excitement surrounding Lucas Oil Stadium.

"It's pretty insane out here," Fegley said by phone from Indianapolis. "We were going to watch outside the stadium on the big screens they have, but it was just too crowded."

Fegley instead went to a nearby watering hole, but from walking around the stadium and Super Bowl village he estimated there were close to half a million people in the area for the game.

"We talked to a lady at the NFL Experience yesterday and she estimated that this will break a Super Bowl record for attendance," he said, and approximated that about 80 percent of the crowd was pulling for the Giants.

'I know him'

At the Wayside Inn, the number of fans was skewed significantly in favor of the Giants, although one fan was brave enough to wear a Tom Brady jersey.

"As long as the Giants aren't playing New England, I'm a Giants fan, but my family is originally from Massachusetts," Kim Leshock said, but added that she does hope Hynoski does well.

The rest of the crowd was decidedly partisan in favor of the Giants.

Liz Deptula and Krysten Varano came back home from Philadelphia to watch the game with friends Mary Frances Klebon and Kayla Hoffman at the Wayside.

All four graduated from Southern Columbia in the same class as Hynoski and Klebon and Hoffman both also went to the University of Pittsburgh at the same time.

All consider him a close friend, although none were Giants' fans before July.

"We're chicks and now we have something to root for," Deptula said. "It's a good feeling."

Like most of crowd, the girls were doing the Giants proud with jerseys and t-shirts with a name that's suddenly getting more recognizable - Hynoski.

"They're in shock when you tell people, and it's an even bigger deal because we're from such a small town," Varano said.

All four were also at the Wayside well in advance of the game and led the cheers when Hyno took the field and was shown around the world, jumping up and pumping his fist.

There were gasps of "I know him," and "This is so cool" from around the room as it began to sink in that the hoopla was over and the game was about to begin.

"I work for a housing complex at Bloomsburg University and I'm surprised because students knew who he was before this all even happened and they're from hours away.

"I didn't understand he was such a big deal to other people," Hoffman added.

All agreed that, "He's just Henry to us."

Tony Caprio and Barbara Bobkoski both came from Trenton to watch Hynoski.

"We had reservations and plans for other parties, but Barb suggested that come up to Henry's hometown," Caprio said.

There's a good reason the pair decided to make the drive instead of watch it closer to home - Barb and Kathy Hynoski, Henry's mother, are first cousins and she's excited to see one of her own in the game.

"I don't know a whole lot about football, but I like the Eagles because my daughter likes the Eagles," Bobkoski said. "But we're Giants tonight."

The biggest cheers came when Hynoski caught a 13-yard pass from Eli Manning for a first down in the first quarter.

On the television, Cris Collinsworth said, "He is a pretty good receiver."

Everyone here could have told you that, they knew who to watch.

'There you go, Henry!'

Just like at the Wayside, the 40 football fans gathered in the Knights of Columbus Hall at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church, Elysburg, to watch Hynoski play in the big game whooped and hollered when Hynoski caught the first of his two passes in the Super Bowl.

"There you go, Henry!!" Giants' fan Mike Gillespie said, clapping his hands. "That is great that he got a play in the Super Bowl and made a first down."

The gathering was brought together by the church's pastor, The Rev. Al Sceski.

"With this being Henry's home parish, many people, including myself, have been following this season, so we thought it was fitting to get together, have a great time and support him," Sceski said.

It marked the second year the church had this time of fellowship on Super Bowl Sunday, but with one of their own in the game, all eyes were glued on the LCD TV when he ran out onto the field during the team introductions, pumping his fist and jumping.

"I've been following the team all year," Gillespie, wearing his No. 45 Giants jersey, said. "It's great to see him get to this level."

The Giants fan was hoping for a Super Bowl win.

"I think that if we stick with the game plan that (head coach Tom) Coughlin laid out, and the defense can contain Brady, we can get the win," he said.

Perfect ending

If the pre-game madness was anything to write home about, the scene immediately following the Giants' victory in Indianapolis was unlike anything most people have ever experienced.

"I don't think I've ever seen anything like this," Fegley said following the game.

"People are hugging you like you're family, and I must have gotten 15 compliments on my Hank jersey."

One thing was for sure, this whirlwind year for Hynoski ended in a "Super" way.