Fantaskey new head varsity boys basketball coach at Bucktail

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL, PA- When the 2023-24 Bucktail Bucks take the court this season, there will be a new head coach calling the shots. 1996 Bucktail graduate and former point guard Travis Fantaskey will be calling the shots.

Fantaskey was named in early October by Keystone Central School District as the new leader of the Bucks’ program. Fantaskey replaces interim head coach Mike Charcalla. Charcalla will remain on the new head coach’s staff and control the JV program. Devin Demarte and John Shearer will run the junior high Bucktail boys’ program.

Fantaskey served as JV coach for five seasons. Prior to that he coached at the junior high level and from 1993 to 1996 he would run point guard for the Bucks during the Tom Kerstetter era. Fellow teammate Jon Ogden also has gone on to become a head coach at District 9’s Austin Area.

Fantaskey is the third Bucktail boys’ program alum to move on to being a head coach with South Williamsport coach Joe Simon joining Fantaskey and Ogden.

Bucktail plays both Austin and South Williamsport this season.

“I plan to keep a tight chain on this team. There’s really a lot of talent returning.”  Said Fantaskey, “There’s some challenges ahead. This year’s team can do some good things.”

Bucktail did just that last season under Charcalla. Their late season rally would qualify them for yet another District 4 playoff appearance, a loss at eventual District Champions Sullivan County.

Fantaskey, who resides in Farwell and is a well-known Renovo area businessman has always been community driven with his volunteer work throughout the youth sports. He’s worked with youth softball and has spent numerous hours running clocks and scoreboards for youth basketball games.

The Bucks under their new coach will begin preseason drills in late November before they begin a brutal conference slate that includes the likes of Muncy, South Williamsport, St. John Neumann, Northwest and Montgomery.

New to the schedule will be 4A Milton, 2A Sayre and Curwensville out of District 9.