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NFL Flag Football At The Pocono Family YMCA
Photos by PSE
STROUDSBURG — The Pocono Family YMCA and the NFL have teamed up to bring kids the opportunity to experience the excitement of the NFL. With an emphasis on teamwork and participation, NFL Flag Football provides kids with non-contact, continuous action.
NFL Flag is the National Football League's premier youth football program. NFL FLAG is a community-based turnkey program that provides all youth the opportunity to play in an organized NFL non-contact football league. Registered teams are eligible to compete in the NFL Flag Regional Tournaments and winning teams from each age bracket are then invited to participate in the National Tournament of Champions at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL.
Launched in 1996, the FLAG Football program is designed to educate young people about football while emphasizing participation and sportsmanship. Players learn skills and lessons that help them succeed both on and off the field.
Games are played on Saturday mornings at Brodhead Creek Park in Stroud Township. YMCA trained volunteer coaches run the program. At this age the kids have to keep moving even while the game is going on, the kids on the sidelines are throwing passes.
YMCA Sports Director Brent Damboise said, “Everyone knows our philosophy and mission. It’s a good program, and the volunteers are fantastic.”
What was the most exciting aspect of the program? Damboise says, “The most exciting part of the program is seeing the children having fun, teaching them good sportsmanship and how to work together as a team!”
Angela Pope, whose two sons Naim and Jarrad play in the league, said, “There’s a lot of elderly people where we live, so there aren’t many kids their age. It’s an opportunity for my kids to play with other kids.
I’ve met new friends too. The coaches volunteer out of the kindest of their hearts.”
Naim, whose favorite player is Donovan McNabb said, “I play receiver and cornerback, I think I’m better on defense. I like making interception that go for a touchdown. The hardest thing in flag football is getting somebody’s flag. My Dad, Gregory, taught me everything I know.”
How does Naim avoid getting his flag picked? “I run forward and shake and bake.”
His brother, Jarrad, who is a running back for the Chargers, says, “The rules say you can’t slap a defensive player’s hand away, so you have to run fast and spin. My favorite food is Pizza, and my favorite NFL team is the N.Y. Giants.”
The YMCA helps builds strong kids with NFL Flag Football. For more information call 570-421-2525.
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West End Quarter Midget Racing Association
Relay for Life Racing for Jack Culbertson
Photos by Walter Harrell, Jr. & Vince Brown - http://photoartbywhjr.com
BRODHEADSVILLE—On Saturday, June 6, 2009 members of the West End Quarter Midget Racing Association gathered together in honor of Jack Culbertson, and at the end of the day donated $1000 to the ACS Relay for Life Walkathon.
Culbertson is a 6-year-old driver that was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in stage 4. He has always been a strong, very active boy, and his family and friends hope that with love and prayers and support, he is going to beat this.
With all of his friends and family at the track, Jack had a lot of energy, and had an amazing weekend. He met new friends at the track, was interviewed by a TV station, met ARCA driver Tom Hessert who drives the same car number - #1! His friend Brian was nice enough to let everyone sign his car for Jack; there were over 200 signatures on it. Jack was super excited and was smiling all day. Afterwards he went to Pleasant Valley High School to the Relay for Life and walked a lap, and Jack presented a check for $1000 from the West End Quarter Midgets to the Relay for Life.
For more information please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jackculbertson/.
In 1994, Bob Beers, Lonnie Haydt and Bruce George signed the original bylaws for the creation of the new West End Quarter Midget Racing Association. In the spring of 1995 the first Quarter Midgets made their tracks inside the West End Fairgrounds Arena.
Beers, Haydt, Bob Iudicello, Dave Seip, Todd Schaefer, and Ed Pensyl have been the cornerstones of the organization over the last 13 years contributing great effort and countless hours into the club to keep it strong and flourishing, not to mention all the officers and other unsung heroes in the Association.
As the Associations 14th season at the Fairgrounds, the WEQMRA invites drivers, parents and all race fans to experience the action and excitement created weekly by the Outlaw Stars of Tomorrow.
The club runs races most Saturday nights for boys and girls ages 5 to 16 years old at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert, PA. To recruit new members the club holds a Racecar Driving Experience each year in the spring.
Results Briggs Classes -- Beginner 3 HP Briggs: 1. Drew Wimmer, 2. Tommy Spencer, 3. Tyler Hopkins.
Jr. Stock 3 HP Briggs: 1. Matt Hopkins, 2. Colleen Kurylo, 3. Cory Henning. Stock 5 HP Briggs: 1. Alyssa Riker, 2. Will Butler, 3. Riley Moczulski. Modified GX160 and Briggs 5HP: 1. Sean Frey, 2. Travis Christman, 3. Aleia Geisler. World Formula1: Alyssa Young, 2. Brittany Erlsten 3. Sierra Weaver.
Results Honda Classes -- Jr. Novice Honda 120 Red Plate Beginner: 1. Jack Hanna, 2. Rebecca Kurylo 3. Sarah Price. Jr. Novice Honda 120 Red Plate: 1. Patrick Devine, 2. Jared Batkus-Bernd, 3. Mason Demeglio. Sr. Novice Honda 120 Blue Plate: 1. Hunter Demeglio, 2. Zachary Ciancia, 3. Thomas Suveg. Junior Honda 120 Blue Plate:1. Scott Henning, 2. Morgan Frantz, 3. Abbey Price. Sr. Honda 120 No Plate: 1. Gary Bozowski, 2. Billy Lasko, 3. Alessa Young. Sr. Honda Heavy 120 No Plate: 1. Logan Crout, 2. Blake Hindle, 3. Eddie Geiger. 160 Light: 1. Gary Bozowski, 2. Brittany Erlsten, 3. Jacob Reinsmith. 160 Heavy: 1. Sierra Weaver, 2. Alessa Young, 3. Jenna Weidner.
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