2nd Annual BPW Open an Unqualified Success!
The 2nd Annual BPW Benefit Golf Outing was held on Monday, June 28th at the Colonie Country Club. The event drew more players and sponsors than last year, and the weatherman cooperated with another beautiful day!
Pictures will be posted soon as will the finally tally once it is available. Thanks to everyone who supported this event this year.
Breakfast of Champions The Annual Awards Banquet was held on Sunday, December 6th at the Desmond in Albany and over 600 participants, parents and guests enjoyed a great breakfast and awesome awards presentation.
BPW President John "Tiger" Anastasi opened the ceremony thanking all the parents and participants for a great year, and recognizing the efforts of the many volunteers and board members who work year-round to sustain the organization.
Tiger also announced the on-going negotions with the School District to secure a long-term agreement establishing the Middle School as our official home field. While there is nothing in writing, things are progressing, and once this agreement is established, we will be able to begin making capital improvements to the field, starting with a perimeter fence. Our vision for future improvements include a snack stand, press box, bleachers and lights. This is the reason for the additional fundraising events, like the Annual Benefit Golf Outing.
Special recognition was given to several graduating Junior Coaches who earned $250 Pop Warner scholarships for their contributions and dedication to Bethlehem Pop Warner over the years.
The event also included the presentation of trophies to every football and cheer participant, with the traditional retrospective sideshow playing in the background. The coaches and players from two of our teams were honored for their post-season success, the Jr. Pee Wee A team were honored for winning their conference, and the Pee Wee team for reaching the Capital District Super Bowl. Our cheer squads were also recognized for their strong showings in the local and regional cheer competitions.
Also recognized were three board members who will be stepping down at the end of this year: Cheer Coordinator Laurie McCormick, Cheer Coordinator and former BPW President Maddy Gallucci, and former Treasurer Jimmy Giacone.
As always, the event wrapped up with the drawing for the annual raffle winners, which was video-taped earlier in the day from the Hamagrael shed. Congratulations to our four $500 winners (Rich Anguish, Mr. Fleisher, Jimmy Lewis & Marvin Hill), our two $1,000 winners (Pam Dutcher & Bridget Cooke) and Deb Barnes, who took home the Grand Prize of $2,000.
If you did not complete a Season Survey at the banquet, please either download the form and mail it in, or complete the survey online. Your feedback is critical to maintaining the quality of program and continued success of Bethlehem Pop Warner, so please take a minute and tell us what you think.
As pointed out countless times throughout the program, a successful season does not happen by accident, but by the energy, effort and enthusiasm of participants, board members, coaches, medics, commissioners, team parents, ball boys, water boys, mascots and many other volunteers.
Bethlehem Spirit The Pee Wee Super Bowl was a great display of Bethlehem pride and spirit, both on and off the field. The stands were filled, not only by the family and friends of our Pee Wee team, but by parents and players from all the other levels of Bethlehem Pop Warner.
And the Pee Wee cheerleading squad was there, delaying their trip to New Jersey for their Regional competition, to urge the boys on during the game. The fans were loud, and proud, and decked out in their best orange and black, even those who went bare back!
Before the game, Jr. Pee Wee "A" coaches Jones and Mendleson were presented with a trophy for their regular season first place finish in the the American Conference.
On the field, coach Manuel's team played their hearts out. The game was an evenly matched contest between two teams with their eyes on the same prize. So evenly matched in fact, that after 40 minutes of regulation, they played to a 12-12 tie.
In the first overtime, both defenses stepped up and kept the other team out of the end zone. During the second over time, Rotterdam scored on fourth down, and successfully converted the extra point to take a 19-12 lead. Bethlehem answered the bell putting the ball in the end zone two plays later, but came up a yard short on the conversion, making the final score 19-18 in favor of Rotterdam. While disappointed, the boys handled themselves with class and sportsmanship in defeat, and gave Coach Manuel the customary Gatorade dousing to thank him for his passion and leadership throughout the season.
After the game, the players and parents got together for a post season pizza party, where the coaches were given their appreciation gifts, and the team also recognized Team Parent Shannan Smith, Team Medics Penny Hayward and Kari Crisorio, and Spotter extrodinaire Lorna Plunkett.
Check out the pictures and videos from the game where you can also see and hear Coach Manuel's final remarks to the team.
Three Cheers for our Three Cheer Squads Congratulations to the Jr. PeeWee, PeeWee and Midget Bethlehem Pop Warner Cheer Squads which all placed in the Northeast Qualifier on Saturday, vaulting them all to the Easter Region Cheer and Dance Competitions on November 21 and 22 in Trenton, New Jersey. We're all so proud of you!
BC Gridiron Club Presents Football Injury Seminar - Tuesday, September 22 from 7:00-8:30pm at BCHS Room D207. Dr. Jay Dunkle a trained clinical neuro-psychologist, will be speaking to our football community about concussions and brain related injuries and symptoms. It should be extremely informative and helpful to coaches and parents as we do everything we can to ensure that our athletes are protected and healthy. All players, parents and coaches at all levels are invited.
Pep Rally Kicks Off Season - see pictures here!
When is the Schedule Coming Out? It's Out! Check out our Football page for the schedule for your team.
Pictures from Practice are available on our Pics-n-Vids page.
Team Splits - The Junior PeeWee and Mitey-Mite football teams are large enough for each to be split into A and B squads. The rules are very specific regarding this, and teams need to be split alphabetically so there are and equal number of players on each squad. The only exception to the alphabetic rule are the children of the head coach and assistant coaches. Some participants may be practicing with a new head coach starting this Monday, August 17th. Flag teams are not required to split alphabetically.
Coaches Clinic Presentation is now posted as a PDF on our Forms Page. This can be used as a refresher for anyone who has been through the class.
Next Coaches Clinic is Thursday, August 13th at 7:30pm at Bethlehem Town Hall. This is the FINAL training session for all coaches and commissioners, football and cheer.
Anaconda Sports will be at the field on August 12th from 5:30 to 7:00pm to purchase the bodysuit,briefs and sneakers. They accept cash or checks. We will be taking orders for the warm-up jackets the first week of practice. If you have any questions, contact cheer@bpwfootball.com
The Bethlehem Police Department contacted BPW today regarding complaints about parking during practices at Hamagrael School. Please only park on the School side of the street, and not on the opposite side. If complaints continue, the police may be forced to issue tickets or start towing illegally parked vehicles. Thank you for your cooperation with these parking regulations.
Cheer practices are from 6-8 Mon-Thurs. The girls should wear shorts (jean shorts are not allowed), t-shirt or tank and sneakers with their hair in a ponytail. Jewelry (including earrings) and nail polish should be removed prior to practice. Make sure to have them bring a water bottle.
CDPW Honors Little Scholars - On March 31st, Capital District Pop Warner honored its Little Scholars, including seven from Bethlehem Pop Warner. We are please to congratulate Kayla Oropallo, Emily Welter, Max Burman, Daniel Comber, G. Fitzhugh McDonough, Brett Murphy and Scott Roney.
Pictures from the Memorial Day Parade - Bethlehem Pop Warner Cheerleaders, Players and Parents joined the fun on Monday and represented BPW in the Memorial Day Parade for the first time in many years. Click to view the full photo gallery, including an appearance by the Bethlehem Eagle!
BPW Elects Five To Board Five new Board Members were elected at the February meeting. Please extend a warm welcome to Robin Austin, Dave Harvey, Michelle Kavanaugh, Scott Rogler and John Turoski. You can see a full roster of the BPW Board of Directors under the About BPW menu item above. (2/12/09)
[continued from Home Page]
