8th Annual ECCHS Athletic Association Golf Outing a Success

On Saturday, July 7 the 8th Annual Elk County Catholic High School Athletic Association Golf Outing was held at the Leaning Pines Golf Course in St. Marys. The tournament saw 19 teams participate in the four-person scramble. Participants of the tournament included coaches, alumni, parents, supporters, and friends of the Elk County Catholic School System.

The intent behind the annual event is two-fold: it’s a chance for friends and supporters of ECC athletics to get together and have some fun, and it also acts as a fundraiser for the Athletic Association. The association is responsible for raising the necessary funds to support all the athletic programs at ECC, more than $120,000 each year. Sports available to students that attend ECCHS include baseball, basketball, cross country, tennis, football, golf, cheerleading, track and field, volleyball, soccer, and softball on the varsity, junior varsity, and junior high levels. Seventh and eighth-grade students who attend St. Marys Catholic Middle School and St. Leo Catholic School are also able to participate in select programs on the junior high level. In addition, ECCHS has cooperative programs in swimming and diving, gymnastics, and wrestling with St. Marys Area High School.

After all 18 holes were played, the team of Lindsey Straub, AJ Straub, Chris Krieg, and Lee Cunningham took low gross honors with a score of 59, while Blake Housler, Derek McCullough, Nate Higgins and Jimmy Higgins finished with a first place low net score of 57. The team of Jeff McAlee, Joe Gelsick, Dave Zawatski, and Brian Cyone took second low net honors with a 58. Coming in as the top alumni team was the team of Nate DaCanal, Gabe Kraus, Nate Dezanet, and Ryan Newton. Rounding out the circle of winners were four teams that successfully predicted their Honest John scores: Team 1 – Fran Levenduski, Mark Jacob, Dave Geci, and Dick Spence; Team 2 – Doug Straub, Wee J Fernan, Mike Buchheit, and Ken Vogt, Jr.; Team 3 – Devin Brock, Gerry Uberti, Pat Herzing, and Bill Roberts; Team 4 – Tricia Bauer, JoAnn Goodreau, Sandy Brock, and Jill Gregory.

Skill prizes went to Dr. Mary Reed DaCanal (women’s long putt, #8/#17); Tricia Bauer (women’s closest to the pin, #4/#13); Tony Azzato (men’s long drive, #6/#15); Mark Jacob (long putt, #9/#18); Derek McCullough (closest to the Crusader, #9/#18); Lenny Schreiber (long putt, #7/#16); and the 1975 Canoe Racing Team (closest to the pin, #5/#14).

Another notable event from this year’s tournament was a hole-in-one by Tony Gerg, Jr. on hole #11 (gold tees – 206 yards). He was golfing with team members Tony Gerg Sr., Mike Gerg, and Bob Ordiway.

The tournament committee acknowledges its donors for their generous contributions: Crescent Beer, Deprator’s Beverage, Dino’s Place, the ECCHS Alumni Association, the ECCSS Advancement Office, MERSEN USA St. Marys-PA Corp., St. Marys Beverage, and Straub Brewery, as well as the business sponsors and EITC donors who help support Elk County Catholic School System throughout the entire year. Another special shout out to Tricia Bauer, Sue Jansen, and Easton Straub for providing the delicious cookies for the lunch following the tournament.

The committee would also like to thank the three business team/hole sponsors that participated: Dr. Mary Reed DaCanal Optometry, Gerg Tool & Die, and Straub Insurance Agency.

The tournament committee appreciates all who participated in this year’s outing in support of Crusader athletics. Please consider joining us next year for the 9th Annual ECCHS Athletic Association Golf Outing on July 6, 2019!

Pictures:

First Place Low Gross: Lee Cunningham, Chris Krieg, Lindsey Straub, and AJ Straub

First Place Low Net: Jimmy Higgins, Blake Housler, and Derek McCullough (missing from photo is Nate Higgins)