{"id":87321,"date":"2021-11-05T09:48:26","date_gmt":"2021-11-05T13:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=87321"},"modified":"2021-11-06T10:15:31","modified_gmt":"2021-11-06T14:15:31","slug":"50-year-reunion-was-a-real-kick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2021\/11\/05\/50-year-reunion-was-a-real-kick\/","title":{"rendered":"50-year reunion was a real kick!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Members of the 1971 Newark Valley league championship football team reunited on Oct. 23 at the John George Football Stadium, home of the Cardinals.<\/p>\n

The Newark Valley High School Homecoming parade jumpstarted the day\u2019s activities, with the reunion team selected by the school to serve as Grand Marshal.<\/p>\n

Parade participants gathered at Trout Ponds Park for the 10 a.m. parade, which meandered around the streets of Newark Valley and concluded at the Middle School. Community members cheered and waved as the reunion team rode by on a celebratory hay wagon float.   <\/p>\n

The Homecoming game, a match-up between the hometown team versus Walton resulted in a significant victory for Newark Valley, 38-6, and pushed them further up in the division rankings. <\/p>\n

\"50-year<\/a>

Teammates from the 1971 Newark Valley league championship football team gather to be honored on Oct. 23, and during halftime at Newark Valley’s Homecoming game. (Photo courtesy of Joe Danvers)<\/p><\/div>\n

During halftime, the 1971 reunion team, which was then a part of the Susquenango League, was honored on the field and introduced by name. Of 29 teammates, six have since passed away, and 15 were able to attend the reunion. A couple of team members traveled from as far away as Arizona and South Carolina. <\/p>\n

At the conclusion of the game the teammates, including one former cheerleader, gathered on the bleachers for a group photo under the John George Field signage, and later met up for reunion activities which included watching converted game tapes from \u201cback-in-the-day\u201d on a large screen television.<\/p>\n

Teammate Mark Johnson shared, \u201cThere are a lot of great memories, and you feel as though it was the best years of your life.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\"50-year<\/a>

Pictured are players from the 1971 Newark Valley league championship football team. Those who attended the 50th reunion were placed in the same order for the Oct. 23 photo as in the 1971 photo. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

An \u201cIn Memory\u201d board was on display to honor deceased teammates, while a special prayer was held to remember them. <\/p>\n

One teammate remembered was Tom Zimmer. Jim Smithgall recalled that Zimmer was an excellent quarterback and good play caller, while Scott Miritello shared that Zimmer was \u201can amazing quarterback. He was the heart of the team with incredible leadership skills.\u201d He added, \u201cHe also owned a fiery spirit that was unparalleled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reunion team members interviewed mentioned that they have not seen many of their high school teammates since they graduated.<\/p>\n

Smithgall said, \u201cThe reunion was phenomenal,\u201d and Mark Monroe added, \u201cEveryone was glad to see each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"50-year<\/a>

Pictured is the banner honoring the 1971 Newark Valley league championship football team. The team was honored and served as Grand Marshal for the Oct. 23 Homecoming parade. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Miritello commented, \u201cIt was good to reconnect,\u201d and Gregrow shared that coordinating the reunion was a labor of love, while both said that seeing their teammates after five decades was indicative of \u201ca brotherhood\u201d and a bond that has endured.  <\/p>\n

Monroe and Smithgall recalled early school days when they attended Newark Valley football games with their families, and it was on those occasions where the seeds were planted about playing football.<\/p>\n

Smithgall remarked, \u201cFootball means a lot to this area, it\u2019s a tradition,\u201d and Gregrow added that several of the players are connected via family ties, and as a \u201csmall town team\u201d it makes those bonds feel even stronger. <\/p>\n

Reunion team members also cited how team camaraderie played into their success. Miritello explained that each player inspired each other, and collectively they worked to form a solid team. Smithgall and Johnson noted that a majority of the players were together as a freshman team and many through senior year, and as Johnson remembers, also going back to junior high football.<\/p>\n

A key element in the equation, too, was Coach John George. George retired from Newark Valley High School after more than 25 years as a teacher, coach and athletic director, and later achieved notoriety as a member of the Section IV Hall of Fame. Newark Valley\u2019s 1971 league championship was George\u2019s final championship team during his last year of coaching. The football stadium is named in his memory.<\/p>\n

George is remembered by the 1971 teammates as being a role model, someone who provided life lessons, and a coach who motivated his players to perform to their best abilities while also making them feel that each one of them was important.<\/p>\n

\"50-year<\/a>

Pictured are teammates from the 1971 Newark Valley league championship football team riding on a float during the Oct. 23 Homecoming parade. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Miritello added about Coach George, \u201cHe was an \u2018old-style\u2019 disciplinarian, and a great leader who expected one hundred percent,\u201d and added, \u201cYou left trying harder, even after you did your best.\u201d  <\/p>\n

Going forward, a couple of teammates mentioned that they hope they will all be able to stay connected, whether via social media or phone calls. All expressed a sense of pride for that moment in time and are thankful they were able to attend the reunion.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Members of the 1971 Newark Valley league championship football team reunited on Oct. 23 at the John George Football Stadium, home of the Cardinals. 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