Gowanda Sports Report for Sept. 16

The Gowanda JV girls' volleyball team began their season on a winning note as they defeated Ellicottville at home on Sept. 5.

Freshman Elizabeth Hammond scored points on seven consecutive serves to close out the second game in which the Panthers won 25-8.

Gowanda's new Athletic Director Kim Schon is the JV coach, and the varsity and JV teams will return home on Wednesday, Sept. 19 to face rival Falconer. The Golden Falcons defeated Gowanda in the Section VI playoffs last season.

Varsity coach Ray Logan is hoping his team can repeat as CCAA Division I champions this fall. Volleyball has become one of the most popular sports at GCS in recent years as evidenced by the large number of athletes who tried out for the JV team this past August.

The ninth Annual Fall Classic Men's Slow Pitch Softball Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 6 in Gowanda. Games in the double-elimination format will begin at 10:30 a.m. Call Mark Benton at 532-4053 to register a team.

The Gowanda Co-ed soccer program for children ages 5-12 will be held each Monday night from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the George Dispenza Memorial Field. Drills and scrimmage games against players of similar ages will be conducted each week. The program runs through Oct, 8.

Nick Crassi Jr. will have to wait until next year to win the Late Model Division at the Holland International Speedway. Crassi recently fell 44 points behind leader Eldon King, who he has trailed throughout most of the season. With one race remaining on the schedule, Crassi will try to secure second place.

Holiday Valley recently held a ski advisor meeting for the upcoming season. The Gowanda "Learn to Ski" program will be returning to the slopes in Ellicottville once again this year. The first signup will be held sometime during the fourth week in October. More details will be forthcoming. The first ski date will be Sunday, Jan. 6.

Former GCS Section VI wrestling champion Wayne Hall is due for a visit to Gowanda in mid-September. Hall was an outstanding wrestler under coach Ernie Bareham during the mid 1960s as the Panthers dominated the mats. He wrestled at 138 pounds and rarely lost.