Towanda Sports Center: 2015 Season Review

IMG_7935Camp started and ended with rain- the first and last two days were wet, but in between it was a phenomenal season as Towanda Sports Center raised the bar even more since 2014. It was a summer that flew by with visiting teams coming and going as well as Towanda teams traveling and hosting. We had the highest amount of camper participation in recorded Towanda history, as well as the highest amount of teams wishing to come to Towanda to play. Our teams and facilities looked the part and acted the part.

Consolidation of Our Code

IMG_2483The Philosophy continues, and others continue to recognize it. In sports, just as in life, you need to have focus, balance and a good sense of humor. Our teams were continually complimented on their ethics of teamwork, excellent sportsmanship and fair play among other things. Furthermore, we generally managed to achieve one other important goal: playing attractive sports that are skillful and pleasant to watch, whatever the result. Once again we are proud of all our kids and coaches as they had lots of fun in all their efforts and moved forward.

The results- not a top priority as we have stated before- reflected the spirit. Every age group to win at least one title in many different sports. This is most welcome and if you read on, you’ll see the details!!

Soccer Champs

Towanda’s most successful sport had five teams in Wayne County Finals, as well as a number of successes at invitationals. Some great soccer was played, but two highlights caught the eye: The“Miracle Cadet” who were 0-2 and 1-4 down at half time of their semifinal and final whistle and won both games in shootouts amid amazing celebratory scenes, while acknowledging excellent opponents in Equinunk and Wayne. The junior girls also flexed their muscles after scoring 32 goals in their Wayne County games!!

IMG_3352Grand Slam Hoops

Four finals, four Wayne County championships in Basketball! The most dramatic came when the tweens traveled to Trails End and won 22-20 in triple overtime in a very exciting final. The Club/L.I.T boys also triumphed in a tournament that traditionally consists of some major competitors overall, the coaches and kids had a very enjoyable season, playing many, many games with a lot of playing time for everyone.

Junior Girls Repeat

The girls also kept home their basketball Championships as well as the soccer, and they came close to causing upsets in softball and lacrosse. This is a fun-loving group that loves its sports!!

Tennis on Tour

Continuing our tradition of playing good tennis, both our individual and our team tennis groups enjoyed a fine season, the cutest moment being when a Towanda brother/sister team of 9th/10th grade mixed doubles made it to the Wayne County semifinals.

Baseball/Softball is Back

The senior (9th grade) girls went the distance and brought home a much-awaited softball Wayne County championship. They hit confidently and swept aside champs Bryn Mawr and Tyler Hill on their travels, which speaks volumes. All our teams pitched and fielded very well and look forward to a great 2016 season.

Lacrosse Delivers

After reaching two finals last year, our super-enthusiastic staff made it three this year.  The junior (6th grade) boys lost in overtime, as did the Club/L.I.T (10th/11th grade) boys against very strong opponents. But our national/senior (8th/9th grade) boys went one better as they triumphed over the likes of Indian Head, Starlight and Wayne on their way to the title. Their shooting was fearless and decisive and lacrosse for both boys and girls is expanding hugely ahead of the 2016 season.

Flag Football Promise

Many participants enjoyed some great games. Our coaching staff ensured that all involved learned techniques as well as plays for all ages. We are looking to expand into tournaments for our girls in 2016 as powder puff grew in popularity within Towanda’s girl camp.

IMG_3356Volleyball Victory

All three of our teams in boys and girls upper camp showed much spirit and enthusiasm as they worked hard with their coach to improve. This brought a very welcome championship home as the Club/L.I.T. boys triumphed at Island Lake with the whole team serving effectively a multitude of aces. Lower camp has taken to this and volleyball is yet another area that is growing at Towanda.

Hockey Players and Swimmers

Hockey continued to develop, thanks to our All-Canadian staff this year, building the skills of all levels and hoping to mount a challenge competitively in 2016. Additionally, our hugely enthusiastic swim team staff led our campers to 3 swim meets for boys and girls. The boys did especially well in all strokes, as did the girls in both freestyle and medley relays.

Undefeated Jets and Debs

These playdates for our youngest campers resulted in much, much fun for kids and staff, and an interesting statistic was discovered after the last playdate: in all the sports played (soccer, basketball, kickball,gaga, newcombe)  we did not lose any!!  We’ll happily take that!!

IMG_4880 (1)All-in-All

Win, lose or draw, it was a superb summer in sports. The concept remains- we love sports!! And, they are available for everyone. We focus on safety, sportsmanship, camaraderie, fun and playing well. This is what brings victory, whatever the results of the game.

We have some really nice surprises in store for next summer. You’ll have to wait and see what they are!! Meanwhile, a big well done to all the campers and coaches, and the very best to all our kid, families and staff for a happy and healthy winter. Looking forward to seeing everyone again in June 2016. Congratulations to everyone who participated this season and our champs and runners up below…

This is Coach Lee with Towanda Sports Center

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Wayne County Champions

  • Boys 10th/11th grade Volleyball
  • Girls 6th grade Soccer
  • Boys 4th grade Soccer
  • Boys 10th/11th grade Basketball
  • Boys 7th grade Basketball
  • Girls 6th grade Basketball
  • Girls 5th grade Basketball
  • Girls 9th grade Softball
  • Boys 8th/9th grade Lacrosse

Wayne County Runners-up

  • Girls 9th grade Soccer
  • Girls 10th/11th grade Soccer
  • Boys 10th/11th grade Soccer
  • Boys 8th/9th grade Volleyball
  • Boys 10th/11th grade Tennis Singles
  • Boys 10th/11th grade Lacrosse
  • Boys 6th grade Lacrosse

Renegade Tournament Winners

  • Boys 4th grade Soccer
  • Boys 4th grade Basketball
  • Girls 6th grade Basketball
  • Girls 5th grade Softball
  • Girls 4th grade Soccer

Invitational Tournament Winners/ Runners-up

  • Boys 4th grade Baseball
  • Boys 10th/11th grade Lax

Towanda Tournament Champions

  • Boys 7th grade Basketball
  • Boys 7th grade Soccer
  • Girls 6th grade Softball

Towanda Sports Center- Update from The Field

4f1bd9a6-9d42-4350-a8e9-7d0a2b054589Here at Towanda Sports Center, every age group, boys and girls, has been very busy having fun on the courts, fields and inside the rinks. It’s great to see our campers getting whatever level of play they want throughout the summer, without the pressure. If they want travel, rec or just fun, our program continues to offer them so much. It’s been rewarding to watch the camaraderie, competition and team spirit develop throughout the summer. And along the way, the kids, as well as the coaches, have also learned a thing or two!

a534523b-38f6-468a-9280-4709a445aa22We’ve had some amazing games – too many to mention including Wayne County Tournaments, invitational tournaments and good ol’ intercamps! As we head into the home stretch of camp (before the grand daddy of all competitions begins- Olympics), we have every age group represented in Wayne County Championship Finals across all sports.  Our kids have been really into the Wayne County Tournaments with a very healthy attitude, all about having a good time, looking ahead and enjoying the competition. They play hard, but they are not cutthroat. We tell them if they lose a first round game or win a championship, they get treated the same here. Just go in with your head high and leave with your head high and that’s what matters most.

IMG_9429Although we’ve made it to over a dozen Wayne County finals – and won a few already, way to go Cadet Soccer, Junior Girls’ Basketball, Club/LIT Volleyball and Club/LIT Basketball! – we are equally proud of ALL our teams, win or lose!  The Cadets 4th Grade soccer team won their Wayne County Semi Final and Championship and are now All County Champs after two great comebacks to defeat Equinunk and Wayne both in overtime shoot-outs! Goes to show, you can succeed if you have a lot of heart and never give up, just like in life! The Tweens Basketball team is also in the Wayne County final. This team has a habit of scoring half its points in the last 3 minutes!! But it seems to be working!Win or lose, we’ll keep enjoying our sports, as always!!

-This is Coach Lee with Towanda Sports Center! Da da da, Da da da!

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About Camp Towanda:
Camp Towanda is an independent, traditional, co-ed sleep-away camp in the Poconos in Pennsylvania. It is privately owned, operated and directed by Mitch and Stephanie Reiter. For over 90 years, Camp Towanda has continued to define what camp should really be. Our program offers state-of-the-art facilities, an excellent and professional athletic department, waterfront, extensive arts, drama and adventure programs, culinary cooking classes, and special events. We are highly regarded and respected as an industry leader and are involved in giving back to various organizations throughout the year. Camp Towanda is accredited by the American Camp Association and a member of the Camp-Alert-Network, Wayne County Camp Association, Camp Owners and Directors Association and the Pennsylvania Camp Association.

Towanda Sports Center: 2014 Season Review

Screen Shot 2014-11-17 at 1.55.56 PM2014 SEASON REVIEW

Yet another very successful season has come and gone at Camp Towanda, leaving us all asking the same question: where did the summer go? This was a year of transition as we look to take Towanda sports to the next level. Towanda Sports Center is a new concept, with a fresh outlook. Its popularity has grown among campers and staff and its momentum seems to have begun a new surge of energy at Camp Towanda.

… OUR CODE

In the season that was, our philosophy was, is and will always be clear: a safe time, lots of fun, teamwork, skill building, good playing style, excellent sportsmanship, strong bonds with opponents and of course playing to win. Winning a game is a simple concept. However, victories come in various forms and can be achieved in many ways, even in losing a game. Its not whether you win or lose, it’s HOW you win or lose and how you transform this into an experience that will take you forward. This is what we expect from our coaches and campers and we are proud to have achieved it.

promo_070

… SOCCER STARS

On the fields of play, there was a good amount of teams who succeeded in winning championships. Soccer led the way with Wayne County Champions, among which was our Senior (9th grade) boys who recorded their 6th Championship in a row, despite being taken to a penalty kick shootout in their semi final at Trails End.

promo_010…TENNIS INSPIRATION

Some amazing individual tennis performances resulted in two singles championships (Junior 6th grade girls and Club/10th grade boys) as well as a mixed doubles success (Senior/10th grade), with their strong return of serve a notable characteristic.

DSC_0204…SUPER HOOPS

Basketball enjoyed a good season with all-round strength in many age groups, notably the Tweens (5th grade girls) who were tenacious and emphatic in their game, dominating rebounds offensive and defensive on their way to winning their Wayne County Championship.

…TWEEN CHAMPS

The Tween girls, as a matter of fact, were our most successful group this year, winning the soccer version of Wayne County (in addition to the basketball) beating Indian Head by an emphatic score of 9-2 in the final.

promo_026…AMERICA’S FAVORITE PASTIME

Our baseball teams played hard and fielded strongly. We will work on our pitching and build on our foundation. In all sports, as in life, we learn from experience.

… LACROSSE PROMISE

Lacrosse reached two finals this summer – Inter (7th grade) boys and senior (9th grade) boys. A VERY enthusiastic staff accumulated lots of interest among the campers and revamped the whole program. A Hard-to-believe 20-1 victory at Chen-A-Wanda for our Club and L.I.T. (10th /11th grade) boys underlined what potential there is against traditionally strong opponents.

… HOCKEY REBUILDING

Most of our teams came very close but lost narrowly to very good teams. Stronger for the experience, this department has much to offer our campers in the future.

promo_029…SERVES AND FIRST DOWNS

Volleyball and Flag Football were also very popular, the latter providing a memorable Towanda Tournament victory for our Senior boys on August 4th, including a comeback against Tyler Hill (from 6-20 to 21-20).

…STRENGTH IN DEPTH

As mentioned earlier with basketball, almost every age group was able to shine in at least one sport, reaching at least one final or succeeding in an invitational tournament. From our Jet and Cadet boys to our Dorm/L.I.T girls, memorable moments were achieved in every sport. This is something we want to develop in the future, as well as the enthusiasm generated in swim, gymnastics and dance.

…ALL-IN-ALL

In victory and in defeat, it was clear that this was a very successful summer on the sports fields. Towanda Sports Center will add a lot more in the future. With all this in mind, Towanda Sports Center wishes everyone a good winter, many happy thoughts and promises of a 2015 season that will raise the bar even further.

To all our campers, families and staff, good luck out there in the “off-season” and see you in June!

Coach Lee Athletic Director

Camp Towanda Athletic Accomplishments 2013

soccerteamThe Camp Towanda Athletic Department enjoyed another successful season this year, with our campers participating in over 145 athletic events throughout this camp season. Summer 2013 kicked off with our 33 boys’ teams and 23 girls’ teams competing in multiple Wayne County Tournament games, and ended with 15 teams contending for a championship in the finals. Throughout the summer, campers are offered a wide variety of sports to take part in. Levels of competition range from inter-camp play dates and Fun Fridays, where everyone can play, to Invitational Tournaments, both here and at many of the other 30 Wayne County Athletic Association member camps, to the select try-out teams of the Wayne County Tournament. Many of our teams met with great success this year, with 52 of 56 teams playing in the quarterfinal round.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WAYNE COUNTY CHAMPIONS

  • Junior Girls (6th Grade) Soccer Team
  • Inter Girls (7th Grade) Softball Team
  • National Boys (8th Grade) Soccer Team Dorm/LIT Girls (10th/11th Grade) Soccer Team
  • Club Boys (10th Grade) Tennis Team
  • Club/LIT Boys (10th/11th Grade) Lacrosse Team

AND TO OUR WAYNE COUNTY RUNNERS-UP:

  • Tween Girls (5th Grade) Soccer Team
  • Middie Boys (5th Grade) Baseball Team
  • Junior Girls (6th Grade) Softball Team
  • National Girls (8th Grade) Lacrosse Team National Boys (8th Grade) Baseball Team
  • Senior Girls (9th Grade) Volleyball Team
  • Senior Girls (9th Grade) Soccer Team
  • Senior Boys (9th Grade) Soccer Team
  • Club/LIT Boys (10th/11th Grade) Basketball Team

Our abilities were on display in many other Invitational Tournaments, highlighted by success in other sports such as; Flag Football, Hockey, Swimming, Gymnastics, and Dance.

Along with Individual Tennis Tournament winners, three of our teams were Towanda Tournament Champions:

  • Junior Girls (6th Grade) Softball
  • Inter Boys (7th Grade) Lacrosse
  • National/Senior Girls (8th/9th Grade) Basketball

Although we are extremely proud of our victories, we are really most proud of the excellent sportsmanship, team support and camaraderie, which is paramount to our coaching philosophy and our Towanda values.

For athletes looking for an even more intensive athletic experience, we offer the Master Camp program, where our professional coaches and college athletes work with interested campers on a
more individualized basis to hone specific skills.

See you on the fields in 2014!

We’re Good Sports!

soccerteamIn addition to the family atmosphere, the intense spirit, tradition, legacy and incredible camaraderie that flows through our camp, the summer of 2013 has also been a very successful season for Towanda Athletics.

We are proud of our kids’ sportsmanship, participation and respect of other camps, as well as teamwork and Towanda pride.

Although our tournaments are still going on as we speak, we thought this would be a good time to share a recap of the ‘lucky summer of ’13’:

Everyday, our campers are engaging in instruction, skill development and games in virtually every sport.  Our coaches, who consist of professionals, high school coaches and college players are top-notch and work with groups, teams, and individuals.

We offer what we call MasterCamp Clinics in Tennis, Soccer, Gymnastics and Basketball throughout the summer, for those campers who want extra focus in these sports (adding Lacrosse in 2014).

We have a very healthy balance and well-rounded program that keeps ALL our campers very happy, motivated and excelling; from our awesome and excellent athletes to our campers who “could go either way”!

Our kids thrive because we don’t put on the pressure and give the parents a much-needed break from getting caught up in the competition from afar (which is why we don’t live-tweet games or share daily scores).  Some of our families are in the intense sports circuit for 10 months of the school year with travel sports and practices. It’s refreshing that when the pressure is off…our kids are winners!  They feel good, everyone plays and it is a team that cares about each other!

We offer different levels of competition based on levels of interest and ability.  For those who are interested in continuing an intense focus in a particular sport, we offer plenty of opportunity through MasterCamp and Tournament play.  For those who want to try something new or less competitive, we offer friendly competition through inter-camps and scrimmages.  We participate in a great program with other Wayne County Camp Association camps including: Wayne County Tournaments (which run all summer and are single elimination), Inter-camp Tournaments, Towanda Invitationals and Fun Friday Inter-murals.  And of course, the grand daddy of them all…our Camp Towanda Olympics (which is also the most fun and spirited).

As you know, Camp Towanda is about so much more than sports, although they are of course a big part of our program.  To date, we have had over 40 wins in Wayne County Camp Association soccer, basketball, baseball, football, tennis and lacrosse tournaments; including (only to date so far) SIX Championships and SEVEN 2nd Places. Still to come, another 12 teams have reached the championship round (yet to be played).  In addition, we have won FOUR Towanda Invitational Tournaments so far and victories in casual inter-camp playdates.

Regardless, win or lose, the teams are called up to the flagpole for recognition!  Because we are really most proud of the excellent sportsmanship, team support and camaraderie which is paramount to our coaching philosophy and our Towanda values!

tennis soccer  lacrosse  gym

hockey golf brandon   basketball

Camp Towanda Wayne County Results

The Summer of 2012 was a home run for Towanda Athletics!

Campers of all ages proudly wore their Towanda uniforms to compete in the Wayne County and Intercamp Tournaments. While we are always proud of the many championships and trophies we brought home to camp this summer, we are even more proud of the sportsmanship and respect that our campers show during these events.  Congratulations to our Champions, Winners and of course to everyone that put their hearts into every game they played.  You rocked the field, the court and the county!

Here are the Wayne County Tournament results from the 2012 season:

  • Boys 10th/11th Grade Baseball Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Boys 5th Grade Basketball Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Girls 10th/11th Grade Lacrosse Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Boys 10th/11th Grade Lacrosse Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Boys 7th Grade Soccer Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Boys 10th/11th Grade Team Tennis Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Girls 7th Grade Softball Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Girls 8th Grade Soccer Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Boys 7th Grade Lacrosse Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Girls 10th/11th Grade Soccer Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Girls 5th Grade Soccer Wayne County Champions 2012
  • Boys 7th Grade Baseball Wayne County Champions 2012