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.

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… 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!

Olympics Day 1: Rain or Shine…Game on!

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A little rain doesn’t stop Olympics!!!

Despite the gray skies, mist, rain and damp chill; NOTHING stopped ALL the CAMPERS and STAFF from wanting to get out on the fields to play!

rainIn between heavy downpours, we got in most of the scheduled competition between The RED ZOMBIES and BLUE CLONES.

From my vantage point as the Grand Master of Ghost, I witnessed the best match ever of Debs & Dills, playting with their heart and soul in the mud and drizzle…to a tie-breaker; the same was true for the Tweens and the Middie Boys.  An intense coed LIT best of 5 went the distance through rain and mud as well.

girlsThe thrills, the cheering and the concentration was wonderful!  From the coaches to generals to the amazing judgies (consisting of over 65 visiting alumni)!

The reports are that all activities were the same intensity and spirit; From volleyball, soccer and indoor basketball to Gaga and softball!

ghostIt is so evident that all that our camp is about comes to fruition in these latter days of the summer; the camaraderie, the respect, the reaching for one’s personal best, the becoming comfortable outside of one’s comfort zone and the genuine pride, sportsmanship and deep friendships are making this OLYMPICS indicative of why we are all here.

soccergirlsIt is a proud feeling that I see and sense on everyone; including the alums that have just showed up; they see it, too!

At the end of Day ONE, there is just a 2 ½ point difference between the teams…how about that?

ghost2Songs of the day played here: TIME OF THE SEASON by the Zombies and and WE ARE ALL CLONES by Alice Cooper.

Today will be beautiful! Cool in the low 70s… a great day for the track and swim meets and tug of war!! PULL, THAT, ROPE!!!!

Good luck Red Team. Good luck Blue Team.

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