Powder puff football

By Alyssa Sunkin / The Citizen

Friday, November 14, 2008 12:28 AM EST

CATO - Two groups of girls took their positions on the Cato-Meridian High School football field last Friday for a game of powder puff football with the same goal in mind.
Chet SLusslin / The Citizen

Dillon Caswell boosts the crowd's spirits with the rest of the senior cheerleaders at the third annual Cato-Meridian powder puff football game on Friday night. Proceeds from the game benefit the class of 2009.
“We're going to win!” nearly a dozen girls, some sophomores but mostly juniors, shouted.

“We're going to kick some butt for sure,” exclaimed Amy Thomas, 15, of Cato.

But that idea didn't sit too well with a swath of senior girls.

“We're going to dominate,” said Becca Myers, 17, of Cato, rousing up the spirits of her fellow teammates.

And it turns out the seniors were right, trouncing the juniors on the field by a score of 20-0.

Playing under the lights on the football field of the Cato-Meridian Central School District High School, junior and senior girls were pittedd against one another in a round of powder puff football while the varsity football team assumed the roles of cheerleaders, performing cheers in tight shirts and mini skirts.

Community members, district

students and teachers gathered at the field for the third annual Powder Puff Football Fundraiser, organized to raise money for the senior class to help pay for expenses, such as prom.

“There are so many expenses for the senior year that our kids are strapped,” teacher and co-organizer Willow Eckel said. “Our goal is to help them out as much as we can.”

Students had to contribute $5 to play football and admission to the game was $2. Parents donated goodies for the concession stand. All in all, the event raised $816 dollars, over $200 more than last year, with all proceeds going to the senior class.

The fundraiser began three years ago in the high school gym with just a few people watching on, Eckel said. Since then, she and co-organizer Laura McGetrick have been pushing to make the event more like a football game, bringing the community together.

Rather than pursue traditional fundraisers like selling pies and cookie dough, the duo saw a powder puff football game as a unique way for the students and community to have fun and raise some money.

But that's not only what the fundraiser does.

Both Eckel and McGetrick are Cato-Meridian grads and remember a time when the community was heavily involved with the school, when people were excited about what was going on in the district, McGetrick said.

“We came back and said. 'We want to start some new traditions and bring back school spirit,'” she said.

For the participants on the field, that certainly was accomplished. Tossing footballs back and forth in preparation for the game, the junior girls, all wearing matching T-shirts they made as a group, banded together in camaraderie and hope that the fun competition would go their way.

“Obviously the seniors deserve the money for the senior trip,” Sarah Cartwright, 16, of Cato said, “but we deserve to win.”

As defending champs, the seniors couldn't bear that thought.

“We won last year,” Myers said, “we have to win this year.”

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net

The Citizens' Say

Post your comment - click here

There are 2 comment(s)

Farmer's Gal wrote on Nov 14, 2008 4:15 PM:

" Of course, some editor thought it would be more "amusing" to show a picture of guys in short skirts pretending to be girl cheerleaders than young women playing football.... "

Farmer's Gal wrote on Nov 14, 2008 2:42 PM:

" 'Course, I'd love to see the girls playing football for real on a regular basis, just like the guys. "

REGISTRATION IS FREE.
Registered users sign in here:
*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
 
Unregistered users can register here:

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

*Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
*E-mail Address:
*Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

First Name:
Last Name:
Company:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
 
E-Citizen
E-Edition
Wheels Etc.
Find a vehicle
Hot Jobs
Find a Job
Homes Etc.
Find a Home
TV Week
Find a program
Search Classifieds
Find, Buy
Place a Classified Ad
Sell
Skaneateles Journal
The Journal
Newspaper Ads
See it again
New! CNY Boats Etc.
Achors aweigh!
New! Golf Guide
A map of nearby golf courses
Sections
Special Sections

Top Jobs

The Citizen Copyright ©2009
A division of Lee Publications, Inc.
25 Dill Street
Auburn, NY 13021

Contact Us

Add to My Yahoo!