Girls' season in review

The 2009-10 basketball season at Columbia High School has been over for the Tide girls for more than a week now.

The Tide girls won’t play their final two games against Pequea Valley and Annville-Cleona and will finish 0-20.

So let’s get the unpleasant stuff out of the way first. This will be first time since I think the early 1980s that Columbia won’t participate in the District 3 playoffs, where they haven’t advanced past the first round since Rick Bentley left as coach since I think it was after the 2000 season. It’s also the first time since the early 1980s or even before that the Tide failed to win a game in girls’ basketball.

Now, let’s move on.

The Tide program has dropped from the top of the L-L League since Bentley left as coach to the bottom. In came new coach/old coach Gary Sutton, who guided the Tide boys to a state championship back in 1987. With his arrival came a whole new way of playing basketball for the girls. There were multiple offenses, defenses and other characteristics that the girls hadn’t seen in years. The entire season, learning a new system was a learning experience on both sides. Despite a youthful roster, the Tide girls played hard every game. They just didn’t have the varsity experience yet,

For me, you saw 12 of their 20 games, there were several bright spots.

The first was the play was senior guard Emily Nobile, who I always felt should have played more varsity before this year, relished in the role of a leader and a point guard. She led the Tide in scoring with an average of around 12 points a game. She was deadly from the foul line and one of the best three-point shooters in the section.

The other thing I saw that I liked. For the most part, the Tide was able to adjust on the fly to a new style. There were moments when it looked ugly, but that can be expected.

There’s a good future here. There are four/five starters coming back and a number of players moving up from the junior high, which had a .500 season that will help with numbers and the re-establishment of the junior varsity team,

The other four/five starters back – juniors Becca Kuhn and Jenna Geesey, sophomore Paige Herchelroath and freshmen Jenna Plastino and Ashlyn Phillips all got a taste of varsity life this year and will be better next season.

I thought going in, the Tide’s schedule was brutal – L-S played for a state title last season (Columbia played them twice), Mennonite just missed out on a state tile appearance ans there was the two Catholics – Lancaster Catholic and Lebanon Catholic. Had to that Hempfield and you got a rough schedule for such a young team.

The schedule next season, other than the league schedule will not nearly be that tough, so winning following a good off-season, will be in order for the Tide.

Some positive publicity

http://www.wgal.com/video/22576985/index.html

Mark this date down!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Relay for Life Night

Union Station

4th & Union St

Columbia, PA

6:00 pm - midnight

Stop in to support a great cause

Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society

Sponsored by the Cancer Crusaders

Final Home Game

The Columbia boys' basketball team will host Pequea Valley in a varsity only game on the hill tomorrow at 6 p.m.
It will be the final game in the Elmer Kreiser Gym as we now know it. The gym will be renovated soon and will have a new look to it for the 2010-11 season.
The reason it is a varsity only game is a number of players didn't attend practice on Monday and also, the L-L League says junior high games can't be played after a certain date.
I'd like to hear some of the memories people have of the old gym. You can list them in the comment section.
The Tide boys will face Annville-Cleona for the third time this season next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., in Hershey. Don't get too excited, its at Hershey High School -- not the Giant Center!

Hall of Fame nominees

Received in the mail over late last week or after the February Blizzard was the 2010 ballot for the Susquehanna Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.


The annual banquet will be held May 1, at the Susquehanna Fire Company. All ballots must be returned to Rich Gerfin by March 9. Each voter must vote fir six individuals.

The deceased inductee this year will be former Columbia High football star Mike Wolfgang. He was inducted into the Columbia High School Athletic Hall of Fame last September.

The nominees are:

P. Abbott Asplin, who played football and basketball at F&M in 1936 and graduated fro Leighton High School.

Robert Brandt, former football player at Manheim Township.

Ron Caulwell, former athletic director at Columbia High School.

Gayne Deshler, former football coach at Donegal.

Jim Doughtery, who at one time was a former assistant coach with the old Columbia Raiders.

Bill Goad, former golf coach at Eastern High School.

Michael Orstein, former swimmer at McCaskey and Manheim Township.

Glenn Robinson, current basketball coach at F&M.

John Thomas, former wrestler at Columbia.

Robert Thomas, former fast pitch softball player.

Andrew Tompos, former golfer at F&M.

Leslie Bair Vink, former gymnast at Hempfield.

William Walton, a four-sport athlete at Penn Manor.

Jon Witman, former Eastern, Penn State and Pittsburgh Steeler football player.

For what its worth, my six were Caulwell, Deshler, G-Rob, Witman, Goad and Doughtery.

A piece of our town's history covered

This was sent to me by a friend of Columbia's Historic Wright Mansion on Second Street.

Working on Stuff

Here's what I am working on for today or Monday before the next blizzard hits:
1. District 3 playoffs seedings are out.
2. My thoughts on what it will take for Columbia to have a paper again. Yes, I believe there is a market.
3. An update on the coaching search at Columbia High School.
4. Review of the Columbia girls' basketball season.
5. Another poll, not sure of the topic yet.

check me out later today and tomorrow!

Do you know this man?

West Hempfield Township Police are looking for a black male with a heavy build, in his 30s or 40s with a beard and mustache after passing counterfeit $100 bills during the purchase of more than $800 in merchandise from the Kmart store in the 3900 block of Columbia Avenue.
Police said the incident happened Jan. 20.
The suspect, pictured, is wanted for similar incidents in York and Lancaster counties.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 285-5191

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A tough one to write

NOTE: There will be a follow up on this in the next few days.

About a year ago this time, I started this, wrote a few paragraphs and stopped. Now, its time to start this again, as for the second time in a year, our great town is losing its newspaper as the Columbia Register ends its nine month run.


It’s no surprise at least to me and others, newspapers are dying at an alarming rate across the nation, I’m kind of surprised that local community papers aren’t making it. They have the ability to deliver what the major papers can’t and that is local news and sports. But this is the third time I have had a newspaper close on me and will probably be the last time. As much as I enjoy reporting on the events of our great town, I just don’t see anyone coming into a tough market. But despite the doom and gloom forecasts, I still think a local newspaper dedicated to the Columbia area can still make it.

For many, there is a lot more to do today than there was when I was younger and many have found ways, other than a newspaper to get their news, Still, I always hoped Columbia would newspaper till the end of time.

Last year when I sat down to pen this going away column, there was so much I wanted to write that I may have forgotten stuff.

This is the start of my 26th year of newspaper writing in Columbia. Along the way, I made many great friends,.met a lot of great people, covered a lot of outstanding events, worked with some good people and attended a lot of meetings and events.

Before coming to the Columbia News back in 1984, I got some pretty good training when I worked at WSBA and a good work ethic from the likes of Ed Wickenheiser, Ron Corbin and the late Phil Eberly. They also taught me a lot of professionalism and the right way to do things.

Then came the Columbia News, where I learned much from “Teedy” Aston and not so much from those who followed him.

Within a week after that publication closed, Columbia got rescued by the Ledger Newspaper group, which had a slew of owners during 19 years. It really helped me learn the community more than I ever knew. I learned the people, who I could trust and who I could not.

I learned a lot about running a newspaper, There were some great times and long hours.

I can’t really tell you what the best story I ever covered was, because there were so many. The Homecoming, May Days, parades, craft shows and Bridge Busts may have all run together, but they were unique events to our town.

I think in 26 years, I’ve been to thousands of meetings and I can honestly say there were times I wanted to stand up at meetings and tell people to shit down and shut up and there were times I just wanted to get up and leave. But I didn’t because it was my job to be there.

In 26 years, I can’t remember being late for too many events. I believed on being at places early and not walking in late and creating a scene like some.

There were the tragedies in our town. Many of them hit home because we are a small town and ade for some tough writing.

If there is one thing I was always proud of was the ability to write about the greatest high school of all times and its athletic programs. I’ll always be a fan.

As for the people, I can tell you, I like most of them. But there are a few, probably less than five over 26 years that I knew just weren’t right for Columbia. I could see through their images they presented.

I’ll never forget the 1987 state championship run. That will always remain special.

As I said earlier, I had plan to write this about a year ago. I stopped, but I did start writing something back in July when I had my accident. That took a lot more out of me than I first thought. I’m not the same person I was and will never be the same person. I’m strong because I have to be, but...

I’d like to list a number of people who have greatly helped me over the many years, but I don’t want to miss anyone.

I’m gonna be here. I’m not leaving town, I’ll just be in a different role. Perhaps trying a Columbia blog, because there might not be another way to get the news out to our town.

Thanks Columbia for many great memories and for allowing me to come into your homes each week.

I hope I made a difference.

Just in case you didn't get the last edition

Sometime this week, perhaps its already done, there will be interviews for the vacant Columbia High School football coaching position. Next week, Columbia High School is expected to have a new leader for its football program, which went 0-10 this year and 3-18 over the previous two seasons.


Perhaps as many as six people have been interviewed, unfortunately, I won’t be able to tell you before everyone else in the local media who the Tide’s next boss will be.

This is the last time, perhaps only for a while, or maybe forever, I will write a column for a newspaper. I’m trying to re-discover blog writing, which I did about a year ago (barry-ford.blogspot.com) to let the people know what is happening in our town.

This was one of the stories I was actually looking forward to writing. See by the time, Columbia had a new coach, there would only be the Tide boys in the district playoffs and the wrestlers would be getting ready for sectionals.

But, there won’t be that “home town” feeling in stories about our new coach.

I’ve asked and many of who that have attended basketball games or wrestling matches in recent weeks have probably seen me talking with CHS AD Jim Rhoads.

He did tell me he got 15 applicants for the position, which I found amazing and shared with me who some of the names were. I’m not going to share them, other than one, the person I think and some other I’ve talked with can do the job and that would be current Tide assistant Mike Burke III.

Outside of being away from the game for a couple of years and returning this year as defensive coordinator, Burke has given most of his post-high school life to the program, from junior high coach to coaching at the varsity level.

Of the names I’ve been told, there’s no one there that jumps out at me and says hire him.

I know MB3 had a meeting last month shortly after the rumors were confirmed of Jason Shoff’s departure with prospective players in grades 7-11 and close to 90 kids showed up. There have been a couple of Sunday workouts with around 40 kids showing up.

That’s a positive. I’ve talked with some of the prospective players and those I’ve talked with at basketball or wrestling, all favor MB3.

Since my days as a student at Columbia High School, then as a reporter, Columbia hasn‘t had much success with outsiders coming in and trying to coach our teams.

Basketball tried it three in the last 30 plus years. I remember when I was a student, George Hanna coached the Tide for one year and left and then there was Gary Sutton. He’s the only one who enjoyed success. Then there was John Larkin and many couldn’t wait for him to ride out of town.

There are a few in other sports, but two current ones that come to mind are Bob Pederson, who will be in his second year with the Tide in baseball and appears to have the Tide headed in the right direction and new softball coach Brad Brubaker, who many are looking for good things out of.

But Columbia has never enjoyed the success in those sports that they have in football and basketball.

And for that reason I was surprised there were 15 applicants for the position, knowing the school usually stays within the Columbia family.

Okay, sure, you can say bringing someone in from the outside might revive the program. They might, but it will take them a few months to learn the kids, set up the off-season and learn the L-L League. And there probably won’t be 90 kids at a meeting either. There’s also the need to get a staff in place along with the schemes the Tide will use. Right now, I here there’s a pretty good staff in place and the schemes are already there, they just need tweaking.

I hope the powers to be up on the hill realize this is one position to keep “in house” and keep it “within the family.”

Donation to Hoop Boosters

Mr.and Mrs. John Gamby (center) recently made a generous donation to the Columbia Basketball Booster Club. They are shown here with senior players Brandon Arnold and Emily Nobile.

The Thursday clean-up from the Blizzard of 2010

Here are various pictures from the neighbors cleaning up from the great blizzard. It's a scene being repeated all over our town.

Changes, changes, changes

Here's an update today on the athletic schedule on the hill:

Girls' Basketball: The Tide will travel tomorrow (Friday) to Annville-Cleona. The Pequea Valley game has been cancelled.

Boys' Basketball: The Tide will host Annville-Cleona tomorrow (Friday) and entertain Pequea Valley, Saturday, with j.v. starting at noon.

Wrestling: The Tide is scheduled to travel to McCaksey tomorrow.

Snow pictures

State of Emergency

Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz has issued a Snow Emergency declaration for the borough starting at noon, ending tomorrow.

What that means is vehicle traffic, except for emergency vehicles and those helping to remove snow is banned from the streets in Columbia.

Columbia schedule changes

Tonight's wrestling match with Penn Manor has been moved to 5 p.m.

The boys' basketball game with Pequea Valley tomorrow night, will be played on Friday, starting with the junior high game at 4 p.m.  The Tide boys will also play Annville-Cleona on Thursday.

The girls' basketball game with Pequea Valley is also off and probably won't be re-scheduled.

The Tide girls will play at Annville-Cleona on Friday.

Photos by Patricia Kreider

Tide teams swept by Lancaster Catholic

The Sunday Dig Out

These are the scenes from Sunday on the 600 block of South Ninth Street.

Snow Images

These are pictures out my front door taken this morning. The borough street department was up the street at least twice this morning. Measured about 20 inches outside.

Columbia officer accepted into program

Columbia Borough Police Officer Daniel Bell, demoted from detective after his May DUI crash in Hallam, has been accepted into a pretrial diversionary program.
Bell will be allowed to carry his sidearm on duty while in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, according to the York County District Attorney's Office. People on ARD or on probation are typically required to surrender their weapons.

Bell, 36, of Hellam Township, was charged with driving under the influence, accidents involving damage to an unattended vehicle, careless driving, failure to notify police and driving in the wrong lane after his Jeep Cherokee struck a parked, unoccupied Jeep Cherokee in the 400 block of East Market Street in Hallam about 3 a.m. May 3.

A blood test placed Bell's alcohol level at 0.184 percent, more than twice the 0.08 percent level at which an adult driver is considered to be drunk under Pennsylvania law.

The collision flipped Bell's Jeep onto its roof and ripped the right rear passenger tire off the other Jeep and pushed that vehicle from the roadway into a nearby driveway.

Bell left the scene after the crash, police said. A Hellam Township Police officer found Bell's badge, driver's license, police identification and a .25-caliber handgun in the Bell's Jeep.

Wing Bowl 18

'Super' Squibb defends title at WIP's Wing Bowl 18

PHILADELPHIA – The defending champion returned to WIP’s Wing Bowl 18 and devoured the competition. Jonathan “Super” Squibb, the skinny 24-year-old from Winslow Township, N.J., ate 238 wings in 30 minutes to set up a wing-off next year with three-time champion, Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., a professional eater.

Schedule update

Tomorrow's Gettysburg Invitational that the Columbia wrestling team was to compete in was postponed.

Wrestlers get easy "W"

The Columbia wrestling team scored an easy 78-6 win over York High tonight.

On Parent's and Senior Night, the Tide won all of its bouts by either pin or forfeit.

Weather permitting, the Tide is scheduled to participate in the Gettysburg Invitational on Saturday.

Columbia's final home meet will be Tuesday, Feb. 9 against Penn Manor.

They will also wrestle McCaskey next week and have sectionals at Bermudian Springs on Saturday, Feb. 20.

Schedule changes on the hill

With the arrival or pending plans for the "big one" tomorrow into Saturday, Columbia High School has announced schedule changes in basketball.
The boys' game with Annville-Cleona will now be played Thursday, Feb. 11 at Columbia.
The Tide girls will finish the season on Friday, Feb. 12 at Annville-Cleona.

Stay tuned for any possible changes.