“Football and Thanksgiving go together,” said elementary school teacher Matt Petrovich.
That's certainly true at St. Angela Merici Catholic Elementary School in Bradford. Every year, the school hosts a Flag Football tournament for the Grade 7 and 8 students on the Friday just before Thanksgiving.
Dubbed the Turkey Bowl, the tournament gets all of the intermediate students – not just the athletically-minded – outside, engaged and having fun, in the all-day competition.
“It’s the rules – you jump, you twist, you grab,” said teacher Mrs. Montevirgen – encouraging exercise, and teamwork. “It’s a great way to celebrate Turkey Day.”
Teams were identified by the color of their “flags” – colorful cloths worn by each player, at their waistband. Red vs. blue, orange vs. yellow – it was a non-contact sport that involved skill, strategy, and occasional thrills.
It was, said Principal Joe Almeida, a great way to “get the kids moving,” and in an outdoor setting. Games were played on the fields at Alan Kuzmich Memorial Park, beside the school.
“This has become an annual thing that students really look forward to,” said Almeida. “It’s a good way to get our Intermediate (students) together, developing those relationships. And it sets the tone for the year.”
This year, the Turkey Bowl was held on a perfect Fall day, with temperatures in the double digits and blue skies - but “rain or shine, it’s a great event,” Almeida said.
