Bears Football

August 25, 2013

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By Jack Coll

8-25-13

I was driving down Fayette Street the other night and noticed all the lights on over at the Conshohocken “B” Field. That means two things, it must be August, and the Conshohocken Golden Bears are preparing for yet another season. This has been going on since 1961, and I wondered if the young men and ladies who started this league had any idea, that this program would still be thriving more than a half a century later.

I tracked down the current president of the league Rob Henry, who knows a little something about football. The field looked a little crowded so the first thing I asked him was how many children are participating in the program this year? I was surprised at his reply, “153 football players and 130 cheerleaders.” Just to be clear more children are involved in the program this year than there have been in nearly the last two decades.

I asked Henry about the success of the program and he stopped me right there, “This is perhaps the hardest working board of directors in the history of this program.” Henry noted that not only is it a hard working board but a well-educated board. He explained the board’s concerns about the safety of the children, addressing concussions, and educating coaches to identify heat exhaustion in the players. “This is not your old school football it was ten, twenty years ago,” noted Henry, “we have rebuilt this program one child at a time and every child is important to the program.”

Many years ago I coached youth football for 15 years and I couldn’t help but notice that there wasn’t a lot of screaming and yelling from the coaches out on the field. Mr. Henry explained to me that first coaches had to become certified, “all coaches under-go a background check for both football and cheerleading, and then coaches must be certified under the USA Football Heads-up program. To be successful in a youth football program today the emphasis must be on teaching the children, instructing, and re-assuring them,” noted Henry.

In the summer of 1961 Peter Hiebler along with a number of other residents took a chance on organizing a football league for Conshohocken youngsters. When I say took a chance, well creating a youth football program involves a whole lot more than say organizing a baseball or soccer league. Children had to be fitted for helmets and uniforms, shoulder pads and mouth pieces, of course no child could take the field without the proper insurance. In 1961, 52 boys suited up and22 cheerleaders participated as two teams took the field that year.

Thanks to the hard working efforts of the past presidents and Vice Presidents the program continued to grow. Len Wasmanski, Harvey Borzelleca, Matt Doughtery, George Salomone, Arrnie Martinelli, Harry Donovan, Anthony Maresca, Jerry Richardson, Ange Damico, Louis Cappelli, Bill Mitchell, Joe Danitz, and Richard Wilfromm were some of the early leaders for the Bears Football program. Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s residents like Rachele Intrieri, Mickey Martinelli, John Borusiewicz, Paul Balzano, Mary Mason, Marty Eckert, Bill McAvoy, and Matt Giorgio, among others worked hard for the organization.

Conshohocken’s youth football program was officially nicknamed the “Golden Bears” in 1968 when the Keystone State League instituted organization nicknames. From 1961-1967 the teams in the program carried the names of “The Bobcats,” “Wild Cats,” “Tigers,” and “Blue Devils.” Conshohocken High School wore the banner of the “Golden Bears” from 1926, until the school closed in 1966. Walt Hannum, a long time writer for the old Conshohocken Recorder newspaper noted in a column back in 1926 that the Conshohocken High School football team had played “Golden” and nick named them “The Golden Bears,” and the name stuck.

When I questioned President Henry on the success of the cheerleading program he credited Amy Duckett Alexander. “There’s nothing I need to tell her,” noted Henry. “Amy runs the cheerleading program with the same intensity as we do with the football teams.” “We make sure all the cheerleading coaches go through background checks, and Amy oversees the program one child at a time, I stay out of her way and Amy up-dates me on the program daily,” noted Henry.

Henry stays out of the way for a good reason, youth cheerleading is a year round participation sport. Conshohocken’s cheerleaders participate in year round competitions and the young girls are conditioned and in great shape. Amy has run a very successful program and Conshohocken’s girls have won many major competitions in recent years.

Rob Henry stated that so many children have signed up this year that new uniforms and helmets had to be purchased. “We’ve split the 75 and 90 pound teams this year just to make sure that each and every child gets proper playing time,” said Henry. Henry also noted the concern of all the coaches when it comes to the children’s safety, and playing time. “I’m sort of happy to say that the Bears organization no longer puts winning at the top of the list for accomplishments, safety, playing time, individual child’s needs, and re-introduce the joy of socializing and being part of a fitness program are wonderful accomplishments, as far as winning goes it’s somewhere on the list but certainly not at the top of the list,” noted Henry.

Rob wouldn’t let me get away until he thanked everyone and stressed the importance of team parents, volunteer snack stand workers, “there was a time when we had trouble getting volunteers to work and now parents are lining up, and that’s the sign of having a successful program,” said Henry.

And for the fourth time Henry said “Did I mention the Board of Directors, you know they are the reason why we are so successful.” No you didn’t mention them Rob, but I will:

Rob Henry, President

Mike Mikalonis, Vice President

Jen Krier, Secretary

Jim Ford, Treasurer

Rob Bailey, League Representative

Jason McGhin, Athletic Director

Amy Duckett Alexander, Cheerleading Director

Scott Leeds, Equipment Manager

Tammy Heffelfinger, Snack Stand Chairperson

Rob DeVitis, Member at Large

Ken Granderson, Member at Large

Greg Smith, Member at Large