From the End of the Bench...

Updates from PIAA staff.

Recognizing 100 years

11/21/13

With all respect, to the Temptations and Papa Was a Rollin' Stone...

It's the third week of November

And it's a week we'll always remember

For it was the week

The House of Representatives recognized PIAA.....

 

Ah yes, our 100th anniversary, which will occur on December 29, 2013, is the century mark. Representative Mark Painter initiated a Resolution to recognize our day. We thank him and his staff tremendously. We also thank Representative DiGirolamo for his support over the past years.

It is amazing what people can achieve when they work together. That's what athletics teaches us; teamwork; overcome obstacles and achieve goals that are always just beyond our reach.

PIAA has worked diligently for 100 years to foster the purest, most educationally based athletic program in the country and in our schools. Here's a tip of the cap to Dr. Charles Davis, Edmund Wicht, Mark Funk, Ted Wagner, Charlie McCullough, Tom Werner and Brad Cashman for their leadership, perseverance and insight to assist in making PIAA one of the best athletic associations in the country. Please don't be mistaken. We wouldn't be where we are without any of their leadership.

But what makes this more special is the astronomical number of athletes that have graced our classrooms, fields, courts and surfaces. In 2013, we have approximately 350,000 student-athletes; almost 1450 member schools and 14,000 sports officials that care enough every day to do it right to make a difference.

Can you imagine what that number is over a 100 year span? Fuggetaboutit; it's crazy.

So we thank all of you for your support, encouragement and participation in the greatest gifted program in the world. The lessons and skills of interscholastic education are irreplaceable in the educational world. They are real life experiences that we can use forever and will never forget or replicate. Using John Lennon's, Imagine.....

You can say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one.

 

Interscholastic athletics; where dreams come true every day.