Cranford PAL Celebrates Another Successful Fall Season

CRANFORD, NJ — The Cranford Police Athletic League (PAL) had a busy fall season this year for its flag football, tackle football and cheerleading programs.

The season began with the grand opening of a new snackstand and bathroom facility that was spearheaded by the Cranford PAL, Cranford Booster Club and volunteers John Vicci and Tony Digiovanni. Joining in the effort was the Township of Cranford and the Cranford Board of Education. Also new to the program this year was the addition of certified athletic trainers at all hosted home event days at Memorial Field for added participant safety.

This fall season also marked the transition from paper-registrations to electronic-registrations as well, making www.cranfordpal.org the one-stop- spot for PAL information.

At the conclusion of the fall season, the PAL Tackle Football Program, run by Tackle Football Program Director Brian McGovern, held its Awards Banquet for the 6 th, 7 th and 8th grade teams.

This year’s banquet was held on Saturday Dec. 10 at the Garwood Westwood. The banquet’s keynote speaker this year was Chuck Bell who serves as the Cranford High School Freshman Football head coach.

The Cranford PAL Cheerleading Program, run by Cheerleading Program Director Jenn Mooney, also celebrated its participants’ efforts this season at an end of the year party at Costa’s Restaurant in Roselle Park.

Lastly, PAL Flag Football Director Jim Kwiatkowski reported that the introductory football program for Kindergarten, 1 st and 2nd graders was a well-attended success. PAL Executive Director Matt Nazzaro applauded the collective effort by all directors.

“The Cranford PAL is driven by a force of dedicated volunteer parents, police officers, and community stakeholders”, he said. “I want to thank the Program Directors and their respective volunteer staff for the time and energy they’ve invested in our children this fall.”

The transition from fall to winter seasons was seamless once again this year, with Basketball Program Director John Frieri holding try-outs in October at Orange Avenue School. With the assistance of his volunteer staff, including PAL President Gregg Wheatley, the winter basketball season is underway and teams have participated in the Wayne Thanksgiving Tournament, Holiday Slamfest, Autumn Hoops II, and the Raritan Bay JamFest.

The PAL Wrestling Program also began with almost 100 participants registered. PAL Wrestling Director Kevin Murray, assisted by Program Coordinators Andrew Hooey and Rob Kanterman, organized a team of volunteer parents and students to host the ‘Union County Brawl’ at Cranford High School on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Below are the final results of that tournament:

Union County Brawl Middle School Results Team Standing:

1. Cranford
2. Scotch Plains/Fanwood
3. Westfield
4. Summit
5. Rahway

Middle School Champions:

• 90 Pat Ganley
• 95 Conner Hoefling
• 110 Colin Murray
• 120 Gavin Jones
• 130 Luke Digiovanni
• 160 Thomas Rena

Placer winners:

• 75 Matt Holleran 3rd
• 85 Pat McMahon 3rd
• 100 Shane Vandam 3rd
• 120 Jake Lies 3rd
• 145 Max Spinner 3rd
• HWT Kevin Shriner 4th

Results from Union County Brawl Sunday, Team Standings Elementary Top 5:

1. Cranford
2. Hillsborough
3. Westfield
4. Kenilworth
5. Summit

Champions

• 53 Joe Tona
• 57 Ryder Conners

Placers

• 47 Logan Murray 2nd
• 50 Joe Ricco 4th
• 60 Mike Daly 3rd
• 70 Alex Muller
• 73 Ryan Kilbashian 4th
• 77 Luke Schutz
• 83 Matt Odonnold 2nd
• 90 Evan Surmay 3rd
• 95 Conner Hoefling 3rd
• 102 Shane Kanterman 2nd
• HWT Dylan McDonald 2nd

The Cranford PAL is a not-for- profit youth sports organization created in 1981 by parents and members of the Cranford Police Department to create a positive interaction between law enforcement and Cranford’s youth. Since its inception, thousands of Cranford children have become ‘PAL Cougars’.

For more information on Cranford PAL events, registrations, announcements, visit www.cranfordpal.org. This is the only place to register your child for any of the PAL’s programming.

— By M. Nazzaro

(Photos provided)

Photo 1 to 5: PAL Cheerleading Party

Photos 6 and 7: PAL Football Banquet

Photo 8: PAL Snackstand

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