It was a beautiful day for the 2009 Eastern Fall Sectional was held on Sunday, October 4, 2009, at East Stroudsburg University. The weather was perfect for an outdoor Opening Ceremonies. 49 Philadelphia athletes joined over 600 athletes from 16 other programs. Programs in attendance included Area P, Berks, Bethlehem County, Bucks County, Chester County, Columbia/Montour County, Delaware County, Lancaster County, Lebanon County, Lehigh County, Montgomery County, Schuylkill County, Union County and host, Monroe County. Over 200 coaches were in attendance to guide their athletes to victory.
After the athletes made their way into the stadium, Wilkes Air Force ROTC Honor Guard presents the colors, and Paula Dixon sang the National Anthem. Theresa Merli, a Monroe County Commissioner, and Chris Merli, the East Stroudsburg University Women’s Head Track and Field Coach, gave our athletes some inspiring words to start their day.
Afterwards, Special Olympics PA President and CEO, Matt Aaron, encouraged athletes to do their best and presented checks from two events that benefited Special Olympics PA. The first was the 33rd Billy Forst Concert which raised $22,500. Rick Starr, Rick Peoples, Paul Crowe, Kathy Snyder, Al Moran, and Kat Kijewski, from the committee that put together the Billy Frost Concert, presented the check to Aaron and Special Olympics PA athletes. The next check presentation came from The Grand Council of Royal and Select Master Masons of Pennsylvania, who raised $10,000 for SOPA programs here in the state. To represent The Grand Council of Royal and Select Master Masons of Pennsylvania was the Mason’s Chairman Tom Miller. After cheers and photos, Aaron once again thanked both groups for their support throughout the years.
Next up was East Stroudsburg University’s very own Contemporary Dancers, led by President Carly Croteau, as they performed to “Let it Rock” by Kevin Rudolf and Lil Wayne. The ceremony then shifted to focus to sportsmanship as an official, coach, and athlete led their respective oaths. Opening Ceremonies concluded with the highlight of the ceremony, the Flame of Hope carried in by local law enforcement and Special Olympics PA athletes. After Opening Ceremonies, athletes and coaches left to compete in Bocce, Long Distance Running/Walking, Powerlifting, Soccer, and Volleyball. Our Philadelphia athletes made their way to the Bocce, Soccer and Volleyball venues.
| Philly Team 1 | Raymond Anderson & John Kulpa | 2nd Place |
| Philly Team 2 | Rosemary Furlong & Bryan Ziegler | 3rd Place |
| Philly Team 3 | Siobhan Driscoll & Meghan Garlick | 1st Place |
| Philly Team 4 | Pamela Galone & Kevin Karcher | 2nd Place |
Bridget McGovern, 3rd Place
| Kicks | Daniel Amrik, Matthew Beckman, Jason Bixby, Ryan Bogan, Carl Irvis, Angel Rodriguez, Francesca Roth, Charlie Zisette | 1st Place |
| Stars and Stripes | Emmett Abdo, Lisa Barbour, James Costello, Cristin Durkin, Jackie Lutts, Katie Moore, Marc Palermo, Othneil Rosa, Nicholas Uhniat, David Brent Williams | 3rd Place |
| In Your Pockets | Lavar Gladden, Marcus Hall, Rasheed Holmes, Michael Meriweather, Richard Paige, Joseph Powell, Garry Simmons, James Sinkler, Nyger Smith, Courtney Wrenn, Kareem Young | 1st Place |
| Spike Blasters | John Abbott, James Barbour, Daniel Charlton, Stephan Dacyna, Michael Jones, Miquel Lebron, Heather Lutts, Steven McGarry, Wayne Prattis, James Trotman, Jennifer Wetzel | 3rd Place |
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