March
31, 2014
VOLUME 2014
ISSUE 2
WRA Quarterly Newsletter
July 13, 2014
Message from the President
Inside This Issue
1 Message from the President
Dear WRA Parents,
2 Field Hockey Spotlight
In previous editions we have introduced you to the volunteers in our Intramural and Travel
Soccer programs. Now I would like to highlight the efforts of our basketball group.
3 Field Hockey Sponsors
3 IM Soccer Sponsors
4 Travel Soccer News
5 Thanks Baseball & Softball
Sponsors
5 WRA Board Update
6 Softball Season Wrap-up
6 IM Soccer Spotlight
7 Grand Re-Opening of PECO
Field.
7 How to Sponsor a team
8 Our Sport Offerings
8 Upcoming Events
8 Volunteering
_________________________
Don’t forget to register
for Summer/Fall WRA
sports to Play or Sponsor
a team!
*
Whitpain Parks and
Recreation
Online registration for
programs like summer
camp and other events
and activities in the
community.
Check out and
bookmark their website:
http://www.whitpainrec.com
__________________________
The mission of the WRA Intramural Basketball program is to provide a safe, instructional, and
fun experience for youth from grades 1-12. The program completed a fun, successful
2013/2014 season with a total of 648 players in eight divisions divided into five boys divisions
and three girls divisions.
Over 90 coaches and assistant coaches in addition to eight Division Commissioners
volunteered their time and effort to support the league. Commissioners are responsible for
organizing player evaluations, dividing divisions into teams and allocating practice time slots.
They also put together game and playoff schedules. Coaches are responsible for managing
a team from start to finish. They develop practice plans, develop game strategy and
maintain team communication. The Commissioner and Coach positions are extremely
important to the success of the WRA Intramural Basketball League and new volunteers are
always welcome.
The highly successful Instructional League registered 121 players and also falls under the WRA
Intramural League. The WRA Instructional League is designed for our youngest players in 1st
and 2nd grade. WRA is extremely fortunate that Donn Johnston developed and has run this
popular league for many years. Donn played basketball at The University of North Carolina
under legendary coach Dean Smith. This eight week program teaches the fundamentals of
basketball; the correct way to pass, dribble, shoot, guard, etc. Small groups of 3 on 3 type
scrimmages happen towards the mid-later weeks of the league play as skillsets are honed.
This year both basketball programs came under strong new management. Chris Hynes
became head of Travel, and Jess McVeigh took over Intramural. Both have done
transformative work in a very short period of time. Look for continued improvements in the
programs as these two dedicated leaders seek to make WRA Basketball better than ever
before.
You can reach out to Jessica McVeigh at [email protected] if you are interested in
becoming a part of this dynamic group.
Join me in thanking them, and then join them in helping out!
Pat Foley
UQUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
PAGE 2
Field Hockey Spotlight
On April 24, 2014, Cherifa Howarth, WRA Field Hockey's longtime Senior Division
Commissioner and coach, was inducted into the Wissahickon High School Hall of
Fame. Cherifa's high school field hockey coach Maryanne Paparone spoke about
her hard work and dedication to the sport and her teammates.
Cherifa's classmate and friend Rodney Cline spoke about her kindness and zest for life
throughout high school and beyond, and her contributions to the community through
WRA, her sons' youth sports teams, and the Elmwood Zoo. On hand to share in her
accomplishment were Cherifa's husband Greg and her proud sons Kolby and Kross.
Congratulations Cherifa!
The 2014 Spring Outdoor Field Hockey program saw 453 players
and 89 coaches take to the turf on 34 teams. The season
concluded with tournaments for each age division. The Senior
Division gold medal winner was Team 4, sponsored by The
Fireside Bar & Grille and coached by Michele Purnell and Eileen
Burkart. The Intermediate Division gold medal winner was Team
8 coached by Rachel Sollberger, Kimberly Waite, and Jessica
Waite. The Junior Division gold medal winner was Team 8
coached by Shannon McMenamin and Megan Lynch. The
Instructional Division teams concluded their season with a
round-robin tournament with medals for all participants.
Congratulations to high school seniors Lexi Hill, Addie Jonas,
Kitty Hennessy, Kelly Christ, Delaney Doran, Angela Virtu, and
Melanie Fry. All were recipients of Shining Star awards for
students who have coached for three or more seasons. The
Field Hockey Committee thanks our numerous coaches and
game-day volunteers for their time and dedication to the
success of this program.
Junior Division
Senior Division
Intermediate Division
You are receiving this email because you registered at Whitpain Recreation Association. TO UNSUBSCRIBE, login to your WRA account and
check off the box to opt out of emails or simply delete your account. Our contact information is: [email protected] Whitpain Recreation
Association PO BOX 64 BLUE BELL PA 19422-0064 Copyright (C) Whitpain Recreation Association All rights reserved
UQUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
PAGE 3
Thank you to all of our generous Field Hockey Sponsors:
Joseph Ambler Inn (Blackney Family)
Covered Bridge Capital (Sutow Family)
Inspyr Apparel
The Fireside Bar & Grille (Leaming Family)
Taminco (Gouveia Family)
Elmwood Park Zoo (Howarth Family)
The Senderling Group (Senderling Family)
runthelongroadcoaching.com (Campbell Family)
Princesse Pearls (Brogan Family)
Abington Medical Specialists (Klugherz Family)
Elliott Greenleaf (Elliott/Hoover Families)
Bateman Caliendo LLC (Caliendo Family)
Purple Panthers (Chiaradonna Family)
Compliance Management International (Lovensheimer
Family)
Crossworks Embroidery & Screen Printing (Gonella Family)
Steward Bernstiel Rebar & Smith (Bernstiel Family)
The Shamrocks (Reilly Family)
Sports Unlimited – 2 Teams
GreaseThief (Wurzbach Family)
Anytime Fitness
Hessler Printing (Hessler Family)
Envirosearch (Hippensteal Family)
Gen 3 Marketing (Cantos Family)
Casey Educational (Casey Family)
Delta Disaster Services (Bones Family)
Keller Williams Real Estate/Jeff Poli
InSource (Persichetti Family)
Vault Communications (Shields Family)
Superior Play Systems (Kraus Family)
Nice Tolley Lorenzo Cosmetic & Implant
Dentistry (Lorenzo Family)
Allen Trio Tire & Service (McConnon Family)
Thank you Intramural Soccer sponsors thus far for Fall 2014:
Air-Tight Heating &
Cooling
Andrew Moore
&Associates
Berger Henry ENT Specialty
Group
Canada Dry Delaware
Valley
Cozen O'Connor
Earth Engineering Inc.
Ambler Fireplace and Patio
Andrea Loughlin Portraiture
Andy Strosser Plumbing &
Heating
Bob McGrath's Tree Service
LLC
Chariot Solutions
Available Plumbing, Inc.
Cyberdyne Systems
HockeyBuzz.com
Keystone Volvo
Kiera's Lawn Service (thanks
to Brian Hannan)
Michael Addesso Marble and
Granite World
Mr. Storage
Dietrich Law Firm
Kelman and Magliari Advisory
Group
Kramerica Industries (compliments
of Doug Dolfman)
Mill Creek Capital Advisors
Lower Merion Pediatric
Dentistry
Momentum Construction
LLC
Penn Cardiac Care of
Huntingdon Valley
Sports Unlimited
Tim J. Berman C.P.A
Boston Style Pizza - N. Wales
Copeland Capital
Nello Construction
ROB INTRIERI AGENCY
Security On-Line Systems (2)
Superior Play Systems
Union Jacks Pub
Terra Lawn and Tree Care
Wurzbach Farms (thanks to Charles
Wurzbach)
www.LiceLifters.com
We thank you for your continued support!
You are receiving this email because you registered at Whitpain Recreation Association. TO UNSUBSCRIBE, login to your WRA account and
check off the box to opt out of emails or simply delete your account. Our contact information is: [email protected] Whitpain Recreation
Association PO BOX 64 BLUE BELL PA 19422-0064 Copyright (C) Whitpain Recreation Association All rights reserved
UQUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
PAGE 4
Travel Soccer News
2014-15 Season
Tryouts for the 2014-15 travel soccer season have completed and the program has rostered 30 teams and over 400
players. There are also 76 volunteers coaching. By comparison last year there were 23 teams with 330 players. The growth
this year is very positive for the program in preparation for the opening of the new Center Square Park next year for the
2015-16 season. The WRA Travel soccer club will be ready to utilize the new fields while competing with the best soccer
clubs in the area. Going into this season the WRA would like to welcome Patrick Bailey as the new Club Coordinator. Pat
has been a long time coach at the IM and Travel level and brings a great deal of enthusiasm for the game of soccer to
the program.
EPYSA Coaching Certification
This past Father’s Day, over 35 coaching candidates including many of our own WRA Coaches and Assistant Coaches
participated in the EPYSA/National Coaching “E” License course held at Wentz Run Park. The 18 hour course is designed
to provide coaches with foundational understanding of the FIFA laws of the game as well as the United States Soccer
Federation (USSF) development expectations for the youth age groups through U12. National “A” level coaches provide
dynamic instruction across the three days and evaluate the candidate’s ability to plan and execute training sessions for
this age group as a requirement for certification. Our Coaches commitment to continuing their education will certainly
help WRA youth players continue to develop competitively as they move through the program. Congratulations to the
many successful candidates!
EPYSA OUTDOOR CUPS
Three Whitpain teams competed in EPYSA Outdoor Cups this spring performing very well and illustrating Whitpain's growth
and competitiveness as a program. The EPYSA President's and Turkey Hill Challenge Cups are open statewide
competitions that draw teams that wish to participate in an Eastern Pennsylvania-wide competition which crowns a
statewide champion. The Cups are played in a World Cup style format with group play leading to quarter-final, semi-final
and final matches.
The U12 Girls Whitpain Wave coached by Ed Scott and Bill Berry advanced to the Semi-finals of the Presidents Cup after
going undefeated in group play. The semi-final match was played at Wentz Run Park, the home field for all Cup matches
this spring.
In the Challenge Cup the U9 Whitpain Wild coached by Mitch Harris, Kurt Wetzel and Don Gamburg went undefeated in
group play and narrowly missed moving on to the quarter-finals by a tie- breaker.
The U10 Whitpain Wonder coached by Tom Reilly and Joe Barton went undefeated in five matches and were crowned
statewide champions of the Challenge Cup. The semi-final was held in Harrisburg with the Wonder advancing with a 2-1
win over a very good CASA team. The final was held in Downingtown, PA on May 17. The Wonder won a hard fought 1-0
battle against a tough Wyoming Valley team. On June 7 the girls were recognized for their Cup Championship
accomplishment on the field of the Philadelphia Union game.
Championship Team photo:
Back - Coaches Tom Reilly, Joe Barton, Patrick Bailey
Second Row (L to R) Elaina Bailey, Heidi Cross, Alaina McVeigh,
Cece Reilly, Madeleine Murphy, Brooke Ashdale, Elena Barton
First Row (L to R) Emma Baker, Natalie Ryan, Maddie Shoup,
Kylie Friedman, Julia Schools, Caroline Caputo, Anna May
You are receiving this email because you registered at Whitpain Recreation Association. TO UNSUBSCRIBE, login to your WRA account and
check off the box to opt out of emails or simply delete your account. Our contact information is: [email protected] Whitpain Recreation
Association PO BOX 64 BLUE BELL PA 19422-0064 Copyright (C) Whitpain Recreation Association All rights reserved
UQUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
PAGE 5
Thanks to the Spring 2014 Baseball and Softball Sponsors!
WRA Baseball and Softball would like to thank the following organizations and families for their
support over the past season:
2nd Spark
Consulting
Aetna
ark by Korman
Blue Bell Pizza
A&S Sprinkler
A. LoStracco Masonry
AMLPortraits.com
Carmine's Pizza
Chandler Bats
Certified Abstract
Chariot Solutions
Cozen O'Connor
Educere
GSK
Holstein Engineering
Elliott Greenleaf Law
Hamilton Lane
Head First Baseball
InSourceNow
K'Nex
Leonard Sciolla
LiceLifters.com
m3
PJ Whelihan's
Rothman Institute
SportsSignUp
Steve Lynch Family
Marks Jewelers
Modell's
Rita's Blue Bell
Robert Romano Family
Stephen J. Labroli, Esquire
Univest Insurance
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard
Anthony Party Rental
Berger Henry ENT Specialty
Group
C&I Fence Contractors
Cichetti & Delligatti
Orthodontics
Electronic Security Systems
Fegley and Associates CPA's
Harry's Blue Bell Taproom
Keller Williams Realty LimerickDana Santo
Law Offices of Thomas C.
Egan III, Esquire
Matt Oberlies Landscaping
Toni Roni's
Tony G's Pub
Westerfer Roofing
Whitpain Police
Association
Blue Haven Pools
Norwood Vision Group
Pudge's Steaks and Hoagies
Rosemont Pharmacy
Signs By Tomorrow-Norristown
State Representative Kate
Harper
Vermont Lake Monsters
WRA Board Update:
Welcome aboard to Patrick Bailey to the WRA Board of Directors. Patrick was nominated to the Board during our June
meeting after being selected to Chair Travel Soccer.
Public Notice
The Annual Membership Meeting of the Whitpain Recreation Association (WRA) will be held on Sept 3, 2014 at 7:00 P.M.
in the Whitpain Township Building Conference Room A. Elections will be held to fill vacancies existing on the WRA Board
of Directors. The general public is invited to attend.
You are receiving this email because you registered at Whitpain Recreation Association. TO UNSUBSCRIBE, login to your WRA account and
check off the box to opt out of emails or simply delete your account. Our contact information is: [email protected] Whitpain Recreation
Association PO BOX 64 BLUE BELL PA 19422-0064 Copyright (C) Whitpain Recreation Association All rights reserved
UQUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
PAGE 6
Softball Season Wrap up!
Valiant effort by the Whitpain 10u team Orange Crush
Softball team (Below) coached by Heather Franczyk. While
they finished with a 6 -6 record, they pushed on and lost to a
team from Plymouth Township in the 2nd round of the
playoffs. Nice run ladies!
The 8u softball team of the Whitpain Fighting Lions (on the right) completed a great season under coach Brian
Thomas. They are 1 of 3 Whitpain teams in a league with Ambler, E. Norriton, L. Gwynedd and Plymouth. Nice
work ladies!
Intramural Soccer Spotlight!
Intramural soccer registration is still available for a few divisions (Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade Boys). Please
invite your friends to join the fun! We still have room for more players in those groups.
Commissioners are feverishly putting finishing touches on rosters. We hope to have teams assembled and ready for
release to all coaches and players by the end of July. Practice may begin mid-August. In the meantime, grab a copy
of the WRA Soccer Manual so you can brush up on the rules and philosophy. It’s a great read for the beach and will
give you a thorough understanding of our program!
We hope to introduce some exciting new features to the program this Fall. Look for Festival Days for the PreK and
Kindergarten divisions. Depending on interest, we also hope to field ‘Rec Select’ teams from one or more divisions in
area intramural tournaments.
The Division Commissioners are doing tons of work on our children’s behalf to assemble rosters, setup practice and
game schedules, and make sure everyone’s needs are met. Please join us in thanking the following individuals for the
massive amount of work and stress that goes into the job:
PreK – Sean O’Donnell
Grade 2/3 Boys – Tracy Palovich
Kindergarten – Marc Martinelli
Grade 4/5 Girls – Gail Dizengoff-Jones
1st Grade Girls – Bob Graefe
Grade 4/5 Boys – Joe Wurtenberg
st
1 Grade Boys – Heather Maltin
Middle School 6-8 – George Crowley
Grade 2/3 Girls – Christy Galloway
Referee Coordinator/Field Marshall - Jim Cavanaugh
Of course, we always have room for more volunteers to perform the many tasks that make the program a success.
The more parents that become involved in running the program, the easier it will be for all of us, and the better IM
Soccer will be for our kids. Of note, we currently have openings for an Equipment Manager and a Fields & Facilities
Director. Please contact any IM Soccer Committee member.
If your player is itching to kick the ball around, our website has links to several summer camps. Most are local, but
there are some near the Jersey shore, too.
You are receiving this email because you registered at Whitpain Recreation Association. TO UNSUBSCRIBE, login to your WRA account and
check off the box to opt out of emails or simply delete your account. Our contact information is: [email protected] Whitpain Recreation
Association PO BOX 64 BLUE BELL PA 19422-0064 Copyright (C) Whitpain Recreation Association All rights reserved
UQUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
PAGE 7
How to Sponsor:
WRA is always looking for Sponsors for our teams. What a great way to get your organization’s or business’s name
out in the community by supporting our kids.
Your Business or Organizations name can be proudly displayed on our player’s uniforms worn at all WRA
games the team you sponsor participates in!
For the nominal price of $175 per team, we can put your sponsorship to print. In return you will receive
acknowledgement at the end of the season from WRA in the form of a certificate, plaque award and/or team
photo proudly displaying your business or organization.
INSTRUCTIONS to get started sponsoring today:
Register online at www.wrasports.org
1. Click on the ‘Click Here to Login\Register’ box.
2. Click on the ‘Register to Play/Participate’ box.
3. Select yourself (an adult) as the registrant; then click on ‘Register Now’ button.
4. Then click on ‘Register’ button under the Sport you want to Sponsor and complete the Checkout process.
Want to pay by check? Simply fill out the web form by clicking HERE, print and mail the form with your payment to:
WRA Sports
PO Box 64
Blue Bell, PA 19422-0064
Grand Re-Opening of PECO Field for Baseball.
Phase 1 of a 3 phase baseball field improvement project
has been completed. The baseball field improvement
committee raised $45,000 to complete several
improvements on PECO field on North Wales Road.
This is the main field for our 11 and 12 year old players,
who play in the WRA American League. The
improvements include a new backstop, new outfield
fence, 2 batting cages and several capital equipment
purchases for field maintenance.
The grand Re-Opening for the PECO field was held on
Friday, April 11. More details can be found in the
Ambler Gazette article by clicking here.
Montgomery Media staff photo / SCOTT ROMAN
You are receiving this email because you registered at Whitpain Recreation Association. TO UNSUBSCRIBE, login to your WRA account and
check off the box to opt out of emails or simply delete your account. Our contact information is: [email protected] Whitpain Recreation
Association PO BOX 64 BLUE BELL PA 19422-0064 Copyright (C) Whitpain Recreation Association All rights reserved
UQUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
PAGE 8
Volunteering
We exist solely because of the efforts of dozens of
volunteers, including (but not limited to) board members,
commissioners, coaches, equipment managers, referees
and web managers.
Our Sports Offerings
Baseball
Spring Intramural for kids ages 5 to 12 years old as of April 30,
2014.
Spring Boys Travel teams for kids’ ages 13 to 19 years old.
Spring Tee Ball for 5 and 6 year old boys/girls.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Come out and help in any way you
can. Contact one of the league chairs for help in
Basketball
matching your availability and interests with a role in WRA: Instructional Basketball for experienced & new boys/girls in
Baseball/Softball: Mike Basile, [email protected]
grades 1 to 3.
Intramural Basketball for Boys in Grade Levels 3 to 12 & for Girls
Intramural/Instructional Basketball: Jess McVeigh,
in Grade Levels 3 to 8.
[email protected]
Travel Basketball For Boys age 9-13 years old & Girls ages 9-12
years old.
Travel Basketball: Chris Hynes, [email protected]
Field Hockey
Winter program: (3rd grade thru 11th grade)
Field Hockey: Pat Guaglianone, [email protected]
Registration begins in September
Lisa Becker, [email protected]
Programs running late November thru early February.
Intramural Soccer: Dave Frank [email protected]
Spring program: (1st grade thru 11th grade)
Registration begins in January
Travel Soccer: Patrick Bailey, [email protected]
Programs running mid-March thru early June.
Soccer
Fall Intramural - Boys and girls ages 4 to 18
Travel - Boys and girls ages 9 to 17
Visit us on Facebook!
Softball
For Boys & girls ages 7 through 12.
https://www.facebook.com/WRAsports
Upcoming Events
Month of July:
 Travel Soccer Practices begin
 Baseball Tournament Season ends
Month of August:
 Intramural soccer teams finalized and practices
begin (1st grade and up)
 Co-Ed Fall Baseball Registration Begins
 Fall Baseball Registration Begins
Month of September:
 Intramural Soccer Season Begins for Pre-K and up
 Co-Ed Fall Baseball Registration ends and season
begins
 WRA Board Annual Meeting
 Indoor Field Hockey Registration Begins
 Travel Basketball Tryouts and Registration begins
 Intramural and Instructional Basketball registration
begins
 Travel Soccer Development Clinic Season ends
Coming in 2015 for WRA Travel Soccer
You are receiving this email because you registered at Whitpain Recreation Association. TO UNSUBSCRIBE, login to your WRA account and
check off the box to opt out of emails or simply delete your account. Our contact information is: [email protected] Whitpain Recreation
Association PO BOX 64 BLUE BELL PA 19422-0064 Copyright (C) Whitpain Recreation Association All rights reserved