2004 Sports Jamboree

The 22nd Annual Sports Jamboree was held June 25-27, 2004 at Indiantown Gap.  We were honored to have the TelecomPioneer CEO, Jim  Gadd, and his wife, Cindy, from Denver, Colorado, attend the Jamboree as volunteers.  Once again, we had gorgeous weather for all the events.

Parade is off and running

More parade

Civil Air Patrol line the parade route

Clowns in parade

Clowns with special transportation

Parade in progress

Parade heads to stadium

Casey Witmer

Band leading parade into games area

PA State Police march in parade

Kristin Egnatowicz and Annmarie Hamlin arrive in games area

Trevor Smith & Leigha Druckemiller

Dan Levandusky & Andrew Beazley

Once a contestant reaches 22 years old, they are no longer eligible to participate in the Pioneer Sports Jamboree.  This year's graduates are Dan Levandusky, Andrew Beazley, Adam Holley, Rachel Goldberg, and Jodie Steiner.  Each contestant said thanks and goodbye in their own way.

For the past ten years I have had the privilege of participating in the Telephone Pioneer, Fort Indiantown Gap Sports Jamboree.  I have obtained countless memories that I will carry with me forever.  I would first and foremost like to extend a special thank you to the Telephone Pioneers, especially Bobby Csencsits, Colleen and Renee, and to all the who play such an important part to make this event special.  If it weren’t for these special people there would be no Jamboree.  I couldn’t imagine a summer without the Jamboree.  I would also like to extend a thank you to all the service men and women that have allowed us to use the grounds of this base for a place we can call “Home of the Jamboree.”  The Jamboree has been a part of my summer for a long time now, and even though it is only three days out of a year I find myself during the year counting the days until we meet again.

Today, as we are all gathered here once again, I find myself reflecting on all the years of memories I have of this wonderful sporting event.  I think about all of the fun times competing in the events.  But most of all I think about the many wonderful people I have met and have been able to build long lasting friendships with and all the great times we have had together.

I remember as a new competitor eating lunch with Jennifer Branda who taught me to do my first wheelie.  Of course I fell as soon as I leaned back.  That was a great experience getting to know her that year because the following year we were able to have many fierce and heated competitions with each other, knowing it was all in fun.  I have seen a second generation Jennifer in Taylor Dippery - one of the first people to knock me out of my chair!  Throughout my years here I have been able to build a great friendship with many individuals, but in particular, my “partner in crime” Andrew Beazley, a great friend and a great competitor throughout the years.  I will certainly miss all the great competitions we had especially the basketball games and the well-known 40-yard race

I remember the great scenes of camaraderie, friendship and togetherness that poured from this event.  To me, a competition isn’t about whether you win or lose.  It’s about trying your hardest, playing fair, but most of all having fun while participating and that is what this weekend is all about. 

As a young competitor I remember staying up late in the hot barracks (which now are air conditioned) playing card and board games with a bunch of friends while eating all kinds of snacks after those crazy dances with Mr. B.  Those were the best nights  - until a 6 a.m. wake up call by some guy screaming down the hall (OOPS, did I say that?  I meant he had the voice of an angel.)  Oh those Mr. B dances were fun.  I can remember getting covered in toilet paper, winning trophies for longest male hair, doing the chicken dance and the electric slide, dancing that one slow dance with that special girl – Jodie Steiner – and we can’t forget Karaoke. 

After an intense night of fun and a few winks, it was time to get up for the parade to the competition grounds.  I had the privilege of being the torchbearer one year for the parade. I have represented the USA in many sports such as swimming, power lifting, sled hockey and track and field but there is nothing like that one time I was holding that Olympic torch high in the air for our country.

The first time I was invited to this event I was only a little kid zooming around in my quickie 2HP chair full of life, giving every event my all.  I remember my first year competing in the 40-yard dash, pushing as fast as I could, the wind in my face and the crowd roaring.  Win or lose it felt like such an accomplishment and a complete adrenaline rush at the same time - getting from point A to point B, which seemed so long.  Wow, look at me now – I need a human wall to stop me from going over the cliff at the end of the 40 yards.  Before the race the usual conversation between these “stoppers” was “Oh boy, we gotta stop him and hopefully it doesn’t hurt too bad.”  I just want to say “sorry” to all of those that I have mowed down and injured and a thanks to the State Police fitness team, Army, ambulance crew, Carlos, Mike and Kyle for keeping me safe all these years.

Through these ten years I have obtained enough memories to last a lifetime and could write a book about it.  I put the two words – lifetime and book in the same sentence – because “life” is like a book.  Each experience is another part that adds to the plot; not knowing what is going to happen next or what obstacle we might have to overcome in our lives is just the sheer excitement that makes us keep reading.  The places in which we visit resemble the setting; the innumerable people we meet are the characters in which we develop friendships and relationships.  The thing about a book is that you can always go back and reread or revisit a certain part and maybe even see it in a different perspective.  I know I definitely want to revisit this part of my book we call life next year.  Thank you Pioneers for years of great competitions, friendships, fun and memories.  I’ll see you all next year.