Do you recall those special signs in Ellwood City that fall was coming? The grass would start turning brown, Ames would start replacing their outdoor section with notebooks, pencils and other back to school supplies, and of course young boys would begin crossing the big blue Ewing Park Bridge carrying yellow football helmets on their way to practice. Of course I am talking about the Ellwood City Packers.
The Packers were Ellwood City's team in the Beaver County Youth Football League for many years until being re-named the Little Wolverines. The league was set up into four categories, each with its own age and weight restrictions. Players less than seven years old and weighing less than 85 pounds played in the Twerps (category). Once a player turned eight, he was moved up to the Termites, but he could not weigh more than one hundred pounds. Players ten and eleven played at least in the Mitey Mites until they weighed 125 pounds and players 12 and older played on the Midgets squad up until they weighed 145 pounds.
It was not until recently that players were prohibited from moving up in class due to weight or ability level. I personally remember playing on the Midget squad when I was in Sixth grade and being seven and playing on the Termites. Please let me clarify, I was not moved up because of my ability level either. I was not alone, I recall other players wearing garbage bags under their pads trying to sweat out an extra pound or two so they could play on Saturday.
In the second picture taken in the 1980's, the roster included; Left to right - 1st Row - Jamie Yanssens, Josh Lobozzo, unknown, Andy Ingold, Zack Bieselt, B.J. Patterson, Derek Thompson - 2nd Row - Jason Maine, Tim Reed, unknown, Ryan Navolio, Charlie Vesceri, unknown, Erik Montozzi, Russ Rangel - 3rd Row - Brandon Hooker?, Alvin Jenkins, Nino Riccio, Gary Rozanski, Dave Sedgwick, Mark Hall, Dave Tyburski - 4th Row - Coach Bieselt, Coach Brendt, Coach Montozzi
Thousands of Ellwood City youth played on the Packers over the years, so we can not wait until we hear all your memories and see the pictures you share. Please leave your comments below or you can email us by CLICKING HERE.
Tags: bridge, ewing park, football, school
that picture brings back alot of memories. doing laps around ewing park school. coach bill parecell yelling at us and coach t.t. brandt getting us fired up before games and coach sqeak telling us to rip off there heads . those were the days i think alot of us still and always will remember and miss so much..