Sports

In-line skater Ryan Smerker preforms a trick on the ramps at the YMCA Skate Park in Upper Hanover Township. The park ins currently undergoing a makeover which includes replacement of some of the skating surfaces.

                It wasn’t a place the neighbors were proud of.

                Teens would urinate over the fence, loudly use profanity, litter and vandalize the property.  Upper Perk Police were becoming frequent visitors to the Xtreme Skate Park inside Kistler-Bitting Park, Upper Hanover Township.

                “People in the community and here at the Y begged me to shut it down,” said Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA branch director Michael Tannous.  “It [the skate park] was just a nightmare.

                “And after 10 years, it needed a lot of work.” 

                But all that has changed.  Now the park, known around the community as a place to avoid, is looking to become a local attraction.

                Under Tannous, who previously worked with local teens as pastor of Red Hill-based Community Bible Fellowship Church, the park is undergoing a makeover.  The 12,000-sq.ft., professionally-designed space got a thorough cleaning.  It also sports new fencing and railings. 

                The skate park office, which had unfinished walls with exposed wiring, now has finished walls and a fresh coat of paint.  The space also boasts air conditioning and the mini kitchen, where drinks and snacks are sold, has a toaster oven and microwave.

                But, for all the serious skateboarders and in-line skaters, the equipment is what matters most.  The YMCA will soon be replacing about 20 damaged boards on ramps with new Skate-Lite Pro boards.  They are pursuing two different grants, one through a private foundation and another through electronics chain Best Buy, to fund the pricey repairs.

                Several ramps, including the quarter pipes and half pipes, will also have new plywood installed on their walls.  In all, thousands of dollars are being invested in the park’s makeover. 

                Tannous also has his sights set on the park’s clientele.  Last year, his first with the organization, he started “Free Wednesdays” where skaters can use the park for free as long as they stay for a half-hour lesson on one of the Y’s four character values—caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

                “We teach the kids to respect their parents, property and other people’s time, among other things,” Tannous said.  “This is classic, good Y work to me…the Y has the undercurrent of caring for the whole person.  This is reaching a segment of the population that’s hard to reach.”

                Tannous noted that the skate park is locked and supervised by an adult at all times when it is open.  There is no minimum age to be admitted, but everyone must be respectful or the Y will close down the facilities.

                Last year the skate park and adjacent basketball courts were closed several times due to destructive behavior, but this year they have only closed their doors twice. 

                “We shut it down to say ‘You have to respect the property; we’re watching this place,’” Tannous said.  “But the park has stayed clean.  The neighbors and the police have said ‘Thank you; what a difference.’”

                District Justice Catherine Hummel-Fried of Red Hill regularly sends individuals sentenced to community service to the Y’s facilities at the park.  Upper Perk Police were given 50 passes for free admission to the skate park and were asked to hand them out freely.

                Tannous said his mission is to have the park used regularly.

                “We want kids to come to our park,” he said.  “We are very excited to be meeting a community need.  That’s why the park was given to the Y, to give the people of the community something to do.  We are your community Y and we care about community in a broader way than just being a swim and gym.”

                The Y will be holding skateboarding camps for skaters ages 8 and up who want to learn or reinforce basic skills or learn new tricks from 9 a.m. until 12 noon June 21-25, July 19-23 and August 9-13 at the skate park.  The camps will be taught by veteran skateboarder Justin Smith.  The cost is $65 for full members and $80 for program members.

                Clinics will also be held on Mondays and Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. at the park all summer for a small fee.

                For more information, visit the annex at 476 Pottstown Avenue in Pennsburg, or call (215)679-9622.

All-Around Athlete awards were given to Paula Heimbach and Chase Fleming.

The annual Blue and Gold athletic banquet brought the past and the present together Tuesday as former standouts Larry Hoff, Becky Frank and Mark Smith Jr. were enshrined in the Upper Perkiomen Hall of Fame before the current crop of athletes were honored for their careers and achievements.

Hoff, a 1958 graduate, was a three-sport star at Upper Perk, but most of his legacy came from baseball. A high school, American Legion, and Tri-County standout, Hoff had tryouts with the Phillies, St. Louis, and Cleveland organizations before becoming a coach at the junior Legion and senior Legion levels. He still serves as a commissioner in the Bux-Mont Legion league.

And Hoff is a member of another Hall of Fame, the Pottstown Bowling Association. He has a perfect game to his credit and has bowled in state tournaments for 29 years.

Hoff worked for Knoll for 35 years, during which time he received a patent for designing a locking system for desk cabinets.

Becky Frank went to Indiana University of Pennsylvania on a field hockey scholarship after graduating from high school in 2000. She started for four years, and during her career, IUP made its first ever Division II national playoff appearance and first number one national ranking. In 2003, Becky finished eighth in the country in assists for D-II schools.

Becky returned to this area to earn a doctoral degree in physical therapy from Widener, and she now works as pediatric physical therapist in the Miami area.

Mark Smith, class of 2002, was part of the outstanding Upper Perk wrestling teams of the past decade and his signature headlock garnered a national reputation and fired up the fan base for his every appearance. In high school, Smith set a state record for pins in a career (124) and the District 1 record for wins (161).

Coach Tom Hontz, who introduced Smith, called him “one of a kind.”

At East Stroudsburg, Smith continued his pin fest with an ESU school record of 61. He finished his college career with 99 wins.

Smith gives back to the UP wrestling program as an assistant coach and as the head coach of the Braves.

As for this generation of athletes, the Outstanding Athlete Awards were given to Audrey Malloy, Liam Smith and Tim Mayza.

Malloy capped an illustrious career in cross country and track as a state qualifier in both sports. She medaled in the state cross country championships. She holds several course records in cross country.

Liam Smith led a resurgent swim program to outstanding performances in the regular season, districts and states. Smith qualified for states in 50 free and with the 200 free relay team which took a seventh place medal at states. Smith also played water polo.

Tim Mayza capped his basketball and baseball careers as a captain and will be heading to Millersville on a baseball scholarship. He threw a no-hitter as a sophomore and was an All PAC-10 First Teamer as a pitcher this season.

The other coveted awards, the All-Around Athletes, were given to Paula Heimbach and Chase Fleming.

Heimbach was a standout for the hockey team and 2nd Team All-PAC-10 player despite having her season cut short by injury. She will play hockey at Duke. In the spring, Paula played lacrosse.

Fleming was a key player for both the football and baseball teams. On the gridiron, Fleming was First Team, All PAC-10 on offense and defense. He will play college football at Shippensburg. In baseball, Fleming set a record for saves as a junior, and this year he was First Team, All PAC-10 as an outfielder.

Some of the most poignant moments of the banquet come with the awards established in honor of former members of the UP family who are deceased.

This year, Matt Kirkpatrick earned the Terry Fetterman Memorial Award, Paula Heimbach the Debbie Hodge Memorial Award, Tyler Grim the Joe Ricapito Memorial Award, Steven Grover the Kyheim Tripp Memorial Award, Audrey Malloy the Lori Moll Memorial Award, Felicia Sloyer and Derek Nestler the Samantha Snyder Memorial Water Polo Award, Laura Brust and Byron Tannous the Ralph W. Engle Memorial Award, and Andrew Orlick the Keith Klepac Memorial Award.

The Sports Boosters presented Outstanding Achievement awards to Malloy, Fleming, Mayza, and Liam Smith.

Other award winners included Esomchim Akponunu (Gross School Bus Award), Tim Mayza (Champion Award), Josie Elias and Liam Smith (United States Army Scholar Award), Paula Heimbach and Ben Brannick (U.S. Marines Distinguished Athlete Award), Lauren Meachem, Jennie Pierson, and Ciro Chiaro (Valley Soccer Awards).

The banquet was sponsored by the Green Lane/Marlborough Lions Club, the Upper Perkiomen Valley Lions Club, the Green Lane/Marlborough Lioness Club, and the Upper Perkiomen Sports Booster Club.

Athletic Director Steve Perl-stein was the Master of Ceremonies.