Archive: Around Town

September 9th was a very bad day for Owego.  The National Weather Service reports the Susquehanna River crested a record breaking 40 feet that day, 10 feet above flood stage.  Two key bridges leading into the town were closed, half the residents were evacuated, and a curfew was imposed the next night to try to contain looting.  Everything ground to a halt, and that included canceling a girls soccer game between Owego and Lansing's varsity teams.  Wednesday of last week Lansing went to Owego to make up that game and to surprise their opponents at half time.

"Each one of our players handed one of their players a gift card," says Lansing Athletic Director Adam Heck.  "It wasn't just about playing the game.  I think they had this idea that after the devastation they wanted to go down there and give everything they could to reach out to them."

At half time the teams assembled on the field, and the Lansing players read a statement of support to the Owego girls.  Each Owego player received a $25 gift card when the teams assembled on the field during half time.  The money came from fundraising efforts including a chicken barbecue and a pancake breakfast.  Heck says they had money in the team's account that usually goes to support the team. 

Owego and Lansing are in different leagues, so they wouldn't play each other in the course of the regular season.  But the teams scheduled a game to give the girls added experience playing against accomplished teams.  Rescheduling the game meant playing two days in a row for the Lansing team, but neither Peters nor the girls through twice about that.

Heck says a network of parents and Coach LaMaar Peters came up with the idea of supporting the Owego community.  Clara Barrett and the other parents came together to organize the effort.  Heck says Peters had an idea of what Owego families needed through his association with the Owego coach.

When the game was cancelled originally there was no thought of rescheduling it, as it was not part of the regular season.  But after the flood Lansing become invested in finding a time to play the Owego girls.  Owego teams had to wait for other priorities, and it was at least two weeks before soil on the fields were tested for contamination and the green light was given to resume play.

The loss to their families and community didn't prevent Owego from playing hard.  At the end of the evening they won in a close two to one victory.  But Heck says it was a great experience for the Lansing team.

"It was a great game," Heck says.  "I'm sure our girls were disappointed in the result, but felt good about why they went and how they handled themselves.  I know our girls understood it was more than just a game that night.  I want to thank Coach Peters and the parents and the girls for representing our school in such a positive way.  As an athletic department we couldn't be prouder of what our girls program did for Lansing, and more importantly for Owego."

Lansing stands at 12-2 for the regular season.  They play Whitney Point in a home game at Lansing tonight (Friday 10/14).

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