Archive: Sports

Trumansburg and Lansing's varsity football teams have always been worthy rivals.  But when they clash at this year's game there will be more at stake in the first annual Battle For The Paddle.  The winner of the September 18th game at Trumansburg's Tarbell Field will get to display the brand new custom-made paddle and will have bragging rights for a year until next year's game.

"It's already found a home in our trophy case," says Lansing Athletic Director John Taylor.

"When we win it, please come by and check it out," retorts Trumansburg's Atletic Director Matt Taves.  "When you first come in, just to the right will be the trophies for that year's athletics.  That's where the paddle will have it's home."

"So that will be the empty spot," Taylor replies.

That kind of friendly rivalry is exactly what the two athletic directors are hoping to encourage in their players.  They hope the Battle For The Paddle will build spirit and enthusiasm for their teams and the whole Lansing and Trumansburg Communities.  Taylor started working on the idea soon after he started at Lansing last year.


"Spencer-van Etten and Candor have a rivalry game where there's a jug that they pass back and forth," he says.  "Ithaca College and Cortland College have the big Cortaca Jug game.  So this area has rivalry games.  Last year I asked the kids who our biggest rival is.  I thought it would have been Dryden or Groton, but every athlete said, 'Nope, Trumansburg.'"

Taylor got the idea to compete for a paddle because the two communities are across Cayuga lake from each other.

"I thought, what do we have in common?" he says.  "There is a radio station with a slogan, 'Shake the Lake.'  The lake is the common factor.  What can we do with the lake?  Canoe -- maybe the native Americans had something.  Battling... Battle... Battle for the Paddle!"

Taylor approached former Trumansburg Athletic Director John Testa with the idea, and they began working on it together.  Both of their superintendents were enthusiastic, and the planning commenced.  T-shirts are on sale for $10 at both schools this week and leading up to the game.  Taylor and Taves are still working on what will undoubtedly become traditions -- how the paddle is presented to the winning team, how the winners will be recorded on the paddle each year, and what kind of ceremony will be attached.


Because the game is in Trumansburg this year Taylor says it is up to Taves to do something special.  "Whatever he does this year we'll have to top next year," Taylor laughs.  "So all the pressure is on him."

Taves is considering a symbolic handing over of the paddle at the beginning of the game, and says that in addition to the regular pep band and cheerleaders he is planning a half time show that will feature the Trumansburg Blue Raider mascot doing something to do with the Battle For The Paddle.  ESPN 1160AM may broadcast the game -- officials are hopeful that can be arranged for the first annual Battle.

Both athletic directors stress good sportsmanship and the bonds between rivals that are formed when playing rivalry games.  Taves says he would like to explore other possibilities between the two schools, possibly basketball in the winter season.

"I think we have a huge future ahead of us in terms of the things that we can do to encourage the rivalry and camaraderie and sportsmanship our two schools share," Taves says.  "There is a lot we can do to enhance and promote that."

"We're expecting a good crowd," Taylor says.  "People will get excited about it.  I hope it is something that takes off.  20 years down the road when I'm retired and I look in the paper and see the headline about whatever school won the Battle for the Paddle, I will be able to say I had something to do with that.  I hope it lasts for years and years and years."

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