Clarion Area Holds 13th Annual Fall Sports Kickoff Bonfire

Above image by Doug Klein: 2022 Clarion Area Fall Sports Kickoff Bonfire

The combined Sports Boosters from Clarion Area High School presented the 2022 Fall Sports Kickoff Bonfire , on Thursday, August 25th, at the Clarion Area Field, behind the High School. This was the 13th Annual Edition of this fine event, which recognizes the various teams, their players and coaches, the Marching Band, Clarion Singers, Cheerleaders, parents, and others involved with Clarion Area sports.

As always, “Emcee For Life,” Doug Klein did his masterful job in keeping everyone entertained and the program moving along without a hitch. Coordinating the event, as she has for the last several years, was Laura Burford.

The Clarion Area Marching Band, under the direction of Miss Sarah Dawson and Assistant Director Joyce DiTullio, led the teams onto the field, where they formed the tunnel for the athletes to run through. Then the Band, along with the Clarion Singers performed the National Anthem.

The Band, along with the Clarion Singers, then performed the National Anthem.

The Marching Band then gave a preview of their program for 2022: “Theme From Spiderman,” I Wanna Be Like You,” from “Jungle Book,” and Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” from “Rocky III and IV.” The Cheer Squad performed with the Band on “Bad Romance.”

As the Band and Cheer Squad joined the others at the tunnel, Doug thanked various individuals who helped make the evening possible: Clarion Fire & Hose Co. #1 (in charge of the bonfire) “who light up the night for us;” the Clarion Area Administration, including Superintendent Dr. Joe Carrico, Assistant Athletic Director, Natalie Miller-Martini, Athletic Director Nancy Mills, and Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Mike Fagley; Clarion Borough and Clarion Sports Zone. Doug also had a special shout out, “And of course, E-Z Dogs for his delicious hot dogs!” and concluded by saying, “Thank you all!”

E-Z Dogs, a wonderful new business run by Ezra Brooks and his mother Tanya, which earmarks proceeds to various organizations and causes helping Down Syndrome/Trysome21 citizens as well as others with special needs, used the Bonfire Night as their “Official” public Grand Opening.

A separate article on E-Z Dogs’ night at the bonfire is planned for later in the week.

Then it was time for the introductions. Doug opened with, “Sports fans and Band enthusiasts alike, tonight we recognize these athletes and band members who represent Clarion Area and our co-ops and we applaud their commitment to be the best athlete and player they can be!… And here are your teams and band for Fall 2022.”

Then the student athletes, band members, cheer squad etc. were introduced individually as they ran through the “gauntlet” to about midfield and posed as a team, with their pallets. The “pieces of art” were then judged with the winner laying claim to the traveling trophy, which is theirs for the next year.

A brand new feature of this year’s Bonfire, was a T-Shirt launch, which took place during player introductions.

The Teams were introduced in this order: Clarion Area Volleyball; Clarion Area Cross Country; Clarion Area Girls Soccer (Co-op with Clarion-Limestone); Central Clarion Wildcats Football (Co-op including Clarion Area, North Clarion and Clarion-Limestone); Clarion-Limestone Boys Soccer (Co-op with Clarion Area); Golf; Wildcats Cheer Team (Co-op including Clarion Area, North Clarion and Clarion-Limestone); and the Clarion Area Marching Band.

After being introduced the teams lined up on the sidelines, where few suspense filled moments took place, before Natalie Miller-Martini presented the traveling trophy to this year’s winner the Clarion Area Marching Band.

Doug sent the throng over to the Bonfire area, by concluding, “Earlier we thanked the individuals and organizations that made tonight happen. We also thank you, the parents and families who drive their studentss to and from countless camps, practices, and games.

Clarion Area, along with our co-op schools, North Clarion and Clarion-Limestone can be very proud to have such fine students to represent them. Good luck to all the teams this fall season and a big “thank you’ to our marching band for being our number one fans!”

Congratulations to all who made this year’s Bonfire a success! Have great seasons Clarion Area Teams, Central Clarion Wildcats and C-L Boys Soccer!!!!