Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

SIDELINES

Time to expand Cony-Gardiner fundraiser

By Gary Hawkins ghawkins@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

The Drive Out Cancer Challenge involving high school teams from Cony and Gardiner last week was an unqualified success.

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GAMES DO GOOD: From left, Cony High School’s Nick Lucas and Luke Duncklee grabs a hold of Gardiner Area High School’s Tyler Williams during their exhibition game Aug. 27 in Gardiner. The recent Drive Out Cancer Challenge between the longtime rivals last week was an unqualified success. Most importantly, it raised $15,000 for the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta.

Photo by Jeff Pouland

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Most importantly, it raised $15,000 for the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta. It encouraged fans and athletes from both communities to become involved in raising awareness for a disease that affects nearly every family in America.

It also provided a chance for teams from the rival schools to play one another in exhibition games since they no longer meet in the regular season. The idea began last year when the field hockey teams met and raised $5,000 for cancer research. This fall it included the annual football game and the boys and girls soccer teams.

With a realignment of football classes in the state on the docket for the Maine Principals' Association, Cony and Gardiner will likely compete in the same class again next season, as they have many times in the past. The field hockey and soccer games will probably be played as exhibitions.

Officials from both schools are looking at ideas to enhance the Cancer Challenge for next year when the games will be played in Augusta.

Why not have every team from each school play one another and donate the money to the cancer center?

The cause did a lot to enliven the rivalry this year. All four teams from each school played in front of larger crowds than they'll see all season. The football rivalry, which dates back to 1892, drew nearly 4,000 fans. More than 600 watched the field hockey game while the soccer games drew slightly smaller crowds.

The formality of the event, complete with announcers and concessions, is something the soccer and field hockey teams rarely see.

The fact that cancer survivors connected to each of the teams were introduced before each game helped make the cause much more personal. And as much as the rivalry can mean to community members, it also helped make fans better behaved toward the other team.

How about expanding this to basketball?

The teams haven't played since Gardiner dropped from Class A a few years ago. They should play each year, preferably in the Capital City Hoop Classic at the Augusta Civic Center. The Cancer Challenge need not overwhelm the event or the other teams, but could include proceeds from the boys and girls game as well as donations. The last time the Cony and Gardiner boys played in Augusta during Gardiner final year in Class A, it was one of more entertaining games of the year.

The same holds true for baseball and softball teams which no longer meet, but certainly should since the cities are only six miles apart. Some of the teams from the schools already meet -- track, wrestling, hockey, cross country -- and the cancer cause would only draw more fans and attention to their sports. In the case of hockey, it could help tone things down as well.

Every cent from these games doesn't have to go to the cancer cause. Money can be taken out for officials, lights and other necessary expenses. But athletes could get actively involved for one week out of the year and the communities could come together for a cause greater than just winning or competing.

Volunteers? I'm sure they're are many willing take part.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com