Bologna sports keep kids active
YALE — Horseshoes, cornhole, three-on-three basketball, a homerun derby and even the coveted Duck races were all on the lineup of Bologna Festival activities for participants of all ages.
Let’s not forget the bologna ring toss Friday night either. The annual 1K Fun Run and 5K cross country run always draw good crowds of runners (and walkers) and this year was no exception.
Girls basketball Coach Jason Leonard said the hoops tournament typically draws 35 to 40 teams.
“It’s tough this year,” he said during a break in the action Saturday. “We are a week later with the festival. People are gone on vacations before school starts up again, but I’m pretty happy with the turnout.”
Coach Leonard said he believed 26 teams, of all ages of players, took part in the tournament.
The athletes used four courts in the high school gym, with each section a different age group. Coach Leonard kept a close eye (looking for more players for his program) on the girls division and varsity boys basketball Garnett Kohler handled the high school age 11th and 12th grade boys. Proceeds from the tournament go to the Yale basketball program.
The runners wasted no time on Saturday morning, lining up for the 1K Fun Run and Walk at 8 a.m. at the main stage. Shortly after the last contestant crossed the finish line, an even larger group of 5K runners and walkers toed the start/finish line before heading north to the stoplight and going west on Park Ave. Proceeds from the two events went to the girls cross country team.
While the bologna ring toss had its usual competitive entries, there were three special guests that did themselves proud by launching the specialty meat ring. The two college-aged occupants of the Weinermobile, “Ketchup Campbell” and “Lunchmeat Luke” couldn’t resist the temptation of trying their luck. Luke let loose with an impressive toss of 106 feet.
Campbell and a visitor from Spain also heaved their bologna rings down Main Street as the crowd cheered them on.
Connor Sheehan competed in the 8-16 age group and took home top honors after launching his ring 97 feet down the street. He later celebrated his win with a stop at the Bulldog Lounge for an ice cream treat with family members. Results from all of the events were not available as of press time.
