Syracuse,
NY – August 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / Teams of young athletes
from all over New York State are invited to participate in the brand new
Home Run Derby and Skills Challenge and Football Skills Challenge, taking
place from Aug. 29 to Sept. 5 at the Great
New York State Fair. The event will take place on a new, large grass
area in the heart of the Fairgrounds, between the Youth Building and the
new Wade Shows Midway. Registration for the event is underway at www.4skillny.com.
The activity consists of
two separate competitions. First is a football skill challenge for children
ages 5 through 16, taking place Aug. 29 to Sept. 1. Young athletes will
compete in kicking, punting and passing events. The baseball challenge,
taking place Sept. 2 to Sept. 5, is open to teams of four children ages
9 through 12. The first day of the baseball challenge will be devoted to
athletes from Little League’s Challenger Division, which is for developmentally
and physically challenged young athletes. The challenges in the baseball
events involve pitching speed, throwing accuracy, a relay race, and a home
run derby. Rules and regulations for the baseball event follow the Little
League major division guidelines for this age.
Registration costs $25 per
child and $15 per coach for up to two coaches, and includes admission to
the Fair for one day. New York Central Mutual Insurance is a major sponsor
of the event.
Mark Lukasiewicz, who played
on the World Series-winning Anaheim Angels 2002 team, will be on hand Saturday,
Sept. 3 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to sign autographs, provide commentary during
the skills challenge, and to meet the athletes. Mark also played for the
Syracuse Chiefs for five seasons, from 1997 to 2000 and again in 2004.
“The Fair is a showcase
for the many wonderful things our state’s young people do, from agriculture
to music and sports. I’m looking forward to watching some of the state’s
best young athletes show what they can do,” said Troy Waffner, Acting Fair
Director.
Terry Potter of event promoter
Millennia Entertainment
said, “We are thrilled with the support this new aspect of the Great New
York State Fair has received thus far. From community members, to businesses,
to retired professional athletes, everyone that has been approached has
been more than willing to lend their expertise to this new venture.”
In addition, the National
Arm Wrestling League’s New York State Championships was a success in its
inaugural year and returns for a second year with more events on Sun.,
Sept. 4. The featured event is a series of matches involving champions
and top competitors from the sport’s major league, the World Arm Wrestling
League, as seen recently on ESPN.
While most events are for
professional and amateur arm wrestlers, there are divisions for first-time
arm wrestlers as well, including children. Information on registering for
events can be found at cnyarmwrestlers.com
or by calling 315-288-0630.
“Anybody can step to the
table and arm wrestle - that’s what is great about the sport. Sure, you
have to learn a little technique to get better but anyone can do it and
it’s a lot of fun,” said event promoter James Reid.
Athletes compete and showcase
their skills every day in many other events that take place in front of
the Toyota Coliseum. The featured events for the 2016 Fair are:
-
Thurs., Aug 25: Westside Gymnastics
Exhibition
-
Fri., Aug. 26: Lou Davis Memorial
Basketball Tournament
-
Sat., Aug. 27: Lou Davis Memorial
Basketball Tournament and wrestling
-
Sun., Aug. 28: The New York
State Fair Wrestling Challenge
-
Mon., Aug. 29 and Tues., Aug.
30: New York State Girls All-Star basketball practices, clinics, and games
-
Wed., Aug. 31 and Thurs., Sept.
1: New York State Boys All-Star basketball practices, clinics, and games
-
Fri., Sept. 2 and Sat., Sept.
3: Ray Rinaldi New York State Championship Boxing Tournament
-
Sun., Sept. 4: The National
Arm Wrestling League’s New York State Arm Wrestling Tournament
-
Mon., Sept. 5: Moving Along
Flyers Wheelchair Basketball Tournament
In addition, there are daily
appearances by the Harlem Wizards, a basketball team whose members leave
Fairgoers laughing at their comedy and amazed by their skills. Performance
times vary and are listed on the Fair’s official schedule of daily events.
About the Great New York
State Fair
The New
York State Fair, operated by the New
York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from August
25 to September 5, 2016. The Fair’s mission, reflected in its theme, “Summer’s
Best In Show!,” is to showcase the best of New York agriculture while providing
top-quality entertainment.
The 375-acre New York State
Fairgrounds is undergoing the most significant transformation since it
first opened its gates in 1890. The $50 million plan, announced by Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo, revitalizes the grounds in many ways, improving the quality
of the fairgoer’s experience and providing greater economic benefits for
the region. Improvements include the dramatic new Main Gate- the arches
of which recall the carriage gate that greeted fairgoers in 1900, a larger,
15-acre Wade Shows Midway that will hold more rides than ever, and the
brand new 315-site Empire RV Park with underground water, sewer and electrical
service. The plan will better position the New York State Fairgrounds as
a premier year-round, multi-use facility that can attract more events and
visitors from across the nation. More information on the revitalization
is available here and renderings can be viewed
here.
In addition to the annual
New York State Fair, the Fairgrounds host dozens of agricultural events
throughout the year, including some of the Northeast’s most prestigious
horse and livestock shows.
A year-round schedule
of events is available on the Fair’s
website. Find The Great New York State Fair on Facebook,
follow @NYSFair on Twitter, and
enjoy photos from the Fair at Flickr.com/photos/nysfair.
Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York
State Fair at statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.
Media Contacts:
Jola
Szubielski
Public Information Officer
NYS Department of Agriculture
& Markets
518-457-0752
Dave
Bullard
Public Relations
New York State Fair
315-487-7711 x 1377 |
