​photo provided/DARYL JANNONE
Canton’s Junior High Lady Warrior Softball Team are shown replacing all the veteran’s flags in the Main Street Cemetery in Canton on Thursday, May 19.  On behalf of VFW Post 714, Daryl Jannone would like to thank Mr. Jacopetti, Canton High School Principal, and the Canton JH Lady Warrior Softball team for taking care of veterans by completing this time-honored tradition, just in time for Memorial Day on Monday, May 30. 

HERSHEY — The goal from the time you start preseason workouts is to go to  Hershey and "come home with hardware" as Canton Coach Lyle Wesneski stated last weekend at regionals. Riley Parker did just that in his first trip to states as he comes home with a sixth place medal. 

"This was my first time coming down here. I wanted to do what I could, push myself and compete with everyone," said Parker.

Parker knows that he will be able to use this experience as he prepares for next season. "There are obviously things I know I can work on. I learned a lot being here. No matter where you are at in a match, you have to keep battling and keep scratching."

Parker lost his final match of the state tournament to Southern Columbia's Garrett Garcia by fall 4-0. 

Parker made it all the way to the semi-final round but ran into a buzzsaw in his opponent Rune Lawrence, who went on to be the state champion at 172.

Match-ups like the ones that Parker faced this weekend make wrestlers "battle tested" as Wesneski likes his kids to be.

 "We had a good week of practice and we managed our bodies well. You have to stay focused and stay confident at this stage," said Wesneski. 

Wesneski is confident about his group of kids as they move into the spring and even next season.

"We feel like we are prepared. Our schedule is going to get harder next year and thats the way we planned it. As you can see this is a meat grinder and a lot of really good kids didn't medal. Thats what we prepared (Parker) for."

This Warrior wrestling squad should see some wrestlers back at Hershey next season. Hayden Ward will be a senior and have more experience. Parker has tasted the tough competition and knows what it takes. Mason Nelson is expected to make a leap next year with the experience he gained through the District tournament. 

This marks the second consecutive time the Warriors have had a wrestler take the podium. No one from Canton qualified last year due to covid and the super regional that was held. 2020 saw Timmy Ward take sixth and now Parker takes home a sixth place finish. Expect the battle tested Warriors to come home from Hershey with more hardware next year.





story and photo by Joe Carreon

photos by JOE CARREON

​HERSHEY — Canton's Hayden Ward and Riley Parker took to the mats on day two of state competition in Hershey.

Ward faced off in the third place consolation bracket against the Shawn Symanski from Burrell and earned a 6-4 decision.

In the third round consolations, Ward had to face a juggernaut in Ty Watson from Penns Valley. Watson finished his regular season 38-0. Ward wrestled Watson hard deep into the third period where he control Watson until the very end. In Sudden Victory, Watson was able to earn a takedown and won the match by fall 2-0 in 5:43.

Parker wrestled his was into the Semi-Finals with his win over Caleb Close from Bald Eagle area with a gritty 10-4 decision. 

Parker earned a takedown in the first period along with a near fall to go up 4-0. Close narrowed the gap with a late period escape to bring it to 4-1. Close then used two escapes to make it 4-3 heading into the third period. Parker pulled away in the third period with an escape, takedown and a near fall to seal the 10-4 decision.

Parker will return to action tonight. Parker will face top seeded Rune Lawrence from Frazier who comes into Hershey with a 33-3 record. Ward's season ends with the loss to Watson. 

by Joe Carreon
jcarreon@myweeklysentinel.com

MILTON — If there was any doubt about this Warrior wrestling teams' grit and tenacity, all of those fears should have been put to bed based on their performance Saturday in at the D4 Duals in Milton.

"Im proud of these guys. Every single one of them contributed. We had to find a way. We had to scrape and claw," said Canton Head Coach Lyle Wesneski.

Canton dropped their match Tuesday to Montoursville but came back and beat them in the opening round of the District Duals. Something Wesneski knew his team was capable of; responding.

"Our side of the bracket was tough, a break here or there and I think we could have been in the finals. We rebounded and we're here now."
 
After a frustrating and shortented 2020-21 campaign, to be able to compete and finish third at the D4 duals was special for Wesneski's squad. 

"We had to put last year behind us. It was frustrating but we reset our goals and we have our eyes on Hershey," said Wesneski.

Full results will be published in this weeks paper.



​

​by Rachel Heitzenrater
rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
TOWANDA — Bradford County Commissioners reminded the public about their upcoming “Run With a View” event at their Thursday, June 24, meeting at the county courthouse. 
“Race With a View” will take place on Sunday, June 27, at Mt. Pisgah State Park, just outside of Troy. It will begin at 1 p.m.
“So far, we have 104 registered runners,” said Michelle Shedden, Chief Clerk to the Commissioners, “We are looking forward to a beautiful day.”
Bradford County Human Society’s Marianne Bell noted that BCHS will be at the run with Diesel the kitten as well as other adoptable kittens for the event.
Proceeds for the event will benefit BCHS. 
Commissioner Daryl Miller also reminded the public of another run, called the “Sunfish Shuffle," which will take place at Sunfish Pond, just outside of LeRoy on Barclay Mountain, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 10. This event will benefit local veterans. 
For more information on either event, go to ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=83341 for the event “Race With a View” on Sunday  and runsignup.com/Race/PA/Canton/SunfishShuffle3HourEvent for the Sunfish Shuffle event. 

by Joe Carreon
sports@myweeklysentinel.com

CANTON — It has been a long road for Canton’s Ben Knapp. Through not knowing whether there would be a football season due to Covid-19, to now signing his letter of intent to play for football for Penn State University, you get a sense of relief has come over the star tight end.

“It feels great after the whole process to know where I’m going and a big weight off my chest for sure,” said Knapp.

News broke this week that Penn State Tight Ends coach Tyler Bowen would be leaving the Nittany Lions to go coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bowen was instrumental in helping Knapp make the decision to commit to Penn State. Knapp is unwavering in his positive mindset going to state college.

“It’s a huge loss and I worked with him all the way through now, but at the end of the day I committed to the Penn State Football Program and not Tyler Bowen as a coach. As much as I will miss (Bowen), I know Coach James Franklin will have a great replacement who can help get me ready to play.”

There were other schools Knapp was considering, most notably the University of Pittsburgh, but the Canton tight end always knew Penn State was where he wanted to be.

“I really liked the atmosphere and the way the campus felt. All the way through they made it feel like it was home. Then just getting around to meet the rest of the staff, it just felt right.”

Knapp, a two-time (2018 & 2019) PA Writer’s Class A All-State selection, set new Warrior records for all receivers with 93 receptions for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. Knapp lit up, and led, the Northern Tier League in receiving in 2019 with 41 catches for 741 yards and 8 touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2018, he was 5th overall in the NTL catching 34 passes for 548 yards and five scores.

Knapp credits his coaches and teammates for helping him get to the next level.

“It’s a brotherhood. I’ve had teammates and coaches support me the entire step of the way. To have the confidence each time I step on the field to be ready every week is a huge help. I’m ready, I really don’t get nervous (going from a small town to a huge college program), but it’s a big jump.  I’m very excited for it. I’m excited to branch out and work with a lot more people and be around a lot more people.”

Knapp has his personal standards set high for when he arrives on the campus this spring.
​
“Right away I’m going to get into the shape and physicality that the coaching staff wants out of me. I’ll do whatever they say and whatever they want. I’ll also be focusing on my academics early on because at the end of the day that is what’s going to matter when I leave Penn State. Those are my two primary goals, get my major set and be whatever they need me to be. They’re getting a kid that works hard, that’s very easy to coach, and that’s open-minded. I could show up (on campus) today and if they ask me to change positions I would.”

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced today that Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry will be celebrated virtually for the 2021 PA Farm Show, with no in-person events or competitions, to mitigate against COVID-19.


“There are times in the life of a farmer when the risks are too great or uncertain, requiring farmers to make the tough decision to leave a field fallow,” said Redding. “To protect our assets – both our people and our resources – from incalculable losses, we have made the tough decision to take a year to lie in fallow. Rather than an in-person Farm Show, we will celebrate Pennsylvania agriculture virtually for 2021 as we prepare for a productive future.

“We’ll look at our strengths and where we need to invest together in order to grow and cultivate for tomorrow. We’ll consider what has become crystal clear during the pandemic – that agriculture is essential for life; our people are resilient and innovative. We will focus on agricultural awareness, education, and literacy while highlighting the interconnectedness of our food chain,” added Redding.

The department announced the theme for the 2021 virtual PA Farm Show to be Cultivating Tomorrow. Details of the virtual show will be announced as they unfold over the coming weeks. Virtual events will be focused on education and awareness for both the general public and the agriculture industry. Any competitive ag events that are held virtually will not require the purchase of an animal.

“Each year, the Pennsylvania Farm Show uses a theme to convey our vision for the future of Pennsylvania agriculture – through Cultivating Tomorrow we’ll tell this story through technology as we envision and cultivate a prosperous, thriving future together,” said Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Executive Director Sharon Myers. “We have not lost sight of what this industry means to Pennsylvania, in fact, this pandemic has highlighted our reliance on it. The show will go on, just as agriculture has persevered.”
​
For information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID. To stay up to date on PA Farm Show news and updates on the virtual show, visit farmshow.pa.gov or follow the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Facebook and Instagram.

by Rusty W. Mitchum
The creatures are comin’ out of the woodwork again. Of course, I’m talkin’ about phone creatures. You know, those telemarketers that disturb your supper, or worse, your TV watchin’. Anywho, I got a call from one the other night.
“Yellow,” I said. I didn’t get an answer. “Yellow!” I said louder.”
“Mr. Mitchum?” the creature asked.
“Yes,” I said really slow like.
“Hello, Mr. Mitchum. My name is Molly Sipes.”
“Hello Molly,” I said still talkin’ really slow. “How’s your Mom an’ nem?”
“Sir?”
“And how’s that ol’ outlaw of a daddy of yours? He doin’ alright?”
“Uh, no Sir, Mr. Mitchum, you must be confused.”
“Me confused? Naw. That’s just a rumor my kids started. They tryin’ to get me in a home, you know. But I ain’t agoin’.”
“Mr. Mitchum, maybe there is someone else there I can talk to.”
“’Fraid not Molly. It’s just me. I lost maw, you know.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I really need…”
“Yep,” I sniffed. “Turned her loose at the mall and I ain’t seen her since. I think she mighta run off with the meter reader.”
“Mr. Mitchum,” the creature pleaded.
“Handsome devil, that meter reader,” I said. “I should’ve knowd somethin’ was goin’ on. Heck, he came by to read that blame meter twice a week.”
“Mr. Mitchum.”
“By the way,” I said. “My nephew Wally’s not with us anymore.”
“Is that right?” sighed the creature.
“Yep,” I said sadly. “If you remember, he was the one that was always pickin’ his nose. Oh, we tried to get him to stop, but it didn’t do no good. He finally picked it so much, his head caved in.”
“Do what?” the creature said.
“We stuck an air hose up his nose and pumped and pumped and tried to get his head to pop back out, but it didn’t work.”
“Oh, I can’t believe…”
“It mighta worked, but we couldn’t get a good seal. One of his eyeballs kept poppin’ out.”
“Oh my gosh,” said the creature.
“We’d poke it back in, and it’d pop right back out.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Naw, I’m not kiddin’,” I said. “We sent ‘em off to live up in the mountains with Grandma Edna. “I would’ve let him stay here, but Maw said she couldn’t stand lookin’ at him. Plus, every time he belched that eye’d pop out.”
“Ugh,” said the creature.
“He was pretty talented, you know. He got to where he would whistle through his nose kinda purdy like. You ain’t lived till you’ve heard Danny Boy whistled through a nostril. It’d bring a tear to a glass eye.”
“Uh, yes Sir,” said the creature. “Look,” she said. “It’s been interesting talking to you, but I’ve got to go.”
“Okay Molly,” I said. “Tell your Daddy I hope he gits to feelin’ better. If you’re ever down this way, drop in.”
“You can count on it,” she said sarcastically and hung up.
This is the time I usually turn to find my wife Janet starin’ at me. Well not this time. Nope, she was in the room the whole time I was talkin’ to the creature. I had been lookin’ at her the whole time. Usually, she’ll leave the room, but not this time. You know, the entire time I was on the phone, she never once smiled.
“What?” I said as I hung up.
“Rusty,” she said. “You know, you’re just not right.”
Ha! Like I’ve never heard that before.

Fishing Memories – Part I
I have been very fortunate to have met some fine outdoor folks in my 74 ½ years on this earth.  For the next several columns, my reflections on some of them.

Rory O’Donnell – Wonderful young man and my sometimes trout fly fishing buddy on Loyalsock creek in the l970’s.  Son of Fred and Trannie of the Loyalsock Township section of Williamsport, he died tragically in an industrial accident at the age of about 20.  You do not forget your friends who die young.

Rory was addicted to fly fishing a few stretches of Loyalsock Creek that other fly fishing anglers did also.  These stretches were ideal for casting flies; and they were easily waded with a bit of caution.

I arrived at a stretch of the “Sock” one day in May in early afternoon.  It was a great time of day for mayfly, caddis and stonefly hatches.  I parked my car and headed to the stream right along the road.  Rory saw me and yelled “tie on a size 14 Adams dry fly Jim.”  What a great piece of advice.  I hooked and landed many trout that afternoon.  It is rare that you get advice of a fellow angler before you start fishing on what fly and size to use.   It is like being in a private box for a stage show.  That one day stands out to me every time I think fondly of Rory.  If you are an angler, you will certainly understand.

Young Rory will always be a pleasant memory to me.
​
Get out and enjoy God’s nature.  He designed it for all of us.