By Rob Potter
LIVINGSTON MANOR — June 25, 2010 — Hundreds of people lined both sides of Main Street in Livingston Manor on Wednesday night to watch the Parade of Champions honoring the Livingston Manor Lady Wildcats softball team, which recently won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D championship at Waterloo High School.
Kids and adults alike stood on the sidewalks to cheer the team members, who rode on a float featuring a decorated archway with a “2010 NYS Champions” sign.
The parade began behind the Livingston Manor Central School (LMCS), proceeded down School Street, turned onto Rock Avenue and continued down Main Street before ending at the Water Wheel Junction.
In addition to the team float and Co-Coaches Kevin Clifford and Charlie Hicks riding in a classic 1968 Ford Mustang convertible, the parade featured the Livingston Manor Fire Department’s Manor Hose Company No. 1 and Hoos Truck Company No. 2, Livingston Manor FD Ladies Auxiliary, Beaverkill Valley FD, Livingston Manor Ambulance Corps, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Manor Cal Ripken League and Little League teams, Sullivan County Youth Softball League teams, LMCS band and riders from the Livingston Manor Trail Horse Association.
Once all of the parade participants reached Water Wheel Junction, a short ceremony was held to honor the Lady Wildcats.
Emcee Jeff Loeffler began the ceremony by thanking all of the businesses, organizations and people who helped make the parade a success. The list of those whom Loeffler thanked included: George and Shirley Fulton, Livingston Manor FD, Beaverkill Valley FD, Livingston Manor Ambulance Corps, Livingston Manor Rotary Club, Livingston Manor Lions Club, New York State Senator John Bonacic, Town of Rockland, Livingston Manor Little League, LMCS band, Livingston Manor Trail Horse Association, New York State Police, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, the Fisk and Fredenburg families for donations of vehicles for the parade, Peck’s Market and the LMCS Board of Education, administrators, faculty, staff, students and parents.
Several people then offered their congratulations to the team members and coaches.
LMCS Superintendent Deborah Fox commended the Lady Wildcats for their dedication, focus and hard work this season.
“It is my privilege to be here tonight as we honor the New York State Class D softball champions,” she said. “You made it your goal to win the state championship and you accomplished what you set out to do. In the 71-year history of Livingston Manor Central School, a sports team had not won a state title. But you ladies became our first state champions. Hopefully, you will set a new standard and tradition here at Manor.”
Fox also congratulated Clifford and Hicks for being named the Section IX Softball Coaches of the Year by an out-of-county daily newspaper.
Livingston Manor Rotary Club member Barry Foster noted that he is a lifetime Manor resident and when he attended LMCS, some sports teams won sectional championships but never a state title.
“All of the Rotary Club members congratulate you and are very proud of you,” Foster said.
Daniel McNamee of the Livingston Manor Lions Club presented gift certificates to Clifford, Hicks and all of the players.
“Congratulations to all of you for this great achievement,” Town of Rockland Supervisor Ed Weitmann said. “Your efforts brought a state championship home to Livingston Manor.”
Fox read a letter from State Senator John Bonacic in which he offered the players and coaches his “heartfelt congratulations.”
LMCS Athletic Director Shirlee Davis then stepped up to the microphone.
“I am very, very proud of you,” she said to the team members and coaches.
Davis invited Co-Coaches Clifford and Hicks and the team members – Christine Babich, Maggi Calo, Emily Casey, Victoria Davis, Marissa Diescher, Meagan Edwards, Brittanie Fredenburg, Sarah Reigal, Samantha Scott, Victoria Taggart, Jessyca Wolcott, Angela Zayas and Nina Zheng – to come up in front of the crowd and be recognized.
“I just want to thank all of you for supporting us this season, it really meant a lot to us,” Hicks said. “And we thank you for all of the work you did for this parade. We really appreciate it. It’s great to be a part of this community.”
Moments after the parade ended, Babich was asked what it was like to be honored with a parade in her hometown.
“It’s amazing, it feels like we are royalty,” she said. “It’s great to have all of these people out here supporting us.”
Clifford smiled when he was asked about the parade.
“It’s a nice turnout,” he said.