Triathlon Raises More Than $11,000
Story and Photos by Sandra Rhodes
The winner of the Willow Creek Triathlon may have finished the race in less than an hour, but the effects of this annual event will be felt for a long time to come.
Saturday’s triathlon amassed the largest number of participants to date as well as more than $11,000 for the Disabled American Veterans of McKean and Warren counties.
There were 255 participants – 104 more than last year – who swam, bicycled and ran to help to help the transportation network for veterans, which ensures veterans transportation to and from appointments at VA hospitals and clinics.
In the end, the combined efforts of the participants and sponsors – as well as a group of girls who sold lemonade and donated their profits to the triathlon – raised $11,090.63 – 23 percent more than last year.
“We are very grateful for all the participants and sponsors that made this happen,” said race director Shane Oschman. “And we are equally ecstatic to be able to give this check to the DAV for such a worthy cause.” The triathlon is a bi-state, bi-county event. It starts with a 300-yard swimming event at Quaker Lake in Allegany State Park in New York and crosses over into Pennsylvania with a 15-mile bicycle ride to the Corydon Hotel and a three-mile run to the Willows Restaurant on Route 346.
The top male and female winners were Nina Bell and Craig Zona. Both received the Thom Maholic Memorial Award. Maholic, a Bradford native, died in 2006 while fighting with the Special Forces in Afghanistan.
Maholic’s son, Andrew, was on hand to deliver the awards to the winners. Sgt. Paul Swanson of Mount Jewett, Pa., was the guest speaker who spoke about knowing the kind of man Maholic was.
“I once read that for evil to succeed in the world good men would have to sit by and do nothing,” Swanson started. “Thom Maholic was not the kind of man to sit by and do nothing.” Maholic had joined the Special Forces – “the best of the best” – and strove to succeed and fight for freedom – “The same freedoms you and I enjoy today.”
Swanson himself wears Maholic’s bracelet as a reminder of the men and women fighting for freedom all over the world.
“Thom had the motivation and courage and would never quit.”
The triathlon itself would be right up Maholic’s alley, Swanson said. “This is the type of event he would have done himself,” Swanson said. “His spirit was here today greeting all of you at the finish line.”
Megan Whitman from Baltimore, Md., made the trip to Bradford to participate in the triathlon as part of a team. People could participate either as individuals or part of a two-person or three-person team.
Whitman, who did the bicycling for her team, said the scenery was soothing. “It is a very nice and relaxing scenery,” she said. “I didn’t feel a lot of pressure.”
And while some participants are in it to attain personal bests, there were a couple cases of pure sportsmanship. Before the event even started, someone pointed out to officials that a chain was off a bicycle. Another person took his shoes off so someone else could run in the triathlon. Closer to the finish line, people lined Route 346 to encourage the participants. Another point of encouragement was for the veterans. The VA Mobile Veteran Center was on hand at the Willows Restaurant to offer assistance to veterans and their families.
Oschman noted that the support from the community has been heart-warming. “To see the people line the street to encourage people to the finish line is really inspirational and reinforces the whole meaning of the triathlon – to help and support others.”
Oschman also thanked the title sponsors – Zippo Manufacturing Co. plus Northwest Savings Bank and Bradford Hospital Foundation. He noted Northwest and the hospital foundation “believed in this cause before the event was as big as it is today.”
First, second and third place winners received medals in their age groups. Medals were also given to teams.
Pictured from top: One of the participants bicycles his way past Quaker Lake in Allegany State Park and toward Route 280; Kim Cavallaro of Bradford receives some encouragement from the crowd assembled along Route 346. Kim received third place overall for female participants; Andrew Maholic, son of Master Sgt. Thom Maholic who died in 2006 in Afghanistan, participated in Saturday's triathlon by pulling the raffle tickets and also handing over the awards to the top and male athlete, which are named in memory of his father; The top male and female participants in the Willow Creek Triathlon - Nina Bell, left, and Craig Zona, far right, - receive the Thom Maholic Memorial Award from Maholic's son, Andrew Maholic, and Sgt. Paul Swanson, who was a guest speaker at Saturday's triathlon; Members of the Disabled American Veterans gladly accept a check for $11,090.63 from Willow Creek Triathlon members Bruce Housler and Char Layton. Race Director Shane Oschman is on the stage; The participants start registering for the Willow Creek Triathlon.
The winner of the Willow Creek Triathlon may have finished the race in less than an hour, but the effects of this annual event will be felt for a long time to come.Saturday’s triathlon amassed the largest number of participants to date as well as more than $11,000 for the Disabled American Veterans of McKean and Warren counties.
There were 255 participants – 104 more than last year – who swam, bicycled and ran to help to help the transportation network for veterans, which ensures veterans transportation to and from appointments at VA hospitals and clinics.
In the end, the combined efforts of the participants and sponsors – as well as a group of girls who sold lemonade and donated their profits to the triathlon – raised $11,090.63 – 23 percent more than last year.“We are very grateful for all the participants and sponsors that made this happen,” said race director Shane Oschman. “And we are equally ecstatic to be able to give this check to the DAV for such a worthy cause.” The triathlon is a bi-state, bi-county event. It starts with a 300-yard swimming event at Quaker Lake in Allegany State Park in New York and crosses over into Pennsylvania with a 15-mile bicycle ride to the Corydon Hotel and a three-mile run to the Willows Restaurant on Route 346.
The top male and female winners were Nina Bell and Craig Zona. Both received the Thom Maholic Memorial Award. Maholic, a Bradford native, died in 2006 while fighting with the Special Forces in Afghanistan.
Maholic’s son, Andrew, was on hand to deliver the awards to the winners. Sgt. Paul Swanson of Mount Jewett, Pa., was the guest speaker who spoke about knowing the kind of man Maholic was.“I once read that for evil to succeed in the world good men would have to sit by and do nothing,” Swanson started. “Thom Maholic was not the kind of man to sit by and do nothing.” Maholic had joined the Special Forces – “the best of the best” – and strove to succeed and fight for freedom – “The same freedoms you and I enjoy today.”
Swanson himself wears Maholic’s bracelet as a reminder of the men and women fighting for freedom all over the world.
“Thom had the motivation and courage and would never quit.”
The triathlon itself would be right up Maholic’s alley, Swanson said. “This is the type of event he would have done himself,” Swanson said. “His spirit was here today greeting all of you at the finish line.”Megan Whitman from Baltimore, Md., made the trip to Bradford to participate in the triathlon as part of a team. People could participate either as individuals or part of a two-person or three-person team.
Whitman, who did the bicycling for her team, said the scenery was soothing. “It is a very nice and relaxing scenery,” she said. “I didn’t feel a lot of pressure.”
And while some participants are in it to attain personal bests, there were a couple cases of pure sportsmanship. Before the event even started, someone pointed out to officials that a chain was off a bicycle. Another person took his shoes off so someone else could run in the triathlon. Closer to the finish line, people lined Route 346 to encourage the participants. Another point of encouragement was for the veterans. The VA Mobile Veteran Center was on hand at the Willows Restaurant to offer assistance to veterans and their families.
Oschman noted that the support from the community has been heart-warming. “To see the people line the street to encourage people to the finish line is really inspirational and reinforces the whole meaning of the triathlon – to help and support others.”Oschman also thanked the title sponsors – Zippo Manufacturing Co. plus Northwest Savings Bank and Bradford Hospital Foundation. He noted Northwest and the hospital foundation “believed in this cause before the event was as big as it is today.”
First, second and third place winners received medals in their age groups. Medals were also given to teams.
Pictured from top: One of the participants bicycles his way past Quaker Lake in Allegany State Park and toward Route 280; Kim Cavallaro of Bradford receives some encouragement from the crowd assembled along Route 346. Kim received third place overall for female participants; Andrew Maholic, son of Master Sgt. Thom Maholic who died in 2006 in Afghanistan, participated in Saturday's triathlon by pulling the raffle tickets and also handing over the awards to the top and male athlete, which are named in memory of his father; The top male and female participants in the Willow Creek Triathlon - Nina Bell, left, and Craig Zona, far right, - receive the Thom Maholic Memorial Award from Maholic's son, Andrew Maholic, and Sgt. Paul Swanson, who was a guest speaker at Saturday's triathlon; Members of the Disabled American Veterans gladly accept a check for $11,090.63 from Willow Creek Triathlon members Bruce Housler and Char Layton. Race Director Shane Oschman is on the stage; The participants start registering for the Willow Creek Triathlon.
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