By Anthony Williams, Special Writer
It’s that time of year again — Bordentown Street Fair time — featuring kettle corn, bottomless root beer and registration for the 2012 Bordentown Bulldogs football season.
Bulldogs President Jeff Ellershaw was excited to announce the Bulldogs will be holding signups at the 34th annual Bordentown Street Fair this Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20.
”We’ll have our booth out there,” Ellershaw said. “We encourage any kid in Bordentown that’s interested in playing football or cheerleading to visit our stand with their parents and register on the spot.”
Those looking to get their child involved in an energetic and up-and-coming youth sports program should consider taking Ellershaw up on his offer. The Bulldogs are coming off their most successful season in team history with all four playoff eligible teams qualifying for the post season, including a finals appearance by the 130-pounders.
The Bulldogs will be competing in the West Jersey Youth Football League for the second year in a row, a league they helped found to level the playing field.
”We established this league so we can be more competitive competing against teams our own size,” Ellershaw said.
Sharing Ellershaw’s enthusiasm are Werner Nitschmann, Bill Jackson, Mike Smith and a slew of other dedicated volunteers focused on advancing the program.
Nitschmann has been around since the Bulldogs’ inception in 2004, serving as a coach and the organization’s first president, and continues to be an advisor, despite not having a child participating since 2007.
”A majority of the credit goes to Werner,” Ellershaw said. “He was the one who secured over $30,000 in donations from local businesses to get this program started. He is a big part of why we are where we are today.”
Nitschmann acknowledged his role in getting the Bulldogs started, but credits everybody that has helped along the way with getting the program to its current state.
”Bill Jackson has been by my side from day one,” Nitschmann said. “He’s done everything we have ever asked of him, from serving as treasurer to coaching to setting up and maintaining fields and he has been an integral part of our success.”
According to Ellershaw and Nitschmann, a lot of the more recent excitement surrounding the Bordentown Bulldogs can be attributed to the addition of Smith to the organization as a coach and board member over the past three years.
Smith, the current vice president, spent last year coaching both the 60-pound team and the 95-pound team, but will be focusing his energy on the 95-pounders only this year.
”Mike is as dedicated as anybody involved with the program, if not more,” Nitschmann said.
Ellershaw reiterated those sentiments, saying, “Mike brings a lot of enthusiasm and new ideas to the program. I see a lot of improvements headed our way with Mike’s involvement.”
Not only will residents and athletes have an opportunity to learn about the Bulldogs program and register for the 2012 season, but football players of all skill levels are encouraged to sign up for the BRHS Youth Football Clinic. The clinic is a three-day event from June 11-13 at Bordentown High School and features instructors from the high school coaching staff.
The Bordentown Huddle Club and Bordentown Bulldogs sponsor the event with proceeds benefiting the high school football program.
”The clinic is a great way for new kids to get a feel for what they can expect come August and a chance for the returning players to shake off some off-season rust,” Ellershaw pointed out. “Early registration is encouraged to ensure your child receives a T-shirt, but isn’t mandatory. Walk-up registration is also available for anybody that can’t make it to the Street Fair or can’t download the registration from our website.”
Anybody looking for more information about the clinic is encouraged to contact Ruth Tilghman at 609-744-3075 or visit www.bordentownbulldogs.org.
Another benefit of being a Bulldog is the annual trip to a local college football practice/game that introduces the kids to a higher level of the sport. Past trips have included access to Bucknell’s practice facilities and coaches and on-field access to Princeton University and Temple University games.
The kids also get an opportunity to meet with and speak to the players and find out what it takes to make it at the college level.
After canvassing the Bordentown Street Fair for prospective football players, Ellershaw and the Bulldogs Executive Committee’s next stop will be at Bordentown Regional’s Senior Night on June 20 to award the third annual Bordentown Bulldogs $500 scholarship to a former Bulldogs player that is graduating and attending college next year.
Past winners of the award include David Anthony (Lebanon Valley College) and Matt Bauer (Towson University). This year’s winner will be announced Senior Night and will leave with a check for $500 to put toward his college education.
The Bordentown Bulldogs Scholarship Fund also offers a scholarship for past Bulldogs cheerleaders, but they have not had an applicant the first three years the scholarship has been offered. All former Bulldog cheerleaders are encouraged to apply for next year’s scholarship.
Hopefully, with all of the hard work Ellershaw and the rest of the board members are putting into recruiting players for the Bulldogs, Bordentown will be able to add some championship banners to its lone 1981 Freedom Division Tri-Championship of which Mr. Nitschmann was a part.
