By David J. Hill<br><a href="mailto:hilld@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail David</a>
North Tonawanda, NY — The North Tonawanda Lumberjacks may have won a state football title more than three months ago, but there’s still plenty of partying to do to celebrate the historic occasion.
And they’ll do it in an historic venue.
Sunday, the Lumberjacks will receive their state championship rings in a ceremony from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Riviera Theatre. North Tonawanda native and Channel 2 anchor Maryalice Demler will emcee the event, which is free and open to the public. Dick Grapes, the longtime public address announcer for NT football games, will introduce each player as he comes up to get his ring.
“It’s going to be nice to kind of rehash things, get together with the team and celebrate one last time with everybody,” North Tonawanda football coach Eric Jantzi said. “I really can’t wait for it. I see the kids pretty much every day in school, but to get everybody in the same room at one time and relive it for an hour or so, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The ring ceremony is being organized by John Montesanti — whose twin sons Dan and Joe both were on the team — and the NT Football Hall of Fame, which foot most of the bill for the rings for each player and coach, plus the district’s athletic trainer, numbering 62 in all.
“Given the fact that the team’s success was so great, we certainly wanted to honor the kids and we thought this was a good way to do it,” Montesanti said.
The goblet style rings were designed and ordered from Rick Winter Jewelry. Each will feature a red stone and inscribed with the player’s name, jersey number and position on one side and “North Tonawanda State Champions 2009” on the other.
“It’s a pretty good goblet. We didn’t cut any corners,” Montesanti said, adding, “It’s a pretty nice keepsake. It’s certainly something they’ll be proud of. I’m sure it’ll bring a tear to everyone’s eyes.”
Montesanti said Sunday’s event wouldn’t be possible without all of the community support the team has received. He singled out the Third Warders Club and NT Football Hall of Fame President Paul Frys for their efforts, and Riviera Theatre Executive Director Frank Cannata for making the Lumber City landmark available for one more celebration for NT’s perfect 13-0 season.
There has been plenty of celebrating since the Lumberjacks’ 14-7 triumph over Section I’s New Rochelle to win the state Class AA championship — the first in NT history and the first for a Niagara County team — Nov. 29 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Upon their arrival from Central New York that evening, dozens of supporters showed up at the high school to welcome the team.
In December, the school hosted a party for the Jacks, where then-city Mayor Larry Soos unveiled a sign that would let all entrants to the Lumber City know that it’s the home of a state championship football team. Then, in January, state lawmakers and Gov. David Paterson feted the Lumberjacks in Albany.
Prior to winning the state title, the Lumberjacks had never made it farther than the Far West Regional round of the state playoffs, which pits the Section VI champion against the winner from Section V (Rochester area).
Contact reporter David J. Hill at 693-1000, ext. 115.
IF YOU GO
• WHO: North Tonawanda football team
• WHAT: State championship ring ceremony
• WHEN: 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday
• WHERE: The Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda
