Saranac Lake High School seniors are, back left, Eva Forbert, Muna Kujabi, Tristan Radu, Emily Gay, Marley Logan, Marissa Martin, Abby Isabella, Sam Clark, and Zach Goetz. Front row from left: Andrew Gay, Zuleika Oliveras, Whitney Warner, Addie Ash, Landon Radu. (Courtesy photo — Josh Dun)
SARANAC LAKE — It was all smiles in the sun Sunday at Wilson Raymond Field for Saranac Lake High School’s annual Pumpkin Bowl.
Each class formed an all-girls team for a flag football tournament, coached by members of the school’s football team, and school staff officiating the games.
The senior class defeated the sophomores in the first round before defeating the juniors 13-12 in the championship game.
This annual tradition was started in 1971 by Chuck Pandorf. He realized that at the time there weren’t many options for girls interested in sports. Pandorf, a Marine, soccer player and Olympic bobsledder, wanted a change, said his granddaughter Carla (Pandolf) Mann.
“He wanted to start something just for girls.” she said. “He saw potential in many of them. Kelly Morgan and Kathy Baker, to name a couple.”
The junior team and coaching staff are, from left, Sabina Radončić, Melody Kostigan, Kelsey Barth, Melody Martin, Ellie Willett, Maddie Stavenhagen, Molly Butler, Stephanie Kilbourne-Hill, Allie Bourgeois, and Lizzie Barth. Harvey, Emma Akey, Peyton Bomiea, Ray Baumann, Scotty Nicholas, David Montroy, Tryon Hartigan. (Courtesy photo — Josh Dun)
Morgan attributed the tradition’s longevity to the multigenerational pride that unites the community, even though girls’ sports are widely established at the high school level.
“Even our parents and grandparents still participate in the activities and remain part of the community.” said Morgan, who scored the game-winning goal for the sophomore class in a 7-6 victory over the junior class in 1971.
By the time the next Pumpkin Bowl rolls around, this year’s champions will have graduated, so the new class of 2025 will have a chance to take pride in one of Saranac Lake’s cherished traditions.
The sophomore team and coaching staff are, standing in the back, from left: Delaney Knapp, Casey Clark, Sophie Baker, Mar Carmona Guarido, Brisa Brunette, Leila Dearborn, Ryan McGinnis-Tice; Brandon McGinnis Tice, Elias Willett, and Bryce Healy. Front row, from left, are Ashlyn Tomaszewski, Lori Chanaille-Schenck, Tess Martin, Rain Rock, Jaylee Niederbühl, and Bingo Valentin. (Courtesy photo — Josh Dun)
The freshman team and coaching staff, standing in the back from left: Cooper Barry, Thomas Kilbourne-Hill, Evan Harvey, Ella Knapp, Sofina Bombard-Schmidt, Aliseya Soucisse, Emma Stephenson, Kaylee Holmes; Julia Pickard, Carissa Holmes, Amelia Evans, Tabitia Duprey, Gunnar Harrison. Front row, from left: Katie Hofnagle, Lily Kipping, Len Crist, Lynsey Reardon, Lillian Putnode, Pepper Lacson, and Emily Burtis. (Courtesy photo — Josh Dun)
