Submitted Photo Pictured from left: Austin McGowan, Robert Strang, Maximus Sturniolo, Joe Askar, Natalia DiPalma and Caroline Sliwa.

Special to The OBSERVER

The final Track and Field event for all Parochial Schools in the Diocese of Buffalo was recently held through the Southtowns Invitational Track Association (SITA). The self-administered track association was originally organized by several prominent individuals who wanted to encourage parochial school students in grades 3 through 8 to participate in springtime sports. Using their normal athletic abilities of running, jumping, and throwing, the youngsters are given the opportunity to compete with their peers from Diocesan Schools.

SITA was created led by Dr. Peter Schreier of St. Bernadette School along with Mr. Joseph DeMarco of Nativity, including the late Peter Walters of SS. Peter & Paul in Hamburg. The current league director, Edward Hoak of SS. Peter & Paul, joined the others and guided the league shortly after its inception. Today, SITA is comprised of 22 parochial schools.

Northern Chautauqua Catholic School athletes who advanced from the Diocesan Elementary Track and Field Championship held at Stransky Athletic Complex in West Seneca, competed at the SITA All-Star event. The relay team of Austin McGowan, Robert Strang, Maximus Sturniolo, and Joe Askar received third place.

Sturniolo took first place with a time of 9.9 seconds for the 75-meter sprint in the 12-year-old boys’ category. Sturniolo was undefeated throughout the entire 2018-2019 school year.

Natalia DiPalma finished second in the 75-meter sprint in the 12-year-old girls’ division, while Caroline Sliwa placed third in the 75-meter sprint in the 10-year-old girls’ race.

Northern Chautauqua Catholic School Physical Education teacher, Vince Fogerty, who also is a Coach at the school, along with Athletic Director Luke Gullo, thanked NCCS Principal Andy Ludwig, Fr. Daniel Walsh and the Board of Trustees, as well as faculty and parents for the tremendous show of support and dedication throughout the Spring Track & Field development season.