Keystone Games Underway

AMATEUR ATHLETES OF ALL AGES ARE COMPETING IN EVERYTHING FROM BASKETBALL TO FIELD HOCKEY TO WATER POLO. MORE THAN 32 SPORTS MAKE UP THE KEYSTONE STATE GAMES. THESE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE PLAYING BASKETBALL AGAINST SOME OF THE BEST TEENAGERS IN THE STATE. FOR SOME OF THESE ATHLETES, IT MAY BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF THEIR SPORTS CAREERS. Al Lonoconus, Pocono Basketball Coach says "It`s very interesting. It`s like a Junior Olympics within the state of Pennsylvania. It`s a neat opportunity for them to meet a lot of different athletes from around and play against a lot of good players." THE KEYSTONE STATE GAMES ARE IN THE WILKES-BARRE AREA FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR. IT`S A CHANCE FOR THESE ATHLETES FROM WYOMING, MONROE, AND OTHER COUNTIES TO PLAY IN AN OLYMPIC-STYLE EVENT. Mark Scarcella of Pocono Mountain says "It`s incredible. It`s incredible, honestly. Because we come down here and play people from everywhere. It`s great." Ryan Whitmiller of Tunkhannock says "The game`s really physical. There`s a lot of pushing and shoving and a lot of yelling. But it`s a good physical game." "The Keystone State Games, like the Olympics, aren`t just about the most popular sports, like basketball. They`re also about less common activities, like water polo and synchronized swimming." OVERALL, MORE THAN 7-THOUSAND AMATEUR ATHLETES WILL COMPETE HERE THIS WEEK. ORGANIZERS SAY THE GAMES ARE A CHANCE FOR ATHLETES OF ALL AGES TO ENJOY THE THRILL OF COMPETITION. David Farrand, Keystone State Games said "We have a 5-year-old competing in bowling this weekend and we have an 86-year-old competing in track and field, so we really run the gambit in ages. It`s really about everyone." FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE KEYSTONE STATE GAMES AND THE SPORTS SCHEDULE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK, CHECK OUT THE LINK WE HAVE SET UP FOR YOU.