The Olympian Booster Club and Jim Thorpe Touchdown Club held a “Punt, Pass and Kick” event at Jim Thorpe High School’s football field on Saturday. The competition was broken down into age brackets with each child getting two attempts in each of the three areas.

Punt, Pass and Kick began as a skills competition offered by the NFL for kids ages 6 to 15. In the past there was national finals, with one youth finalist sponsored by each of the NFL 32 teams. After 50 years it was terminated in 2017.

Larry McDaniel, president of the Olympian Booster Club, brought back the idea of holding the punt pass and kick. The Olympian Booster Club raises money for elementary age children involved in football, competitive cheer, volleyball, wrestling, basketball and recently added, cross-country.

The Jim Thorpe Touchdown Club is a program for junior and high school kids to raise money for football needs. Money is raised through donations from the community, the concession stand and gate fees. There are also fundraisers such as selling candy bars.

For Saturday’s event there was a $10 entry fee with children 12 and under winning trophies and medals, junior high schoolers winning a $25 Dick’s Sporting Goods card and the older age group winning half of the registration fees collected.

More than 100 players participated in the event.

Vincent Capria, whose wife Vivian is president of the Jim Thorpe Touchdown Club, said, “I remember this in the ‘70s and bringing it back feels great.”

Their 16-year-old son, Salvatore, plays football for Jim Thorpe.

Mark Rosenberger, who has coached Jim Thorpe varsity for 25 years, noted this is “an opportunity for kids to play football and build interest in football during the summer.”

Often parents don’t have an opportunity to see their kids play as they are working the concession stand.

Amanda and Brad Belford cheered on their 9-year-old son Mason. This is Mason’s second year playing football and his dad and grandfather played.

Brad Belford said the coaches, “Do a good job of teaching how to move and how to handle the ball.”

In addition to the concession stand being open to raise money there was a raffle for an ATV and a 50-50 drawing.

Here are the results:

8 and under: First, Dominic McHugh; second, Jaxon Cozze; third, Alden Mack

10 and under: First, Isaiah Skrimcovsky, second, Seth Sterling; third, Jionni Puddu.

12 and under: First, Ben Remmel; second, Aliciana Aponte; third, Connor Irwin.

Junior High Winner: Logan O’Shura

Open Division Winner: Jay Torres