FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paul Jahnige
413-658-8810
pjahnige@gmail.com
NORTHAMPTON BLUE DEVILS ULTIMATE
TO HOST 4th ANNUAL REGIONAL ULTIMATE FRISBEE TOURNAMENT
“PIONEER VALLEY INVITATIONAL 2017”
MAY 20-21 AT OXBOW FIELDS IN NORTHAMPTON.
60+ TEAMS FROM PHILADELPHIA TO OTTAWA WILL COMPETE.
NORTHAMPTON, MASS – The Northampton Blue Devils Ultimate girls and boys high school teams will host PVI \]2017, the Fourth Annual Pioneer Valley Invitational Ultimate Frisbee Tournament, Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21, 2017 at the Oxbow fields, on Island Road, in Northampton.
PVI 2017 has 60 teams registered from seven states and Canada, from Ottawa to Philadelphia and all points in between. With 22 girls teams, PVI 2017 will be one of the largest high school girls tournaments ever held. Local high school teams already registered include Northampton, Amherst, Four Rivers, Hartsbrook, Longmeadow, and Pioneer Valley Performing Arts.
Attracting over 1,200 players, coaches, and families, PVI 2017 is free and fun for spectators and fans, with activities, food, and plenty of action on the dozen ultimate fields. The tournament is an all-volunteers-on deck effort, with team families opening up their homes to host away teams, supporting teams with nourishment and hydration at the event, and hosting the all-team dinner and social event on Saturday night at Northampton High School.
“PVI is really a great opportunity for us to show off the wonderful things Northampton has to offer—our fantastic community, the beauty of the Connecticut river and the Oxbow area at the foot of Mt. Tom, and the vibrant Pioneer Valley,” says Northampton High’s varsity boys coach Lee Feldscher. “Our goal is to make our tournament memorable for everyone so they look forward to coming back year after year.”
Teams will play in three divisions – Girls, Open A, and Open B – at the Oxbow Marina fields, generously donated for the event by the Duda family and the Oxbow Marina. Winners in each division receive trophies and sponsored prizes. The Northampton High Blue Devils boys team will be defending their 2016 title, while the Northampton High girls team battled valiantly for a second place finish last year.
The tournament is a fundraiser for the Northampton High School boys and girls ultimate program and two other worthy causes. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Ultimate Peace, a non-profit that builds bridges of understanding and friendship between youth who live in communities divided by conflict, using Ultimate Frisbee as the tool. Funds will also support UltimateGood.org, a charitable organization that leverages the power of conscientious Ultimate Frisbee players by enabling them to easily donate as part of their tournament registration fees.
“In addition to being a fun and competitive event, we also believe the Pioneer Valley Invitational will bring important economic benefits to the Northampton community in the form of lodging, food, merchandise sales, and tourism,” added NHS girls coach Sheldon Snodgrass.
PVI is made possible through the generous support of Spin Ultimate, official merchandiser for this year’s event! As a part of their sponsorship, Spin Ultimate offers stylish merchandise and tournament prizes. The event is also looking for community support through sponsorships and other partnership opportunities to help offset the costs of this huge event.
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