York Professional Fire Fighters Assn.
Local No. 627, International Association of Fire Fighters

The Firefighter Combat Challenge team has completed the 2005 season of competition. This year has been exciting and successful for the team.

In order to ease some of the financial burden to the local, in 2005 the team began looking for a sponsor. The team met with Steve Rotay from Paul Davis Restoration, and Paul Davis Restoration agreed to be the corporate sponsor. The new sponsor provided the team with financial support and equipment. They also assisted in a fund raising event for the team. Even with the new sponsor, the team did not forget previous years of financial and moral support from the local. The team still proudly ran as part of Local 627, and retained the IAFF Local 627 logo on the team shirts.

The season began in May in Haverhill Mass. and ended in Deerfield Beach FL. in early December. In that time, the team saw several members run personal best times, a second and third place team finish, a tandem team that made the finals and a member that won the Tums Grand National category and the prestigious Ted Overcash Award.

In June, all eight members of the team, Ivan Flanscha, Mark Bowman, Kevin Holtzapple, Richard Halpin, Mike Anderson, David Michaels, Rolando Suarez & Chad Deardorff traveled to Ocean City MD. The team finished in third place with a time of 6:14. David Michaels ran his personal best time and became the second team member to break the sub 2:00 mark. Chad Deardorff also ran his personal best time.

In July, David Michaels, Chad Deardorff, Rolando Suarez & Mike Anderson competed as a relay team in Michigan City IN. The team ran their fastest relay time ever, a 1:34, and advanced to the second round of competition.

In September, the full team was in action once again in Erie, PA. In the first day of competition, all members ran in the new Tandem competition. Mike Anderson & Richard Halpin ran in several tandem competitions throughout the year in the over 50 division. For the rest of the members, Erie was the first run in the tandem. The second day was the team competition. Mark Bowman & Richard Halpin ran their personal best times.

The next weekend, the team traveled to Elkton MD. This was the first time Elkton had hosted an event. Kevin Holtzapple, Ivan Flanscha & David Michaels ran personal best times. Ivan Flanscha remained the fastest member of the team running a 1:53. The team had many supporters make the trip to Elkton, cheering the team on to a second place finish. The team finished with their best team time of 5:58, breaking the 6 minute mark, something the team has worked long and hard to achieve.

In late September, Mike Anderson became the third team member to break the sub 2:00 mark. He accomplished this in South Portland Maine. Richard Halpin also made the trip.

Throughout the year Mike Anderson attended 13 regional events throughout the country. At all events, he placed in the top three in the over 50 division. This earned him points in the Tums Grand National category. He went on to win the over 50 division in the Tums Grand National points category. He had the most points of any competitor this year, earning the Ted Overcash Award. The award is named for a much loved challenge competitor and cancer survivor.

The World Challenge was scheduled for the beginning of November in Deerfield Beach FL. The team was training and preparing for the competition. A few days before the competition, Hurricane Wilma struck south Florida. Wilma caused severe damage, postponing the Championship to early December. With a change in the schedule, not all team members were able to make the trip. Richard Halpin, Mike Anderson & David Michaels did represent the team at Worlds. Richard Halpin & Mike Anderson made the finals in the over 50 tandem division. Mike Anderson made the finals in the over 50 individual division.

The team would like to thank everyone that made this season successful. The team would also like to thank Mark Bowman & Pat Rose for handling all registrations and financial matters.