Champlain FD Team Competing in FASNY Winter Games

CHAMPLAIN — The Champlain Fire District has a team of five in Cortland for some friendly competition.

Ryan Garrand, 29; Jordan Calandros, 26; Adam Knight, 18; Cody Mesec, 25; and Matt LaValley, 33, compose their department’s first representation at the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York Winter Games.

On average, about 500 firefighters from 100 crews around the state attend the event, Garrand said.

“Champlain has never sent a team before, and we are eager to participate in this new experience,” he said as the games approached. “It all kind of came about last second, and we’re excited to see what’s in store for us.”

‘STRONG GROUP’

The team, with 30 years of combined service among its members, left Friday morning for registration at Country Inn and Suites in Cortland.

Held atop Greek Peak Mountain Resort, the 11th-annual Winter Games features a sled pull race, a hose relay race, a broomball hockey tournament, tug of war and a downhill tube race.

Garrand said the group hadn’t trained for any event in particular and that their first go at the games would be a learning experience.

“We know we are sending a strong group of guys who work extremely well together so we are confident we will be competitive,” he said.

“We are just taking it as a team-building opportunity and a chance to receive additional training that we can take back home to further share with the other members of our department.”

The Winter Games end Sunday.

The Fire District has more than 40 active members and serves about 5,700 residents over an area of more than 58 square miles.

‘SAME CAUSE’

Calandros said the event is a great opportunity to meet fellow firefighters from around New York state and “talk about different techniques we may not otherwise be exposed to up in our corner of the map.”

“It’s a chance to get out there and put your skills to the test,” Mesec added.

Everyone is there for the same reasons, he said, “because they want to have fun and because they love being a fireman.”

LaValley was anxious to see how well the team would do, and Knight was excited for the tug-of-war component, as that event brings all the bragging rights.

“It’s a powerful thing to know that even though there will be over 100 teams out there this weekend, we are all united through the same cause,” Garrand said. “It’s then that you realize 100 different teams become one giant family.

“That to me is worth the trip in and of itself.”