Fall Classic shatters goal

BY STACI WILSON

Shotgun blasts peppered the air Friday as over 300 participants in the Cabot Fall Classic took aim at the clay targets at Haussman’s Hidden Hollows in Friendsville.

With proceeds still being tallied, the event raised over $170,000 for Cabot’s Lackawanna College School of PNG scholarship fund, breaking the $100,000 fundraising goal.

Cabot spokesman George Stark said, “The whole event is to benefit Lackawanna College’s School of Petroleum and Natural Gas.”

The 60 team shot a regular round on one of three courses, then each team tried their luck at the “Flurry” – a launcher that fires off 200 clay birds in two minutes.

“I missed a lot of clay birds,” said Loren Salsman, a Com-Tech Inc. employee. Salsman said it was his first time trying his hand at the sport but said he’s do it again. “The Flurry was a lot of fun.”

Com-Tech was one of the sponsors of the event, that also had a couple of teams entered into the competition. “We’re here to support the college,” Salsman said.

Dan Fenton, of Wyalusing, and a Kenworth employee said, “I don’t think I won any trophies or anything.” Also a first-timer, he said he’d do it again. “It’s addictive.”

“I borrowed a gun for today,” Fenton said, “now I have to go buy a gun.”

At the clay shoot, Cabot also unveiled its latest donation to the School of PNG – a gas processing unit.
The unit, made by Finch Technology of West Pittston, is a cross section with an open side where students can readily see how the gas flows through it.

Steve Voytek, assistant director of the School of PNG, said that in addition to the new equipment and funds raise, the event also served as a way for the college and its students to network with people working in the gas industry.
“We rely on Cabot, and our other industry partners, to introduce new sectors of the industry to our staff members and students,” Voytek said.

The Fall Classic gave the 50-plus student volunteers a chance to network with different companies working in the natural gas industry.

One of those industry partners, Baker Hughes took a prominent role in the event – sponsoring the barbecue lunch served to the participants, as well as donating to the college fund.

Baker Hughes is a worldwide oil field service company, said Karen Hubbard. The company performs much of the well completion work for Cabot.

Hubbard, a graduate of Elk Lake, grew up in Dimock, and returned to the area after 12 years. “I came back because of the job opportunities and industry growth,” she said.

Congressman Tom Marino (R-10) and State Rep. Sandra Major also turned out for the event.

Marino said, “This country can be energy independent in five to 10 years because of natural gas.”

He said he, along with his Pennsylvania Republican colleagues in the House, are working to limit the federal government’s involvement in the industry.

Top shots:
Course 1: Team: Tioga Environmental;
Course 2: McJunkin Redman;
Course 3: United Drilling.

Trophies were also awarded to the top male and female shooters on each course.
A complete list of course winners and raffle winners can be found at www.wellsaidcabot.com.