100 Years of Columbia Basketball to be Celebrated

This season, the Columbia Boys' Basketball program will be celebrating its 100th year of existence. 

As part of the celebration, plans have been finalized to honor the program's rich history. On Saturday, Jan. 13, the celebration will take place with a special day planned for the Elmer Kreiser Gym, beginning at 2 p.m. That's when the Crimson Tide girls basketball team will take on Pequea Valley. At the conclusion of that game, a special ceremony will be held recognizing the boys' basketball programs' 100 years. All past teams, players an coaches will be introduced and asked to walk around the gym.

Following the ceremony, the Crimson Tide boys' basketball team will take on Pequea Valley beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Following the completion of the boys' game, the celebration will move to the Columbia Fire Department, 10th and Manor Streets, for a reception until 10 p.m.

Invitations have and will continue to go out to former players and coaches. If you are a former player and have not received an invitation, please send your contact information to kkreiser@columbia.k12.pa.us.

For the two games and celebration at the gym, each former player and coach along with one guest will be admitted free of charge. They are asked to enter the school via the main entrance. All others must purchase a ticket for the game in the gym lobby.

For the post-game reception, there will be a $10  donation asked. Those planning to attend the reception should email the number of people attending to kkreiser@columbia.k12.pa.us or send their checks made out to the "Columbia Boys' Basketball 100 Anniversary Committee" and mailed to Charles R. Gerfin, 1019 Locust St., Columbia, 17512.

The deadline to RSVP is Dec. 15. Only players and coaches over the age of 21 will be admitted to the post game reception.

In addition to the celebration, the committee is running a contest to vote on the top five players in school history and the five most memorable games. That information can be emailed to 100bball@columbia.k12.pa.us. Those winners will be announced at the ceremony.

Also being sold are t-shirts ($15), hats ($20) and a 32-page yearbook, which can be ordered by mail at a cost of $15. It will feature teams pictures and other information covering the 100 years of the program.

The goal of the celebration is to raise $25,000 to purchase and replace the current scoreboards in the gym. Crimson and Gold sponsors will be recognized with a banner in the gym when the new scoreboards are installed.

Committee members are Karl Kreiser, Steve Wisler, David Mountz, Mike Burke, Donna Kreiser, Toni Pittman, Jeff Deascenti, Mark Wisler, Barry Ford and Charles Gerfin.