RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Hickory course merits praise for gesture

Americans and very proud of it!
Following the terrorist attack on America on Sept. 11 in New York City and Washington D.C., the Hickory V.F.W. Golf Course in Hermitage came up with a nice gesture by adorning all of the course's carts with American flags. It was great to see Old Glory flying free and proud.
The V.F.W., like the name signifies, is comprised of thousands of men who fought for their country in years past. They know what the Stars and Stripes stand for, and in this corner, they are all heroes.
The placing of the flags on the carts was a very nice gesture and it made all of us ... Proud to be an American.
Great news: R.J. Bowers has been picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bowers, the standout football and baseball player from West Middlesex High School, was cut by the Carolina Panthers in late August and then picked up in early September by the Steelers.
While with the Panthers, Bowers said he thought he was doing well. Getting cut by Carolina, however, may have been a blessing in disguise. He is now closer to home in Pittsburgh and, as a member of the practice squad, he could be called up at any time. At least that's what we're hoping. It certainly would be nice to have a local playing with the Steelers, a consensus that sits well with all Mercer County football fans.
Bowers played in the Houston Astros farm system for five years before returning home to play college football at Grove City.
While playing at GCC, Bowers, a 6-foot-1, 238-pound fullback, set eight records for any division of college football, including most career yards rushing (7,353) and most career points (562). He also broke 11 Division III records.
Verrelli moves up: Wilmington High School football coach Terry Verrelli continues to move up the ladder of successful coaches in the Mercer County area.
Verrelli vaulted into fourth place in Mercer County history recently when his Greyhounds throttled Grove City, 33-0. That victory was the 157th in his coaching career, a win that overtook Frank Amato, the famed Reynolds High mentor, and Ed Snyder, the very successful coach at Greenville High School.
Only Sharon's Jim Wildman, Greenville's Bob Stone and Farrell's Lou Falconi have won more contests.
Congratulations Terry, and keep up the good work.
Titans golf outing: The 11th Annual Westminster College Titan Golf Outing, under the direction of Titan head basketball coach Jim Dafler is being staged today at Castle Hills Golf Club.
The event, which gets underway at 12:30, is a four-player scramble. All proceeds from the tourney will benefit the Westminster College men's basketball program.
Swim captains named: Rob Klamut, 17th-year head coach of the Westminster College men's and women's swim teams, has selected team captains for this season.
They are Brian Lytle, Clearfield High School; Kurt Rotthoff, Massillon, Ohio; Lucas Snipe, Mt. Lebanon; and for the Lady Titans, Stephanie Dawson, Knoch High School, and Jaime Sell, St. Thomas Aquinas.