Bucknell Football Hosts Successful 2024 Bud Ranck-Tom Gadd Memorial Kickoff Classic
7/23/2024 9:00:00 AM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Alumni, parents, and friends of the Bucknell football program came together at the Bucknell Golf Course this past Saturday for the annual Bud Ranck-Tom Gadd Memorial Kickoff Classic. Participants enjoyed a great day of golf as well as the opportunity to interact with nearly 70 current players on the Bison team.
The golf tournament, which was formatted as a shotgun scramble, is the program's biggest and most important offseason gathering and the one time during the year when hundreds of former Bison players come together as one. The tournament was followed by a post-round meal and comments by head coach Dave Cecchini regarding the Bison's preparations for the 2024 season as well as a Q&A session with the Bison team captains.
The tournament was founded in 1995 by the late Bucknell head football coach Tom Gadd. In the tournament's second year, Gadd named the event after good friend Bud Ranck, who had passed away earlier that year. To memorialize Gadd after his passing in March 2003, the Ranck family announced at the dinner that the tournament would bear the names of both Bud Ranck and Tom Gadd.
This year's tournament was another outstanding gathering of both former and current teammates, supporters, and friends of the Bison football family.
Below is a list of the Ranck-Gadd Memorial Classic Kickoff Classic winners:
Masters Division
1st Place: Brian Callahan '86, David Henry '86, P'17, John Heuer '87, Will McFarland '86
Open Division – First Flight
1st Place: Alex Brown '26, Ryan Jedlicka '26, Colin Kinsella, Sam Milligan '27
Open Division – Second Flight
Benjamin Jamison, Mason Raup, Brian Rave, Matthew Schumacher
Closest-to-Pin Hole #4: Gary Scott '86
Closest-to-Pin Hole #16: Phil Azarik '09
Longest Drive Hole #15: David Sturgis
Longest Drive Hole #15 (Senior Men's): Jeff Ranck
The Bucknell Football Program would like to thank the following for helping to sponsor this year's event:
Dinner Sponsor: Bucknell University President John Bravman
Lunch Sponsor: Jersey Mike's Subs
Golf Cart Sponsors: The Pechin Family, The Sposato Family
Tournament Contributors: Deb Hommel, Weis Markets, Jen Yuengling '93 & Yuengling Brewery
Hole & Foursome Sponsors: Eaton Steel Bar Company, Silvertip, Inc., Susquehanna Trailways
Foursome Sponsor: Heidenreich Enterprise LP
Hole Sponsors: Allendale Bar & Grill-Kate Ohnegian P'26, Balcara Group-Ed Steffelin P'28, Bull Run Tap House, Brian Callahan '86, Carl Chambers '89, P'17, '19, Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate, Country Inn & Suites, Andy Dzurinko '65, George Smith Partners-Ed Steffelin P'28, Pete Hall '78, Heidenreich Enterprise, L.P.-Cecilie Jedlicka P'26, Dave Henry '86, P'17, Holiday Inn Express, Josten's, Lewisburg Delicatessen, Songer Services Inc.-Charlie Meehleib P'28, The Class of 1984, Tom Martin '92, Darryl Novak '63, Jeff & Deb Ranck, Steve Renock '74, Tony Rinaldo '60, Graham Showalter, Brad Tufts, Ken Twiford '62, P'86, West Branch Rental, 1996 Championship Team Captains: George Howanitz '97, Rich Lemon '97 & Brandon Little '97
