WSFD Flying Dutchmen Recognized at State, County Awards Dinners

The success of the Flying Dutchmen's 2011 season boosted the team’s total tournament victory count to 158 since first entering in Firematic competition in 1892.

The Flying Dutchmen Drill Team has been recognized twice in the past few weeks for their accomplishments during the 2011 tournament season: most notably, their 11th New York State Championship title and season total points winners in Suffolk County, the team’s 15th Suffolk County Total Season Points Championship since the honor was first bestowed in 1973.

Season accomplishments also included one additional tournament victory, six second place finishes and one third place, overall giving the team an average tournament finish of 1.89.

West Sayville’s hard work resulted in an additional 65 contest and tournament total points trophies and 54 leg trophies gracing the shelves of the team’s already 3,000-plus collection. Not bad for a season shortened by cancelled drills over the Labor Day weekend and the two weeks that followed.

During the award presentations at the Annual Installation and Awards Dinner of the Suffolk County Parade and Drill Team Captains’ Association in October, the Flying Dutchmen were repeatedly called forward to receive plaques and trophies recognizing their numerous successes in 2011. Included in that tally was the team’s 15th Suffolk County Total Season Points Championship since the honor was first bestowed in 1973.  By the end of the evening the team had accumulated thirteen awards, the most of any team in attendance.

At the New York State Volunteer Firemen’s Parade and Drill Team Captains’ Association annual installation and awards dinner in November, Captain Gary A. Schaum and teammates were recognized for winning the 2011 New York State Championship Motorized Drill, and were presented with the prestigious Wilbur Young “Mr. Racing” Memorial Trophy in tribute for that achievement. Earlier that evening, Schaum was installed as the new Third Vice-President of the statewide organization that oversees, governs and coordinates the motorized and old fashioned competitions held throughout the summer months.

Despite having only two wins in the season, West Sayville topped all of their competitors in season points for six of the eight events regularly contested while taking second and third place honors in the remaining two, Three Man Ladder and Efficiency, respectively.

The Flying Dutchmen Drill Team of 2011 was coached by Frank R. Miller, Sr. and G. Scott Schrader and comprised of Captain Gary A. Schaum, Lieutenant Ryan Tenney, David Banks, Kristy Banks, Ryan Huguenin, Chad Leigh-Manuell, Michael Marra, Robert Marra, Frank R. Miller, Jr., Allen Newhouse, Robert Noonan, Richard Quenzer, Joseph Quenzer, Douglas Quenzer and Daniel Tenney.