The Firefighter Challenge Northeast Regional Classic was one to remember! Whether you took the floor to compete, volunteered to help, joined us online, or cheered from the sidelines, your energy and support brought the event to life. Together, we celebrated unmatched grit and teamwork.
Check out some of the week's highlights!
Where Competition Met Solidarity
Event announcer Huan Deriggs summed it up perfectly: “In this sport, the struggle is the same.” Firefighter Challenge is unlike any other competition. There are no adjustments for age or gender. It’s all about grit.
On the course, firefighters pushed themselves to the limit, racing against the clock and each other. But off the course, camaraderie took over. Competitors, exhausted from their own runs, would walk alongside their rivals to the finish.That Nasco Healthcare Randy weighs 175 pounds for every single participant.
Every cheer, high-five, and shared moment of encouragement showed that while the event tested skill and speed, it also strengthened the bonds that unite us. Talk about inspiring!
Local Departments Joined the Action
Erie County showed up in a big way! Over 20 representatives from the Erie Fire Department and several from Millcreek Township and West Ridge Fire Departments fired up their hometown crowd. EFD even brought home hardware, making the Elite 8 in the relay rounds and taking bronze.
The team, Alec Nolan, Chris Kalwasinski, Joshua Elder, Kyle Miller, and Tim Romanskinz, say they caught “the bug” and are already promising: “We’ll be back!”
Click here to check out what Kyle Miller had to say about his first experience with Firefighter Challenge:
Another proud moment for Erie came from watching the Gardner brothers compete. All three are members of the Erie Fire Department. Hear them tell their story here:
Maybe the most fun moment of the week was the exhibition showdown between Erie Insurance and Erie Water Works. These two local teams went head to head in the Arena of the Brave, and the crowd loved every second of it.
Congratulations to Erie Water Works for coming away with the win!
Big thanks to all the local businesses and sponsors that supported the competitors this week, as well. We could not have done this without you!
What’s Next?
Looking forward to seeing more competition? Make sure you tune in to FCLNetwork on YouTube to catch the best of the best in Oklahoma City at Nationals. Mark your calendars for September 24-27!
Thank you to everyone involved for being part of our Firefighter Challenge story: