Gowanda Central School District has partnered with ESWG for nearly a decade to provide this a unique opportunity to the community. The 45th annual games commenced in Lake Placid last weekend with more than 2,500 students from across the Empire State participating.

“This is an event that I look forward to every year,” said physical education teacher and coach David Bolen. “It’s a neat opportunity for the District and some of our student-athletes to be part of something symbolic.”

Students and staff lined the corridors to cheer on the students around 8:30 a.m. on the morning of the event. The torch traveled from the high school to the middle school then on to the elementary school on Aldrich Street, before the older student runners were escorted by local law-enforcement to Community Bank, an ESWG corporate sponsor, to conclude the relay.

“Community Bank is a longtime supporter of the Empire State Winter Games and we love to also showcase our Gowanda student athletes,” said Ralph Swanson of Community Bank. “We are really proud to be able to help bring this exciting opportunity to our community.”

Gowanda Central School students carry the torch through the streets of Gowanda as part of the annual Empire State Winter Games Torch Run.

Torch bearers for the event include Chase Bolen, Jaylynn Elliott, Owen Farner, and Rhianna Woods from Gowanda High School; Alivia Richter, Tobie Smigiel, Gabe Snyder, and Kat Soska from Gowanda Middle School; and Jase Bylbie, Faith Graham, Grady Jimerson, Jordan Pereira and Hunter Pope from Gowanda Elementary School.