Teaming Up to Shape Up; York County Businesses Fielded 185 Teams for a State Health Competition.

Some York County workers spent 2004 shaping up their bottom lines in a less traditional way.

Employees from North York-based Tighe Industries were among more than 6,500 Pennsylvania residents who participated in Shape Up Pennsylvania, a team-oriented wellness program run by Keystone State Games.

The competition offers three divisions: weight loss, accumulated activity, and a combination of the two. “The Inmates,” a team from the dance apparel manufacturer’s Plant No. 4 on Willow Springs Lane in Manchester Township, won the state bronze medal for corporate weight loss and the silver medal for overall weight loss in the county.

The 10-member team lost a total of 110 pounds during the competition.

Sherian Fisher was team captain and “head cheerleader” for the group, which also included Sandra Albert, Mary Border, Patty Buffington, Barb Keagel, Cathy Laughman, Deb Moats, Wendy Santiago, Deanna Sheaffer and Anita Stump.

The women said encouraging each other was key to their success, but they also credited good timing competing before the holidays and the weekly health tips Shape Up PA provides to participants.

In all, Tighe’s various plants had about six teams participating, said John Wayne Misner, company vice president of operations. Some were competing in weight loss, while others signed up for the accumulated activity competition.

Misner said his company’s employees had been interested in fitness even before the competition. “When it comes time for break, you’ll see the girls lace up their sneakers and walk around the facilities,” he said.

Misner said the company is already planning to field teams for next year’s Shape Up PA event.

County tops in number of teams

In the accumulated activity category, two York County teams logged especially high results.

The “Wellspan Enduro Docs +1″ from York County accumulated 2,393 miles of physical activity per member, and the Hanover YMCA cycling team logged 3,318 miles of activity per member.

York County topped the state in number of teams participating, with 28 registering for the weight loss competition and 157 signed up for the accumulated activity category, said Melissa Di Bernardo, public relations director for Keystone State Games.

In all, about 1,500 people in the county participated, she said.

“We’re expecting the same (for 2005), because the area is very excited about the program,” Di Bernardo said.

Reach Joan Concilio at 771-2001 or jconcilio@ydr.com.