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Three teams headed from the ��Ӱֱ�� State School of Applied Technology campus in Wellsville to Frisco, Texas, Tuesday morning for Fireball Run, the annual life-sized trivia game that seeks to aid in the recovery of America’s missing children.

Two of the squads, Team Allegany and Team Salamanca, are competing in Fireball Run, while ��Ӱֱ�� State is providing a support team and sponsoring the event.

“We’re really excited to be sending off another team to the Fireball Run,” said Craig Clark, executive director and dean of Applied Technology.

The college’s support team will perform duties such as tire pressure and car checks, according to Kent Johnson, chair of the Automotive Trades department.

“When the cars break down, we’re going to lend a hand,” Johnson said of the ��Ӱֱ�� State team, which will drive a 1987 Mercedes Turbo Diesel donated by 1975 ��Ӱֱ�� State graduate Mark Crounse.

Along with Clark and Johnson, the ��Ӱֱ�� State support team includes automotive service technician students and brothers Josh and Jordan Ricotta, both from Falconer, N.Y. The students said they were honored to be a part of this year’s Fireball Run.

“We’re honored to go and represent the college that we wanted to take up automotive at,” said Josh Ricotta. “Our hard work paid off and they honored us with being able to go.”

“It sounds like a great opportunity and seems like we’ll have some fun,” Jordan Ricotta said. “It’s a great experience to learn from.”

This year’s Fireball Run begins Sept. 26 in Frisco, Texas, and ends Oct. 4 in Independence, Mo., covering 14 cities and 2,000 miles. For a full schedule, updates, and to watch the action live, visit .

Pictured are the ��Ӱֱ�� State Fireball Run support team members along with 1975 ��Ӱֱ�� State graduate Mark Crounse, who donated the 1987 Mercedes Turbo Diesel vehicle shown here. From left are Kent Johnson, chair of the Automotive Trades department; Jordan Ricotta, automotive service technician student; Craig Clark, executive director and dean of Applied Technology; Crounse; and Josh Ricotta, automotive service technician student.