19 JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 7, 2009
Arcadia Indians, Jr. All American Football Players Win Sportsmanship Award
CITY NEWS
beaconmedianews.com
By Courtney Blackburn
The Arcadia/Monrovia chapter of the San Gabriel Valley Jr. All-American Football and Cheer League was recently awarded the Jose Reyes Sportsmanship Award—a triumph, considering that the award in question hasn’t been won by the team in 20 years. The Jose Reyes Award honors sportsmanship. Throughout the season, teams are graded not only on how well they perform, but how well they behave. The Arcadia Indians’ attitudes were
consistently positive and sportsmanlike, resulting in the award. The Arcadia Indians’ Midget Division, comprised of middle-school age boys from both Arcadia and Monrovia, took home the honors. Their head coach, Mike Morales, couldn’t have been prouder. “These boys pulled together and became a family.” He named outstanding players Josh Morales, Adrian Barrios, Jake Medel, Geo Munoz, and Tyron Vaughn. “They were captains of the team, and they showed great leadership. Seven to ten kids never played before, but the captains were able to make them confident and better players. Also, being leaders inspired these boys to stick with each other, to come together as a family.” Together with volunteer coaches Rick Munoz, Gabriel Medel, Miguel Barrios, John Atherton (who is also the wrestling coach at Monrovia High), Danae Devon, and Teresa Morales, the team finished the season strong, making it all the way to the League Semi-Finals. Their overall record was 6 wins and 3 losses. The San Gabriel Valley Jr. All-American Football and Cheer League has many chapters throughout the valley. It encompasses ages 6-14 and requires a 2.0 grade point average. There are six divisions in each chapter: Jr. Gremlin, ages 6-8; Gremlin, ages 8-10, Jr. Pee Wee, ages 11-12, Pee
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Wee, age 12, Jr. Midget, ages 12-13, and Midget, ages 13-14. The boys are sorted by weight in addition to age, which is why there is such an overlap of the 12 year age group. With the exception of the Jr. Gremlins, who play flag football, the rest of these teams are full-fledged tackle football, just like the pros. For all the Midget players, this finale marks the end of their Jr. Footballer careers. The boys will go on to play High School Football at both Arcadia and Monrovia High Schools, while Coach Morales will move down the age ranks to coach his younger son, Isaiah, who will be on the Pee Wee level. The same coaches follow their teams, staying with them throughout their Jr. Footballer experience. When Coach Morales was asked who he’ll root for when Monrovia High faces off against Arcadia High and his former players go head to head, he laughed. “That’ll be a fun game! I’ll have to be for Arcadia, as my son will be on that team, but I’ll root for all my boys. I love them all.” Coach Morales encourages anyone interested in the League to sign up “as soon as possible!” He gives out his own cell phone number to anyone who wants to know more:
(626) 389-7929. The deadline for applications is May 1st, 2009, but sign-up are beginning right now, in January. The Arcadia Indians are always recruiting, in every age group. Though the season won’t begin until July 2009, Trudi Atherton, the coordinator and recruiter for the Football and Cheer teams, urges anyone interested to get information through hotline (626) 359-4677. Photo Midget Indian caption/The Midget Indians Team of 2008. Photo Arcadia Football Trophy caption/L-R: Coaches Mike Barrios, Rick Munoz, Mike Morales, Gabriel Medel, and John Atherton hold the Jose Reyes sportsmanship trophy. Also coaches but not pictured: Danae Devon and Teresa Morales.