Nampa Optimist Club

Optimist Football News

Idaho Press Tribune 2 Jun 2000 - Pg 4A

Zachery Lopez, 9, of Snake River Elementary prepares to kick the ball during the punt, pass, kick competition Thursday evening at Lakeview Park sponsored by Nampa Optimist Football, Lopez kicked the ball 32 feet 8 inches.
Kids pass, kick for trophies

Grade-schoolers get ready for new fall football program

For the Idaho Press-Tribune

     NAMPA -- "Down, ready, set. Hut one, hut two."
     Those are words Sierra Jackson of Nampa will soon become familiar with as a member of the Nampa Optimist Football Program, which kicks off its first season in mid-August.
     The Iowa Elementary School second-grader is one of a handful of female players in the program and will play flag football her first year. The new program will allow 7 and 8-year olds to play flag football while 9 to 12-year-olds will play tackle ball.
     "Flag football will be funner than tackle because you laugh when your flag comes off," Sierra said during a football program fundraiser held Thursday at Lakeview Park in Nampa. "I might sort of cry if I'm tackled."
     Diane Wroten, Sierra's mother, said she's not the least bit worried that her daughter might get hurt playing with and against boys on the gridiron.
     "I say, 'Go for it,'" she said. "Whatever she wants to do, we're going to give her the opportunity to do."

Donated food
Outback Steakhouse owner Jerry Cornick donated $6,000 worth of food for Thursday's event, and several employees donated their time preparing and serving meals. The Corvairs band entertained the crowd for free.

On 1A
Optimists plan football park.

     Bill Thies of Caldwell thinks that playing football will keep his 10-year-old son, Zach Thies, in good physical and mental condition.
     "It gives them goals," Thies said. "It keeps them out of trouble and makes them competitors."
     An experienced flag football player, the Central Canyon Elementary School fourth-grader made three touchdowns in Caldwell flag football league play last year.
     "I'm trying out for quarterback this year, but I don't know if I'll make it," Zach said.
     At 5 feet tall and 110 pounds, Zach has a good chance, according to his mother, Michele Thies.
     Most of the youngsters who signed uup for the opening season participated in a punt, pass and kick competition held during the fund-raiser, which drew about 300 people.

     The winners were:
    • 7 and 8-year-olds -- first place, Alex Williams of Boise; second, Parker Anderson of Nampa; third, Tyler Cafferty of Nampa.
    • 9-year olds -- first, Juan Hernandez of Nampa; second, Kevin Rossman of Eagle; third, Danny Matthews of Nampa.
    • 10-year-olds -- first, Zachery Thies of Caldwell; second, Brian Arent of Nampa; third, Josh Gray of Nampa.
    • 11-year-olds -- first, Mike Wilhelm of nampa; second, Walter Garcia of Nampa; third, William Johns of Nampa.
    • 12-year-olds -- first, Steward Tracy of Nampa; second, Jason Dodge of Nampa; third, T.J. Williams of Boise.
    • 13 and 14-year-olds -- first Cody Lee of Nampa; second, Steven Tracy of Nampa; third, Brittany Thies of Caldwell.
    • 15 and 16-year-olds -- first and only place K.C. Wilson of Marsing.

Reprinted by permission of Idaho Press Tribune
Note: Article retyped in HTML for better readability

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